The Price of Love

As the sun dipped below the horizon on a July evening, the sky retained its luminous glow, refusing to succumb to darkness.

By the base of Mount Elvern, before an unnamed tombstone.

Clad in black casual attire, Yvonne Anworth stood before the tombstone. Her delicate features were etched with a chill that resembled the precision of a carefully sculpted statue. "Mom, ten years have passed since that day. I've stuck to your advice and kept myself in check all these years. Tomorrow, I'm going back to the Anworths."

Enveloped in silence, she could only hear the wind whispering through the trees.

"Boom!"

A sudden, jarring sound drew Yvonne's attention, prompting her to subtly turn her head. Her mesmerizing eyes narrowed as she gazed towards the source of the noise, not too far from her.

A black car with a deflated tire sat lopsided on the roadside.

A man dressed in black sportswear emerged from the car. His gait was unsteady, suggesting an injury.

A group of about a dozen people dressed in black attire trailed behind him.

Brandon Hart glanced over his shoulder, his face stern and cold. He clutched his aching stomach, and his lips drained of color. He exuded an aura of pain and suffering.

"Don't even think about running! We paid a fortune for you, and you're not going anywhere." The menacing figure in black said as he closed in on the shivering figure before him. The leader's face was devoid of emotion, his eyes cold and calculating, radiating an aura of pure malice.

"Just you guys?" Brandon's eyes narrowed, his voice like a frosty dagger.

The pain from his stomach shot up to his head. He could feel the blood seeping out, making him doubt if he could hold on much longer.

"Alright, let's get this over with," the leader of the black-clad people said and attacked Brandon.

"Huh?"

Suddenly, a stone came whizzing out of nowhere and struck the black-clad person in the arm. His hand trembled, and he crumpled to the ground.

The black-clad person's expression morphed into a mask of fury, a low rumble emanating from their chest. "Who's there?"

Yvonne spoke in a calm, emotionless tone, "You've interrupted my mom's peace. Take your fight elsewhere!"

A crowd of people gazed intently at Yvonne, their faces grave.

Even Brandon, known for his menacing glare, couldn't mask his astonishment.

Despite their formidable reputations as international assassins, capable of vanquishing multiple foes, the group succumbed to the might of a mere stone hurled by a teenage girl.

That girl was off the charts!

"Back off, or you're toast!" The leader's eyes turned icy as he ordered, "Kill her!"

The rest of the crowd surged forward in an instant.

Yvonne's gaze grew icy, her eyes like shards of ice.

"Watch out!" Brandon had already sprung into action before the black-clad people rushed towards Yvonne.

But Brandon's feet halted abruptly, his dark eyes widening in disbelief.

The assassins were no match for Yvonne. They all fell before her without even having a chance to attack.

And she didn't budge an inch. Her face was undisturbed, and her eyes steady.

If it weren't for her hands that had not yet been withdrawn, Brandon would have thought he was hallucinating.

"Get lost!" Yvonne tilted her chin up slightly, her voice icy.

The men in black stared at her like she was some kind of ghost, their faces etched with confusion and a hint of fear. "Who the hell are you? And what's your deal?"

The cause of their fall remained a mystery to them.

All they recalled was the girl raising her hand and releasing a powdery substance, followed by their sudden descent.

And they didn't even touch a single strand of the girl's hair.

As Yvonne remained silent, the black-clad men collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Yvonne cast a fleeting glance at their fallen forms before raising her gaze to Brandon, who stood nearby.

Brandon's heart skipped a beat as her clear, moonlit eyes met his.

Regaining his composure, he approached her and spoke softly, "Thank you."

Yvonne gave him a cold stare and curtly declared, "I'm not saving you!"

Her only desire was to avoid being bothered and to have a conversation with her mother.

As Yvonne uttered those words, she turned around and strode away. Her hand reached out to gently caress the tombstone surface. "I gotta go, Mom. May you rest in peace."

As she was about to walk away, Brandon stopped her and asked, "Hey, what's your name? I'd like to return the favor someday."

"I never intended to save you," Yvonne waved her hand and kept walking.

"Wait ... ouch!" Brandon didn't even get to finish his sentence and collapsed on the ground.

Yvonne turned back. Her brow furrowed in confusion before resuming her walk.

Out of nowhere, a gust of wind swirled around her, making Yvonne halt in her steps. She glanced up at the unmarked gravestone and asked, "Do you want me to save him?" But the only answer was the wind's whisper. For a moment, Yvonne stayed silent, her voice laced with a hint of helplessness, "Alright, I'll save him."

Yvonne crouched beside Brandon and gently raised his shirt. She immediately noticed that he had a severe wound on his stomach.

But it wasn't a big problem.

She retrieved a small bottle from her bag and sprinkled some medicinal powder on it. Then, she took out another bottle and fed a pill to Brandon.

Brandon would be astonished to see the rare and valuable healing pill lying before him. It is a highly sought-after item in the black market, with each pill fetching an astounding price of 750,000 dollars. However, due to its scarcity, it is almost impossible to find on the market.

After Brandon took the pill, Yvonne immediately turned and left.

Queenstown, the Anworths mansion.

"She's banned from this house as long as I'm alive!" a booming voice echoed through the mansion.

In the middle of the living room, Yvonne raised her eyes slightly and gazed serenely at the enraged Madam Anworth. Her peach blossom eyes, usually bright and expressive, were now modestly lowered, concealing a depth of composure.

Unnoticed by anyone, a sly grin appeared on her lips.

Having just returned home with her father, Thomas Anworth, Yvonne was immediately summoned to the old mansion by Madam Anworth, who had already heard the news of their arrival.

Madam Anworth's immediate disapproval of Yvonne's return was evident as soon as she stepped into the room.

"Ugh, Mom! Yvonne is my daughter. She's your grandchild."

Thomas stood with his hands clenched at his sides. His jaw was set, and his shoulders tense.

After a decade of searching, he was overjoyed to finally reunite with his daughter. But he was caught off guard when his mother refused to allow Yvonne to return home. In front of the entire family, she even disrespected Yvonne.

"She doesn't deserve a shred of recognition from me! I'll never give her the time of day!" Madam Anworth's hand struck the table with a resounding thud, her glare as sharp as a blade aimed at Yvonne's heart.

Yvonne lifted her head, briefly encountering Madam Anworth's gaze before looking away once more. She remained unfazed by Madam Anworth's scrutiny.

Thomas suddenly raised his head and declared with determination, "Now that I've found Yvonne, I'll never let her go again. Our family is broken beyond repair, so stay out of my personal life!"

"How dare you!" Madam Anworth shot up from her chair, her eyes blazing. "If you even think about bringing her back, I'll kick you out of your current position and take back every share you own!"

Thomas sneered and said, "Position? Shares? Mom, I'm just a lowly manager in the company now, making a basic salary of 600 dollars a month. I'm not the one who wants to quit, it's you! And as for the shares, didn't you already take them all back?'"

"You!" Madam Anworth gritted her teeth as she said, "Are you deliberately trying to oppose me?"

She was stunned to see her typically weak and incompetent son defy her wishes time and again for the sake of Yvonne.

She was certain that Yvonne and her late mother were up to no good, trying to stir up trouble between her and her son.

Just as Thomas was about to say something, Hannah Anworth, who had been quiet for a while, spoke up, "Grandma, do you agree to let Yvonne come back?"

"Hmm!" Grandma's expression softened a bit when she saw Hannah. But she still coldly snorted, "Let Yvonne come back? Forget about it!'"

"But Yvonne is Mr. Hart's fiancée," Hannah blinked her eyes, her lips curled up into a mischievous grin.

The room was suddenly filled with an eerie silence.

"What are you talking about? Brandon's fiancée isn't ...," Grandma paused and abruptly stood up. "Oh, wait, I remember now! Yvonne is the one engaged to the Harts. Now that she's back, you don't have to marry Brandon anymore."

It was widely acknowledged that Brandon Hart, the seventh son of the Harts, was an indolent person who lacked seriousness and frittered away his time.

Master Hart has a deep affection for Brandon, particularly since Brandon heroically saved him two years ago, resulting in Brandon's disability. Since that incident, Master Hart has showered Brandon with even more love and attention.

And Brandon's lavish spending habits have escalated, as he recklessly disposes of the money generously given to him by his parents and Master Hart.

But for some unexplained reason, a representative from the Anworths recently approached the Harts and informed them that their young lady was engaged to Brandon and that they expected the Harts to honor the engagement.

Isn't Hannah the young lady of the Anworths?

Madam Anworth's anxiety stemmed from her concerns about Hannah's future. Despite the Anworths' lower social standing compared to the Harts, Madam Anworth had nurtured Hannah since she was a child. She believed that Hannah deserved to marry someone more prominent who could elevate the Anworths' position.

Despite Brandon's lavish lifestyle courtesy of his grandfather, he lacked true influence. The wealth he possessed originated from his parents and Master Hart's generosity.

Remember, money could run out. Once he spent it all and there was nothing left, he would be left with nothing but to rely on the generosity of others for basic necessities.

Despite Madam Anworth's objections, the Harts had been committed to their engagement and couldn't simply call it off. So, Madam Anworth sought strategies to terminate the impending union gracefully.

With Yvonne's return, the engagement could proceed as planned. Yvonne's background as a simple country girl made her an appropriate match for Brandon, who had physical limitations. Besides, the Anworths could benefit from a union with the Hart family, achieving two advantages simultaneously.

With this in mind, Madam Anworth wasted no time and said, "Fine, let Yvonne come back. But she's got a month to learn some manners before she gets engaged to Brandon. We don't want any embarrassing moments at the ceremony."

Thomas and Joanna Lloyd were dumbfounded, their eyes wide with disbelief as they gazed at the old lady.

They were still struggling to process Hannah's earlier statement.

Soon, Thomas raised his head abruptly, "What engagement ceremony? The one engaged to Brandon isn't ..."

"Yvonne is the young lady of the Anworths. It's her who is engaged to the Harts. Now that she's back, it's only natural to fulfill the engagement."

Joanna's expression darkened upon hearing the news. She turned to Yvonne with a sympathetic gaze.

Her mother-in-law was clearly up to something.

Her willingness to let Yvonne back into their lives hints at her covert motivations.

Everyone knew that Brandon had a disability.

She once opposed Hannah marrying Brandon, but now she supported Yvonne marrying him.

"I disagree!" Thomas's voice boomed with fury, his features contorted in a rage. "It's obvious that Hannah is the one who got engaged to Brandon."

"Dad, I'm not saying I don't want to marry Brandon, but Yvonne is the eldest daughter from the Anworths. If I get married to Brandon and the Harts find out about it, they'll be furious with us for keeping it a secret." Hannah's tone was vague, and she looked down slightly, a sly look crossing her face.

"Right!" Madam Anworth immediately nodded, "The Harts are a powerful family, and we don't want to mess with them."

"You all!" Thomas's face went all red. He was furious.

But Madam Anworth ignored him and turned to Yvonne. "If you wish to return to the Anworths, you must get engaged to Brandon."

Yvonne raised her eyes to meet Madam Anworth's gaze. Her bright and captivating eyes sparkled faintly.

After a moment, with a dainty smile, she took a breath and coolly replied, "Alright. I'm in for the engagement!"

She must come back to the Anworths!

Her lips curled into a subtle, enigmatic smile as she contemplated her engagement. Her return to the Anworths coincided with an opportune moment to gracefully dissolve her engagement to Brandon.

After leaving the old mansion of the Anworths, Yvonne followed Thomas and Joanna back to their own home.

Eight years ago, Thomas's grandmother forced him to leave the old mansion, and his family has since relocated to Newton Residential Area, a secluded neighborhood far from the city's bustle.

The neighborhood had been quite antiquated, and the walls of the buildings were deteriorating, possibly due to the passage of time.

Thomas's family resided in an apartment with three bedrooms.

Upon greeting Thomas, Yvonne headed towards the bedroom.

She just returned home, and her belongings haven't been unpacked yet.

The moment she stepped into the bedroom, an insistent knock echoed through the room.

She got up and headed towards the door. As she swung it open, she found Thomas and Joanna standing awkwardly, unsure of what to say.

"Do you need something, Mr. Anworth?" Yvonne stepped aside to let Thomas come in.

"Yeah, I do, actually." Thomas pursed his lips, unsure how to start.

"What's the matter? Just tell me." Yvonne gestured for Thomas to sit down while she herself stood.

"I want to cancel the wedding on your behalf."

Yvonne's eyebrows shot up, her eyes wide with surprise.

Joanna approached her, gently grasped her hand, and took a seat on the bed. Then, she said softly, "Listen. Your father believes that marriage is a lifelong commitment, and Brandon has a disability. If you marry him, you'll be responsible for his care for the rest of your life. He wants you to find someone with a good heart, someone who will truly love and protect you forever."

Joanna paused for a moment and continued, "But this marriage was arranged by your mother after all. So, we still need to hear your thoughts on it."

Although she had never been in contact with Yvonne, she felt sorry for her.

Brandon was not the right match for her.

So what if the Harts were wealthy and powerful?

If Yvonne makes that decision, the consequences will be devastating and irreversible. It would be a mistake with a lasting negative impact on her life.

Yvonne looked at Joanna, a hint of a smile appearing on her cold cheeks. "Well, I was planning on cancelling him."

Joanna was Thomas's second wife and also her stepmother.

After the brief interaction she had with her, Yvonne didn't feel repulsed.

She could also tell that Thomas and Joanna were genuinely considering her.

"That's good!" Thomas stood up excitedly. "I'm calling the Harts right now to cancel that wedding!"

Mount Elvern.

In the depths of the mountain forest, three figures stood solemnly before a nameless grave.

The man on the left, dressed in trendy clothes and sporting an earring, turned to the slender man beside him. "Mr. Hart, it's been two days, and that girl still hasn't come. I don't think she'll come. Let's go."

"Just wait a little longer." The man in the middle narrowed his eyes and looked at the nameless grave before him. A layer of light shimmered under his dark eyes.

He was dressed in casual black clothes, and his messy hair covered half of his eyelids. His exquisite, handsome face carried a hint of coldness and arrogance. He was the seventh son of the Harts, the useless son who was saved by Yvonne.

Brandon Hart!

The person who spoke first was Yorky Smith, the third son of the Smiths in Norbury.

"Don't wait any longer. If you keep waiting, you'll miss the engagement with Miss Anworth from the Anworths." Yorky touched his earlobe and chuckled, "Miss Anworth is a talented woman from Queenstown. Besides, you've been engaged to her since childhood. Your grandfather has repeatedly emphasized that the engagement ceremony must not go wrong."

A faint curve appeared at the ice-cold corner of Brandon's lips. "Has the engagement with the Anworths been canceled?"

"Even if you were cripple and the biggest loser on Earth, would the Anworths dare to break off their engagement with the Harts, the most powerful family in Norbury? And let's be honest, you're not exactly a loser anyway!"

It was hard to imagine the Anworths calling off the marriage if they knew Brandon was neither disabled nor useless!

"Oh." Brandon's eyes dimmed.

They did not cancel the engagement!

It was not fun anymore!

Sensing futility in his words, Yorky sealed his lips on the matter.

He decided not to mention this topic anymore. "Since finding your savior seems impossible, let's move on. We can still save Helena once we find my senior."

Brandon cast him a sidelong glance, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes. "Your senior? Are you sure she exists?"

Yorky was left speechless and couldn't come up with a response.

After a while, he exclaimed in frustration, "Of course she exists! My senior is totally drop-dead gorgeous and has a heart of gold. And don't even get me started on her skills as a doctor. She's like a walking miracle! She can practically raise the dead and mend broken bones ..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by the person standing on Brandon's right side. "Mr. Smith, you don't even know her name, what she looks like. And yet, you're making her out to be some kind of mythical creature. Is this 'senior' of yours even real? Instead of wasting time looking for her, it would be better to wait for the Black Alliance to contact the mysterious divine doctor."

Raise the dead and mend broken bones?

Even the esteemed professors at the Medical Research Institute wouldn't even dare claim such skills.

Yorky exclaimed excitedly, "You're talking nonsense! You think I'm making things up, huh? My senior is real! But that mysterious divine doctor is like a phantom, appearing and disappearing at will. Only treat patients on a whim. We've searched for ages with no success. Who even knows if that doctor accepts patients anymore?"

"I suspect he's completely incompetent! His medical skills are not even as good as my senior!"

This person was ignorant!

How could an ordinary person like him understand his senior?

Although his senior never mentioned his name and knowing she had changed after a decade, he was certain he would recognize his senior the moment he laid eyes on her.

"Fine, fine, I'll take your word for it." Franco Kelmer had it up to here arguing with Yorky. Mainly because he was kinda creepily obsessed with his senior.

Brandon gave them both a quick look, then looked away and bowed to the nameless tombstone as he said, "Alright, let's go!"

"Mr. Hart, where are we going?" Franco asked.

Brandon's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Queenstown. I'll convince my fiancée to break off our engagement!"