From Mockery To Makeover: The Ugly Wife Who Redefined Beauty

"Drop the knife this instant!"

At the Lewis Group's project bidding meeting, chaos broke out when Elijah Lewis, the CEO, was suddenly confronted by a woman wielding a knife. The crowd went wild: some shocked, some amused, and many scrambling to record the unbelievable scene on their phones.

Fortunately, Elijah's assistant, Phillip Cooper, stayed calm, quickly calling in the security team and barking at the woman to stop at once.

But she showed no trace of fear whatsoever.

Completely ignoring the chatter and panic around her, she leaned lazily against the table, eyeing the knife she had playfully waved right in front of Elijah's handsome face.

"Mr. Lewis, since I've already made my move, you don't need to keep playing hard to get anymore," she said slowly, tilting the blade so a streak of light flashed across Elijah's eyes.

Their eyes met, and for a brief second, the woman faltered.

It wasn't the least surprising; Elijah's striking looks were enough to daze anyone.

He had a calm and commanding way of carrying himself. Even his shirt and trousers were always neat to perfection, every button fastened. There was such an elegance and aloofness about him.

The whole time, he was carefully studying the bold, reckless woman before him.

He knew who she was. Not only because she was Adeline Wright, heiress of the Wright Group, but also because of her well-known reputation. Everyone in the city said she had tiny eyes, thick brows, a mole-covered face, and that she was overweight.

And now, she seemed to be quite crazy as well.

She looked nothing like the heiress of a powerful family.

Yet here she was, flirting shamelessly with him in public, speaking as if they shared intimacy. If this continued, Elijah knew the next day's headlines could destroy his reputation.

"Adeline Wright, are you done causing trouble already?"

Elijah didn't know her well, but given the situation, he had no choice but to put a stop to this drama sternly. Still, he didn't dare make any reckless move.

After all, she was armed, and the way she held the knife showed she wouldn't hesitate to use it.

"Elijah, don't be so serious. I'm just playing with you," Adeline replied. She puckered her thick lips in a mock-coquettish way, acting all theatrical and unhinged, her voice sugary sweet.

She leaned in dangerously close, almost brushing her lips against his, making some of the onlookers gag in disgust.

"Is Adeline out of her mind? How dare she mess with Mr. Lewis like this!"

"What a shame. Her father worked so hard to build the Wright Group, and after losing both legs in that accident, everything ended up in the hands of this foolish girl!"

"Maybe she lost her senses after what happened to him."

"Or maybe she's pretending to be crazy to win Elijah's sympathy!"

"Exactly. There's no way the Wright empire would be handed to such a fool. They say her father never liked her, and he probably has other illegitimate children out there more capable than she is."

The murmurs buzzed around Adeline, but she didn't flinch. Instead, she regarded Elijah with a mischievous look.

At first, Elijah was surprised she was unfazed by the remarks. Then, unexpectedly, he broke into a smile, utterly amused.

"You're surprisingly calm. Or maybe I should say... you're..."

He left the sentence unfinished, waiting to see her response. To his surprise, she moved even closer, answering without hesitation, "Shameless? Is that what you wanted to say?"

Now that they were so close, their breaths mingled.

The onlookers gasped, stunned by her audacity. Adeline only chuckled, lowering her voice so only he could hear. "Mr. Lewis, you've yet to see just how shameless I can be."

Saying that, she yanked his tie, winding it around her fingers and pulling him roughly into her arms. The knife spun easily in her hand before she clamped the handle between her teeth, the blade pointing downward.

Suddenly, Adeline roughly bound her arm to Elijah using his tie, dropping the last bit of courtesy she had shown.

She was convinced that Elijah wouldn't resist, not when she was holding a knife.

To a third party, the scene looked utterly indecent.

The journalists in the room were ecstatic, their cameras flashing nonstop, some already drafting explosive headlines to publish.

What a sensational story this would be!

Elijah Lewis-the young, handsome, wealthy CEO, admired across the business world-now literally tied to Adeline, the infamous ugly heiress of the Wright Group! Elijah's dignity was in shreds.

Nothing had ever prepared Elijah for Adeline's outrageous behavior.

His assistant, Phillip, was frozen in shock, while the security guards were thrown into confusion, rushing to call for reinforcements. This wasn't just any woman; this was the Wright family's heiress.

Realizing that Adeline wasn't doing this out of desperation but with a clear plan, Elijah thought carefully. She wasn't short on money or power. She had to want something.

"Are you doing this because you want me to give you a recommendation for Apex Medical Aesthetics?" he asked calmly.

Apex Medical Aesthetics was famous across the region for its world-class cosmetic surgery team and was one of the most profitable businesses owned by the Lewis family.

At his words, Adeline's expression changed in an instant.

Then she forced a laugh. "Ha-ha, Elijah, I knew I wasn't wrong about you. Even now, you still manage to joke."

His remark even drew a few laughs from the crowd. But Adeline scowled. She pulled harder on the tie and pressed the knife closer to his perfectly sculpted face.

"You..."

Elijah began, but she swiftly cut him off, her tone cold and menacing.

"I know you're desperate to end this madness, so do as I say. Remember, the knife doesn't care who you are."

Then she raised her other arm and addressed the onlookers. "I hereby announce that Elijah Lewis and I have been secretly dating for several months. Today, I'm officially declaring that our wedding will take place on the sixth of next month. We expect all our distinguished guests to attend and celebrate with us!"

Her announcement dunked the entire room into a horrified silence, broken only by Elijah's assistant, who shouted in shock, "What?"

"Hey, I'm going to marry him, so why are you screaming like that? Do you have a problem with it?"

Adeline pressed the knife against Elijah's throat as she shot the question at his assistant.

"I..." Phillip stuttered.

Adeline rolled her eyes in annoyance. He couldn't even string words together.

Just as Adeline was distracted, she suddenly felt a strong force overpowering her.

"Ah!"

It was Elijah.

Though he had seemed calm and passive, Elijah had been waiting patiently for the right moment. In an instant, he overpowered her, snatched the knife from her hand, and pinned her down against the table, completely immobilizing her.

"Elijah, you're playing dirty!" Adeline shouted.

Although she looked plump, she was no match for his strength.

Elijah frowned with suspicion, eyes narrowing as he severed the tie.

He felt a wave of satisfaction at getting back at her. Staring at the plump woman before him, he showed no kindness and ridiculed her without hesitation. "Weren't you also playing dirty a moment ago?"

With that, he prepared to hand the knife to Phillip to end the ridiculous scene before it worsened.

But Adeline wasn't ready to stop. She started rambling again, acting all pathetic. "Elijah, you're so heartless! How can you treat me this way? My virginity..."

Being a renowned CEO of a listed company, every minute of Elijah's day carried great value. Even attending today's bidding meeting had been squeezed into his already packed schedule. He had no patience to waste on such absurd behavior, especially from a woman he considered unattractive.

Elijah looked extremely furious now, the veins on his arms bulging. His face had gone pale and hard, his eyes sharp and threatening as he forced out each word. "What nonsense are you spewing?"

He leaned so close that Adeline could feel his harsh breath on her skin. His body was tense, his anger ready to explode at any second.

Seeing his reaction, she didn't dare say another word. Her cheeks burned red, and the boldness she had shown earlier melted away, leaving her looking shy and fragile. Her once-defiant eyes now shimmered with tears.

"I haven't lied, have I? Elijah, what are you going to do to me now? I'm not afraid of you! Whatever you want to do, go ahead. I won't be scared!"

Adeline refused to back down as she confronted the dangerous Elijah, whose patience had already reached its limit. He looked like a volcano, ready to erupt at any minute. Then he caught a sweet, soothing scent from her.

Elijah froze at once, visibly stunned.

For years he had struggled with bipolar disorder, one that no treatment or imported drug had been able to control. Yet this woman's natural scent worked better than any expensive medication, instantly softening the storm within him.

But he quickly hid his reaction and straightened, towering over her once more. His voice was low and commanding. "I'm not like you. I don't act without thinking."

Then, with a single gesture, he ordered the bidding meeting to be suspended.

He glanced discreetly at Phillip, who immediately understood.

Without a word, Phillip, backed by security guards, escorted Adeline out of the main hall.

......

Adeline thought they would throw her out on the street, but to her surprise, Phillip brought her into a separate meeting room nearby.

Five minutes later, Elijah entered.

Adeline's eyes widened in shock as she watched him sit in the main chair at the conference table. Facing her-bound tightly with rope and visibly uncomfortable-he let out a faint chuckle, then crossed his legs and gave Phillip a signal.

Phillip, who had worked beside him for years, caught the silent order immediately. Back in the chaos, he had already realized Elijah wanted Adeline kept.

Without hesitation, he untied her ropes, revealing deep red marks on her skin.

Phillip took a long sip of water, thirsty after the ordeal, but before he could speak, Adeline blurted out, already brimming with excitement, "Mr. Lewis, I knew you had sharp judgment. Let's be straightforward; let's just go and get our marriage certificate!"

Phillip nearly choked on his water, coughing violently and even splashing some onto Elijah's polished shoes. Elijah scowled immediately.

Flustered, Phillip fished out a handkerchief and bent down to wipe Elijah's shoes.

Meanwhile, Adeline smiled sheepishly at what she'd put Phillip through and added, "Was that really necessary? Well, your boss and I are a perfect match. We're deeply in love..."

Elijah could take no more. He exhaled and fixed her with a glare.

That look alone made Adeline's shoulders tremble, forcing her to fall silent.

"I don't have time to waste on your games. Tell me straight-what do you want?"

Elijah's commanding tone only reminded her of what he was: a young, self-made CEO who had built his empire with talent, confidence, and charm.

He was really impressive.

With only a few words, a direct look from his firm eyes, and the authority in every gesture he made, Adeline couldn't help but be deeply awestruck.

"You... you wouldn't have had me brought here unless you knew I wanted something from you," she said nervously.

The truth was, Elijah still didn't know her real intentions. He was only testing her and trying to figure out why her scent had such a strange effect on him.

Adeline swallowed hard and darted a glance at Phillip.

Understanding what she meant, Elijah said flatly, "He's my man. There's no need to hold back. Say what you came to say."

Relieved, Adeline straightened up, ready to reveal her true intentions. She cleared her throat and finally spoke. "Mr. Lewis, I'm sorry for approaching you this way today. I know that although our families are of similar status, we've never been close. My reputation is terrible, so it's nearly impossible for me to reach you in any normal way. I could only use this extreme method to force you to notice me."

As she finished, she pulled a rolled-up document from her sleeve.

It looked as though she had been hiding it carefully for some time.

"Today, I risked completely destroying what little name I have left, not for myself, but for the future of the Wright Group and the Lewis Group together!"

The future?

The Wright Group and the Lewis Group?

Hearing her words, Elijah raised a brow sarcastically.

His stern face suddenly broke into a mocking smile, like he had heard a ridiculous joke. "The Wright Group and the Lewis Group have always stayed out of each other's way. When did our futures suddenly become tied together?"

Adeline was briefly taken aback by Elijah's words, but she refused to be moved. She drew in a breath, kept her eyes fixed on him, and spoke with determination.

"I know very well that the Wright Group can't measure up to the Lewis Group. But, Mr. Lewis, you must also know that the higher the climb, the harder the fall..."

She was practically cursing Elijah to his very own face!

Phillip, standing to the side, could barely tolerate Adeline's rambling any longer and was about to intervene, but Elijah stopped him with a simple lift of his hand.

That gesture only gave Adeline more confidence. "Today's bidding event may look smooth and orderly on the surface, but in reality, it's full of traps. As one of Waemery City's top business leaders, you might not see the schemes happening right under you. I have proof. Take a good look, and you'll see I'm not just talking nonsense or making this up."

She carefully smoothed out the wrinkled documents she'd brought and laid them out in front of Elijah.

She said, "The Lewis Group's bidding slots are rare and valuable, but the Wright Group is just as qualified and experienced as the rest. Still, our rivals manipulated the process, bribing members of the evaluation committee and submitting false documents.

As you know, my father was in a serious accident a few months back and is still in intensive care. I've been holding the company together by myself, and these competitors are trying everything to crush us. Do you think that's fair to a company that has the right to bid? And if unqualified companies are added to the slots, could that not affect the Lewis Group's future?"

Elijah skimmed the documents containing several pieces of evidence while listening to Adeline's determined words.

He knew business was about strategy, not just effort. Her reasoning wasn't entirely off.

And it wasn't hard for him to tell if she was lying. The question was-why would she go to such extremes, even proposing marriage, just to get his attention? What was she really after?

As if sensing his doubt, Adeline continued, "Mr. Lewis, let me be straightforward. I came here today for two reasons. The first is about the bidding. The second is to propose a fake marriage between us. An alliance between the Wright Group and the Lewis Group would strengthen us both.

My father built the Wright Group from the ground up, and its projects and qualifications are among the best in the industry. Since his accident, I've been running the company while also caring for him at the hospital, hoping that one day he'll wake up to find the Wright Group still standing strong.

But I underestimated how brutal the business world is-competition, online smear campaigns, employees being poached, and now this corrupt bidding process. I've faced one setback after another. If this continues, the Wright Group will be swallowed whole by greedy businessmen."

As Adeline recounted the Wright family's ordeal, even Phillip found himself caught up in it, almost moved by her struggle.

But Elijah remained cold and asked flatly, "Why should I help you?"

His question was reasonable, yet wasn't there any sympathy in him for a young woman fighting to keep her father's company alive?

Of course, this was the man known for his composure, the domineering CEO who held assets worth trillions.

Phillip silently sighed to himself.

Adeline steadied herself, blinking back tears, and addressed the man in front of her.

She said, "Mr. Lewis, I know exactly what you're thinking. You're a businessman. You won't lift a finger unless there's something in it for you. And I also know what you're curious about. People gossip that my father has illegitimate children, and it's true. They've been eyeing the Wright family fortune for years.

But let me tell you this: my father built the Wright Group with the support of my mother's family, and I will never allow them to take what belongs to her. That's why I've been hiding my real appearance and abilities, pretending to be weaker than I am, just to make them drop their guard so I can make my moves."

Her eyes glistened, but her voice was firm, each word full of conviction. "If you agree to this fake marriage with me, I'll hand over all my shares in the Wright Group to you."

Adeline met Elijah's eyes head-on, but his cold stare still made her shiver.

"I know you're a wealthy CEO, and money is hardly what you need most. But who ever says no to having more? Don't worry; we won't register it legally. It'll only be a pretend marriage. We can even forge the documents if we have to."