I Flash Married The Richest Man Alive?!

"Julian, the wedding is about to start-you can't go!"

Evelina Hayes, stunning in her white wedding gown, grabbed Julian Vance's arm. Her fingers trembled, her face pale with disbelief.

Today was Evelina and Julian's wedding day.

But just as the ceremony was about to begin, Julian received a text and, in front of all their guests, announced the wedding was off.

Julian's brow furrowed, his voice tight with urgency. "Let go of me. Isabelle got hurt. She'll be terrified if I leave her alone at the hospital. I have to be with her."

All the color drained from Evelina's face.

Isabelle Thorne was Julian's childhood sweetheart.

For five years, it had always been the same. Every time Evelina and Julian had a milestone, if Isabelle so much as sneezed, Julian would drop everything and run to her side.

He always insisted he saw Isabelle as a friend and that Evelina needed to be more understanding.

Desperate to make their five-year relationship last, Evelina had given in time and time again.

But this was their wedding day.

Isabelle needed Julian by her side? What about her? Didn't she deserve to have her own husband with her?

Her voice shook as she pleaded, "No, you can't leave. There's no wedding without you. Please, Julian, just stay!"

Julian's face hardened with irritation. "Enough! This isn't the time to be selfish. It's just a ceremony; we can do it anytime. But Isabelle is hurt. If you keep me here any longer, are you going to take responsibility for what happens to her? Get out of my way!"

He shoved her aside without a second glance.

Caught off guard, Evelina stumbled and fell, watching helplessly as Julian's back disappeared through the doors.

A moment later, her phone rang.

She answered automatically, and a woman's gloating voice oozed through the speaker.

"Evelina, I heard today was your big day. How do you like the wedding gift I sent you?"

Evelina trembled. She knew that voice.

"Isabelle," she said through gritted teeth. "You deliberately called Julian away, didn't you?"

"Of course I did. So what? I just wanted you to understand that to Julian, I will always come first."

Isabelle's tone dripped with smug satisfaction. "You must have put so much work into this wedding. Such a shame to see all that effort go to waste. I almost feel sorry for you."

Looking down at her pristine white gown, Evelina suddenly saw her five years of devotion for what they were: a complete joke.

As an orphan, her greatest dream had always been to have a loving family of her own.

But she finally understood that Julian could never give her that.

If that was the case, then it was time to let go.

A cold laugh escaped her lips. "You're going to be disappointed. The wedding is still on."

Isabelle's voice turned scornful. "Have you lost your mind? How exactly do you plan to have a wedding without Julian as the groom?"

A faint, mocking smile curved Evelina's lips.

Who said the groom had to be Julian?

If he could abandon her so easily, then she would find someone else-someone who would actually cherish her.

"Give Julian a message for me: I'm done with him. He's a man I no longer want. Since you're so fond of him, he's all yours. Trash belongs with trash. You two deserve each other forever."

Isabelle's tone sharpened. "You've crossed the line, Evelina-"

Evelina hung up before she could finish.

The wedding was in half an hour. She had to find a replacement groom, and fast.

Gathering her skirt, she hurried outside-only to find the church grounds swarming with bodyguards in black suits, all of them clearly searching for someone.

A man in a groom's tuxedo, sat in a wheelchair, his presence so icy and commanding it seemed to silence the chaos around him.

"The ceremony is about to start. Have you found her?" he demanded, his voice cold as steel.

The guard hesitated. "Mr. Blackwood, we've searched everywhere near the church. Miss Miller is nowhere to be found. It seems she... ran."

"Ran?" His voice was deep, almost pleasant, a stark contrast to the predatory coldness in his eyes. "If this wedding doesn't happen on time, you know the consequences."

Evelina overheard their exchange. So, this man had been left at the altar, too.

Without a moment's hesitation, she lifted her gown and walked straight toward him.

The nearest guard tensed, instinctively blocking her path.

"Miss, what are you doing?"

The man in the wheelchair fixed his gaze on her, and the intensity of it was almost a physical weight.

But Evelina didn't flinch. She met his stare head-on.

"I heard your bride ran away," she said. "How about I take her place?"

Damian Blackwood's eyes narrowed at Evelina's declaration. "Miss, are you certain? I'm a cripple. If you marry me, you'll only regret it."

Evelina didn't answer directly. Instead, she countered, "Would you ever leave your wife for someone else?"

"Never." His tone was absolute.

"Then I'll never regret it," Evelina replied without hesitation. "If you're willing to take the risk, so am I."

Seeing the stark seriousness on her face, Damian found no reason to refuse. "Alright. Let's get married."

And just like that, the wedding that had nearly been called off proceeded as planned.

They exchanged vows before the minister and became husband and wife.

As she walked out of the chapel, a sense of disbelief washed over Evelina. She had actually married a complete stranger.

Her life was starting over, right here, right now.

She took the handles of his wheelchair and began pushing him toward the exit when a thought struck her. "Wait-I don't even know your name."

"Damian Blackwood," he replied.

Evelina's mouth fell open. "Damian Blackwood? Of the Blackwood Group?"

Damian saw the shock on Evelina's face, and a mocking smile touched his lips.

"What's wrong? Realize you just married the city's most famous cripple? Having second thoughts already?"

Everyone in the city knew the story of Damian Blackwood.

His mother had died in childbirth, and his father remarried quickly.

Years later, a brutal car accident crushed his legs, leaving him what the world considered a permanent invalid.

When his stepmother soon produced a new heir, Damian was pushed even further into the shadows of the Blackwood family.

Only the fierce protection of his grandmother, Eleanor Blackwood, kept him from being cast out onto the streets, worse off than a beggar on the street.

As far as Damian was concerned, no woman in her right mind would marry a wreck like him-unless she was after money.

But he wasn't just a cripple; he was the unwanted son. This woman was in for a rude awakening when she realized there was nothing for her to gain.

Damian expected to see resentment dawn on her face.

Instead, Evelina felt a pang of kinship. They were the same-both discarded by their own families.

She took his hand, her grip surprisingly firm, her voice earnest. "I told you, I don't regret marrying you. I was just thinking... we're husband and wife now. From this day forward, I'm going to give you a real home. A warm one."

"Is that so? I hope you mean that."

Damian clearly didn't believe Evelina's words.

He was curious to see how long she could keep up the act once she realized he had nothing to offer her.

A sleek car pulled up in front of them.

"Let's go," he said.

"Where are you taking me?" Evelina asked.

"Home, of course. We're married. Isn't that what married people do? Live together?"

Home?

The word twisted something painful in Evelina's chest.

She already had a home-or what was supposed to be one. A beautiful house she had carefully prepared for her life with Julian.

But now she was married to Damian. Everything she owned in that house had to be removed. Immediately.

"I have to take care of something first," she said, her mind made up. "It might take a while. Can I get your phone number and address? I'll come to you as soon as I'm done."

"You don't need a ride?" Damian raised an eyebrow.

"No, I can handle it myself." She didn't want to impose.

Damian didn't press further. He exchanged contact details with her, then was helped into the car and left.

Half an hour later, Evelina pushed open the door to what was once her dream home.

Everything was exactly as she had left it: the carefully chosen tablecloth, the art on the walls, the two potted plants by the window. Every detail had been selected with love, meant to build a sanctuary for two.

Now, however, Evelina moved through the room with cold purpose. She tore it all down-the tablecloth, the art, the plants-and threw everything into the trash.

She was starting a new life. The past was just dead weight.

She had just finished destroying the last memento and was furiously packing her bags when a figure appeared in the doorway, unnoticed.

Julian stared at the destruction, his composure shattering. "Evelina!" he shouted, his voice cracking with rage. "What the hell are you doing?!"

The apartment that was supposed to be their home was in ruins. Furniture was overturned, scattered among the wreckage of shattered picture frames and broken vases. The entire room was a scene of methodical, destructive fury.

The one responsible for this chaos, Evelina, was calmly packing the few intact items into boxes and suitcases, as if determined to clear the place out completely.

Julian stared at the destruction in disbelief before striding toward Evelina.

"Evelina, have you lost your mind? I was gone for a few hours, and you do this?"

He took a sharp breath, struggling to contain his rage. "You have one hour," Julian ordered. "Put everything back. Exactly the way it was."

Evelina took her time, carefully placing a vase into a box before slowly turning to face Julian. Her expression was ice.

With a mocking smile, Evelina said, "Julian, don't you get it? What's broken can't be put back together."

Julian's brow furrowed with impatience. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

How dare he question her? A man like Julian was probably incapable of seeing his own faults.

The only gentleness Julian possessed was reserved for the one woman he truly loved-Isabelle.

Evelina's face was blank as Evelina stared at Julian. When Evelina finally spoke, each word seemed to cost Evelina the last of her strength.

"You humiliated me on our wedding day. You walked out on me without a second thought, ignoring me as I begged you to stay. Did you ever once stop to think about how that felt? About me? And after all that, you think this is just a tantrum?"

As Evelina spoke, the pain she had locked away tore through her. Her eyes burned, but she held Julian's gaze without flinching.

For a split second, guilt flickered across Julian's face. But just as quickly, Julian brushed it aside.

They had been together for years. Julian'd upset Evelina plenty of times, and it had never been a big deal. Evelina always forgave him.

If Evelina could understand his good intentions before, she would get over this, too. He just needed to calm her down a little.

As the thought settled, the anger on Julian's face melted away, replaced by a placid, controlled smile.

"Evelina, I know you're upset. But you can't act out like this. Look at what you've done to our home."

Julian reached out, placing his hands on her slender shoulders. His voice was soft, placating.

"There. You've blown off some steam. Let's just put this behind us. We'll pick a new date. I promise, I'll make it up to you with an even bigger, more luxurious wedding. How does that sound?"

Evelina just stared at the smile on Julian's face. His words were honey-sweet, but his eyes held nothing but condescension. He was so sure of himself, so confident he could talk his way out of anything. He looked utterly certain she would agree.

After all, wasn't that how it always went?

A bitter laugh almost escaped Evelina. She had given him far too many chances, so many that he'd learned he didn't need to put in any real effort with her at all.

With that realization, Evelina's expression hardened. She jerked her shoulder, shrugging Julian's hands off.

"Don't touch me. You disgust me."

Julian stared at Evelina, stunned. She had never, ever spoken to him like that.

Evelina's voice was cold. "Julian, that wedding is over. I have no intention of having another. The only reason I'm here is to move my things out."

Julian was already annoyed Evelina'd pushed him away. Her words only deepened his scowl. "Moving out?"

Evelina nodded. "Yes. I'm moving out. Right now."

Julian looked at Evelina as if she'd just told the funniest joke he'd ever heard. "Moving out? And where, exactly, would you go?"

Julian knew better than anyone that Evelina was an orphan with no family. This apartment was all she had. She had nowhere else to go.

For five years, her entire life had revolved around him. He was certain she couldn't survive without him.

This whole "moving out" thing was just a ploy to get him to back down.

Julian shook his head with a sigh, about to say something else.

Suddenly, Isabelle's voice called out from the doorway.

"Julian? You said you were just grabbing your things. What's taking so long?"

Isabelle walked in. Her gaze fell on Evelina, and her eyes widened in poorly feigned surprise. "Evelina? What are you doing here?"

Evelina gave Isabelle a flat, dismissive look. "I'm sorry, is this not my home? I don't owe you an explanation. The real question is, what are you doing here?"

Isabelle's expression immediately crumpled, her gaze dropping to the floor as she adopted a soft, fragile tone. "I cut myself with a kitchen knife. Julian was so worried, he insisted I move in for a few days so he could look after me."

Isabelle paused, then raised a hand to her mouth in theatrical shock, as if just now noticing the boxes.

"Evelina, what is all this? You're not leaving, are you? Are you angry with me? Even if you are, you shouldn't throw such a fit. If something's bothering you, you can just tell me. I'll apologize, okay? There's no need to take it this far."

A cold smile touched Evelina's lips. She walked toward Isabelle, each step slow and deliberate. "You want to apologize to me? Really?"

Aware that Julian was watching, Isabelle had to maintain her performance.

Isabelle nodded pitifully. "Of course. As long as you'll stop being angry, I'll apologize."

"Alright. That works for me." A bright, sunny smile spread across Evelina's face, though Evelina's eyes held no warmth at all. "Since you're so sincere about your apology... I accept."

The next second, Evelina's hand shot out.

The sharp crack of Evelina's palm against Isabelle's cheek echoed in the tense silence.