Chapter 2

Harrison's POV

Charlotte immediately panicked when she saw my reaction. She desperately tried to remove the diamond ring as she hurriedly explained, "Harrison, don't get the wrong idea. I only did this to make everything look more convincing."

Jonathan tightened his grip on her hand. "Charlotte, stop going against what you truly feel. Aren't you embarrassed wearing that cheap silver ring worth only a few hundred dollars?

"You wore it every time you were with him just to protect his pathetic ego, but I've seen you take it off countless times the moment you stepped out the door. It hurts me to watch you put yourself through that.

"Harrison, you keep saying you love Charlotte more than anything. Did it never occur to you how difficult things were for her?"

Charlotte couldn't hide her embarrassment. She looked like she wanted to explain herself to me, but she eventually lowered her head in frustration.

At that moment, my mind was a complete mess. I could no longer bring myself to ask what I wanted to. It turned out that loving me had been such an embarrassment to her.

That made sense. Aside from sentimental value, how could a silver band handcrafted together with a partner compare to a diamond ring worth millions of dollars?

A real son who lived worse than a housekeeper had no business going up against an adopted son who stood to inherit everything and had his whole future ahead of him.

Charlotte had made the right choice. Staying with me would have only brought her hardship.

I stood up and handed them a crystal cross pendant that had been blessed at a church and was meant to keep them safe. "I wish you both a happy marriage."

Charlotte was about to accept the pendant, but Jonathan stopped her. He scornfully lifted the pendant with a pure-gold spoon and flicked it to the ground. It shattered instantly.

He sighed and looked over at me. "I was born rich, and accepting a cheap gift like this would only make me sick. Harrison, I appreciate the thought, but next time, just come yourself. There's no need to bring a gift."

Mom slapped me across the face. "For a second, I thought you had changed. I didn't expect you to still be the same, trying to curse Jonathan again."

Charlotte looked like she wanted to come over and check on me, but she stopped in her tracks after hearing Mom's words, disappointment clear on her face.

She said, "Harrison, I didn't believe them when they spoke badly about you before, but I never expected you'd stoop to such underhanded tactics just to frame Jonathan. What exactly happened between the two of you? It's been so many years. Can you still not let it go?"

Couldn't let it go? I, the one who had been hurt, had already moved on. It was the one who hurt me who refused to.

When I was younger, every attempt I made to be kind to Jonathan always ended the same way as today. My good intentions were mistaken for curses, and I was met with everyone's anger.

Charlotte knew these past events better than anyone. There had been a time when she cried while comforting me, cursed everyone out on my behalf, and told me she would always be my safe place. But now, she looked at me with sheer disappointment and frustration.

So she had never truly believed in me after all. That made everything feel pointless.

"I'll get going. I wouldn't want to ruin your day," I said.

I turned and left. No one spared me a second glance. They all looked relieved, as if a burden had been lifted.

Charlotte was the only one who gathered up the hem of her dress and chased after me, grabbing my hand. "Harrison, stop acting stubborn. You pushed Jonathan down the stairs once and nearly got him killed.

"Now he's been diagnosed with advanced cancer and doesn't have much time left. I'm only fulfilling his final wish to help you make up for your sins."

I had explained countless times that he fell on his own. Yet she never believed me, never checked the surveillance footage, and never looked at the evidence. By now, I was tired of repeating myself.

When I remained silent, Charlotte let out a sigh. Looking as though she had finally given in, she straightened my clothes. "Harrison, once the wedding is over, we'll go register our marriage. I'll only ever be your wife."

I didn't respond. This time around, she wanted to marry me, but I no longer wanted to marry her.

Just then, my phone buzzed. A text message came through. "Mr. Harrison Arden, the staged death you requested has been arranged. In seven days, you'll die in a car accident."