Chapter 4

My eyes went red as I listened to Evan. My parents' deaths were the one thing I could never get over.

I stared at Lydia, but her expression was cold and calm.

"Evan isn't an outsider. There's nothing in my life that he doesn't have a right to know."

She paused.

"You insisted on making a scene. Evan only blurted it out in public because he was defending me. In the end, this is your fault."

A desperate despair made my whole body tremble. I forced down the anger that was close to breaking loose and enunciated each word.

"Lydia, we can still end this without making enemies of each other. I've never done anything to hurt you..."

Lydia cut me off.

"You have mental issues. Who knows if it's true that you've never wronged me? After your parents died, you took over all their assets. For all we know, you arranged that robbery yourself! Someone like you wouldn't even spare your own parents. Who would believe you?"

My ears rang.

I rushed forward, but a hotel security guard grabbed my arm, his tone impatient. "Sir, please calm down. This isn't the place for you to lose control!"

Evan frowned. "James, did I hit a nerve?"

Just then, a wheelchair rolled in from the hotel entrance. Lydia's mother was pushed in by several of Lydia's relatives. She didn't even glance at me before taking Lydia's face in her hands with concern.

Lydia froze. "Mom, why are you here? Didn't you have care services today?"

Her mother's voice was cold as iron. "Someone cut off the nursing home payments. I was kicked out. What care services would I still have?"

Lydia raised her head and glared at me.

The fury in her eyes almost spilled over as she screamed at me. "James, I can tolerate any tantrum you throw, but you should never have hurt my mother! If you act like this, I really will get angry!"

Her mother gave a cold laugh.

"He hasn't even married with you yet, and he's already bullying his future mother-in-law. Just because he has some money, he thinks he can throw his weight around in our family."

She slammed the armrest and said with righteous anger, "I'm still alive!"

Several of Lydia's relatives stood in a row, staring at me coldly.

"This is why it's important to have parents. What kind of upbringing is this? He doesn't even know how to honor his future mother-in-law."

"He wants to hit Lydia in front of us over just a few words. Who knows what he does in private? What a disgusting domestic abuser!"

"Lydia, think this through. You can't let him marry you so easily."

Lydia took a deep breath and turned to look at me.

"James, you really went too far this time." She held out her hand as if giving me one last chance. "Now, apologize and pay."

I took a step back and stared at her. "No."

Lydia's expression darkened completely. "If you keep being stubborn, it won't be my fault if things get harsh."

Evan clicked his tongue softly. "Lydia, why waste your breath on him? You're his fiancee. His money is practically yours."

As soon as he finished speaking, he reached out to snatch my phone. I moved, but Lydia stepped forward and grabbed my arm. Evan seized the chance to take my phone, held it up to my face to unlock it, and moved his fingers quickly across the screen.

Just then, a rush of footsteps came from the hotel's main entrance. More than twenty men in suits walked in and quickly blocked every exit.

The hotel manager hurried forward. "Who are you people? We don't allow..."

The leader took out an ID card and flashed it in front of him.

The manager's expression changed at once. He stepped back and lowered his head. He didn't dare raise his head again.

Members of Lydia's family were all stunned.

Lydia was forced to let go as she watched as the bodyguards moved in to protect me behind them. "Who are you? Why are you interfering in my family matters? He's my fiance..."

As soon as she finished speaking, the sound of an engine shut down came from outside.

A discreet black luxury van stopped. The door opened, and a woman in a white dress tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear before walking in without looking around. She stopped in front of me, raised her head, and smiled faintly.

"Didn't you say you were going to get a marriage certificate with me, you big liar? Why are you still standing here?"

Lydia's expression turned to shock as panic rose in front of her uncontrollably. "What marriage certificate?"

I gently took Ada's hand.

The moment I pulled Ada into my arms, Lydia's face twisted with rage.