Chapter 2

Ezra's POV

The moment I finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.

Clover froze for a second before stepping forward and grabbing my hand.

She said, "Okay, your tantrum has gone overboard. We've already sent out the wedding invitations. Everyone knows we're getting married, and now you're saying we're calling it off? Your mother is still looking forward to attending your wedding. Have you considered how she'll feel hearing you say this, Ezra Kane?"

When I remained silent, Clover grew increasingly irritable. "Fine, alright. I get it. How about this? After the wedding, I'll spend three days a week taking care of the child with Zander, and the other four days with you. That should be enough, right?"

Her expression was dripping with condescension, as if she were doing me some enormous favor. She was so certain I'd eagerly accept her offer.

The mutual friends around us seemed to approve of her wholeheartedly. A flicker of jealousy crossed Zander's eyes.

I couldn't help finding the whole thing utterly ridiculous.

What exactly did Clover take me for? Was I a dog she could summon whenever she wanted and dismiss whenever she pleased?

I was about to refuse when Clover continued, her voice growing firmer, "I can give you the best wedding imaginable. But Ezra, you should stop expecting me to get a marriage certificate with you?"

I stared at her in disbelief.

Before I could even process what she'd said, she went on as if it were perfectly reasonable. "I can't let my child be born out of wedlock. Marrying Zander is nonnegotiable. But don't worry. In my heart, you're still my husband."

With that, she reached out as if to comfort me.

I stepped backward to avoid her hand. "You had a child with him, and you even got a marriage certificate with him. Then, what am I to you? And what does tomorrow's wedding even mean?"

I stared straight at Clover, my eyes bloodshot.

A frown gradually formed between her brows as she said, "So, when it comes down to it, you just want me to divorce Zander, don't you? Let me make this clear. Both the Sorrell and Carlson families know about my relationship with Zander.

"He's a match for me in terms of socio-economic background, so there's no way we're getting divorced. If you keep making a scene, I'll cancel tomorrow's wedding altogether!"

As she said that, her expression turned icy.

When Clover and I first got together, she'd never cared about my family background.

Even the Sorrell family had never raised any objections. I'd always thought they were open-minded.

Now, I understood. They'd known all along that, to Clover, I was nothing more than a lover or a plaything. I was never going to be the man she legally married.

Zander had a brief look of amusement in his eyes.

Samson hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "Ezra, don't push your luck. You've been with Clover for so many years. If you anger her, you'll be the one crawling back on your knees to beg for forgiveness."

I snorted incredulously and stood up. If I'd really been after Clover's money, I wouldn't have spent the past seven years working so hard to build my own business.

I'd wanted Clover herself. Unfortunately, I'd only just realized that she'd never truly been mine.

I suppressed the turmoil inside me and spoke calmly, "I said I'll step aside and let you two be together. The wedding is off."

With that, I turned and walked away.

Just before the private room door closed, Zander raised his voice. "Clover, what if Ezra is serious this time? Should I just swallow my pride and apologize to him?"

Clover nestled into his arms like it was second nature and let out a mocking laugh. "Ezra is just a dog I've kept around. He won't leave even if I try to get rid of him. Just wait. He'll show up at the wedding tomorrow, tail wagging, all on his own.

"By then, I'll make him toast you as an apology."

Uproarious laughter erupted in the private room.

I walked away without hesitation, never once looking back.