Chapter 3

That video was so explicit that it was hard to watch.

I hadn't even clicked into it before Sherry snatched my phone away.

She fumed after watching it, stomping her feet angrily. "That bitch! No wonder Zachary keeps going out of his way to protect that secretary of his. Turns out they've been messing around behind your back this whole time! How shameless!"

"You're the heiress of the Stone family, Victoria. Are you really going to let this pass? I'll deal with that scheming homewrecker myself!"

Sherry had always been impulsive.

I stopped her before she could even make it out the door. "There's no need."

Sherry's eyes turned red with frustration. "But tomorrow's your wedding. What are you going to do?"

She had always worried about my relationship.

Over the past five years, whenever she mentioned Zachary, she always thought he was poor and wasn't good enough for me.

All I had to do was leave him, and I could go back to living as the wealthy heiress I was meant to be.

Yet for the sake of so-called love, I had carefully pretended to be poor and stayed by his side while he built everything from scratch.

I lowered my head and chuckled. "Do you really think a man like that is worth marrying, Sherry? I've already thrown the dress away. There's no need for the wedding to proceed anymore."

As I spoke, the sound of shattering glass came from behind me. I turned around and met Zachary's cold, hostile gaze.

He said, "Can you stop making a big deal out of nothing, Victoria? You even threw away the wedding dress? Who are you trying to threaten?"

Frowning, Zachary strode over, looking completely unreasonable as he slammed the shopping bag in his hand down hard.

"To think that Mary was kind enough to consider how you might have felt wronged today. She even convinced me to go to a bridal shop to get you a brand-new wedding dress after dinner. You're truly ungrateful!" he spat.

Mary stood behind Zachary, looking flustered. Her eyes were wide when she looked at me pitifully. "It's all my fault, Victoria. I shouldn't have tried on your wedding dress without your permission. I only make three thousand dollars a month, but I'll pay you back—"

Biting her lip, she shakily pulled out her wallet and took out several 50-dollar bills. With reddened eyes, she held them out to me.

Zachary said, "You don't need to pay her back, Mary. She's been living off my family and using our money all these years. And now she's putting a price tag on a stupid wedding dress? How shameless can she be?"

Sherry grew exasperated when she heard his words. "You're the one with no shame, Zachary! Do you have any idea how many times Victoria secretly helped you over the years? If anything, you're the one who's been living off her! Do you even know that Victoria is—"

Before she could reveal my identity, I frowned and shook my head at her.

There was no need to deal with people like this any more than necessary.

I looked at Zachary and said coldly, "Since you think I owe you, go ahead and make a list of everything. I'll do the same with all my expenses. We can settle this in court."

Shock crossed his face, then he laughed in disbelief.

Pointing at me, he sneered, "You said it yourself. You're the one calling off the engagement, Victoria. Don't regret it later. The invitations have already gone out, so all our friends and family will be there tomorrow. Let's see how you're going to handle it without a groom!"

With that, Zachary wrapped his arm around Mary and left. Even his tone sounded smug, as if he couldn't wait to watch me make a fool of myself.

Sherry frowned, clearly worried. "Now is not the time to be acting on impulse, Victoria. So many guests are coming for your wedding tomorrow. What are you going to do?"

I was unusually calm as I looked up at her. "If I recall correctly, your older brother just got back two days ago, right?"

Sherry froze, then covered her mouth in shock. "Victoria, don't tell me you're thinking of marrying Will? Oh my, he'll be over the moon if he finds out! I need to head back and tell him right now! He pursued you for eight whole years. If he knew he had a chance to marry you, he'd be smiling in his sleep!"

Sure enough, the message got to William Lancelot in less than half an hour.

I was sitting in the bar, downing drink after drink, when he came up behind me and pulled me into his arms.

William's tone held a hint of nervousness and excitement as he spoke. "You're finally willing to look my way, Victoria. I heard from Sherry that you're planning to switch grooms tomorrow?"

I turned around and met his affectionate gaze.

William was Sherry's older brother. He'd pursued me for eight years straight.

He had tried more than once to win me over while I was dating Zachary. He even said he was willing to be my backup, that he'd be first in line whenever I broke up.

I looked at William and nodded. "Yes, I'm planning to do that. Would you be willing?"

"Of course!" he replied without hesitation. "I heard about everything from Sherry today. Zachary isn't worth anything. You were right to dump him."

William's voice was beyond tender. "I'll prove to you that choosing me is the right decision, Victoria. See you at the wedding tomorrow."