Chapter 2

This was no accident—it was a scheme aimed at me. As Xavier and Aaron angrily stared me down, I felt like a beached fish that was about to die from dehydration.

"Julia, I'm begging you at this point. Stop hurting Sophia!" Xavier's gaze was frigid.

"If you really want to hold us accountable, I'm willing to be engaged to you again. We can just follow our original plan to get married."

I covered the back of my hand. "I'm not marrying you.

"Since the ring and rosary are now in pieces, I hope that my ties with both of you end here. Let's never meet again."

"I hope so too." He sneered.

Their expressions were filled with hatred. Suddenly, pain and shame blurred my mind.

I turned around and left, enduring the pain in the back of my hand. I couldn't bear staying here any longer. After leaving the hospital, I went to see my colleague, Emily Reed.

Emily comforted me and told me that I was blessed, so those scumbags don't deserve me and the family I would marry into would be good. Then, she said she would take me to an outdoor restaurant to eat and clear my mind. However, we ran into Sophia.

"Sophia, you just got better, so don't eat anything too heavy. The Ferris family is one of this restaurant's investors, so tell me what you want. I'll ask the chef to make it for you."

"I remember that Sophia loves steak, so how about we get her the best of the best—Wagyu steak?"

"But…" Sophia turned and pointed at my table. "I want to eat what Julie is eating."

"She just wouldn't leave us alone." I heard Aaron sigh.

Emily immediately stood up. "You're the ones who wouldn't leave her alone!

"I can't believe we're getting mocked even when we're just having a meal. You look like a decent person, so why is your mouth so foul?"

I quickly pulled her back into her seat. Although Aaron was religious, the Carter family's power could not be underestimated. I couldn't drag her down with me.

In the second half of our meal, the rest of the dishes we ordered didn't arrive. All dishes were brought to Sophia's table until not even a round table that could seat nine people could fit them.

"Forget it. I'm not putting up with this anymore. We're leaving!"

Emily pulled me to the exit. But when she turned around, she knocked into a waiter, who dropped the hot soup he was holding. I quickly shielded her from it.

"Julie, are you okay? Julie!"

Pain spread through my arm. As my airways constricted, I started to pant.

When Xavier, who was nearby, turned to look in my direction, Sophia grabbed his sleeve. "Xavi, can you help me cut this steak?"

In the end, Emily took me to the hospital. She wanted to stay with me a little longer, but I told her I had to rush to try on my wedding dress later.

The people from the Lowell family had just sent me the address to the bridal boutique. It was a beautiful and elegant wedding dress. I knew they must have spent a lot of effort on it, so I couldn't let it go to waste.

By the time they finished bandaging my wound, it was already evening. I went home to get my car. When I entered the parking lot, I saw Isaac talking to someone.

His gaze was affectionate, and his voice was warm. I had never heard him speak with so much love.

"I'm sorry that you had to suffer for so many years. Once Julia leaves this house, I'll let you into our family and change your last name.

"Of course. My little princess will have everything in the Wright family. If you want the moon, I'll even steal it for you…"

My eyes widened in surprise. I rushed forward in disbelief. What I saw was a face I was very familiar with.