Chapter 4

Only after Kate came back to her senses did the scissors slip from her grasp and fall to the floor.

Kate staggered backward, and Martin immediately rushed over to steady her.

She wiped the tears from her face. "Neil, can you please stop loving me? Just let me go. I'll make sure you see for yourself how happy Martin and I can be together."

With Martin supporting her, she walked away.

Kate's words hurt far more than the scissors ever could. They burrowed into me an inch at a time.

Kate's idea of "happiness" was spending tens of millions of dollars to put Martin in the spotlight. She bribed journalists and media outlets, making sure every gossip rag and social media feed was flooded with news of their perfect romance.

It was like she was showing off a prized possession she'd kept hidden for years. She even threw a massive party at the house and introduced Martin to all her business partners.

Those were all things I could never have even dreamed of having. But even as everything unfolded before me, I continued to count down the days calmly.

The deadline Margaret had given me was today. After today, I'd probably never see Kate again for the rest of my life.

"Neil, you really have no shame. You know perfectly well this party is for Martin, yet you're still shamelessly hanging around here."

Kate's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. She walked over with a look of disdain, and trailing behind her were Martin and a few of her closest friends.

Laughter and ridicule instantly filled the room.

"Kate, if a leech won't let go, you just need to tear it off and throw it out."

"What even is he right now? The side piece?"

"The Cross family used to be one of the most prominent families in our circle. Too bad luck wasn't on their side, and they all died except for Neil. It's hardly surprising that he's trying to latch onto Kate."

Those comments clearly struck a nerve with Kate. She looked at me with pure disgust, as if my very existence was an embarrassment to her.

Kate ordered the staff to toss all my belongings out of the house.

Then, in front of everyone, she loudly declared, "Three years ago, Neil threw away all his pride and dignity to beg for my hand. He came between me and my first love, and now he's trying to make me abort my child.

"From this day forward, I have absolutely nothing to do with him. The Barker family and the Cross family are officially cutting all ties!"

Her loud, firm voice made my mind go blank for a second. I leaned weakly against the wall, my hands trembling behind my back. With her shining so brightly now, it was true that I was no longer good enough to be with her.

Seeing that I offered no response, Kate took Martin's hand and spoke in a much gentler tone. "I've decided to have a wedding with Martin, and we're going to have the ceremony in 22 different countries—"

"I won't allow it!"

Before Kate could even finish, Margaret's voice rang out. Her face was black as thunder.

The second she appeared, the entire room fell dead silent. Everyone knew Margaret was a tyrant and that she still held all the real power in the Barker family.

"Mom, no matter what you say, I'm done listening. I am not going to continue living with Neil. Everything I had has been ruined by him over the past three years!"

Kate rarely went head-to-head with Margaret, but right now she planted herself in front of Martin, refusing to budge.

Margaret let out a heavy sigh. "Relax. That agreement involving you and Neil has already been terminated. Since Neil has lost our wager, he won't be showing his face around you anymore.

"But with him gone, you're going to have to marry the youngest son of the Pruitt family. Kate, had it not been for Neil these past three years, your life would have already been ruined."