Chapter 2

She frowned impatiently. “What era are we living in? Is that flap of skin really that important to you?

“If it bothers you, I’ll just go to the hospital right now and get one put in.”

At her nonchalant attitude, I was deeply disappointed.

Back then, she was the one who said people in our circle were too promiscuous. She wanted a “pure” marriage.

That was why, during our three-year relationship, I never once tried to touch her.

“If you put it that way, this wedding isn’t that important either. Since you don’t care, just find someone else to marry!”

Hearing this, Harold immediately put on a holier-than-thou act.

“Don’t fight over me. If it comes to it, I’ll leave right now.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he headed for the door.

He did not forget to deliberately bump me aside with his shoulder as he left.

With a loud thud, the door slammed shut. Lana slapped me across the face in frustration.

“Have you had enough? Must you drive Harold away before you’re satisfied?

“Do you have any idea how heartbroken Harold is because I’m marrying you?

“He already made sacrifices for us. Can’t you be a little more gracious?”

My throat tightened, and my face began to burn.

At that moment, I could not understand how the innocent young woman who used to smile so sweetly at me could have turned into such an unreasonable person.

Lana grabbed her phone and turned to leave.

Before she left, she said threateningly, “I’m warning you. If you want me to keep living with you, you’d better stop picking on Harold!”

After Lana left, the once-lively room suddenly fell silent.

Her parents, having heard the news from somewhere, rushed over.

When they saw that I was alone, her father, Mr. Sidney, could not hide his frustration.

“Weston, I failed to raise my daughter properly. Just wait. I’ll call her back right away.”

I looked up. “No need. The marriage between the Sidney and Lobell families is off.”

Mr. Sidney nearly collapsed to the floor.

Everyone in our circle knew I had been pursuing Lana for three whole years.

Whenever a handbag made its global debut, she was always the first to get her hands on it.

When she wanted to hold an art exhibition, I bought the most luxurious exhibition hall in the museum.

When she wanted to act in a movie, I bought an entertainment company to serve her alone.

To be with her, I did not hesitate to shift the company’s focus to Riverville.

I even did business with Sidney Corporation at a loss just to win over my future in-laws.

With my support, Sidney Corporation leaped from an obscure small company to become one of the nation’s top 100 enterprises.

I believed I had done my absolute best for Lana, yet there was always Harold by her side.

When I met her parents, Harold walked straight out of Lana’s bedroom in shorts.

He sat on the sofa with his legs crossed and casually asked, “Lana, how long are you planning to drag this out?”

The way he acted indicated that he did not care about me at all.

When Lana introduced me as her fiance, Harold’s gaze toward me turned particularly icy.

Ever since, Harold had relentlessly targeted me.

When I went on dates with Lana, he secretly slipped me food I was allergic to.

He would watch my face swell up and laugh his head off.

He even went so far as to pretend he was having heart pain when Lana was about to take me to the hospital, insisting that she take him for a physical instead.

Every time he pulled one of these pranks, Lana would say it was just Harold’s way of showing he liked me.

Even when my brake lines were cut, or when glass shards were slipped into my shoes, Lana still stuck to her story.

I kept telling myself that once we were married, she would realize that men and women need some polite distance between them.

Unfortunately, Lana mistook my tolerance for indulgence and completely crossed the line.

I called my secretary.

“Cancel all collaborations with Sidney Corporation and withdraw our sponsorship from this family.

“From now on, whenever Sidney Corporation wants a project, snatch it away at any cost.

“As for the Herb family’s company, I want to hear that it’s gone bankrupt within three days.”