Chapter 3

Adrian's POV

Just then, Ethan stepped beside her. "Mr. Bennett, please don't take this out on Claire. It's all my fault.

"I shouldn't have come here in the first place. I never should've bothered you two."

Tears filled his eyes as he spoke. "I'll just go."

"Ethan, I told you. I'll take care of everything."

Claire's heart practically broke at the sight of his tears. She gently wiped them away before turning back to me.

Whatever sympathy she'd shown me moments ago was gone. All that remained in her eyes was disgust.

"Adrian, can you please stop clinging to me and just…"

I cut her off. "Fine. We can call off the engagement. Just give me back what's mine."

Claire froze. "What are you talking about?"

I took up the necklace around my neck, which held an antique pendant Claire's mother had given me when our parents arranged our engagement.

Mom had given Claire something far more valuable in return—an antique gold bracelet that had once belonged to royalty and was said to have been blessed by a revered priest centuries ago.

"Here's your pendant. I want my mom's bracelet back."

Claire's expression slowly turned icy as her gaze fell on the pendant in my hand.

I'd worn it every day since I was 15 years old. Everyone knew how much I treasured it.

"Not everyone is as pathetic as you." Claire snatched the pendant out of my hand. "I can't believe you've been wearing this worthless thing around your neck all these years."

She shot me one last cold look. "I'll look for your bracelet when I get home. After that, we're done. For good."

When I got home, my older sister, Vanessa Bennett, was waiting for me in the living room. "Adrian, there's something I need to tell you."

She handed me a few hefty stacks of paperwork. "I'm putting this office building in Ethan's name. That way, he can collect the rent and have a steady income.

"He's been through so much already. Now that he's part of our family, it's time he finally got to enjoy a better life."

I glanced at the paperwork.

The building was part of Mom's estate. It had belonged to her family long before she married Dad, and she'd left it to us when she died.

Without a word, I picked up the documents and tore them in half.

"Adrian!" Vanessa stared at me, clearly displeased.

"What the hell was that for? I already cleaned up the mess you made when you pushed Ethan down the stairs. After everything you've put him through, giving him one building is hardly too much to ask."

"Have you forgotten what Mom said before she died?"

Vanessa fell silent.

On her deathbed, Mom had held Vanessa's hand and refused to let go until she'd made her a promise.

She'd made Vanessa swear to protect me, take care of me, and love me for the rest of her life. She'd made her promise that she'd never let anyone mistreat me or take away anything that rightfully belonged to me.

And Mom had asked me to do the same for Vanessa—to stand up for her and always be someone she could count on.

"I haven't forgotten," Vanessa finally said. "But Adrian, Ethan is also my brother now. Is it really too much to ask that I give him half the love I've always given you?"

She let out a sigh. "Adrian, you're spoiled, entitled, and used to getting your way. Why can't you be more like Ethan?"