Chapter 3

Just as I was about to send the invitations to friends and family, a notification suddenly popped up on my phone. It was a call from a bartender, saying Sean had drunk himself unconscious at a bar.

I hesitated for a moment, then braved the cold and rushed over.

But when I pushed the door open, Sean looked perfectly sober. A crowd had gathered around him. Standing among them, I saw Selena deliberately raise her voice toward me. "Sean, you should head back. If Ms. Rowley finds out you're here with me, she'll be upset again."

Sean didn't even look up. He said impatiently, "I'm not going back."

The others immediately burst into laughter. Someone couldn't help asking, "Sean, Louise grew up with you. You really don't feel anything for her at all?"

I stood at the entrance, staring at him through the crowd, waiting for his answer. This was the question that had been knotted deep in my heart all along.

Sean was silent for a moment, then let out a chuckle, his eyes turning cold. "She's just a woman who takes advantage of an old favor to force someone into marriage. What kind of feelings do you think I should have for her? It's good enough that I don't hold a grudge against her, considering the past."

At that moment, I finally understood. Sean had always thought that I was the one who pushed for this engagement. But the truth was, I hadn't known anything.

The others chimed in one after another.

"George is too soft-hearted. Repaying a favor is one thing, but he actually sent her straight into Sean's bed."

"No wonder she's clinging so tightly. After all, if she missed this chance, she'd never make it into our circle again."

Sean listened quietly, not rebutting.

Suddenly, someone laughed. "Sean, how about this? Once you get the shares, let us have some fun with her. We'll help you take care of her."

Sean slammed his glass onto the table and shot that man a cold glare. "I don't share my women."

The atmosphere instantly turned tense.

Sean looked away, then added casually, "If you really wanted her, you should've gotten to her before I did. It would've saved me a lot of trouble."

In that instant, the last thread holding me together snapped. But I didn't cry. I couldn't cry.

I simply pushed through the crowd. Under everyone's stunned gaze, I grabbed the bottle from Sean's hand, then smashed it hard against the floor.

Meeting my reddened eyes, Sean's expression darkened. "Louise, were you following me?"

For a second, I thought I had misheard. I hurled my phone at his chest. "The bartender called and said you were drinking yourself to death. That's why I came!"

Sean glanced at it. Then, the next second, he laughed mockingly and handed the phone to the person beside him. "Frankie, since when did you become a bartender?"

I froze. It was only then that I realized that I had been played again.

The man named Frankie looked at me with disdain, then said, "Ms. Rowley, I only called to say I couldn't make it to the wedding. When did I ever say Sean was drunk? A bartender? Your imagination is really something."

With every word he spoke, Sean's expression grew colder. He tossed the phone back to me. "The wedding is right around the corner. I don't have time to keep entertaining your shenanigans."

After that, he looked away, as if even sparing me another glance was too much.

The room fell into a tense silence.

Just then, Selena suddenly stood up, picked up a glass of red wine, and walked toward me. "Louise, it's normal to feel insecure before a wedding. But don't worry. I have no interest in someone else's husband."

She raised her glass and smiled faintly. "Here's a toast to you. Let's put all misunderstandings behind us."

Selena paused, then glanced at Sean, her tone soft beyond belief. "But you really shouldn't keep following Sean. He's been under a lot of pressure at work lately, and you…"

I poured the wine straight over her head and blurted, "Selena, are you done pretending?"