Chapter 3

The night before our engagement, Catherine arrived at the banquet with Erik.

In front of the elders, she flung the engagement ring at my feet. "My engagement to Lawrence is null. This marriage was your decision, not mine. Why should I honor it?"

Furious, my parents slapped her and ordered bodyguards to drag Erik out, vowing to banish him from the city.

Yet within a month, they brought him back, calling him pitiable and adopting him as their foster son. They even pressed me to end my engagement with Catherine and seek a new match.

Erik's triumphant smirk mirrored my humiliated grimace. Watching my family and fiancée unconditionally side with him, I couldn't contain my rage.

I punched him and declared that if he stayed, I'd leave.

That night, Erik disappeared, leaving a tear-stained letter claiming he didn't want to burden my parents or Catherine and would end the drama with his death.

My parents severed ties with me. When they passed, their will barred me from their funeral. Catherine married me as promised, but for decades, she never talked to me.

We lived like strangers under one roof, silent and distant. On my deathbed, she finally spoke. "If I could do it over, I'd choose never to have met you."

As she wished, fate granted us a second chance. This time, I resolved not to reconnect with them. Once they left with Erik, we'd never cross paths again.

But Catherine, before departing, chose to humiliate me one final time.

...

I glared at her, my teeth clenched. "You're reunited. Why are you still here? Shouldn't you go?"

Before I could finish, Ambrose's foot slammed into my stomach. I flew back, crumpling to the ground, blood and bile rising in my throat.

"You stole from us! Think that I'll let you off?" he snarled.

Flavia stepped back, her nose wrinkling in disgust. "Raised in an orphanage, you're nothing but a feral thief."

I wiped blood from my lips and laughed bitterly. "You're right. I grew up without parents. They died long ago."

My words struck like a blade, their faces reddening with fury. They knew I was their son, and my defiance was an insult they couldn't bear.

"Beat this wretch to death!" Ambrose roared.

Bodyguards swarmed, their fists and boots raining down. My frail body buckled, my vision sparked, and my bones threatened to shatter.

Erik's voice pierced the chaos. "Dad, Mom, spare him! He didn't mean it."

He flung himself at Flavia, tears streaming. "He just wanted a family so badly that he stole my locket."