Chapter 3

Julia seemed to have heard that something had happened to Calvin and came running over. She immediately laid into me the moment she walked in. "I've already told you that I don't love you anymore, Xander! Why are you still picking on Calvin?"

I looked at Mom, Julia, and Calvin ganging up on me and saw no point in continuing the conversation. "I won't hand over the villa. If you want to cut all ties with me, go right ahead—I won't stop you. I also never bullied Calvin. He was the one who came here looking for a fight."

I packed up my easel and got ready to leave.

Calvin's eyes were filled with malice as he pretended to accidentally knock over the paint, ruining my painting.

I had planned to submit this piece to the national competition. I was almost done with it, yet Calvin ruined it just like that.

He shot me a provocative look, confident that I would have to take this sitting down.

Unfortunately, Calvin had miscalculated.

I didn't hesitate for a second before striking him across the face, putting so much weight behind it that he tumbled right onto the floor.

Mom and Julia immediately shielded Calvin. "Get on your knees and apologize to Calvin this instant!"

I looked at them and saw the same look of disgust on both their faces. "Get out of my way!"

They both instinctively stepped aside after hearing the absolute coldness in my voice.

I ignored them and walked out.

…

It wasn't long before the wedding day arrived.

Julia and Calvin's wedding was held at a banquet hall that glowed under champagne-colored lights, creating an elegant, almost dreamlike setting. There was a white velvet carpet that ran from the entrance to the ceremony area at the end of the aisle, while ivy and champagne roses wrapped around the pillars on either side.

Their wedding ceremony proceeded in an orderly manner as a classical piano piece played in the background.

Dad furrowed his brows as he looked around the banquet hall. "Where the hell is Xander? How could he not show up for Calvin's wedding? How disrespectful of him!"

Calvin pretended to be hurt. "Xander probably couldn't bear to see me marry Julia. He had been in love with Julia for so many years, after all."

"I have no problem with you marrying Julia," I said, my voice reaching the crowd before I stepped into view.

I stepped into the banquet hall wearing a suit, drawing everyone's attention as I walked in.

"What's going on here? Why are both of the Johnson brothers dressed in wedding suits?"

"Is Xander wearing the finale piece from Pandora Fashion Week? I could've sworn they don't lend that one out."

Calvin stared at me with pure jealousy, his fingernails digging into his palms. He instantly put on a pitiful act, tearing up right on cue. "Julia is marrying me, Xander. Did you dress up like this because you're jealous and want to steal her from me?"

Dad couldn't stand seeing Calvin being mistreated and immediately laid into me. "It's Calvin and Julia's wedding today! Did you show up dressed like this just to humiliate Calvin?"

Those few remarks were enough for the crowd to buy into that version of the truth.

"Xander looks like such a decent guy. Who would've thought he'd try to go after his own brother's wife? You can't really judge a book by its cover, huh?"

"How repulsive! Julia clearly has no interest in him, but he still insists on clinging to her! His desperate routine is honestly so obnoxious!"

"Xander should be branded a disgrace for trying to steal his own brother's wife. He seriously needs a reality check if he thinks he's in Julia's league."

I stood there as belittling whispers and insults poured in from every side. I never realized people could hold so much malice toward someone they didn't even know personally.

I had put on a suit, not because I wanted to compete with Calvin for Julia, but because Irene would be coming to the wedding as well. I didn't bother explaining because I knew no one would believe me anyway.

Calvin watched from the side, making no effort to hide how pleased he was to see everyone condemning me.

Their collective slander stopped dead in its tracks as the Quinton family arrived. Julia wasn't the only one who came—Irene was there too.

Though few in attendance had actually met Irene, everyone instantly recognized who she was—the disabled eldest heiress of the Quinton family.

"Why did Irene show up for the wedding ceremony?"

"It could be because the sisters get along really well."

"Oh, my God! S-She's actually standing up!"

Irene actually stood up from her wheelchair, leaving everyone in total disbelief. She slowly made her way over to me while facing the crowd's bewildered gaze. She stopped right in front of me, held out her hand, and said, "I'm here to marry you, Xander."