Chapter 3

My mother didn't say anything more. She only reminded me to return the engagement token the McCarthys had given us.

I nodded and headed over to the McCarthys' house.

The moment I rang the doorbell, the door swung open.

When Judy saw me, the warm smile she used to greet me with was gone, replaced by a hint of contempt.

I didn't dwell on it. I simply took out the sapphire pendant the McCarthys had given us and said evenly, "Mrs. McCarthy, Claudia is with someone else now. I'm here to call off the engagement, so please give me back the emerald bracelet."

Mrs. McCarthy took the pendant awkwardly and hesitated.

"Tim, try not to take it too hard. After all, Claudia is a Kingsbridge student now, and you didn't get in anywhere, so you'll have to repeat a year. Even if you didn't call off the engagement now, the gap between you two would only keep getting wider.

"But our family remembers what your father did for us. Don't worry. I'll have Claudia tutor you so you can get into university."

She said it all with an air of superiority.

I never expected the McCarthys to turn on me so fast.

When my father first saved Claudia, the McCarthys couldn't thank us enough.

Now, after just a few words from Claudia, they'd decided I'd never make it into university, and their whole attitude toward me had changed.

I sneered and was about to turn her down when Claudia walked out of her room.

There were still red marks on her neck. When she saw me, she mocked, "Tim, I thought you'd hold out longer than this. You couldn't even last a day before coming over to apologize, huh?

"I told you, unless you get on your knees and beg, I'll never forgive you. Mike, come out here! My lapdog's here to apologize."

She called toward her room.

Mike immediately walked out, shirtless. He wrapped his arms around Claudia, looking pleased with himself.

"Tim, we're best friends. No need to get on your knees and grovel. Just slap yourself a few times right here and apologize to us, and we'll call it even."

Mrs. McCarthy acted as if she didn't see them humiliating me. She even stood off to the side like she was watching a show.

My gaze turned cold. "I'm here to call off the engagement. I already gave back your pendant. Now return my family's bracelet."

I held out my hand to Claudia.

The bracelet was on her wrist at that very moment, but she showed no sign of taking it off. Instead, her expression soured. "You want to call off the engagement?

"Tim, didn't I already tell you? Things between me and Mike will only last one more year. You're breaking off our engagement over one year?"

She looked completely stunned.

I understood. Even now, she still believed I was hopelessly devoted to her.

I said calmly, "That's right. I'm calling off the engagement."

Claudia's face stiffened, then she let out a couple of cold laughs. "Fine, fine! So this is how you're trying to get my attention? Then let's call it off! Just don't you dare regret it!"

With that, she yanked the bracelet off her wrist and hurled it to the ground. It shattered on impact.

My eyes reddened as I glared at her.

Claudia knew full well that bracelet had belonged to my late grandmother. She just wanted to hurt me.

I picked up the pieces of the bracelet, fighting the urge to scream.

Soon. Claudia didn't have long left to gloat.

As I turned to leave, I heard her voice behind me.

"Tim, tomorrow's the day the Kingsbridge acceptance letters arrive. My family's throwing me a university send-off party. Since you waited on me hand and foot for three years, I'll let you come and bask in my glory.

"After all, you'll never get anywhere near Kingsbridge for the rest of your life."

Claudia smiled, her eyes full of smugness.

I dug my nails into my palms to keep from laughing out loud.

By changing my application, Claudia had single-handedly ruined her own chance at Kingsbridge.

I couldn't wait to see how she was going to pull off tomorrow's party!