Chapter 2

My twentieth birthday banquet proceeded as planned.

However, even after the banquet began, not many people came over to congratulate me.

Instead, a considerable number of social elites sidled up to Damian to win his favor.

“After tonight, you’ll be taking over the Moretti and Carter empires. Should I start calling you godfather now?”

“When you’re in charge, we hope you’ll keep our partnership in mind.”

“I’ve heard that you have a soft spot for Miss Alice. I specially prepared a gift for her. I hope she likes it.”

These people were not only currying favor with Damian. They were also flattering Alice as an indirect measure.

Alice opened the gift from the guest and covered her mouth in apparent surprise.

Inside the gift box lay an exceptionally dazzling pink diamond ring.

She promptly said, “My goodness, this is such an expensive ring! I cannot accept this. Besides, it’s Ms. Moretti’s birthday banquet. I’m just her maid. This should be for her, not me. She wouldn’t allow it.”

Damian just said matter-of-factly, “Her approval won’t matter. Once I marry her, the Moretti and Carter families are mine. I’ll be the one making the rules. Here, let me put it on you.”

Damian placed the ring on Alice’s finger. She bashfully accepted it.

From a distance, I watched with amusement.

In the past, I was truly blind not to have seen their illicit affair.

Fortunately, heaven had granted me a second chance.

I was not going to repeat the same mistakes.

Damian looked toward me. He probably sensed my gaze.

He frowned and instinctively shielded Alice behind him. He seemed worried I would charge over and tear them apart.

I ignored them and simply turned to socialize with the other guests.

Not long after, Damian approached me. He spoke with a hint of smugness in his voice. “Look at you, finally acting like an adult and leaving Alice alone. Tell me, how would you like to be rewarded?”

I looked at his condescending attitude and replied coldly, “A reward? I don’t need one.”

Damian did not believe me.

“Cut the act. You’re putting on this whole gracious show tonight because you’re terrified I’ll refuse to marry you, aren’t you?

“Don’t worry. You’ll get what you want.”

As he said that, he looked at me from head to toe suggestively.

“Come to my room tonight. If you manage to please me, I might even be generous enough to let you bear my child.”

A dull ache seized my heart as I remembered my deceased unborn child.

I would not marry him again, and there would not be any so-called child!

He moved closer to me as he spoke. He began to reach out to wrap his arm around my waist.

I caught a strong scent of women’s perfume on him.

His suit collar was disheveled and retained a distinct stain of lipstick.

It was obvious that in some hidden corner, Damian and Alice had partaken in some disgusting act.

I took a step back and snapped at him, “That’s enough, Damian! Show some respect!”

Damian was taken aback. He did not expect me to avoid him.

He sneered, “You would do anything to marry me. Everyone knows you’re obsessed with me. You threw your dignity away a long time ago. What ‘respect’ are you talking about?

I felt sick to my stomach seeing him so full of himself. “Who says that I’m marrying you?”