The Past Is Only a Prelude

Belle Walters stirred the bitter coffee she hated with her head lowered in a café. She patiently listened to June Peterson talk about her relationship with Grayson Page.

"… I've known Grayson for a solid ten years. Our relationship is unbreakable. I love him, and he loves me too …"

Looking up curiously, Belle interrupted her, "If your relationship is unbreakable, why hasn't he married you?"

June frowned, her face turning red. A single question from Belle had shut her up!

She had always dreamt of marrying Grayson, but Grayson only saw her as …

Speechless, June took out a check and slammed it in front of Belle.

"Here's one million dollars. Take it and get your ass back to the countryside. You're not worthy of Grayson!

"Even if you marry him, you won't be happy. I'm the only one who deserves to be his wife!"

Leaning back in her chair, Belle looked excited.

"What a coincidence! You want to marry him, but I don't. If you can find a way to stop Grayson from marrying me, I'll give you 100 million dollars!"

"What?" June was taken aback.

A moment later, she began shouting. "Who are you trying to insult, Belle? Are you saying you were forced to get engaged to Grayson?

"Take a good look at yourself! If you hadn't insisted on getting married to Grayson, he wouldn't have gotten engaged with you!

"Also, do you even know how many zeroes are in 100 million? How can a country bumpkin like you get 100 million dollars? I'm telling you, I—"

June abruptly stopped talking.

Belle had casually taken out a card and placed it on the table. It was a gilded black card with gold trim.

The name "Page" gleamed brightly on it.

It was obvious that the card belonged to Grayson.

June was pissed. Belle hadn't even married Grayson, but she had already gotten her hands on his card.

June's eyes turned red from jealousy as she stood up and yelled, "You bitch! How dare you steal Grayson's card!"

Belle was upset.

"You should talk calmly instead of hurling insults. I'm asking you one last time. Can you stop Grayson from marrying me?"

June was furious. She wouldn't be here talking to Belle if she could do that.

To June, it didn't seem like Belle was asking a question. Instead, she sounded like she was mocking her.

June shouted, "So what if I'm insulting you? You shamelessly seduced Grayson, and I'm not allowed to insult you? That's exactly what I'll do, you bitch!"

Sharp slaps resounded in the café.

Belle didn't hold back. She slapped June's face repeatedly.

June didn't even get a chance to fight back. Her face instantly swelled up.

Her mouth was injured so heavily that even opening it was painful. Unable to hurl any more insults, she sat on the floor and sobbed.

She couldn't even open her mouth to cry. It hurt too much.

Belle finally stopped her attack. She said, "I told you not to insult me, but you didn't listen. You've been hanging around me for days now, and I couldn't care less.

"I really thought you could stop Grayson from marrying me, but you're just like him. Useless!

"I'm telling you, the Grayson you love so much isn't even worth dirt to me!

"It'd be great if you can stop him from marrying me. If not, leave me alone. Stop bothering me!"

With that, Belle grabbed the black card on the table and put it in her pocket. Then, she walked away.

The other people in the cafe were stunned at the sight. No one expected that a meek girl, who even seemed a bit too young, would beat someone up like that.

One truly couldn't judge a book by its cover!

Belle had already walked out of the cafe by then. She pouted unhappily.

She seriously thought that June could stop Grayson from marrying her. If she had known earlier that June wasn't capable, she wouldn't have wasted her time coming over.

Suddenly, a loud bang sounded from within the café. Right after that, thick smoke rose from the building.