Chapter 2

Growing up, I had only ever seen others kneel and beg for my forgiveness.

The last person who dared speak to me like that… the grass on their grave was already two meters tall.

I stepped forward and slapped Queenie across the face.

Her head snapped to the side, her eyes widening in shock.

"You dare hit me?!"

Clutching her cheek, she immediately pointed at me and ordered several housemaids to charge at me.

A faint smile curved my lips.

When I first left for overseas, my grandfather had worried that I might be bullied as a girl living alone. So, he personally taught me Sanda.

These were just a few stronger housemaids.

A few quick punches later, I had them spinning in confusion.

"Pathetic."

I rubbed my slightly numb knuckles and turned to leave, ignoring Queenie's furious screams behind me.

Suddenly, one of the maids shouted, "Master Lucas is back!"

I looked up.

A man in a sharply tailored suit was striding toward us with a cold expression.

The moment Queenie saw him, the vicious look on her face vanished. In its place appeared a pitiful, delicate expression.

She rushed into Lucas's arms.

"Lucas! You're finally back! I've been bullied so badly!"

To be honest, Lucas was indeed handsome—good-looking enough to carve out a place in the entertainment industry if he wanted.

Unfortunately, despite knowing he had a marriage arrangement with me, he held his childhood sweetheart in his arms, his face full of concern.

I clicked my tongue.

Looks like I'd have to call Grandpa and go home. There was absolutely no way this marriage was happening.

Ignoring their lovey-dovey reunion, I walked straight toward the garden exit.

"Stop right there. You think you can hurt Queenie and just leave?"

Lucas didn't even glance at me. He kept his head lowered, gently wiping the tears from Queenie's face.

Several bodyguards quickly stepped forward from behind him, blocking my path.

I took a deep breath, trying to remain patient, then turned to look at him.

"Lucas, my grandfather is currently in your grandfather's study discussing our engagement. If they find out about this… it won't look very good."

At the mention of Lucas's grandfather, the maids' expressions shifted slightly.

"What? Could she really be Master Lucas's fiancée?"

"Who cares about some fiancée? Look how protective Master Lucas is of Miss Hartley. Who knows if that marriage will even happen?"

"Exactly. We'd better not say anything that might offend Miss Hartley. With her temper, we'll suffer later if we do."

When Lucas heard the words engagement, his expression darkened even more.

"What arranged marriage? I never agreed to that. Besides, my grandfather has always adored me. There's no way he'd make me marry some crazed girl who appeared out of nowhere."

Queenie lifted her head from his arms and looked at me smugly.

"Lucas and I grew up together. And a thief like you still dares to covet the position of Mrs. Hunt?"

I nodded.

Perfect. This scumbag and this scheming woman were made for each other. Let them stay locked together forever—just don't come out and ruin other people's lives.

Still, Grandpa had once told me that among all the families who had proposed marriage back then, the Hunt family had been the most sincere and persistent.

I had met Lucas's grandfather a few times. He was a kind and respectable elder.

If he found out that the marriage alliance he had worked so hard to secure had been ruined by his own grandson… it would probably cause a storm in the Hunt household.

But there was no helping it.

Even the strongest oak can grow a twisted branch.