Chapter 2

Larissa's punch sent Holly sprawling to the floor.

Regaining her composure, Holly shot up and jabbed a finger at Larissa's nose as she shouted, "You're just a maid's daughter! How dare you hit me?!"

Jack tenderly caressed Holly's face, his own twisted with concern, before turning his attention to me. "Hayden, if you're mad, come at me, but don't you dare hit a woman!"

His words barely hung in the air before my fist connected with his cheek. "It's not just her. I'm hitting you too!"

Jack clutched his face, his eyes brimming with defiance.

Wren quickly stepped in, shoving me back. "Hayden! You might be the rich heir, but that doesn't give you the right to act like this! No wonder Holly has been avoiding your gaze for years. You're just too cruel!"

I turned to face them, an icy laugh escaping me. "Seems like you've forgotten that your family's business owes its success to the Yates family's backing. Even Larissa gets it. How come you don't?"

At that, Wren clamped her mouth shut.

Tracy looked away, her words faltering. "What if that's true? Does that give you the right to force us into marriage?"

I scoffed, "I never planned on marrying any of you three nobodies."

Holly snapped her head up. "Hayden, what game are you playing now?!"

Jack held Holly tight, his eyes brimming with tears. "Looks like Hayden's still mad at me. I shouldn't have said I was feeling down today and dragged you all out here."

Holly, seeing his distress, soothed him. "It's not your fault. Hayden's been hounding us for years, and everyone knows he can't let go. He wouldn't dare do anything for real. Ijust can't stand him picking on you. Thought I'd teach him a lesson."

I was at a loss for words.

If they did not believe me, then there was no point in arguing. I turned to leave, Larissa's shoulder under my arm, but Holly blocked us.

Her eyes narrowed at our clasped hands. lWhen did you get so chummy with a maid's daughter?!"

I brushed off her hand, each word deliberate, "She's not just a maid's daughter. Larissa is my fiancee, the one I'm going to marry."

With that bombshell, all eyes were suddenly on me.

Holly's eyes bulged with fury as she jabbed a finger at Larissa and bellowed, "You expect me to believe you'd marry a maid's daughter? Are you out of your mind?"

Larissa shivered slightly, obviously rattled by her words.

Wren and Tracy snapped out of their shock and sneered as they stepped closer.

"Hayden, you're really not choosy, huh? Even a maid's daughter is good enough for you!"

I pointed at Jack, a smirk on my face, and shot back, "Like you're any better."

Jack reeled, his voice catching in his throat, "Hayden, don't spout such nonsense. The three girls might have been kind to me, but I've done nothing to wrong you. There's no need for your biting remarks."

He paused, his face washed with guilt as he looked at Holly.

"Hayden knows what he's done. In fact, I've noticed that the maid's daughter has been sneaking in and out of his room for a while now. It's my fault for not telling you earlier, Holly. I was trying to cover for him…"

I used to think of Jack as a good friend and even made him my only groomsman.

Was that how he repaid me?

I was seething inside.

Holly let out a scornful snort and yanked him back.

"Jack, you're too innocent, still making excuses for Hayden! I bet he's just jealous of how well we treat you, so he's desperate for our attention. A filthy maid's daughter is hardly worth our notice."

I nodded, pleased with myself. "Well then, I won't interrupt your little harem."

With that, I led Larissa into the upscale boutique next door.

I gestured to the priciest jewelry behind the glass. "Bring these out for me. Let my bride-to-be have a try."

Larissa came back to her senses and glanced at me. "Hayden, you're just kidding, right?"

I looked at her with a playful glint in my eye and smiled. "What if I'm not? You wouldn't want to?"