Chapter 2

In my 26-years of life, this was the first time I had ever seen someone be so arrogant in front of me. "Do you mind repeating that? What was it you wanted me to yell?"

"Are you deaf or something? 'I'm a low-life fraud, and I'm sorry!' Is that really so hard to understand?"

I smiled faintly and said, "I heard you loud and clear. You've already acknowledged that you're a low-life fraud, so you should just get lost and stop being an eyesore in front of me."

Samuel realized in an instant that he had been made a fool of, and he lunged toward me, waving his arms about.

I found it utterly ridiculous, as I held a black belt in Taekwondo and felt no intimidation from his unskilled attacks. I delivered a lateral kick, causing Samuel to fall to the ground and cry out immediately.

In that instant, those around me looked at me in horror.

"Oh, my God! How does he have the nerve to treat Mr. Hill this way!"

"If Ms. Gardner were to find out about this, she would definitely have him torn limb from limb!"

"In this instance, even divine intervention cannot shield him from the consequences."

I remained unfazed by their chatter, knowing that the Gardner family only reached their current position because of Mom's help. I wasn't intimidated by anyone in Bellevue. I placed my card on the counter again and said, "Go settle my bill!"

In the end, the sales associate processed my card and began packing up the clothes with trembling hands. She seemed startled.

I picked up the bags and turned to leave, but Samuel managed to get back on his feet and cut me off once more, yelling, "You're not going anywhere!"

I lifted my hand and flexed it before him. "What's the matter? Do you want to try your luck against my fist again?"

I let out a sneer and walked toward the exit after Samuel flinched instinctively.

It was then that a black Maybach pulled up in front of the store, and a woman in stilettos stepped out. I looked up from her foot, feeling a sudden surge of excitement. She looked to be five feet and nine inches, and she had a slender waist and long legs. She also possessed an exceptionally striking face, devoid of any imperfections.

Samuel hurried over at once, feigning anguish. "He took the suit I wanted and even beat me, Yvonne."

I finally realized that the woman before me was my fiancee. I had strong preferences when it came to aesthetics, and Yvonne's appearance aligned perfectly with my ideals. I felt like I could forgive her for her earlier lack of manners based on her appearance alone.

I revealed what I thought was a captivating smile and said, "It's nice to meet you. I'm Nathan Chadwick, your fiance."

It was no wonder Mom said I would be pleased with the fiancee she had chosen for me—she clearly possessed a profound understanding of my preferences.

In that instant, everyone in the crowd gasped in surprise.

"Huh? He's actually Ms. Gardner's fiance?"

"I mean, a fiance is obviously more important than a 'brother' figure! I guess that explains why he was acting so cocky earlier!"

"I wouldn't be so sure. I think it'll still come down to who Ms. Gardner likes better."

Yvonne looked at me and said sharply, "You'd better not get ahead of yourself. That marriage is something my father arranged without my consent—I never agreed to it."

Samuel stood beside her. His arm was locked around her waist in an intimate gesture, and his gaze was filled with provocation. "How could Yvonne ever marry someone as ugly as you?"

It was then that someone chimed in, saying, "That's right! If Ms. Gardner were to marry someone, it would only be to a wealthy heir of equal standing! How could she possibly marry a country bumpkin? He's so pathetic that Gardner Group wouldn't even hire him to scrub the toilets!"

I had never regarded myself as exceptionally handsome, though I was certainly not unattractive. I couldn't believe how badly they were describing me. I simply mused that it was human nature to side with the powerful and trample on the weak.

"You can go tell your father that I'm breaking off the engagement with you. You're the one who isn't worthy of me, Yvonne!"