5

Gio felt angry and disappointed. How could Aeris do something like this? However, after thinking about it, perhaps Aeris really had never changed.

“You really haven’t changed at all,” Giovani said coldly. “You’ve always been money-hungry. All you’ve ever known is how to seek benefits for yourself.”

Aeris looked at him without expression.

“And now you’re even turning marriage into a transaction,” Giovani continued. “But perhaps you’re lucky. At least there’s still the Castilano family willing to accept you.”

Aeris’s gaze changed slightly. She had not expected Giovani to say something like that to her.

Giovani smiled sarcastically. “If it weren’t for this marriage, who would want a criminal like you?”

Those words made Aeris’s chest feel tight. However, she did not want to argue. She was already too tired of listening to people who only saw her based on the accusations that had once been made against her.

Aeris turned around and was about to leave.

“What? Can’t you answer?” Giovani’s voice came from behind her.

Aeris kept walking.

Cyntia, who had remained silent until then, suddenly spoke as well. “Gio, don’t be like that. Aeris might just have a lot on her mind.”

Aeris stopped. She knew that tone. Cyntia was always like that. Pretending to defend her, when in reality, she was only making things worse.

“I don’t think you need to interfere,” Aeris said without turning around.

Cyntia smiled faintly. “I just want to help you.”

“I don’t need it.”

Aeris started walking again, but Cyntia was not willing to let her go just like that.

“Shouldn’t you be grateful to the Harrison family?” she said. “They even gave you ten million dollars. After doing so much for you, you still feel wronged?”

Aeris stopped again, then slowly turned around. “Enough, Cyntia.”

“I’m just stating the truth,” Cyntia replied lightly.

“You don’t know anything about my life.”

Cyntia sighed. “I don’t know what it feels like to be you. But at least I know my place.”

Aeris stared at her sharply.

“Unlike you,” Cyntia continued. “You always think everyone owes you something.”

Aeris clenched her hands. Cyntia’s words made her chest feel tight again, but she was already too tired to keep engaging with the woman. She knew that no matter what she said, Cyntia would always twist her words around and make it seem as though she were the one at fault. However, before she could respond, a slap landed across her cheek.

This time, it was not Jenny.

Giovani, who was standing near Cyntia, had just slapped her.

Aeris fell silent. Her face slowly turned from the force of the slap, while her cheek felt hot. For a few seconds, she simply stood there before finally looking at Giovani in disbelief. In the past, Aeris might have cried and asked why Giovani could bring himself to do that to her. But after three years in a place that had taught her that not everyone would stand by her side, she only felt disappointed. She no longer had any desire to ask for an explanation.

Aeris raised her hand and almost returned the slap. Not because she wanted to cause a scene, but because she no longer wanted to let anyone treat her however they pleased. However, before her hand could move any further, Jenny’s voice came from behind.

“Aeris!”

Aeris stopped.

Jenny walked closer with a servant carrying several large boxes. Even after seeing Aeris’s reddened cheek, Jenny’s expression showed no concern whatsoever. Her attention was instead focused on the boxes the servant was carrying.

“Don’t make a scene. Go and try on your wedding dress. The dress from the Castilano family has arrived.”

Aeris glanced at the boxes. After everything that had happened, she truly no longer had the energy to argue over things like this.

“No need.”

Jenny frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Whatever dress they give me later, I’ll wear it.”

Aeris no longer wanted to make an issue out of the little things. The wedding would still take place. After that, she would leave this house. She just wanted everything to be over.

However, Cyntia, who heard those words, merely smiled faintly. She walked toward one of the boxes.

“I just want to see it. Is that okay, Aeris?”

Aeris ignored her and walked away.

A while later, the box containing the dress was opened.

Cyntia immediately fell silent when she saw the wedding dress inside. The dress was so beautiful and different from the clothes they usually saw. The details looked incredibly luxurious, while the fabric appeared soft and of high quality. There was even a note from the fashion house stating that the dress had been specially designed by one of the famous designers.

Cyntia’s eyes immediately lit up.

“This dress was designed by her?”

The servant nodded. “Yes, Miss.”

Cyntia carefully touched the fabric of the dress. For a moment, she imagined herself wearing it. However, she then remembered that the dress had actually been sent for Aeris.

Her smile slowly faded.

“What a shame,” she murmured.

Not long after, Cyntia gripped the fabric of the dress. The jealousy she had been holding back all this time could no longer be hidden.

Then, with one forceful movement, she tore it. The sound of the fabric ripping was clearly heard throughout the family room.

The servant immediately panicked. “Miss Cyntia!”

Cyntia stared at the dress that was now ruined. Her face showed a satisfaction she could not hide.

If the dress could not be hers, then Aeris could not wear it either. Especially after she learned that the dress had been designed by a famous designer. She would not let Aeris have something that she herself had never even owned.