Lahat ng Kabanata ng He Doesn’t Deserve the Perfect Me: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

The moment I came downstairs, I saw Daisy nestled tightly in Soren's arms, beaming with happiness."Vivian, what took you so long? Did the news that Soren and I are getting married knock you speechless?"The sight of them pressed so close together stung my eyes. I clasped my hands behind my back, crumpling the lab report in my fist, and forced a stiff smile. "Yeah."I lifted my gaze to Soren. "I really didn't see that coming."Soren's icy composure faltered. Forgetting Daisy beside him, he took a step toward me, but she caught his hand and threaded her fingers through his."I knew you'd react this way. When he proposed, I was so thrilled I nearly fainted."Dizziness swept over me. My knees nearly gave out, and pain stabbed through my chest until I could barely breathe. I couldn't face them another second. I turned and ran back to my room.I shut the door and leaned against it, slowly sliding to the floor. I stared at the result on the lab report as my tears finally broke free and splas

Everyone watching froze, their eyes darting between the three of us.The color drained from Daisy's face in an instant. Knowing me as well as she did, she had never expected me to tell the truth in front of so many people.Soren hadn't expected it either.We'd been together for seven years, from college until now.Soren always said his father thought he was too young and needed a few more years of training before he could take over the family's criminal operations.I'd understood. The Colliers were deep in the drug trade, a business that demanded experience and sharp instincts, so I'd told Soren I was willing to wait.At last, after Halloween that year, Soren secured his place in the family business. That was when he promised he would marry me.I never imagined that the ink on that promise would barely be dry before he was marrying someone else.I gave a bitter laugh and advanced on Daisy one deliberate step at a time.They had hurt me enough. I was the proud Wellman heiress, and I ref

On the screen, I was in Soren's arms."Vivian, I'm so happy you said yes. Once my career is stable, we'll get married!"Soren slid a ring onto my finger and kissed my hand. "Vivian, when we get married, I'll buy you the most beautiful diamond ring in the world."I glanced at Daisy. Her eyes were huge, and she looked ready to collapse.The diamond ring on her finger sparkled under the lights.I smirked. The ring that should have been mine was on her hand.Soren strode over, his face dark, keeping his voice as low as he could. "Vivian, what are you doing?""Giving you a wedding present, of course. Do you like it?"Before she could respond, the video cut to more footage. Both sets of parents were watching with expressions ranging from shock to fury.Seven full years. Every moment Soren and I had shared played out on that screen for everyone to see.There was footage of his confession, of him feeding me breakfast, of him waiting in the rain late into the night just to be the first person t

When I landed in Las Vegas, I went straight to my father. The moment I saw him, I threw myself into his arms and sobbed until I couldn't breathe.All the pain and sorrow of those days finally had somewhere to go.My father had always been ruthless and decisive, but even he wept when he learned his wife was dead.Then he made his decision. He ended every narcotics deal with the Colliers and cut off their access to his gun-running network.The Colliers looked untouchable, but their empire existed almost entirely in the shadows. They'd never built a real foothold in legitimate business.Without my father's backing, their survival would be an uphill battle.My father's ties to powerful New York crews made matters worse. A few phone calls were enough to cripple what remained of the Collier organization.After that brief reunion with Dad, grief for Mom swallowed me again.During the day I was listless and couldn't eat. I'd barely make it through to nighttime, only to be jolted awake by night

I left and went home.For the next two days, Soren appeared at the gates of my villa every morning.On the third morning, Dad had had enough. He walked outside with a gun. "Soren, you know exactly what position your father is in. If you don't want the Collier organization wiped out, leave now."Soren looked at my father, then dropped to his knees. "Please forgive me. Please ask Vivian to forgive me. Could you spare my father? He's already...""No. Unless you can bring my wife back to life."Soren remained on his knees, shaking violently as tears streamed down his face.He must have been drowning in regret.But time couldn't be undone, and I would never wait for him again.After that day, I never saw Soren again.Once I knew the truth, something inside me suddenly let go.My mood lifted and my energy returned. I officially took control of all my father's Las Vegas operations.Six months later, Dad brought me news of Soren. The Collier organization had collapsed.While Soren's father was