Chapter 2

Dad’s face completely darkened. He eyed Leo with cold disdain.

“Every single thing used for your engagement with Chloe, wasn’t it bought with our family’s money? And now you dare to be jealous of my daughter!”

“If Chloe hadn’t loved you, do you honestly think you’d even have the right to stand here and speak to us?”

Leo struggled to counter Dad’s words. His face flushed a sickly green, and I even caught a flash of something cold and ruthless in his eyes.

“I know your family has never approved of me, but Chloe and I genuinely love each other. You can’t break us up!”

He paused, then his attitude softened slightly.

“I’m not jealous of Lily. I’m just trying to stand up for Chloe. After all, Chloe is also your daughter. It’s not fair that the two daughters are treated so differently.”

“And Chloe has sacrificed so much for this family, practically running the company, yet she gets less than this kid who does absolutely nothing.”

I pressed my lips together. I used to respect him, after all, Leo was going to marry my sister and become part of our family.

But now, how could he speak such hateful words?

I looked at him, utterly bewildered.

“Mom and Dad have always been fair to both Chloe and me. And Chloe has never held these things against me.”

Leo was on a roll now. He swept his gaze over me, up and down.

“Really? Do you honestly think your sister doesn’t care about any of this?”

“What if she cares a lot? She often tells me how tired she is. She even complains that you constantly rely on the family and refuse to grow up.”

The disdain on Leo’s face grew. He completely ignored me and looked at Grandpa Hayes.

“Grandpa, if you ask me, the shares in your hands should go to Chloe. Only she can make the company better and stronger.”

“Handing the family fortune over to this pampered, incapable young lady? I’m afraid our entire family will suffer.”

I finally couldn’t contain my anger and pointed at him.

“Don’t you dare go too far!”

“Grandpa!” My mother’s shocked cry echoed behind me before I could finish my sentence.

Grandpa Hayes’ face had turned ashen with rage. He clutched his chest and collapsed backward.

Thankfully, Dad was quick and caught him.

The family doctor directed everyone to carry Grandpa back into the house. After clearing everyone out, he began to examine Grandpa.

Leo knew he had gone too far. He hid in a corner, not daring to utter a sound.

But I simply couldn’t stand for it. Grandpa doted on me the most, and now he had fainted because of this man, because of me.

I walked straight up to Leo, glaring at him furiously.

Leo jutted out his chin, still defiant, clearly annoyed it was just me.

“What? Are you going to hit me now?”

Without hesitation, I slapped him hard across the face.

“You bet I am!”

Leo hadn’t expected me to actually hit him. He widened his eyes, clutching his face, and began to wail.

“You actually hit me!! I’m going to tell your sister! I’ll tell Chloe you disrespected me, your future brother-in-law, and she’ll teach you a lesson!”

My voice trembled with rage, my eyes burning red.

“Leo Carter, you better pray Grandpa is okay. Otherwise, even if Chloe disowns me, I won’t let you get away with this!”

Just then, Chloe, who had received the news of Grandpa’s collapse, rushed back home.

Before she could even ask what happened, Leo lunged at her.

He whined like a little kid, pointing at his reddened cheek.

“Chloe, I just said a few honest words, and your sister actually laid her hands on me!”