Chapter 3

That jab sliced right through Julian’s already fragile ego.

In my previous life, I watched his eyes sting with humiliation, and my heart just *ached* for him.

I immediately stepped in front of him, lashing out at Ryder, my words venomous and unthinking.

I called him deluded, clinging.

“Don’t think I don’t know. That guy in high school who wrote me a love letter mysteriously got his leg broken in a car accident, you did it, didn’t you?”

“Ryder, you’re disgusting. I can’t even look at you.”

“Besides your family name, what exactly makes you better than Julian?”

I spewed so many nasty things, but Ryder didn’t say a word in response.

He just sat there, still and silent, like a statue carved from ice.

After a long silence, he pressed a hand to his glasses and calmly said:

“Fine. I agree to break the engagement.”

…

Julian turned to me, his voice icy: “Miss Montgomery, did you bring me here just to be humiliated?”

I dug my nails into my palm, forcing my mind out of the chaos of rebirth.

Hearing his words, I suddenly chuckled: “Humiliated? Ryder was just stating facts.”

“You're just a plaything, Julian. He wouldn't waste his breath on you. You're seriously overestimating yourself.”

The living room fell silent.

Everyone stared at me, bewildered.

Two steps away, on the sofa, Ryder’s head snapped up.

Behind his glasses, his eyes, as clear and fragile as polished glass, held unconcealed astonishment.

“What did you say?”

Julian’s expression turned utterly mortified.

“I said, you didn’t actually think you were better than my fiancé in any way, did you?”

“He’s always ignoring me during business deals, and I get annoyed, so I just used you to get under his skin.”

I dropped his hand, recoiling as if he were something repulsive.

I issued my dismissal, “Now, get out.”

Julian stared at me, disbelief etched on his face.

But our butler, who had quickly caught on, promptly escorted him out.

Before leaving, he spat a threat: “Aria Montgomery, I’m not some toy you can pick up and put down whenever you like.”

“Next time, even if you beg on your knees, I won’t take you back.”