Chapter 2

I thought Adrian was just joking.

It wasn't until I was woken up the next day by the procession of cars outside the villa that I realized he was serious.

There were three entire cars packed with luxury goods alone. A man who introduced himself as Mr. Jenkins, Adrian’s butler, handed me a black card, saying it was a small token of Adrian’s appreciation.

My parents, concerned by the bad rumors, were unsure about Adrian and urged me to reconsider.

But I had lost love, so I was no longer indulging in fantasies.

Even if Adrian was known for being a playboy, the Vance family’s standing in Veridia City’s business world was unparalleled.

I decided to treat this as a strategic marriage for our family business. I would make sure to utterly crush Asher and Ivy.

The Miller family’s business had only recently grown from a small, privately-owned business into a minor company. Marrying Ivy off to Adrian was mostly for money.

I instructed the house staff to bring the luxury items into the villa, just as Asher and Ivy were about to leave.

They both walked in, looking confused.

Asher sneered, scanning the cars full of luxury items.

Ivy’s face twisted with jealousy, her teeth practically grinding. “Chloe, what is all this?”

Looking at Ivy’s hypocritical face, I nearly threw up right there. The daughter of a small, barely-registered business, didn’t she know her place?

Even the wedding gifts Asher’s family gave her didn’t amount to ten thousand dollars.

I casually glared at her. “Does it concern you?”

Asher snorted, mocking me. “Chloe Sullivan, you move on fast! I just married Ivy, and you’re already running off to find some other man.”

“Oh, come on, honey. We should be happy for Chloe.”

“Honey, didn’t you get a gift for Chloe? Go on, give it to her.”

Ivy poked Asher’s arm.

Inadvertently, my gaze snagged on the pink diamond ring glinting on Ivy’s finger.

I involuntarily gasped, my heart aching anew.

I couldn’t mistake that pink diamond ring. Even if the Thompson family wasn’t top-tier, they still had a recognizable name in the city’s business elite. Asking Asher for a forty-five thousand dollar diamond ring wasn’t unreasonable.

But he’d made every excuse, unwilling to buy it for me.

Now, it was on Ivy’s hand.

As if noticing my gaze, Ivy deliberately held her hand up in front of me.

Asher scoffed, pulling a sealed bag from his pocket. Inside was a plain, thin band, which he casually tossed to me.

“For you.”

When I saw what it was, I almost burst out laughing from sheer exasperation. I picked it up and dangled it in front of Ivy.

Then I tossed it back to her.

“You actually dare to bring out this trash? Ivy, my dear, seems to love it so much, so I won’t spoil your fun.”

Humiliated on the spot, Asher’s face darkened.

He pulled Ivy behind him and shouted at me.

“Don’t push your luck! If you don’t want it, just throw it away.”

Ivy, ever the drama queen, chimed in again. “Chloe, my husband picked this out specially for you.”

“I know you like my husband. I’m even willing to let you share him with me.”

“Consider this my welcoming gift.”

“Bringing out something so shameful? My pets’ leashes cost thousands of dollars each.”

Was Asher even worth sharing? Disgusting.

I looked Asher straight in the eye, mercilessly.

“You two truly deserve each other. Both of you are insane!”

“Get out of my house!”

They still thought I was joking.

Ivy, holding the ring, grabbed my hand and tried to slip it on. “Chloe, you’re just upset right now.”

“See how perfect this ring looks on you.”

My patience snapped. “Get away from me! You’re disgusting.”

I didn’t even lay a hand on her, but Ivy dramatically collapsed to the floor right in front of everyone, letting out a little whimper before putting on a wounded expression.

“Chloe, I know you hate me, but how could you hit me, sob sob…”

Asher immediately flew into a rage. He couldn’t stand Ivy being upset. “Chloe Sullivan, if you don’t want it, then don’t take it. What was the meaning of laying hands on Ivy?”

With that, he scooped Ivy into his arms and walked away.

Ivy gave me a provocative look over Asher’s shoulder.

That look… it was strangely familiar.