Chapter 2

Maybe my calmness was too abnormal. Just three seconds after he hung up, Liam called again.

"Ava, I'm so sorry. I know I was wrong first. But you have to believe me, I only see Chloe as my sister. The baby was truly an accident."

I gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Such tender sibling affection. Stripping down in bed to keep warm? How touching."

The other end of the line went silent for a beat, then I heard his resigned sigh.

"I understand you're angry. You can curse me, hit me. But Chloe is still in school, unmarried and pregnant, and can't reveal who the father is…"

"She's an orphan. Even though Mom and Dad adopted her as their own daughter, the Caldwell family would never accept this. They'd definitely kick her out."

"So I was hoping, you could claim the baby as yours. Since you're quitting your job and staying home anyway, no one would suspect it's not yours."

I tilted my head back, forcing the tears welling in my eyes to retreat. My voice came out dry and rough. "Liam, maybe we shouldn't get married after all."

"Not get married?" He fell silent for a few seconds, then suddenly roared, "Ava, are you kidding me? Didn't you say we'd been together for five years, and you were hounding me to set a wedding date as soon as possible?"

"Now everyone in our social circle knows you're my fiancée. Do you think marriage is a game? Ava, when did you become so stubborn?"

I could almost see his forehead creased in a frown. Sure enough, the next second I heard him threaten, "Ava, I'm asking you one last time! Are you really not going through with this wedding?!"

My fingers clenched tightly around my phone. I gave a bitter smile. "Yes, I don't want you anymore, Liam."

He let out a cold laugh. "I don't have time for your childish tantrums. Do whatever you want!"

The call was abruptly cut off.

I stood in the center of the banquet hall. Under the shocked gazes of hundreds of guests, I tore off my veil and ran out.

Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell quickly blocked my path. Mr. Caldwell was the first to speak, "Ava, what on earth are you doing? Just because Liam took his sister to the hospital, you're going to ruin this wedding? Make the Caldwell family a laughingstock in front of hundreds of guests?"

Mrs. Caldwell snorted, chiming in, "I told him it wasn't a good match from the start. Your family is nothing but nouveau riche, completely unworthy of a distinguished classical music family like ours!"

"But Liam insisted, so I couldn't do anything. And look, didn't it turn into a complete joke today!"

Mr. Caldwell sneered, "It's probably for the best. Saves us the trouble of her temper offending people and ruining the Caldwell family's reputation later."

Liam was clearly in the wrong first, yet these two were turning around to blame me.

I clenched my veil, my fingertips trembling. "Liam canceled the wedding. As for the specific reason… you two should ask him. I'm too humiliated to say."

Hearing that it was Liam's decision, they only seemed to grow more self-righteous.

"Even if Liam canceled it, you're the bride! You just run off without saying a word? Shouldn't you apologize to everyone present?"

"How did your parents raise you? You don't even understand basic social graces. How could you ever be a daughter-in-law of the Caldwell family?"

I took a deep breath. "I won't be marrying into the Caldwell family. If you two have nothing else, please move aside."

"You!" Their faces instantly changed, clearly not expecting such defiance from me, who had always been so compliant.

I ignored them, walking directly around them towards the dressing room.

Mrs. Caldwell yelled furiously behind me, "You uncouth witch!"

In the dressing room, someone was already waiting.

It was… him.