Chapter 6

The conversation, rather than discussing the annulment of the engagement, was more about the strategic alliance between the two families.

After it concluded, my parents offered a few words of comfort before rushing back to their company.

I let out a small sigh of relief, watched them leave, and then headed towards my car.

Before I could open the car door, Alex Thorne's tall figure blocked my path.

"Evie Reed, breaking off our engagement isn't a good decision for you."

His long eyelashes lowered, casting shadows on his cheeks.

"Our two companies have deep ties. If we marry, it would be beneficial for everyone involved."

"If you're willing to apologize in person, I'm willing to reluctantly marry you..."

Reluctantly?

I looked up at his self-righteous face.

Alex Thorne's face was undeniably handsome.

But now, in my eyes, that face had lost all its previous appeal.

His proposition was truly...

So shameless it made you want to sigh with exasperation.

I didn't immediately expose his true intentions. Instead, I feigned hesitation, pondering his words.

After a moment, I slowly opened my mouth.

"What about Brooke Miller, then?"

He chuckled softly.

As if he'd heard something unbelievable.

"You'll quit acting after we get married. I won't let you see her."

"Besides, with our family's wealth, marriage is just a formality. You don't actually think I'll be like other men, dedicated to just you for life, do you?"

"Wake up, Evie Reed."

His matter-of-fact attitude made it seem as if I were a foolish, ignorant woman, incapable of living without depending on him.

"Is that so?"

I chuckled lightly, meeting his gaze head-on, and said, word for word,

"It's you who needs to wake up, Alex Thorne."

"Marrying me, you're clearly the one benefiting more, aren't you? Don't forget, while the Thorne family only has one child on the surface, behind the scenes..."

I watched his face turn green at my words.

I curled my lips into a sneer, rolling my eyes dismissively.

Ultimately, the Reed and Thorne families had been equally powerful for years, but who was truly stronger was anyone's guess.

I only learned after marrying him in my past life that despite his deep love for Brooke Miller and his intense dislike for me, he still married me.

Only a wife with a sufficiently prominent family background could solidify his position as the head of the Thorne family.

These past few days,

His cunning, manipulative mother probably hadn't given him a moment's peace.

That was probably what drove him to pull me aside and try to win me over.

"Evie Reed, don't you dare be ungrateful!" Alex Thorne's ears turned bright red.

I wasn't sure if it was from anger or if he still possessed some shred of shame.

Seeing him clench his fist again, about to strike me once more,

But before he could even register my defiance, I swiftly lifted my hand and delivered a stinging slap across his face.

"Alex Thorne, consider that my return gift for the slap you gave me."