Chapter 2

Serena gripped Marcus's hand tightly, pulling him to stand firmly before everyone. Marcus gasped, trying to pull his hand back.

"Serena, you can't do this. Your engagement to my brother was personally arranged by Grandpa Davies."

"You're the one I love, Marcus. I won't agree to marry anyone else."

She held Marcus's hand firmly, her gaze fixed on Grandpa Davies, who sat on a raised platform.

"Grandpa, Marcus has always been the one I love. I'll only ever marry Marcus and make him my husband."

The guests in attendance watched, their eyes filled with pity and mockery. Everyone knew Serena and I had grown up together, practically destined for each other in Grandpa Davies' eyes.

But now, in front of everyone in this elite circle, Serena had just publicly humiliated me.

Serena’s tone was absolute, leaving no room for doubt.

"Even though Julian and I grew up together, I've always seen him as nothing more than a brother. I've never had any other feelings for him."

"Marcus and I are deeply in love; we've been together for a while now. In my heart, Marcus is the only man who can be my husband. No one else."

Mr. and Mrs. Davies’ faces instantly changed, their eyes nervously flicking towards Grandpa Davies' expression on the main seat.

Serena then linked her arm with Marcus's and looked my way. Her eyes held a distinct glint of sarcasm.

"Julian, you must know I don't have any romantic feelings for you. Surely you don't want to force a marriage with a woman who doesn't love you, wasting your entire life, do you?"

"Besides, Marcus and I are already together. You can't possibly think that just because Grandpa favors you, you can butt in and break us up, can you?"

I glanced at the two of them, then bowed deeply to Grandpa Davies.

"Grandpa Davies, since they are so deeply in love, how could I possibly stand in the way of such profound love? Let them be together."

"I wish Ms. Davies and my brother eternal happiness and a lifetime of togetherness."

Serena’s face flickered with displeasure when she heard me say that, but Marcus cautiously took her arm.

"Serena, your marriage to my brother was arranged by Grandpa. Won't he be upset about this?"

Serena patted Marcus's hand reassuringly, soothing him softly.

"Of course not. Grandpa spoils me rotten; he'd never be truly angry with me over *him*. Besides, you're the *actual* Thorne heir, aren't you? This alliance was always about our families, so why should anyone care about some outsider?"

An outsider?

Only my father and Grandpa Davies knew my true identity.

My mother was the heir to the Sterling family. My father and mother's marriage was initially a strategic alliance, and since I would inherit the Sterling family's legacy, I took my mother's surname.

Moreover, she actually thought Marcus was my father’s biological son?

Grandpa Davies frowned at Serena’s words.

"Serena, don't be ridiculous. Are you absolutely certain you want to marry Mr. Thorne?"

Serena firmly slipped the ring onto Marcus’s finger, then had him press a solemn kiss to her forehead.

"Grandpa, I've thought this through. I'm marrying Marcus, and no one else, in this lifetime."

Grandpa Davies looked at Serena with disappointment. If it were merely a change of fiancé, he wouldn't have thought much of her.

But her deliberate choice to humiliate me in front of so many people today proved that she was utterly unreliable.

"Very well. As you wish."