Chapter 3

"Oh, by the way, Cassidy."

She feigned intimacy, taking my hand, but her voice was deliberately loud enough for everyone around to hear.

"Since I'm now the future mistress of Thorne Manor, there are some things I need to handle for you."

"Oh? What things?"

She stared at me, enunciating each word.

"Your engagement with young Master Miller? It's time to call it off."

The Millers—long-standing family friends of the Thornes.

Declan Miller, the only son of the Miller family, and I had been engaged since childhood.

Though it was an arranged marriage, Declan had always treated me incredibly well.

And now, Genevieve wanted to force me to break off the engagement?

Before I could speak, Grandfather actually nodded.

"Genevieve is right. The Millers' business has been struggling lately, not fitting our family's standing. Cassidy, this engagement? It's over."

My breath hitched. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Declan standing nearby, his wine glass almost shattering in his hand.

"Grandfather," I heard my voice tremble,

"My engagement with Declan was arranged by our ancestors…"

"That was all in the past." Grandfather waved a dismissive hand, and an attendant immediately offered him a cigar. He took a deep puff.

"What's the Miller family's situation now? Do they even deserve to be associated with us?"

Whispers started to spread through the banquet hall.

I saw Declan's face turn ashen, while Genevieve smirked at me triumphantly.

"Grandfather!" I dropped to my knees before him.

"Please reconsider. While the Miller family might be struggling now, Declan—"

*Smash!*

Genevieve suddenly threw her hand up, knocking over a tray of red wine a server was carrying.

The red wine poured down over my head.

Guests exchanged glances, some snickering softly, others looking on with pity.

"Oops, my hand slipped."

She feigned surprise, covering her mouth, but then leaned down and whispered in my ear, in a voice only I could hear.

"You think begging on your knees will work? Let me tell you, after tonight, you won't even have the right to kneel."

I looked up at her, astonished.

"Enough!" Grandfather pulled his hand away from me.

"This matter is settled!"

Declan crushed his wine glass, glaring intensely at Genevieve.

As I went upstairs to change, I saw Declan and Genevieve embracing in the hallway corner.

"Genevieve, how was my acting? She even knelt for me."

"Constantly parading around as your fiancée, it's irritating."

My heart ached. I hadn't realized they were already involved.

My judgment of people was truly terrible.

"You disgusting cheats!" I swore.

Declan chuckled softly.

"Watching you beg like a fool, thinking we'd actually get married."

Genevieve giggled, leaning into his arms.

"Your man has been mine for ages."

They were both sickening.

"Aren't you afraid I'll tell Grandfather?"

"Go ahead!" Genevieve taunted, unafraid.

"See who he believes—you, or me."

"Once the old man dies, everything at Thorne Manor will be ours." Declan fantasized, his arm around her waist.

"I thought we were best friends."

Genevieve sneered.

"Hmph, friends. Don't play innocent. In your eyes, I was just a dog. You’d throw me scraps when you pitied me. I'm sick of it!"

"Now I’m above you, and you’ll dance to my tune!"

I remembered how, back in college, Genevieve couldn't afford tuition, so I paid for it.

When she ran out of living expenses, I shared everything I had.

Later, when her mother fell critically ill, I immediately arranged for her to be admitted to the best hospital.

And in her eyes, all that was just pity? I should have let her starve!

I was so angry, I laughed.

"Then consider everything I ever did for you wasted."

I wasn't in a hurry, because soon enough, they would both get what they deserved.