Chapter 3

The next day I went to the visa center to expedite my visa processing.

After that, I went to a pawn shop.

Living abroad required money, but I didn't want to take a single penny from the Lynn family.

I only had two items in my bag.

One was the diamond necklace Ethan had casually thrown to me on the day of our reunion.

The other was the family heirloom jade pendant Derek had given me when he promised our engagement.

I had just handed the necklace to the counter when Hannah's surprised voice came from behind me.

"Aria? What are you doing here selling things? Are you short on spending money?"

I turned around to see Hannah intimately holding onto Derek's arm as they walked in.

They had come to select jewelry for Hannah's celebration banquet in three days.

Derek's face darkened instantly when he saw the pawn ticket in my hand.

"Aria, you deliberately came here to play the victim so outsiders will criticize the Lynn family for mistreating you?"

He strode over and snatched the necklace from my hand, slamming it on the counter. "To make Hannah feel bad, you'll even use such underhanded tactics!"

Hannah bit her lower lip and pitifully shed tears. "Derek, don't blame Aria. I must have spent too much. I'll transfer all the money in my account to her right now..."

"Don't bother with her." Derek coldly interrupted. His gaze swept over and landed on the jade pendant in my hand.

His eyes tightened sharply, the disgust in them growing deeper.

"What are you taking that jade pendant out for? Planning to threaten me with breaking off the engagement?"

Derek sneered, his tone full of mockery. "Aria, aren't you tired of playing this retreat-to-advance game? Hand over the jade pendant. You don't deserve to hold anything from the Pierce family."

In the past, if I had heard him say I didn't deserve it, I would have desperately explained that I didn't mean that, then clutched the jade pendant tightly to prove how much I loved him.

But now, I only felt relieved.

Relieved that I could sever the last thread of connection with him so quickly.

"Fine."

Without any hesitation, I threw the jade pendant I had once kept warm against my body onto the glass counter in front of him.

The jade made a crisp, muffled sound.

Without looking at Derek's shocked, rigid expression, I took the money from pawning the necklace and walked straight out the door.

When I returned to the Lynn family home, Ethan was already sitting on the living room sofa waiting for me.

Clearly, Derek had already told him about the pawn shop incident.

"Aria, you're getting bolder and bolder."

Ethan suddenly smashed his teacup on the coffee table, pointing at my nose and cursing.

"Are you only satisfied when you've turned this house upside down? Do you think selling a few pieces of jewelry will earn sympathy and cover up the fact that you pushed Hannah?"

I quietly watched him rage without saying a word.

"In three days, there will be a celebration banquet for Hannah's championship. All the prominent people in River City will be there."

Seeing my wooden expression, Ethan's tone became even more severe as he issued an ultimatum.

"At that time, you must publicly apologize to Hannah at the banquet for your unreasonable behavior these past few days! Otherwise, get out of the Lynn family!"

I raised my head and glanced at the calendar on the wall.

Three days from now.

That would be exactly the day I got my passport and flew to Vienna.

I met Ethan's furious gaze and calmly nodded.

"Alright, I promise you. In three days, I will completely get out of the Lynn family."