Chapter 5
Nathan finally let go of me with a sharp, dismissive huff.
“Sophia Carter, for the rest of this life, no one will ever bully Chloe again–including you. This is the lesson I’m giving you. The Carter family taking her in doesn’t mean you get to decide the rest of her life. In this life, I’m her protector. And I, Nathan Brooks, am officially telling you–I will not marry you. I don’t need the Carter family to build Stellar Group.”
Chloe cast me a smug glance before letting out a soft, theatrical gasp.
“Nathan, I feel dizzy…”
Her eyes fluttered shut as she collapsed into his arms.
Nathan’s face drained of color in panic. Forgetting all about his “lesson” for me, he scooped he
- up.
‘Chloe, don’t scare me like this. I’m taking you to the hospital right now.”
Sweat beaded on his forehead from his anxiety.
Just as they were heading out the door, Chloe raised her middle finger at me and silently mouthed, “Idiot.”
I sat down on the sofa without a word and picked up my phone.
‘Your fiancée’s been bullied,” I said to Ethan. “You’d better figure out how to get that back.”
Ethan arrived quickly. When he saw the swelling on my forehead and the blood on my face, his eyes filled with tears of anger.
“Which bastard laid a hand on you? I’ll make him pay.”
‘Nathan Brooks,” I said slowly.
Ethan froze, looking at me with surprise.
“He hit you? Sophia, you want me to go after Nathan?”
His confusion was understandable–after all, in Riverdale City, everyone knew Nathan and I had been childhood sweethearts. My devotion to him had been taken for granted.
I met Ethan’s gaze calmly.
‘Ethan, since we’re to be married, my man is you. If Nathan raises his hand against me, then he’s my enemy.”
Ethan’s grip on my hand tightened. His voice was firm.
“All right, Sophia. Whether this is revenge or something else, I’ll stand by you without regret.”
I smiled faintly and returned the squeeze.
I had thought that after being reborn, I could simply live as a stranger to them–no contact, no interference.
But since they were so intent on pressing me, I would claim my justice.
Three days later, the Reed family officially came to propose. My father’s expression was stil somewhat sour, but seeing how humble and cautious they were, he received the betrothal gifts with polite conversation.
Charter &
3:23 pm; SSD
Robert Reed, Ethan’s father, was all hearty cheer, laughing loudly.
“Our Reed family is blessed to marry a young lady as beautiful and well–born as Sophia. From now on, you’ll be the lady of our house–no one will dare to slight you.”
Looking at the piles of jewelry and treasures filling the living room, I pressed a hand to my forehead.
I knew the Reed family was wealthy–old money–but this was excessive: four pillars of blood–red coral each a meter high, a chest of egg–sized luminescent pearls, plus a stack of property deeds and amusement park titles.
It was as if they were moving the entire Reed estate into my dowry.
I thought back to my previous life, when I was engaged to Nathan. Because he was illegitimate, the Brooks patriarch didn’t approve, and the betrothal gift had been just a few outfits and some jewelry.
At the time, I was so wrapped up in the joy of marrying him that I never cared about material things.
Now I realized–when you don’t love someone, such things don’t matter; when you do, you always feel you owe them more. Just as Nathan had died believing he owed Chloe everything.
I had underestimated the Reed family’s excitement.
The next day’s engagement party shook the entire city. Ten helicopters scattered rose petals from morning until noon, covering the streets and avenues of Riverdale City in a heady fragrance.
The grand hall sparkled with luxury, alive with clinking glasses and mingling socialites.
Even outside the hotel, antique gold–plated décor set the scene, while massive screens cycled through my engagement photos with Ethan for all to see.
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