Chapter 6
Honestly, I was surprised
Julian had been seeing other women, openly and secretly, many times before.
But he’d never actively admitted fault or apologized.[]
Moreover, I barely had any feelings for him to begin with.
Whatever small affection I might have had was long consumed by his callousness and philandering.
All that tenderness in his eyes now-
It just left my heart cold and still as a frozen lake, and honestly?
A nausea clawed at my throat, like his affection was something rotten I couldn’t even name.]
Clara…1
Julian saw me standing motionless, my face expressionless.]
He frowned slightly and stepped forward, extending his hand to me.]]
I noticed the engagement ring on his left middle finger.
The matching one that should have been on my finger had long since been thrown in the trash.]]
Just like Julian himself belonged there.
I didn’t take his hand
Instead, I stepped back]
Julian’s smile completely vanished
My parents‘ faces both shifted too. [
“Clara, that’s enough. If you keep this up, you’re just being immature and rude.“]]
“Yes, I’m immature and rude. I just don’t want to marry a man who can’t be faithful, Is that wrong?”
I just said it’s normal for young men to have some fun. Besides, Julian has already apologized to you.”
I felt an icy chill spreading through my chest.
These were my biological parents.
To them, I wasn’t a beloved daughter.
I was just merchandise they could sell for the right price after weighing the pros and cons.]
Whether the merchandise was happy or heartbroken didn’t matter at all.]
“I don’t want to keep putting up with this. I don’t want to become a bitter, resentful wife.”
I stepped back again.
The engagement is off. I already told Mr. Reid this back in LA
I stared at Julian.
“Mr. Reid, if I remember correctly, you said that day that if I walked out, our engagement would be null and void.“]
Julian’s face gradually turned icy. [
“Clara, let’s talk about this properly.
There’s nothing to talk about-
Chapter 6
“Mr. Reid, someone like you is too far above my station.“]
“Clara!”
Mom marched forward, furious, and yanked me by the arm–her fingers dug into my skin. “How can you be so stubborn! What do you mean ‘above your station? You and Julian are fiancés. Having arguments is one thing, but how can you just break off the engagement?”
“Julian, don’t be angry. Clara’s just being difficult. I’ll tell her grandfather, and he’ll discipline her properly!“[]
རྟེན་དེ ཇ F རྗ
Julian scoffed at that, a mocking snort slipping out.]]
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Julian…”
“Mrs. Ward, if Clara has made up her mind, then let’s call off the wedding.”
Finishing speaking, then he finally turned to me–his gaze landing like an afterthought,
“Clara, I broke up with that girl ages ago. Nothing happened between us.”
“That night, I only said those things because you embarrassed me and I couldn’t back down. I never actually wanted to break our engagement.“]
“Mr. Reid, what’s the point of saying this now?”
Julian chuckled, dropping his gaze as he casually took off his ring.
“Fine. Have it your way.“[]
He held it out to me, but I stayed still.
Julian didn’t push either, just casually tossed it aside, metal clinking faintly as it rolled across the floor.
Like it meant nothing.
After Julian left, the atmosphere in the house became terrifyingly tense.[]
Grandfather sat in the main seat, silent except for his occasional violent coughing fits.]
After about half an hour, he finally spoke.
W
“Since you don’t appreciate such a good match, don’t blame this old man for being heartless later.”
“Clara, you’re a Ward. Since you’ve enjoyed the wealth and privilege this family has given you, you naturally have to make sacrifices for the family.”
n.“]
“You know our farmily isn’t what it used to be. We’re barely hanging on.”
“I thought if you married into the Reid family, we could slowly recover. Now it seems our family just doesn’t have that kind of luck.“[]
Grandfather leaned heavily on his cane, knuckles white as he pushed himself to his feet, the wood creaking under his weight.
“We shouldn’t waste time. We need to start arranging new blind dates.“]
“Grandfather, I’ll move out. From now on, I won’t take a penny from the family. I’ll never marry.“[]
