But under Brandon’s manipulations, I began to distrust everyone who cared about me, even my own family.
Thinking about it now, I was so foolish. For someone like Brandon, I had estranged myself from my mother and lost sight of who I was.
"Mom knows those things from the past left you with bad memories," she said gently. "I would never force you. As long as you’re truly willing, I’ll arrange everything for you."
"Wesley has loved you for so many years. If the two of you can be together, I’ll finally have peace of mind for the rest of my life."
I replied softly, "Give me five more days. I promise I’ll marry Wesley happily."
"Sweetheart..." my mother hesitated. "There’s a lot I know about what you’ve been through. It breaks my heart to see you suffer with Brandon. If you’ve made up your mind, I’ll come and bring you home right now."
I declined her offer.
In five days, there was a significant occasion.
I wanted Brandon to witness my happiness firsthand on that special day.
When I took a cab home, I heard Karina’s laughter before I even entered the house.
Her pale legs were draped over Brandon.
When I walked in, he instinctively pushed her away. But after realizing it was me, his expression hardened with anger as he snarled, "You’ve got the nerve to come back? Do you have any idea how much embarrassment you caused me today?"
His little mistress nearly ruined my life, yet all he cared about was his pride.
It was always the same. He would show his perfect façade of affection in public, and his unrelenting coldness behind closed doors.
Karina shot me a smug look and brushed her hair back with the hand wearing that diamond ring.
The dazzling multi-million-dollar gem made my disheveled state even more humiliating.
I removed the fake diamond ring from my finger and tossed it in front of Brandon.
"That won’t happen anymore," I intoned coldly. "The heir of the Smith family shouldn’t have a disgraceful fiancée like me."
For a moment, Brandon froze, staring at the ring on the floor.
His tone softened involuntarily. "That’s not what I meant. Sure, what happened back then was disgusting, but we’ve been together for so many years."
"Our families are well-matched, and as long as you listen to me and learn how to be a proper wife, I’m still willing to marry you."
In the past, hearing him say he was willing to marry me would have made me happy. But now, all I felt was an icy void inside.