And I left. I stayed with Jonas and endured a life of hardship—leaky apartments, unhealthy roadside food, and endless early mornings and late nights.

Dad thought I'd cave and come running back.

But for Jonas, I endured it all.

Eventually, Dad swallowed his pride and sent Mom to convince me to come home.

But I couldn't bring myself to leave Jonas.

So I stayed.

For 10 long years.

Jonas likes to think he climbed his way up on his own—that he earned his spot as one of Washington's rising businessmen.

The truth is, Dad couldn't bear to see me suffer, so he secretly supported Jonas.

When Jonas heard what I said and thought about the past few years, he fell silent.

But soon after, he suddenly looked up, his eyes red and desperate as he tried to convince me to stay.

"Andy, come back with me, will you? I know you were forced into this!"

I frowned. "What makes you so confident that I was forced? The guy I'm marrying is from the Rockefellers. All your wealth combined couldn't even compare to Benjamin alone!"

I was just stating facts.

But Jonas must have felt embarrassed, so he shouted back, "I know you're upset about Mitch marrying me and how she threw away your stuff!"

And then, he negotiated with me. "H-How about this? I'll make her apologize to you—sincerely, even!"

I couldn't help but laugh and mock him with my gaze. "Jonas, please. Do you really think an apology from Mitch would make me come back and live with her, serving you together? Keep dreaming!"

It hit me then how overly confident Jonas had always been.

Without another word, I rolled up the car window and ignored him completely.

But when he realized what was happening, he started pounding on the window frantically.

His voice was hoarse as he begged me. "Andy! Don't marry someone else! Come back! Please, come back to me!"

Dad had already lost his temper by then.

When he found out everything that had happened, he called for the bodyguards, ready to teach Jonas a lesson.

Jonas's groomsmen, sensing trouble, immediately pulled the struggling groom back into his wedding car.

Even as Dad prepared to go after Jonas, I calmly reminded him, "Dad, let's not keep the Rockefellers waiting."

Only then did he reluctantly drive away.

The wedding itself went by quickly.

It was also the first time I met my groom—Benjamin, the only child of my in-laws.