Chapter 4

Sarah glared at me, her eyes full of resentment as she took in my designer clothes and luxury accessories.

Sarah asked, "Ward, I'm just thinking about our future. I remember that bag. Didn't you give it to her?

"Since you two are breaking up, we need to make things clear. You're all I have now, and I can't stand the thought of her using those things to get close to you again."

Sarah's words grew more and more self-righteous. Ward glanced at my disheveled state, then at Sarah, who was wiping her eyes, and finally chose to stay silent.

"Tell me, was there ever a gift you gave me that I didn't pay back with something even better?" I demanded, raising my voice in anger.

Any fondness I still had for Ward evaporated as he just stood there in silence.

"Ward, from now on, we're finished for real," I spat out, my words ringing in the air.

With that, I slammed the door and walked out without looking back.

To my surprise, Sarah came charging after me.

She yelled, "Kelsey, don't you dare walk away from me.

"Since you're so rich, help me pay off my debts. I'm serious, don't run from this."

Sarah caught up and shoved me hard from behind. I staggered and went tumbling down the stairs.

I shut my eyes tight, bracing myself for the pain, only to be caught firmly by someone before I could hit the ground.

For a moment, I could only gaze up at my rescuer, utterly dazed.

"Winthrop?" I blurted out, my voice trembling as I recognized him.

Winthrop Glover's eyes swept over my swollen cheek and the blood smeared on my ear, his face full of worry and pain.

"What happened? Who the hell did this to you?" Winthrop demanded, his voice laced with anger.

His voice was thick with anger as he snapped his head up to glare at Sarah.

Sarah shrank back under Winthrop's icy stare, hurriedly shaking her head.

Just then, Ward came running out, only for Sarah to grab his arm in a panic.

"Ward, help me." Sarah cried, her voice trembling.

Ward stared daggers at Winthrop, who was holding me close. His voice was cold as he demanded, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Winthrop shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around me, his tone frosty. "What's it to you? You don't have any right to ask."

"You—" I stammered.

He'd already made it clear at the wedding, in front of everyone from both families, that he was done with me.

But seeing Winthrop's arm around me just made his blood boil.

"Ward, who is he? I never knew Kelsey had such a close guy friend," Sarah said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I clenched my jaw, barely holding back my anger at Sarah's snide tone.

Winthrop was the son of my dad's old boss, three years older than me. When I was little, my dad used to take me over to Winthrop's family's house every Christmas.

Winthrop was like a perfect older brother to me. He was always taking care of me and hanging out with me.

He was crazy smart, won every competition, got into a great school overseas, and even launched a startup that was crushing it these past few years.

This time, he came back home just because he heard I was getting married. He wanted to be there for me.

Never in a million years did I imagine him stumbling into such an ugly scene.

"When did you two start getting involved?" Ward snapped.

He looked as if he'd just caught me cheating, his eyes blazing furiously as he glared at me.

"Kelsey, this is exactly what you wanted, isn't it?" Ward spat.

I was shaking all over with rage as I thought, 'How could the man I'd loved and sacrificed for all these years turn out to be such a scumbag?

'He cheated on me with Sarah, and now he's flipping the script, trying to paint me as the villain.'

"Someone like him isn't worth your sadness. Did he get physical with you? Let me deal with him for you," Winthrop said, his voice deep with anger.

Winthrop was tall and athletic. Anyone could tell he hit the gym even when he was dressed sharply in just a shirt. With that cold, intense stare, he commanded attention the moment he walked in.

When Sarah realized Winthrop was ready to stand up for me, she quickly ducked her head and tried to make herself invisible behind Ward.

Winthrop loosened up his wrists, ready to make a move, but before he could step forward, Leland and Janice suddenly jumped in front of Ward, blocking him protectively.

"Please, don't hit my son." Janice pleaded, her voice shaky with panic.

She instinctively pulled Ward behind her, but when she got a good look at how beaten up I was, she hesitated. Janice opened her mouth to say something, but no words escaped. She just averted her eyes, guilt all over her face.

Leland barked at Ward furiously, looking like he might slap him right there, but Janice quickly grabbed his arm and stopped him.

My nose prickled and my eyes burned with unshed tears.