Chapter 3

The moment I woke up, I saw my father's secretary, Kane Parker, waiting by my side. He said, "Mr. Stone needs to see you about something."

As I reached for the study door, Kane quickly stepped in to block my way.

I gave him a puzzled glance, and when I was about to ask what was up, Edward's voice drifted out from inside.

"Mr. Stone, I came back from Seriate and helped Stone Group rise to another level," he said. "I don't care about any rewards. I only hope you'll let Olivia have the land you planned to give Margaret.

"During those five years I spent in Seriate, Olivia was always by my side to take care of me. If it weren't for her, there's no way I could've pulled off this mission so smoothly."

Edward's words hit me like a bucket of ice water, leaving me stunned.

Never in a million years did I expect that after I refused him, Edward would ignore my feelings and go straight to my father himself.

Luckily, I'd already made it clear to my dad a few days ago that once the land was given to me, it was mine, and I wasn't giving it to anyone.

"It's common knowledge around here that the land is my gift for Margaret, but I'm not sure Margaret herself knows you came to talk to me about this," my dad said.

The study went deathly quiet. Judging by the stretch of silence, it seemed Edward hadn't seen that coming.

"Margaret has already agreed to give the land to Olivia," he finally replied.

Just as Edward finished speaking, I shoved open the study door, my patience gone.

"I don't agree," I said firmly.

Only then did I notice Olivia in the room, huddled next to Edward. Together, they looked like a tragic couple from a family soap opera.

Olivia tugged on Edward's sleeve, her voice barely a whisper, so pitiful it seemed she could break at any moment.

"Edward, if Ms. Stone doesn't want me to have the land, we should let it go," she said.

But even as she tried to act tough, her tears wouldn't stop falling.

Edward's eyes overflowed with concern as he looked at Olivia, yet when he turned to face me, his stare was so piercing that it felt like it could slice straight through me.

I ignored the way Edward was glaring at me and continued, "Dad, once the land is in my name, it's mine. If I say no, that's final. No one can force me to hand it over."

My father nodded with a resigned sigh, glancing at Edward with a look that said he wished things were simpler.

"Edward, you heard her. The land belongs to her now. I'm a man of my word, and I don't take back what I've given." He paused, then added, "Besides, Margaret is of marrying age. This land is her wedding gift. You'd do well to drop the matter."

My father's stance was clear. There was no way he was handing the land over to Olivia.

Edward shot Olivia a conflicted look, torn between what he wanted and what he knew was right.

Olivia kept sobbing, her shoulders shaking, but it was obvious she had no intention of leaving.

Edward looked overwhelmed by Olivia's display. He seized her hand and gripped it tightly as if to shield her from all the pain in the room.

As I saw the two of them getting all lovey-dovey, a sour pang twisted in my chest.

In public, Edward never let himself get too close to me, not even something as simple as holding hands.

He always said that as the Stone family's heiress, I needed to act reserved, and that he was an old soul who didn't do public displays of affection.

I used to believe he was only thinking of my reputation, and that made me happy.

But now I realized that it had nothing to do with being old-fashioned. He didn't care about me at all.

Edward's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. He held Olivia's hand tightly and said, "Mr. Stone, you said the land is Margaret's wedding gift. If I call off my engagement with Margaret, does that mean you won't need to worry about her gift so soon?"

I instinctively turned toward him, only to lock eyes with Olivia, who gave me a defiant, almost challenging look.

I clenched my fists, my freshly manicured nails digging into my palms so sharply that a sting ran through me and warm blood began to seep out.

I knew what he was going to say next.

For Olivia, he was willing to ruin my reputation.

Without even hesitating, Edward spat out, "When I rescued Margaret from those kidnappers, she was half naked. They'd already had their way with her. I could never unsee that."

"You bastard!" I choked out, my voice trembling with rage.

I stared at Edward, my eyes red and stinging, feeling like all my efforts for him were worthless.

Back when Edward and I were kidnapped together, I helped him get away, but the kidnappers came back, and I ended up stuck there all alone.

When I was saved, Edward swore to me he'd never tell a soul what happened.

But now, for Olivia, he ripped open the scar I've tried to hide right in front of my father.

I gave my father a hollow and empty stare.

"Dad, it's over between Edward and me," I said flatly.

Then, swallowing down my disgust, I turned to Edward and said, "I'll be the one to marry into the Foster family."