Chapter 3
My dad said once the engagement was official, the party would follow soon, so I should start getting ready.
At the designer's studio, I ran into Rosalind.
Lately, Alexander had her decked out in luxury, dripping with jewels.
At first glance, she really did look like some rich heiress.
She was on a video call with Alexander. When she saw me, she flashed a sweet, playful smile.
"Alex, I just went to see Mr. Hart, and he said Evelyn was here picking out her engagement dress. What a coincidence. I bumped right into her," she chirped, sounding all cheerful.
Alexander spotted me on the screen, and his smile dropped instantly.
"Evelyn, don't bother. No matter how gorgeous you look, you'll never measure up to Rosalind," he said, his voice icy and dismissive.
Rosalind gave a mock scold, her tone playful. "Alex, don't be like that. Don't embarrass her."
She twirled in front of me, her arms wide. "Evelyn, do you like my dress? Isn't it gorgeous?"
"Alex picked it out for me. It's a little snug, so he told me to get it tailored," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness.
I was ready to brush her off, but the moment I got a good look at her dress, my mind reeled.
"How did you even get that dress?" I demanded, unable to hide my shock.
I stared at Alexander on the screen. "You gave it to her? Seriously?"
That dress was custom-made for me by my grandmother before she passed away.
She was a world-renowned designer, and that dress was her final signature piece.
Back in my previous life, I pointed at that dress, grinning like an idiot, and told Alexander I wanted to wear it when I married him.
I'd always kept it tucked away at my family's villa just outside Northbridge.
I had no clue when Alex snatched it, and now he just tossed it to Rosalind like it was some random hand-me-down.
"Take it off. Now," I said, my voice cold as ice.
Rosalind looked like she was about to cry, her voice trembling. "Alex bought this just for me."
"Evelyn, have you lost your mind?" Alexander snapped, his rage barely contained. "If you want to pick a fight, at least pick the right time and place!"
"Making a scene like some street trash. You're not fit to stand next to me," he sneered.
I shot back, "Alexander, answer me. Where did you get that dress?"
"I bought it!" he yelled, his voice sharp and angry. "Evelyn, if you keep acting crazy, I swear you'll regret it."
"Please, don't fight because of me. Oh no..." Rosalind stammered, sounding flustered and helpless.
Panicking, she stepped right onto the hem of the dress, and I could only watch, horrified, as that one-of-a-kind dress was brutally torn apart—ruined forever, right in front of me.
Stunned and furious, I lost control and slapped her hard across the face.
Rosalind wailed, grabbing at me. "Evelyn, I get that you're jealous, but at least think about Alex's feelings."
Alexander's fury practically exploded through the screen. "Evelyn, apologize to Rosalind right this second!"
"What's going on?" Suddenly, I crashed into someone's chest. He smelled like woods and fresh air. A deep, cold voice spoke above my head.
Nathan?
Rosalind had no idea who he was, her face twisting in anger. "Who the hell do you think you are? Do you even know who I am?"
"I don't know you, but I do know she's Mr. Hart's beloved daughter," Nathan said, his voice icy.
He lifted his gaze, his eyes as sharp as glass. "Are you seriously about to hit the Hart family's only heiress in front of everyone?"
As soon as he said "the Hart family's only heiress," Rosalind froze, her whole body stiffening.
Alexander was stunned into silence.
Even though it was Rosalind's dress that got ruined, Nathan slipped off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders.
He lowered his gaze, just staring at the tips of my shoes.
"Ms. Hart, let me take you home," he said with a subtle gentleness in his voice that almost slipped by unnoticed.
*****
On the day of my twentieth birthday party, Alexander walked in with a face like thunder.
"Mr. Hart asked the four of us to head to his study. He wants to share the results with us privately first," he said, his tone cold.
He strode over to me. "Evelyn, if you apologize to Rosalind right now, I might still consider forgiving you."
He was so careless, almost stepping right on my dress.
Someone grabbed me just in time, pulling me back.
I turned around and saw Nathan looking down at me, his gaze gentle. "Are you alright?"
Alexander saw it was Nathan and scoffed. "Typical small-time family, always trying to suck up."
"Don't kid yourself. Just showing up doesn't mean you're worthy of this marriage. You're just here to fill a seat," Alexander sneered.
"I'm asking you one last time. Are you gonna apologize to Rosalind or not?" Alexander pressed, his tone sharp and impatient.
I turned away, couldn't care less about him.
Nathan's eyes narrowed, just silently watching the whole scene.
"Evelyn, don't come crawling back to me late. I won't forgive you." Alexander threw out one last line and stormed off.
Half an hour before the party kicked off, the eldest heirs from the top four families in Northbridge gathered in my dad's study.
They had no clue I was right next door, watching everything on the monitors.
With a nod from my dad, the lawyer started reading the document in a serious tone.
The lawyer announced, "By official notarization, Nathan Payne is chosen as the spouse for the Hart family's seventh-generation heiress. He will also assume the role of the next CEO and take over all assets of Hart Corporation."