Chapter 3
I turned to Andrew, and just as I expected, there was that mix of pity and tenderness in his eyes, like he was trying so hard not to show it.
I snorted, gave him a little push, and said, "You like her? Well, go chase after her."
Andrew stumbled from my push, and when he turned around, I saw he couldn't hide the mix of loathing and wild excitement in his eyes.
He snapped, "Charlotte, you're not tearing me and Mia apart ever again."
"Let's go, Mia!"
He pushed through the crowd, grabbed her hand, and left without so much as a backward glance.
Suddenly, it dawned on me—Andrew had traveled back too.
That was just good.
Andrew, I hoped you'd finally get what you'd always wanted in this life.
And now, it was my turn to find the happiness that belonged to me.
Andrew, a star student in the advanced class at Riverside Academy, fell head over heels for Mia the moment he laid eyes on her.
He was so smitten that he actually gave up his spot in the advanced class and transferred to a regular one, just for her.
The news spread like wildfire through the school.
Everyone at Riverside Academy was either loaded or came from some powerful family. We all ran in the same circles, and everyone knew the Grant and Mitchell families were about to get hitched.
My friends all thought I was getting a raw deal and kept saying I deserved so much better.
"Is Andrew out of his mind? His family practically begged for this marriage due to those old family ties, and now he's dragging your name through the mud for some illegitimate daughter? Has he totally lost it?" one of them snapped.
"Charlotte, you really should talk to your parents about this," another chimed in.
"Exactly! He's already got a side chick right under your nose before the wedding even happens. Honestly, it looks like Andrew's trying to back out of the engagement," a third friend added.
Having my friends stick up for me warmed my heart.
Thank goodness this world wasn't some messy drama full of backstabbing mean girls.
In my last life, Andrew always thought that my girls and I were teaming up to bully Mia.
But in fact, for us real heiresses, it was totally normal to look down on illegitimate kids. That was just how things go in families like ours.
Someone would say that those kids were innocent.
Some kids should never have come to this world, and nothing could ever change that.
Before I even had a chance to talk to my parents, Andrew came knocking first.
He said, "Charlotte, I want to get engaged to Mia, instead of you.
"Just go tell your parents for me, will you?"
"What?" I was totally floored.
Did he even realize what this whole family alliance was about?
The Mitchells were so desperate to have the marriage alliance with us because my parents promised me the wedding fund worth over 30 million, plus all the business clout and backing the Grants would bring to the table.
Did Andrew seriously think my parents would drop another 100 million after he swapped me out for Mia?
Or did he actually believe my parents would give a 30-million-dollar wedding fund to Mia, the illegitimate kid?
Seeing me keep quiet, Andrew just assumed I was still obsessed with him like before. He gave me a smug, almost taunting grin.
He said, "Charlotte, don't kid yourself. Honestly, I'm in love with Mia. If our families have to tie the knot, she's the only one I'll ever marry.
"If you don't want to blow up the whole family deal, you'd better go tell your folks to swap you out for Mia.
"Otherwise, I'll just call the whole thing off. No skin off my back."
I just laughed. "Fine, let's call off the engagement."
Andrew was stunned. "What do you mean?"
I said, "It means the family alliance is off. If you want to marry Mia or whoever else, go ahead."