Chapter 4
I talked to Julian about my past.
My complicated ties with the Sullivans, my decade-long unrequited love for Charles.
And the real reason I agreed to meet him was because my group needed his financial backing.
Julian didn't even bat an eye.
Instead, he analyzed market trends, advised the Chapman Group to pivot its business, offered an investment, and even produced a business plan.
All on one condition—our engagement stood.
I really had no reason to refuse.
So he had another formal dinner with my parents.
Then, our engagement was official.
He seemed to be a natural at charming the elderly.
My mother already saw him as part of the family. Even my father's white beard seemed to darken with joy.
But I wanted no public announcement about our engagement until the group was back on track.
Julian agreed.
Before Julian left Maris, he clasped a necklace around my neck.
It was a simple chain with a rose pendant, a design unfamiliar to me, as an engagement gift.
I hung up the phone.
Megan dropped into the chair across from me.
She started, "Sylvia, tomorrow at 8 PM sharp—Charles is proposing on the Sullivan Group rooftop. Don't say I didn't give you a heads-up."
A casual remark from me. "I see."
"So what's your plan? Fake a suicide to get Charles out of there, or ask for my grandma's help?"
"Now, I'm clocking out."
"That's my girl. Leaving early to get ready. I'm telling you. This is serious."
"Get ready for what?"
I met Megan's gaze without flinching.
"Megan, are you egging on an outsider to fake a suicide just to ruin your cousin's proposal?
"You hate him that much?"
Megan paused, finally realizing something was off about me. "Sylvia, have you lost your mind because of Charles?
"I know you're just playing hard to get to catch Charles' attention, but once he's engaged, it's over."
"Then I wish him a happy marriage."
Megan nearly jumped out of her seat. "Keep telling yourself that!
"Anyway, I told you about this. Your call whether you show up or not."
I scoffed and reached for the office phone.
Megan thought I'd finally come to my senses, wearing that smug look.
I picked up the phone. "Send two security guards to my office. If you let Megan in again, you're fired."
"Sylvia!" Megan shrieked.
*****
Charles had downed an entire bottle of red wine tonight.
The living room buzzed with activity.
Charles' friends were busy setting up for his proposal to Chloe.
Megan stormed in.
Charles knew exactly where she had been.
Yet, he hadn't stopped her.
Lately, he'd been a bit obsessed with Chloe, but Sylvia just had to anger him.
So if Sylvia came to make a scene tomorrow, he'd just do as she said.
After all, this whole proposal was meant for her anyway.
And proposed to Chloe? No way.
Chloe was always at her most obedient when she thought she had him hooked.
But once she got too docile, she was no different from any other woman.
But Sylvia knew what to do.
Sylvia might complain to his grandma or have Megan threaten those women.
Either way, those troubles just vanished without a trace.
She saved him a lot of headaches.
Charles was surprised Megan came back so soon.
Normally, she and Sylvia would spend hours scheming how to ruin the proposal.
After days of silence, he knew Sylvia would beg through tears for him not to fall for someone else.
Megan snickered, "Charles, Sylvia totally lost her temper. You really carried her off her feet.
"If Sylvia really tries to ruin your proposal by pulling the suicide stunt? Would you actually fall for that?"
One of Charles' friends seemed shocked. "So that's why Sylvia has not shown up for a month. She's been planning something big.
"Man, only you could drive a girl to suicide over love."
Charles set down his glass, feeling things were getting tricky.
If Sylvia hurt herself, his grandma would freeze his accounts again.
It'd been this way since they were kids.
If Sylvia cried, it was his fault.
As if she were related by blood.
Charles was just about to open his mouth.
Then someone muttered, "But, didn't the Chapmans recently put the word about an engagement out?"
Megan rolled her eyes.
"Hasn't Sylvia already tried this trick? Spreading rumors about getting engaged to Charles to pressure him into playing along. Now she's using it again?" Megan sneered.
The guy scratched his head, struggling to recall. "Was it... Charles?"
"Enough," Charles cut him off.
Same old Sylvia, an idiot who was infatuated with him.
Before he finished his words, someone pressed against the floor-to-ceiling window and called out excitedly.
One of them shouted, "Look! It's Sylvia. She's downstairs! She's coming in!
"This is gonna be fun."
Charles frowned.
Too early. He had a candlelit dinner planned with Chloe tonight.
One last fling before dumping her tomorrow.
His voice turned icy.
He demanded, "Stop her.
"Don't let her ruin my proposal."
Megan watched in surprise as his friends bustled out, while Charles didn't even blink.
"Charles," she teased, "you really don't have any feelings for Sylvia at all?"
Even Megan couldn't stand the way Charles' friends do things sometimes.
Before, for the sake of Charles, they'd at least show some respect for Sylvia.
But now Charles was proposing to another woman.
Who knew what tricks those guys might pull to stop Sylvia.
Charles seemed to have thought of something, frowning slightly.
"She brought this upon herself," he answered.
Megan broke into a smirk.
"Exactly. A woman who chases after a man is pathetic.
"At least Chloe knows how to play hard to get. That's why you're into her, right? Make her yours tonight?"
It was not that Megan looked down on Sylvia.
Charles needed a shrewd and calculating woman as his wife.
But Sylvia's whole world was Charles. She only degraded herself, and she would never measure up.
That was why Megan had made sure Sylvia got the news—let her make a fool of herself.