Chapter 2
The whole place erupted. Everyone was shocked.
Yara's expression froze.
Ryan couldn't keep his cool anymore; his arrogance crumbled, and he was instantly pissed off.
For a split second, the room was dead silent, then it burst into a buzz of heated discussion.
"Oh my God. Is Ms. Fiona Sherman crazy? She actually dared to mess with Ethan in front of all these people."
"The Sherman family might be loaded, but they're not even in the same league as the Young family."
"Ethan has never shown any interest in women, and he's absolutely ruthless. Ms. Sherman is really playing with fire here."
"I was just saying how blessed Mr. and Mrs. Sherman were, but now they'd better start praying for themselves."
Ethan kept his eyes locked on me, silent, his breath growing heavier.
My parents' faces turned even paler. They rushed over and pulled me away.
My mom said, "I'm really sorry, Ethan. Fiona is still young and doesn't know the ways of the world. She was out of line, and as her parents, we apologize on her behalf.
"Fiona, come on, let's go. The Young family is way out of our league."
"I like her, too," Ethan replied.
His voice was refreshingly clear.
Seeing my parents' stunned expressions, Ethan, the untouchable Young-family heir, flashed a charming smile.
He said, "Mr. and Mrs. Sherman, no need to stand on ceremony. Who knows, maybe Fiona and I will end up as family one day."
His smile gave me the chills. I seriously started to wonder if all the gossip was wrong. Maybe he was already plotting something to mess with me again.
After all, ever since the Shermans took me back, I hadn't done a thing, yet Ethan had picked fights with me for no reason.
No matter where we were, he always had something snarky to say; at meals, he'd even snatch food right off my plate.
He'd show up in the same outfit, then drawl, "I still look better."
The live chat blew up.
[What's happening? Is the second male lead finally stepping into the spotlight?]
[This is his first time falling in love, you know. He might look calm, but I bet his heart is pounding out of his chest.]
[It's totally normal for an innocent guy to be a little awkward. Fiona, please be gentle with him, it's his first romance.]
This party was hands down the wildest the city's elite had seen in a decade.
The family elders had been huddled together, plotting how to handle the crisis, even willing to throw me under the bus if things got bad enough.
But now, seeing how things were playing out, everyone's shock turned to pure delight. My relatives couldn't help but burst out laughing, overjoyed.
My parents still couldn't believe it.
My dad stammered, "E-Ethan, are you serious?"
"Of course, Mr. and Mrs. Sherman," Ethan said. He looked at me and added, "When it comes to something this important, I wouldn't joke around."
When his eyes crinkled with a smile, it was like the clouds parting: sudden, bright, wide-open blue.
My parents finally let out a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Yara and Ryan looked like they were sitting on pins and needles, unable to stay still.
Yara was the first to lash out, her voice sharp with anger as she turned on me.
She demanded, "Fiona, are you sure you're not mixed up? Haven't you been with Ryan for ages? He's the one you said you liked!"
Afraid people might not get it, she spelled it out deliberately, "You and Ryan have been together for so many years. How could you just break it off like that? Fiona, I know you're not the type to two-time anyone. Tell me you're kidding."
I let out a soft laugh, with a hint of resignation in my voice.
"Yara, when were Ryan and I ever a thing? Seriously, what are you talking about?" I said.
Ryan never wanted anyone to know about us. We didn't even have a single photo together.
He kept his distance around other people, and even when it was just the two of us, he wouldn't hold my hand.
That wasn't dating.
I must've been out of my mind to say yes to him in the first place.
Yara began, "But—"
My dad cut her off. He snapped, "That's enough. You can't stand that Fiona is doing better than you, right?"
His face darkened, a storm brewing in his eyes.
He pressed, "Do you think the Sherman family has wronged you, so you're trying to drag our name through the mud in front of everyone?"
My parents cared more about the family's reputation than anything else. If I, their own daughter, messed up, they'd cut me off without a second thought, let alone an adopted daughter who was out here trying to throw me under the bus.
"No, Dad, I..." Yara protested, her voice shaking.
The more flustered she got, the less she could explain herself.
Realizing everyone was about to turn on her, Yara squeezed her eyes shut and collapsed on the spot.