Chapter 2

I couldn't help but walk toward Beatrice.

I wanted to see for myself—how could someone like her be so heartless? We were both women. How could she play with another woman's life like that?

When Beatrice saw me coming, her expression faltered. She glanced behind me.

Erasmus rushed over and grabbed my wrist, stepping protectively in front of her.

"Susan, what's wrong?" he asked. His body was tense, his tone cautious, though he forced a smile.

I snapped back to myself and smiled faintly. "Nothing. I was just curious. I don't think I've met this young lady before."

Erasmus looked uneasy. His whole posture was stiff as he said, trying to sound casual, "Her? A friend brought her along. I don't really know her."

I gave him a sarcastic smile. "Really?"

He nodded quickly. "Yes, really. Susan, it's our big day. Everyone's waiting."

I looked up. Because of how I was acting, the people around us looked awkward, unsure of what to say. Then someone joked to ease the tension.

"Hey, Erasmus, what's going on? Is the diamond not big enough? Looks like your girl isn't saying yes!"

Another laughed. "Yeah, man, better cheer her up and try again!"

Erasmus relaxed a little. He raised his eyebrows, confident again. "What are you guys talking about? There's no way Susan would say no to my proposal."

He was absolutely certain.

Over the one year we'd been together, he had helped me through my parents' deaths, always putting me first. He knew exactly how to mess with my heart, and I'd already fallen too deep to pull away.

So he never imagined I'd reject him.

Looking at his smug, self-satisfied face and seeing how sure he was that he had everything under control, I couldn't hold back anymore. I slapped him hard across the face.

The sound cracked through the air. Erasmus froze, stunned.

Then rage flickered across his face. His jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened, like he was about to explode. But when he saw Beatrice on the side, shaking her head with tears in her eyes, he forced himself to calm down.

"Susan, why did you hit me?" he snapped.

During all the time we'd been together, I had never once raised my hand against him.

I'd depended on him for everything. I'd never even spoken to him harshly.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I blinked. "Erasmus, I love you so much. How could you do this to me? You're proposing with a fake diamond. Was everything you said you felt for me a lie?"

My words hit him harder than the slap. The crowd went silent. His face flushed with anger and shame.

That was right. He hadn't even bothered to spend real money on me.

The ring he used to propose was fake—because the real one was on Beatrice's hand.

In my first life, right after we got married, he'd told me the ring wasn't real. He said the company was struggling and that he couldn't afford a proper one yet, but he promised to replace it later.

Back then, he'd looked so sincere, his eyes full of guilt and love. My heart softened, and I forgave him.

It wasn't until I was on my deathbed that I finally found out the truth—when Beatrice deliberately showed me the real ring on her hand.

It was the same one-of-a-kind, limited edition ring I had fallen in love with. He'd bought it, but given it to her instead.

Everyone around us was stunned, but I didn't care. I turned and walked away, leaving them all behind.

Erasmus rushed after me and grabbed my sleeve. "Susan, listen to me," he pleaded. "I couldn't get the ring you wanted. I just wanted to marry you so badly that I wasn't thinking straight."

Then his tone shifted—his eyes filled with frustration, like I was the one who had done something wrong. "Do you have any idea how much damage you've caused me by saying that in front of everyone? Did you even think about our future?"

He was actually blaming me.

I let out a cold laugh. "Erasmus, you proposed with a fake ring. And you still have the nerve to lecture me, huh? Do you have no shame?"

He just stared at me, stunned, like he couldn't believe what he'd heard.

In the entire year we'd been together, I had never talked to him that way.

Before he could respond, I turned, got in my car, and drove off.

After tonight, I knew his reputation among the upper class would be in ruins.

The only reason people still treated him with respect was because they didn't know how bad the Fisher family's finances really were. They still thought he was the successful man he used to be.

The thought of Erasmus and Beatrice panicking as their plan fell apart made me laugh coldly.

But this was only the beginning.

I paid to have articles published exposing the Fisher Group's financial troubles. Within days, their business partners started cutting ties one after another.

The company, already on its last legs, was now on the verge of total collapse.

That was when Erasmus started coming after me like a madman. He called me so many times that my phone nearly overheated.

He finally caught up with me at my office. His exhausted face brightened with desperate joy. "Susan, I finally found you."

Before I could react, he slid the ring I had wanted onto my finger and grabbed my hand, trying to pull me toward the door. "Are you happy now? Let's go get married right away."