Chapter 3

Even though the engagement party had turned into a complete farce, I still made my way to Adler House, leaning on my medical crutches and carrying an expensive birthday gift for Madame Adler, all out of courtesy.

But the moment I pushed open the door to the private room, the scene before me was so surreal I almost wondered if I was dreaming.

The luxurious round table was crowded with Adler family relatives, and seated between Lucien and his mother, basking in everyone's attention, was Lina.

Madame Adler, her face full of affection, carefully placed a big shrimp in Lina's bowl, her voice gentle with concern. "Lina, you've gotten so thin these past few days. Eat more seafood to build your strength back up."

Lucien gave a helpless smile, but his tone was all indulgence. "Mom, don't spoil her. She's so high-maintenance. She won't eat shrimp unless I peel it and feed it to her myself."

As he spoke, he dipped the shrimp in sauce and held it up to Lina's lips with practiced ease.

The whole room was buzzing with laughter and warmth, while I stood awkwardly at the doorway, leaning on my crutches, feeling like I was the punchline to a joke nobody got.

It wasn't until a sharp-eyed distant relative spotted me and exclaimed, "Hey? Serena, what are you doing here?"

Lucien turned around at the sound, his smile disappearing instantly.

He shoved his chair back and stormed over, grabbing my wrist and dragging me out toward the door.

"Who gave you permission to show up? You never got an invitation to my mom's birthday party!"

The sharp pain in my ankle made me stumble, almost falling over. I yanked my hand out of his grip and shot him a frosty glare. "Let go. Don't touch me."

Lucien's eyes were ice-cold. "Serena, what's your game? You knew Lina would be here, and you still showed up just to make a scene and mark your territory?"

"I'm warning you. You're not welcome here. Get out, now!"

His nerve made me laugh out of sheer frustration. "Last week, you kept reminding me to show up today. So what, were you just talking nonsense? Was all that just hot air?"

Lucien's face froze for a second, a flicker of guilt in his eyes, but he stubbornly doubled down. "I honestly don't remember ever saying that. Maybe you just made it up so you could cause a scene."

Just then, Madame Adler followed them out, speaking to Serena with heartfelt concern. "Serena, Lina's depression still hasn't improved, she's really fragile right now and can't handle any emotional shocks. Lucien brought her here to help her unwind. Why don't you head home for now? We don't want her to see you and have another breakdown."

Watching Lucien and his mother act like that, I suddenly found them both pathetic and laughable.

Since the Adler family was so desperate to distance themselves from me, I couldn't be bothered to say another word.

I gave a blank nod and was just about to leave when Lina followed me out.

She put on her gracious hostess act, sounding all generous. "Madame Adler, Lucien, why are you making Serena leave? She came all this way on crutches, poor thing. I'm not that petty, let her stay and join us for dinner."

I ignored the triumphant glint in her eyes and replied, my tone flat as ever, "No need. I don't want to taint my stomach with this mess."

Seeing I wasn't playing along, Lucien's face turned stormy. He stepped in front of me, blocking my way, and barked, "Serena, don't be shameless!

"Lina's being generous, not holding your uninvited appearance against you, even giving you a way out, and you still dare to throw attitude?

"This is your final warning. If you walk out that door today, our engagement is over! Don't forget, you already quit your lead role overseas for me. If I kick you out, you'll be blacklisted from every stage in Altera!"

My body went rigid.

This man spent seven years never giving up, always pestering me, slowly melting the ice around my heart.

If it hadn't been for that unexpected crash, I never would've ended up tangled with a flirt like him.

When that heavy truck came barreling down, he shoved me out of the way, using his own body to shield me from the deadly impact.

Right before he passed out, covered in blood, he gripped my hand tight. "Serena, even if I have to risk everything, even my life, I'll never let anything hurt you, not even a scratch. All I want... is a chance to look after you."

That life-risking act shattered my reason. Driven by a wild, desperate impulse, I gave up my bright future with the Ballet de la Cour in Ville Lumière and flew back to Altera without hesitation, just so I could stand in the wedding dress I'd chosen for him.

The sad thing was, the selfless sacrifice that once moved me to tears had now become the very leverage he used to crush my boundaries.

I took a deep breath and said coldly, "Just as you wish, the wedding is off."