Chapter 2
Ryan masked the conflict flickering in his eyes and gave a resolute nod.
"With her, I'm cruising in a Rolls-Royce worth millions; no more rattling along in a beat-up car with you."
As he went on, his eyes lit up, brimming with dreams of the future.
"If I marry her, my life will finally have promise. A mansion, luxury cars, even a company of my own—without me lifting a finger.
"But with you, it's nothing but worry—always anxious about how we'll make it through tomorrow.
"Besides, she's younger, prettier, with a charm all her own. Just meeting her feels like I've used up all the luck of my lifetime."
Our eyes met, and he even looked at me with a faint trace of earnestness.
He continued, "You say you love me, then surely you want me to live a better life.
"Madeline, I believe you can understand me."
Ryan's eyes glittered with blind adoration for money, as if he worshipped nothing else.
He was nothing like the driven, grounded boy I once loved—the man before me was a complete stranger.
The sting in my chest hardened into bitter disappointment.
"Ryan, I was so wrong about you," I said.
A flicker of guilt flashed in his eyes, but he quickly shrugged it off. "We're already over. However you see me doesn't matter."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a sweet, slightly pouty voice drifted through the entrance.
"Darling, why didn't you come out to meet me?" came the coy complaint.
Everyone turned to look.
A slender girl strutted in on stilettos, her designer handbag swinging loosely at her side as she made a beeline for Ryan.
Ryan's face lit up at once. He strode forward and swept her into his arms. "Lily, you're here."
With open affection, he clasped her hand and proudly introduced her. "This is Lily Sinclair—my fiancée, the adopted daughter of Victoria Sinclair, the wealthiest woman around."
Whispers of surprise rippled through the crowd.
"She's seriously wealthy—head to toe in designer luxury. The bag slung over her arm alone is worth tens of thousands of dollars!" someone said.
He then added, "And look at Madeline—beside the tycoon's adopted daughter, she looks no better than a servant girl."
The bag on Lily's arm was indeed a global limited edition, one that money alone could not buy.
Yet something about the bag struck me with unease—it looked so familiar, almost as if it were once mine.
I stared hard at Lily, suspicion prickling at the back of my mind. Who was she, truly?
I was set on uncovering who dared to parade under my mother's name, swaggering through the world in plain deceit.
To my surprise, Lily showed no trace of shame. She looked me over with open provocation, as though she ruled the room.
"Well, so this is the ex who refused to let go?" Lily sneered, her contempt plain.
She held herself high, pride gleaming in her eyes. "Why has she come to our engagement party?"
Ryan gathered Lily into his arms with gentle ease, soothing her softly. "Pay her no mind. She means nothing now. Just have her kicked out."
Not a hint of warmth lingered in Ryan's eyes as he signaled sharply to security.
Emboldened by Ryan's favor, Lily grew ever more brazen, all but strutting with triumph.
"I cannot imagine what you ever saw in such a woman," Lily scoffed.
She flashed a smug, spoiled smile, her scorn for me written across her face.
"Or was it only because Madeline is so practiced at throwing herself after men?" she taunted.
Lily's snarky jab had the crowd bursting into raucous laughter.
Even the guards, blinded by contempt for me, and treating Lily as if she were a genuine fortune heiress, laid rough hands on me.
"Stop messing up their engagement party and get the hell out," one of them snapped.
I wrenched my arm free and rebuked him sternly. "This party was arranged at my expense. By what right do you drive me away?"
Before the guard could respond, the crowd, following Ryan's lead, closed in on me with arrogant disdain.
"Shameless woman, daring to covet the tycoon's son‑in‑law! Driving you out is already mercy," one jeered.
"Right! Dressed in rags, where'd you get money for this party? Lily's the one who paid," another sneered.
The banquet receipt was still tucked safely in my pocket—proof I paid for everything. Yet Lily flicked her hair with brazen pride and declared, "Indeed, tonight's celebration was paid in full by me. I alone decide who may remain—and who will be cast out."
She jabbed a finger in my direction, her tone ice-cold. "Three seconds—tuck your tail and crawl away, or I shall have them tear your clothes and bare your shamelessness before all."
The moment her words fell, the guards, acting on Ryan's signal, laid hands on me and Liv, shoving us roughly aside.
Rage shook my whole body, yet I was powerless before a wall of towering guards.
Liv, unwilling to yield, confronted the guards in heated defiance.
Around me, the crowd clamored, their jeers gleeful and cruel.
"Kick out this desperate gold-digger! Don't let her mess up the richest family's happy day!"
Seeing Ryan hold Lily close and watch with cold detachment, I felt my heart turn to ice.
Burning with fury, I struggled against the guards, but their strength overwhelmed me, and they cast me violently to the floor.
My head struck the corner of a table, and darkness closed in.