Chapter 2

Alexander thought I was just being moody. But come on, I was thirty now, not some naive eighteen-year-old girl. I'd thought every word out of my mouth through.

After breakfast, I asked Macy to pack up all the jewelry Alexander gave me when we got engaged and send it back to him.

An hour later, Alexander called, "Claire, don't you think you're going too far?

"If you wanted me to spend time with you, you could've just said so. Why have your housekeeper send the engagement gifts to my place, and then make my dad force me to come back and keep you company?

"I'm the one running the Shaw family now. You're just a manager at a branch office. You have no idea how busy I am."

He went ahead and showed off, but he also had to drag me down in the process. I was just a branch manager because I had been lazy and wanted to enjoy life for a few more years.

It wasn't that I couldn't handle being the company's CEO if I had wanted to.

Just as I was about to clap back, I suddenly heard Louisa chime in on the other end. "Alexander, do you think I look better in this outfit or the one I tried on earlier?"

So, looked like the two of them headed straight to the mall after leaving my place.

"Alexander, since when did the Shaw family start having the CEO personally accompany employees on shopping trips? Or is this some new company benefit or what?" I snapped.

Alexander went quiet for a moment, then his voice softened. "Wait for me. I'll come pick you up right now. Let's go check out some wedding dresses."

Before I could even respond, he hung up. So bossy, so full of himself. Honestly, I had no idea why I was in love with him for ten whole years.

I shot him a text, telling him not to bother coming over. I was serious about calling off the engagement.

Then I packed up my stuff and headed to work.

As soon as I got to the office, Alexander called, "Claire, are you out of your mind? I told you I'd come pick you up. Why didn't you wait for me?"

On the other end, Louisa's voice was soft and soothing. "Alexander, don't be mad. It hurts me to see you upset."

Alexander's voice dropped, trying to comfort her. "Don't worry. I need to teach her a lesson, or she'll be even more out of control after we're married."

I had no idea why Alexander thought I was just messing around, trying to get his attention by sending the gifts back.

I replied, "Alexander, let me make this clear. I'm certain about calling off the engagement. This is not a joke."

As I was talking, Alexander showed up downstairs at my office.

He didn't say a word. He just shoved me into the back seat. The whole back was piled with shopping bags, all from Hermès, and one of them even had the same outfit I was wearing.

Louisa was sitting in the passenger seat, and there was a pink sticker on it that read: [For my honey.]

Alexander locked the doors and floored it. "Isn't this what you wanted? Should I take you to look at wedding dresses? Let's go."

I fumbled with my seatbelt, my heart pounding in my chest.

Louisa wasn't fazed at all. She just smiled and handed me a little bag. "Claire, stop overthinking. Mr. Shaw really has you in his heart. Look, he personally picked out this Hermès scarf for you, said it matches your outfit perfectly."

I didn't reach out to take it. Last time I was buying clothes, the salesperson offered me this scarf, but I declined because I didn't like the green color.

Louisa was trying to dress up a freebie as some grand gesture from Alexander. Please, I was not some clueless rookie.

I didn't even hesitate to expose her. "I'm a VIC at Hermès. Every season, they deliver the latest collections to my door for me to choose from. They tried to give the scarf to me, but I thought it was tacky, so I passed."

Louisa's hand froze awkwardly in midair, and even though Alexander was busy driving, he still managed to cover for her.

He grabbed the bag from Louisa, rolled down the window without a second thought, and chucked it out. "If she doesn't want it, just toss it. Louisa, you don't need to butter her up. She just hit the jackpot at birth, that's all."

Louisa stretched her neck, eyes glued to the window, looking devastated. Even if it was just a freebie, it was way out of her league.

I snapped, "Alexander, stop the car. Let me out. I'm serious about breaking off this engagement."

The car pulled up right in front of the bridal shop.