Chapter 2

My dad accepted my bet on one condition.

I had to study overseas for five years, and I wasn't allowed to let Yanuario know about our deal.

If Yanuario remained faithful to me during those five years, I would win.

My dad would then officially accept Yanuario as the Seguin family's son-in-law and groom him as his successor.

If I were to lose, I would have to go home obediently and accept whatever plans he had for me.

Today was the last day of the five-year period.

At first, I had returned with the intention to tell Yanuario the good news.

But in the end, he caused me to lose my bet.

I lost so badly that I didn't know how to face my dad again.

I pulled out my phone and dialed that familiar number. "Dad, five years have passed.

"I lost. I'll marry the person you've chosen for me, just as we agreed."

Back then, my dad had given me two choices.

I could take care of Yanuario myself, to prove I had what it took to be his successor.

But if I couldn't bear to do it, my dad would take care of him on my behalf. But in return, I would have to listen to him to get married and have kids.

That night, I went to the memorial park where my mom was buried.

In the photo on her headstone, my mom was just as graceful and lovely as she was a decade ago.

My dad had carved her headstone himself, and there were still specks of dried blood on it.

*****

After my mom passed away, my dad never remarried.

Their romance once captivated the entire city. But just a few years later, he got involved with another woman.

"Philly, men are the most unreliable creatures in the world. As your father, the only thing I can promise you is that you'll be my only successor in this life," he had said to me.

Back then, I was young and impetuous, and I didn't understand the underlying meaning of his words.

With my chin raised in defiance, I told him angrily, "I'll find a man who'll love only me for his entire life. He will never betray me the way you betrayed Mom."

My dad only sighed heavily before continuing, "Philly, undergoing heartbreak is also a crucial part of your training to become my successor. Though, as your dad, I hope you never have to go through that."

*****

Now, I finally understood. I spent the night by my mom's side in the memorial park. When the sun started to rise, I told my dad I would go for the first option.

*****

Yanuario came from a poor family. When he started his company, he depended completely on my support and resources.

Even after I was officially kicked out of the Seguin family, my relatives who had watched me grow up couldn't bear the thought of me leading a life of hardship with Yanuario and secretly helped me out.

However, I kept it a secret out of consideration for Yanuario's pride, so that people wouldn't mock him for being a kept man who owed everything to a woman.

I was the one who built up his vast network and connections, and I knew every shady business deal he was involved in.

It would be a piece of cake for me to crush him.

To get the business paperwork I needed, I went back to the house Yanuario and I once planned to use as our matrimonial home.

To my surprise, I found the whole place was in a mess the moment I opened the door.

A few used condoms and a pair of torn lady's stockings were scattered across the floor in plain sight.

Yanuario stumbled out of the bedroom, all flustered. There was an obvious love bite on his neck.

"Baby, why are you back all of a sudden?" he asked weakly.

I didn't say a word as I glared at the condoms scattered across the floor.

This guy had the nerve to bring his whore back to our house!

Yanuario hurriedly explained, "Don't get the wrong idea, Philly. Hugo got totally wasted last night, and he and his chick made this mess."

As soon as he finished speaking, the girl I saw last night emerged from the bedroom while rubbing her eyes sleepily.

And she was wearing my pajamas.

"Yanu, what's going on? Who is she?" she mumbled sleepily.

I had checked this girl's background. Her name was Pascala Zorston, and she was originally just a bar hostess.

Yanuario started seeing her about three months ago.

Yanuario's face instantly turned stormy. He barked angrily at her, "Don't call me that in front of my girlfriend! Hugo's already gone. What are you still doing here?"

Pascala froze for a moment. Then she caught on and nodded hurriedly. She quickly gathered her clothes and high heels and prepared to leave.

I pursed my lips tightly before picking up a glass from the table. Then I flung it viciously at her.

"Didn't anybody tell you there's a price for wearing my clothes?' I spat out at her.

Pascala screamed in pain. Yanuario also got a shock. He then yelled at me, "Are you out of your mind?"

I didn't blink as I watched the blood soak into the carpet under Pascala's feet.

"Didn't you say she was Hugo's girl? Why are you feeling sorry for her then, Yanuario Sharton?" I growled at him.

Yanuario was about to say something, but Pascala suddenly fainted on the spot.

He instantly helped her up tenderly before grabbing his car keys.

On his way out, he tossed two words at me. "Damn shrew."

My gastritis flared up again at this point.