Chapter 3

The network of connections Elian had built, relying on my family, collapsed overnight.

No one was foolish. After the chaos at the wedding, my family would certainly never lift a finger to help him again.

And Elian was just a fresh college graduate. His family had no influence, no power, no value worth cultivating.

Soon, he was cast aside by everyone.

I had thought that after making such a scene, he would be too ashamed to ever show his face in front of me again.

But to my surprise, three days later, while I was having coffee with my close friends at a café, the door was suddenly kicked open, and Elian swaggered to me with Claire.

He yelled, "Louise Hart, I've been far too generous with you. Who permitted you to break off the engagement? Do you have any idea how much loss you've caused me with your tantrum?

"If you don't want me to abandon you, announce that we've reconciled right now, and transfer me three hundred thousand."

My friends had never seen such a brazen person, and they all stared at me in astonishment. "So, this is your famous ex-fiancé? Did you pick up a beggar off the street or something?"

After saying that, they covered their mouths and exchanged a knowing smile.

I felt a bit exasperated. It was bad enough that he embarrassed himself at the wedding, but to behave like this in public, too.

I said, "What are you doing here? We have broken up. There is no point in you pestering me like this."

He still took my boredom as a sign of jealousy and patted Claire's hand and said, "I admit I was a bit impulsive that day, but a life was at stake. I had no choice. Besides, I have brought Claire here to apologize to you."

With that, he gave Claire a gentle nudge. Claire spoke in a saccharine voice, "Louise, whatever happened was all my fault. I couldn't bear the thought of Elian getting married. If you're angry, take it out on me. Please don't do anything rash like divorce."

Suddenly, a flash of light flashed.

Everyone looked at my best friend, Hannah, in surprise, and she smiled awkwardly, "Sorry, I've never seen such a two-faced bitch in real life. I wanted to document it."

I said solemnly, "She will show you how two-faced she can be. Just wait and see."

When he heard us mock the woman he adored, Elian's face darkened instantly. "Louise, I've already given you plenty of dignity. Don't be ungrateful. I know you rich girls look down on people from humble backgrounds like us, but we deserve respect, too."

Here we go again.

Every time Elian and I had a little argument, he would go on about how we, wealthy types, were arrogant and incapable of empathizing with people like him, lecturing me endlessly.

In my previous life, I had foolishly believed his nonsense and obediently apologized every single time.

But now, thinking back, it was clearly a manipulation tactic he used to control me.

I rolled my eyes. "There are plenty of people with even worse circumstances than you, and I don't see them bringing it up every single day. Did I make your family poor? Stop trying to guilt-trip me."

Then I waved at the bodyguard at the door. "Get this lunatic out of here. Don't let him anywhere near us."

Elian hadn't expected me to react this way. He looked at me in disbelief. "Are you crazy? I just left the wedding for a few minutes. Do you need to be so aggressive? I have already apologized. What else do you want?

"We might not have gone through with the ceremony, but we've already registered our marriage. If we divorce, you still have to split half your assets with me."

Hannah, who was beside me, was stunned. "He's really got some nerve. Giving him a few tens of thousands would already be generous of Louise. Half her assets? Why doesn't he go rob a bank?"

I rubbed my temples in frustration.

In truth, Elian wasn't so foolish that he was beyond saving.

Even though he thought highly of himself and believed he was destined for greatness, he knew that in his previous life, his success had been inseparable from my family's strong support.

If in this life I didn't give him the chance to rise through me, he would probably spend his whole life amounting to nothing.

So, he was determined to cling to me, convinced that this time I was just angrier than usual.

He thought as long as he kept pestering me, sent me flowers, bought me gifts, and whispered sweet words, I would surely lose my head over love again and listen to him, just like in my previous life.

Too bad his plan was about to fail.