Chapter 2

Carter’s hand shook so violently he almost dropped his phone.

He stared at me in complete disbelief, his eyes widening with pure rage.

"Natalie! You actually pulled the funds?!"

I crossed my arms and watched him like he was an insect.

"What? Did you think I was joking?"

Eleanor panicked the moment she heard. She lunged forward, pointing her bony finger at my face.

"You vicious, wicked bitch!"

"You're trying to destroy our entire family!"

"It's just two pieces of cheap jewelry! How can you be so vindictive?!"

Chloe looked terrified, shrinking timidly against Carter.

"Carter, I'm so sorry... this is all because of me..."

Seeing Chloe's tearful face, Carter's heart ached for her.

He turned back to me, his tone aggressive and commanding.

"Natalie, call your finance department right now and wire the money back!"

"If you apologize right now and fix the funding, tonight's engagement can still happen."

"Otherwise, don't even dream of marrying me!"

I burst out laughing.

"Carter, did you lose your damn mind?"

"I'm the one calling off the wedding."

"What makes you think you have any right to bargain with me?"

Carter's fragile ego shattered, his neck flushing bright red.

"Natalie! Don't push your luck!"

"Without the Vance name, who would want a miserable orphan like you?"

"If you walk out that door today, I won't take you back even if you beg on your knees!"

Eleanor chimed in instantly.

"Exactly! A cursed girl who brought bad luck to her own parents should be grateful to marry my son!"

"Acting like you're some priceless treasure... Bah!"

I stared at the vile mother-son duo coldly.

"Cursed?"

"Eleanor, have you already forgotten who knelt in front of my parents' graves, begging for this match?"

"And who used my family's connections and resources to drag Vance Group out of the gutter?"

Eleanor trembled with rage, her face twisting in humiliation.

"You... you disrespectful brat!"

"Carter, don't waste your breath on her! She just thinks she's hot shit because of her dirty money!"

"We Vances have pride! We won't take this disrespect!"

Carter glared at me through clenched teeth.

"Fine, Natalie. You want to play hardball?"

"Don't forget, the luxury apartments your parents left you are still managed by my property firm."

"If you pull that money, you won't see a single deed to those properties ever again!"

I arched an eyebrow.

"Oh, really?"

"Let's see who ends up with nothing."

I dialed another number on my phone.

"Arthur, move forward."

"Sue Vance Property Management for illegal asset seizure. And file an emergency injunction to freeze every single personal asset under Carter Vance's name."

"Make sure he doesn't leave with a single dime."

When I hung up, Carter finally realized the gravity of the situation.

He never expected that the woman who had pampered him like a devoted kitten for three years could turn into a ruthless shark in seconds.

"Natalie! Are you insane?!"

"You really want to burn the bridges and go down in flames with us?!"

I stepped closer to him, my gaze piercing like a blade.

"Burn in flames with you?"

"Carter, you're not on my level."

"You'll drown. But my empire won't feel a scratch."

Sensing that the tides had completely turned, Chloe panicked. Her eyes darted around, and she suddenly let out a dramatic gasp.

"Ah! My hand!"

Her fingers jerked deliberately, and the ten-million-dollar Imperial Jade bracelet slipped right off her fingertips.

*SMASH!*

The priceless, flawless heirloom struck the hard marble floor, shattering into three broken pieces.