Chapter 3

Elizabeth would be cast out in ten days. Time waited for no one, so I decided to take the initiative.

But before I could find Isabella, she came looking for me.

She brought along the woman I'd called mother for over a decade, who berated me for seducing someone else's fiancé.

What "someone else's fiancé"?

I looked at the mother-daughter pair in confusion.

Mrs. Bennett said coldly, her face harsh, accusing me of shamelessness:

"The Gould family's son was promised to my Bennett family's daughter. You're a Smith now, so this marriage alliance belongs to my daughter Isabella. You're not to see Ethan Gould again."

Oh, so the "someone else's fiancé" referred to Ethan Gould!

In our previous life, if not deeply in love, we at least treated each other with respect. After my rebirth, I genuinely wanted to marry him again.

After all, he didn't talk much and was generous with money.

I'd even felt a twinge of regret when we acknowledged our true families.

Hadn't Ethan said he'd only marry the Bennett family's daughter?

Didn't that make this marriage Isabella's now? Why were this mother and daughter acting crazy now?

Besides, I hadn't even seen him since my rebirth.

Seeing my silence, Isabella's mouth turned down, about to play the victim, while Mrs. Bennett prepared to bombard me again.

It seemed Isabella really wanted to marry Ethan Gould.

Seeing I still wouldn't speak, Isabella lost her patience.

"Grace, you're the Smith Corporation heiress now. Even heirs of top-tier wealthy families are yours to choose from. The Gould family must be beneath you now."

"Besides, you haven't exchanged rings yet. This engagement doesn't count."

"Just write a message breaking off this engagement."

I looked at her in confusion and asked:

"If this engagement doesn't count, why do I need to personally write a message?"

Isabella blurted out: "Isn't it because the Gould family sent word that..."

"Isabella!"

Unfortunately, her words were cut off by Mrs. Bennett before she could finish.

I guessed that the Gould family had valued my business acumen before.

Now that they were getting the circle's famously spoiled socialite instead, how could they willingly take that loss? They must want to make the Bennett family suffer.

When she was my mother, why didn't she think wholeheartedly of me? Could it be she already knew I wasn't her biological daughter?

Before I could verify this suspicion, something major happened.

Ethan Gould was promoted early from Vice President to President.

Financial bloggers were waxing poetic about how Ethan saved the day at the annual meeting and heroically controlled an emergency situation.

I couldn't help but spit out my coffee and whisper to my assistant.

"Sophie, do people nowadays tell stories without even a draft? Subduing criminals barehanded—does he think he's a superhero?"

"Why couldn't he subdue them barehanded? And who's a superhero?"

This voice sounded so familiar.

Wait, how could he eavesdrop on my private conversation?

I turned, ready to scold, only to see Ethan Gould in a custom-tailored suit, carrying what looked like a cage covered with cloth in one hand.

How was he here?

And dressed so formally—he'd scared poor Sophie so much she didn't dare raise her head.

Also, since when did he like keeping birds?

Ethan looked down at his outfit and unconsciously moved his car keys to the front.

Then he stared at me, making me feel inexplicably awkward.

I admit you look good dressed like that, but I'm sick of seeing it!

In my previous life, if not for needing you to go out and handle business deals, I wouldn't have said I loved seeing you dressed this way.

It hurt my eyes.

"Hmm?" He looked at me questioningly.

I then remembered what I'd just said.