Chapter 2

"That illegitimate half-brother is ruthless. I can't possibly trust you with him. Julian has been paralyzed for three years; only his eyeballs can move. He's not suitable either. Why are you suddenly so set on the Vances?"

"Your mother has been seriously ill and unconscious. If she wakes up and sees I haven't taken good care of you, how will I explain it to her?"

I nodded, my tone casual.

"A low-class illegitimate son? Of course, I wouldn't choose him."

"I was talking about Julian, the one in the vegetative state."

"He's been paralyzed for three years, and his half-brother still hasn't successfully taken over. Do you really think he's completely useless?"

My father sighed deeply.

"What I think doesn't matter; it's what outsiders think. The Sterling brothers… Didn't you say you wouldn't marry anyone but Liam before? And Noah, your relationship with him isn't bad either. Either of them would be better than stepping into the Vance family's mess!"

But I shook my head firmly.

"It has to be Julian. No one else is an option."

"Someone who's been to hell and back like him? If I lend him a hand, his gratitude alone would solidify the Hayes family's standing for decades to come."

My father's eyes widened as if he didn't recognize his own daughter.

"Are you saying... Julian's illness can be cured?"

I didn't respond, but my silence was an answer.

Before my father left, I spoke softly:

"Since the Sterlings are useless to us, we can stop our collaborations with them. We've lost enough money over the years; cutting our losses now is the best strategy."

Actually, there was more I didn't say.

It wasn't just that I no longer loved Liam Sterling.

I actually hated him.

In my past life, I pursued him relentlessly for ten years.

When I heard the news of the Sterling family's downfall, my first instinct was to beg my father to intervene.

Considering Liam's pride, I asked my father to structure it as a collaborative project.

Over ten years, the Sterling family profited from us by at least a billion dollars.

It's fair to say that the later Sterling Corporation was sustained by me.

Everyone in our city's elite circles knew me as Liam's doormat.

I thought my efforts would eventually move Liam.

And he did promise my father he would marry me.

After marriage, he was to manage the Hayes family affairs.

But when I proposed, he brutally crushed my self-respect for another woman.

Unwilling to back down, I turned and chose Noah.

I thought I could at least save some face.

Who knew Noah was even worse than his brother, if that was even possible?

For three years after the wedding, he never once stepped into my room.

Until my mother suddenly fell gravely ill and passed away.

At her funeral, he presented me with divorce papers.

I had people investigate and secretly overheard their scheme.

My mother's treatment plan had been personally altered by Noah.

All to get back at Seraphina.

Even though I had done nothing wrong.

He used cunning tactics to force me out, penniless, stripping the Hayes family of all its assets.

Then he turned around and gave everything to Seraphina to make her happy.

It was then I realized that both men I had loved harbored feelings for the same woman.

How could I endure such humiliation again?

As I stood up to leave, I unexpectedly ran into Liam just outside the door.

The moment he saw me, his eyes instantly hardened.

"You've been talking about the wedding with Mr. Hayes again?"

"I've already agreed. Are you that desperate? Can't you wait a single day?"