Chapter 4

I froze on the spot. Lucas scratched his head and laughed awkwardly:

"I'm just kidding! It's... it's normal if you don't want to. After all, we... I... ah..."

"Okay, I'll marry you," I said firmly after some thought, wiping away my tears.

Lucas stood up, delighted.

"Great! Great!"

He even started talking to himself:

"Engagement, yes, let's get engaged first! I'll notify my family to start preparing. How about we set it on your birthday? What do you think?"

I had just nodded in agreement when Lucas turned and dialed his parents' number.

The Anderson family and mine were old friends. Mrs. Anderson had always liked me, but because of my unwavering love for Michael, she had to give up on the idea.

Now that I was actively choosing to leave Michael, the Anderson family was overjoyed. They even informed my parents.

When my parents called to inquire, I only sent them the messages Anna had sent me. My mother cried uncontrollably after seeing them:

"Sophia, don't make yourself suffer. As long as you're happy, it doesn't matter who you choose. You can always come home too. Dad and Mom will always be here for you."

After reassuring them, I specifically instructed them not to say much to Michael's family.

Lucas and I agreed to hold the engagement party on my birthday.

Before that, I would completely remove myself from Michael's life.

That night, Michael rarely came home. He hugged me from behind, carrying a strong scent of perfume.

"Sophia, your birthday is coming up in a few days. Tell me what you want, I'll buy anything for you."

"I just want you to be with me. I don't need anything else."

The person behind me fell silent. I persisted, "What's wrong? Can't you be with me, Michael?"

"Of course I can!" Michael said softly. "It's just that there's an important deal that day, so I might be late coming back to celebrate with you."

I shook my head, indicating it was fine. Only then did Michael breathe a sigh of relief.

He didn't know that Anna had sent me a video clip that evening.

In the video, the two of them were lying on the bed in our marital home. Anna, pressed close to Michael, cooed:

"Mr. Montgomery, come see me on the 7th too. I have a surprise for you."

"I can't. It's Sophia's birthday that day, I—"

Anna silenced him with a kiss, then maneuvered her body in a way that made him breathe heavily, and he immediately agreed to meet her.

Perhaps out of guilt, Michael stayed home with me for several days in a row. For a moment, I felt as if we were back to how we were when we first fell in love.

However, on my birthday, Michael said goodbye early in the morning, telling me to wait for him to come back and celebrate.

I couldn't wait for him anymore.

As soon as he left, Lucas sent people to move all my things to his house, and then personally picked me up to go to the beauty salon.

I left my phone in the villa, along with my abortion report and an invitation card.

Lucas had a custom-made engagement outfit prepared for me and even invited reporters from the city newspaper.

He said he wanted to tell the whole world that I was now his lover, not Michael's.

As soon as the engagement party started, related videos and reports spread everywhere.

In our marital home, Michael had just finished his tryst with Anna and was preparing to go home when he was drawn to the news on TV.

On the screen, I was arm in arm with Lucas, my face radiating happiness, and we shared a passionate kiss in front of the distinguished guests.

Both Michael and Anna were stunned. They heard the reporter announce:

"We are now at the engagement party of Lucas Anderson, the eldest son of the Anderson family, and Sophia Sullivan, the daughter of the Sullivan family. Here..."

Michael grabbed his clothes and rushed out the door, stumbling several times on the flat corridor.

His expression was panicked, more horrified:

"Impossible... This can't be..."