Chapter 3

Three years.

I'd been with him for three years.

I thought he climbed so desperately because his family was poor.

I thought he was so indulgent with his brother because he loved his family.

Turns out I was just his cash cow to support his illegitimate child.

Turns out that $300,000 "virginity deposit" was hush money for his ex-girlfriend!

"Who's there?"

Lucas turned around, his gaze sweeping toward the corner where I was hiding.

I didn't hide. I pushed open the fire door and walked out, waving my still-recording phone.

Lucas's face instantly turned deathly pale. His whole body froze.

"A-Aria? When did you get there?"

He stammered, taking a step back.

I walked toward him as he kept backing away with each step I took.

"From when you called me an idiot. From when you said you'd use my salary to support your son."

"Lucas, you've calculated this so well—I could hear the clicking of your abacus from three floors away."

The panic on Lucas's face quickly turned into something sinister.

"Aria, give me the phone."

He reached out his hand, his tone dark.

"You heard wrong. That was... that was Derek's situation. I was helping him handle some trouble."

"Helping Derek handle an illegitimate child? Lucas, do you think I'm three years old?"

I jerked backward, avoiding his lunging hand.

"Tyler has the exact same mole behind his ear as you do."

"The DNA report is in my purse. How long are you going to keep pretending?"

Lucas's pupils contracted sharply—he hadn't expected I'd actually gotten a DNA test.

"You followed me?"

"You actually dared to investigate me?"

He shrieked, then glanced at the guests outside.

He dropped to his knees in front of me with a thud, his hands gripping my thighs tightly.

"Aria, I was wrong!"

"It was an accident. I was young and foolish back then—Madison trapped me."

"I do love you! If I didn't love you, why would I go to such lengths to marry you?"

"I just wanted to cut ties with her, so I wanted to use this money to send her away."

"Help me, just this once. As long as we get married, I promise I'll never see them again!"

Looking at his tearful face, I only felt disgusted.

"Let go!"

I struggled desperately, my high heels leaving black marks on his suit pants.

"Lucas, you make me sick."

"This wedding is off. Get lost!"

"Off?"

Lucas looked up, tears still on his face but his eyes ice-cold.

"Aria, saying you want to call it off now—it's too late!"

"There are over a hundred relatives watching outside. Does your father's reputation mean nothing?"

"You signed the paper. That $300,000—you're giving it whether you want to or not!"

He suddenly stood up and grabbed my wrist, sending sharp pain through it.

"Delete the recording and come back with me to toast."

"Otherwise, I guarantee you won't walk out of this hotel today!"

"Lucas, have you lost your mind?"

Tears welled up from the pain, but I protected my phone with all my strength.

"I have lost my mind—driven crazy by self-righteous women like you!"

Lucas dragged me toward the private room.

"You think you're so high and mighty? You think your good background makes you special?"

"In my eyes, you're just an ATM!"

"If you know what's good for you, cooperate obediently. We can finish this act and go our separate ways afterward."

"But if you dare ruin my event, I'll make your whole family pay!"

Pushing open the private room door, the malice disappeared from Lucas's face.

He put on an expression of deep grievance.

"Mom, Aria... she wants to call off the engagement!"

Lucas called out with a sob in his voice, and the entire banquet hall instantly erupted.