Chapter 4

Lucas's mother had been bragging about that agreement to several relatives. Hearing this, she jumped up.

"What? Call off the engagement?"

"Aria, what's wrong with you?"

"You've already signed, already pressed your thumbprint—what are you making a fuss about now?"

My mother rushed over and pulled me from Lucas's grasp.

Seeing the purple finger marks on my wrist, her eyes turned red.

"Lucas, what did you do to my daughter?"

"We're calling off this engagement. It must be called off!"

"Fine, call it off. But hand over the $300,000."

His mother stood with hands on hips, spittle flying.

"And the money for this engagement party, and all the money Lucas spent on you these three years—not a penny less!"

"You tramp, trying to run off with the money before even entering our door? No way!"

The surrounding relatives also crowded around.

Every one of them glared at me, pointing and gossiping.

"The Carter girl is too outrageous. Who calls off an engagement at the engagement party?"

"She must have someone else on the side and feels guilty."

"Just look at her—she doesn't seem like a decent girl. Poor Lucas."

I broke free from my mother, walked to the main table, and grabbed the microphone.

Lucas realized what I was about to do and rushed over like a madman to snatch it.

"Aria, don't you dare!"

"Stop him!"

Though my mother didn't know what was happening, she still blocked Lucas's path with all her might.

Derek and several groomsmen also surrounded us, the scene descending into chaos.

Lucas's mother rushed toward my purse, shrieking.

"A report! Lucas said she has some report in her purse."

"It must be a report about her and some wild man!"

She ripped open my leather purse, contents scattering everywhere.

A blue folder fell to the ground, its cover reading: [Paternity Test Report].

The entire room fell silent.

Lucas's mother froze. She couldn't read, but she recognized photos.

Inside the report was a comparison photo of Tyler and Lucas drinking water.

Bella had secretly taken it.

"What's this?"

"Isn't that just Lucas and Tyler?"

His mother muttered, her eyes evasive.

Seeing this, Lucas completely lost it.

He knew that once the truth came out, the image he'd carefully cultivated at work would be completely destroyed.

"Aria, I'll kill you."

He roared, randomly grabbing a heavy fire extinguisher from the table and swinging it down at my head.

"Aria, watch out!"

My mother screamed and lunged to shield me.

I stood in place, a smile playing at my lips, not dodging at all.

At that moment, an electric current suddenly sounded from the banquet hall's four speakers.

Then Lucas's calculating voice echoed throughout the venue.

[That idiot Aria has already signed. As soon as that $300,000 comes through, I'll transfer it to you immediately...]

[Tyler is your son too. You can't just ignore him...]

The fire extinguisher stopped less than four inches from my head.

Lucas froze mid-air.

His face turned from red to blue, then to ashen gray.

All the guests—over a hundred people—gaped, staring hard at the big screen.

On the screen, where wedding photos had been playing, now scrolled video of Lucas in the fire escape corridor, roaring into his phone.

It was Bella.

I'd arranged for her to go to the control booth beforehand, waiting for exactly this moment.

"Lucas," I spoke:

"Hmph, $300,000 virginity deposit. Do you think your life is worth that price?"