Chapter 2
Alan couldn’t believe his ears, turning his head in bewilderment to look at the promotional posters around him.
Displayed prominently were wedding photos of Liam and me. In the pictures, we looked perfectly matched, an ideal couple.
“What’s wrong with these two? This isn’t even their wedding, and they’re here causing trouble.”
“That woman actually showed up in a wedding dress, thinking she could successfully marry into wealth today? Hilarious.”
Whispers continued throughout the audience below.
Lola clutched her wedding dress hem tightly, her face flushed red as she kept her head down.
Liam gave a calm instruction to security: “Escort them out.”
This was my wedding, my moment, and I wouldn’t allow outsiders to ruin it.
I continued my wedding in all its glory.
On stage, Liam and I exchanged rings.
My gaze inadvertently swept to Alan in the distance, speaking in low tones with Lola, and I smiled slightly.
I felt incredibly fortunate that my fiancé had changed.
Although Liam and I had been adversaries on the debate team in college.
But honestly, whether in physique, temperament, or career, Liam completely outclassed Alan.
Trading a worthless ex-fiancé who was entangled with a scheming woman for a mature, steady, and charming quality man-I was more than happy with the exchange.
But the way Lola looked at Liam while nestled in Alan’s arms felt strangely familiar to me.
That barely concealed ambition lurking beneath her pitiful facade was practically overflowing.
When our housekeeper Freya Foster brought her to my house that Christmas, she acted timid and submissive, gentle and friendly, following me around like a little puppy, wanting to be my friend.
I didn’t mind having another friend at the time, so I let her come and go freely in my house.
Alan lived next door and would drop by to see me from time to time.
Somehow Lola got to know him and would sweetly call his name, making him absolutely delighted.
Even though she clearly knew Alan’s grades were mediocre, whenever he came over, she’d approach him with practice problems, asking shyly, “Alan, I’m having trouble with this problem. Could you help me with it?”
That Christmas when I was sixteen, Lola took advantage of my absence to get my room key from Freya and sneak into my room to try on my clothes.
I happened to come back for something and caught her red-handed.
Tears immediately streamed down her face like broken pearls: “I’m sorry, Ms. Roberts. My family has always been poor. I’ve only ever worn my cousins’ hand-me-downs. I’ve never worn such expensive clothes before, so I…”
I said, “Why are you crying? Does being pitiful make you innocent? Just because you’ve never worn expensive clothes doesn’t mean you can wear other people’s clothes without permission.”
I smelled my clothes.
Almost every piece reeked of cheap perfume, and one had a large yellow stain that was absolutely disgusting.
I’m not exactly the kind and merciful type.
I said, “This isn’t the first time you’ve stolen my clothes, is it? You and your mother need to get out of my house right now, and you’ll pay full price for the clothes you’ve ruined.”
Alan immediately exploded when he heard this, rushing over to shield Lola: “Evelyn, you don’t need to be so aggressive. You’ve
scared her to tears.”
I found it absurd: “She’s crying because she has a guilty conscience. Does crying make her right? Does it give her the right to wear my clothes and make such a mess?”
Lola said pitifully, “It’s all my fault. I was too presumptuous, thinking Evelyn considered me a good friend…”
“Don’t be afraid,” Alan comforted her, then frowned at me. “You really have no compassion. Not everyone is born into a wealthy family. Lola is already so pitiful—what’s the big deal about wearing one of your outfits?”
I still remember that look of disgust and bewilderment in his
eyes.
It was as if I were some arrogant, vicious supporting character pushing their romance forward.
Freya cried and begged for mercy, even slapping Lola twice. My mother, considering old ties, didn’t pursue compensation and
just fired her, letting the matter slide.
When Sarah learned about this, she also sneered at Lola’s behavior and warned Alan to stay away from her.
But I caught sight of them together at school multiple times.
Before all this, I had considered Alan like a childhood friend and brother, and had even harbored a crush on him.
But after that incident, I couldn’t get away from him fast enough.
Even if Alan had been willing to marry me later, I would have run away on our wedding day.
Fortunately, I won’t need to run away.
Lola successfully managed to hook Alan.
