Chapter 3

My words were pointed, and Ryan's smile froze. A dark glint flashed in his eyes.

The surrounding guests had gathered, whispering among themselves.

"Exactly, what kind of couple signs an agreement like that? He's making a fool of her!"

"What's an assistant meddling for? He's getting too big for his britches."

Chloe's expression turned ugly. She ripped off her corsage and slammed it onto the table with a bang.

"Julian, that's enough!"

"Ryan is like my brother! How dare you hit him!"

"Apologize to him right now."

Three rapid-fire sentences, full of righteous indignation, not a hint of guilt.

The next second, I laughed out loud.

"What if I don't apologize? Will you say that this engagement is off today too?"

Chloe's gaze wavered. She picked up the corsage again.

"Julian, you know Ryan saved my life. Hitting him in public just makes me look bad, doesn't it?"

"Apologizing would be for my sake."

She looked at me helplessly, just like countless times before, expecting me to bend to her will for her sake.

I stared intently at Chloe, speaking each word slowly and clearly.

"A year ago, Ryan messed up a contract, and you made me take the fall. I went and apologized to Mr. Davis."

"Ten months ago, Ryan got drunk and fractured someone's skull. You called me in the middle of the night, told me to rush to the bar, and made me tell the police I was the one who hit them. I ended up detained for a month."

"Six months ago, he mixed counterfeit drugs into Westbrook Pharmaceuticals' products. You made me admit it was my doing, and I was sentenced to six months."

…

I listed each incident.

"Chloe, every single time, you've made me help him for your sake. Even if I signed over my life, I should have paid off my debt by now, shouldn't I?"

Though my voice wasn't loud, everyone heard me clearly, and their gazes at Ryan grew even more disdainful.

"Always following CEO Westbrook, always causing trouble."

"A pure sugar baby, a spineless good-for-nothing. I don't know what CEO Westbrook sees in him."

Seeing this, Ryan immediately changed his demeanor. *Slap!* He slapped himself again.

"Alright, alright, it's all my fault. I deserve to be hit."

"Who told me I didn't have an older sister and treat Chloe like my own? I was just protecting her."

"Mr. Sterling, I apologize. Take out all your anger on me, don't make things difficult for my sister."

He then made to kneel before me.

The slight look of guilt in Chloe's eyes quickly vanished, replaced by distress.

"Ryan, get up! With me here, you don't need to kneel or apologize to anyone!"

She then angrily yelled at me, "You just won't let go of a little act of kindness, will you? Do you want to force Ryan to kowtow to you?"

Her words chilled me to the bone.

Ryan's acting was flawless. He pushed Chloe aside, then *thump*, he kowtowed to me.

"Mr. Sterling, the debt of gratitude I owe you, I'll repay myself."

"Don't use this to pressure Chloe. Can you sign the family planning agreement now?"

Ryan hit his head hard, and blood immediately streamed from his forehead.

Chloe's eyes widened. She rushed forward, hugging Ryan tightly and pressing her hand to his forehead.

"Ryan! I can't believe you're such a calculating opportunist, using your supposed kindness against me. You're despicable!"

At that moment, her eyes blazed with rage and resentment, as if she wished to tear me to shreds.

It was as if I wasn't her lover, but her mortal enemy.

Yet, from start to finish, I never asked Ryan to repay any debt of gratitude, nor did I demand he kowtow.

Ryan was the one forcing me to sign the agreement.

She was the one whose heart had changed.

Yet she blamed everything on me.

Not to mention, for six whole years, I'd brought Sterling Corporation's assets into Westbrook Pharmaceuticals, helping it leap to the top tier, making Chloe a renowned CEO.

I pushed myself to the brink, even getting a bleeding ulcer, all to secure hundreds of millions in profit within three months.

In my personal life, I was meticulously attentive, making her nourishing soups, taking her on trips, rejecting countless arranged marriage proposals from my family for her sake, and maintaining strict boundaries with other women.

Six years, day in and day out, and what did I get in return? That I wasn't considerate enough of her? That she looked at me with angry eyes?

The surrounding guests came forward, trying to mediate.

"It's a happy day, let's all calm down."

"Exactly, let's all compromise a little, don't mess up the auspicious moment."

But Chloe's expression was icy, showing no signs of budging.

"Julian Sterling, since you're so unwilling to be understanding, let's call off the engagement. When you apologize to Ryan, we can reschedule."