Chapter 2

I pushed open the front door. My dad was ironing my shirt for tomorrow's interview.

Mom brought out a warm glass of milk. Our home always smelled of comfort and safety.

Watching them fuss over me, my eyes welled up.

In my past life, I'd been so consumed by that idiot that I hadn't spent enough time with my parents.

Just then, Derek's mom, Mrs. Chase, showed up at our door.

The moment she entered, she seized my hand, her eyes already glistening.

“Ava, that wretched girl has completely blinded Derek. His father and I see you as our future daughter-in-law. Please, you have to talk to him. That woman will destroy his future!."

In my past life, Mrs. Chase had begged me the same way, only to later tell Derek I was just jealous and nosy.

This time, I calmly pulled my hand away.

"That's your son.” I said evenly. “I can't control him."

Mrs. Chase's face stiffened, then she actually started crying.

"How can you say that? You've always wanted to follow Derek to Cambridge, and he even tutored you! Can you really bear to watch him give up Cambridge?"

Just then, my phone rang. It was Derek.

I answered it right in front of Mrs. Chase, putting it on speaker.

Derek's cold voice came through the phone.

"Ava, did my mom come to find you? I'm warning you, we have absolutely nothing to do with each other from now on. Stop clinging to me."

Mrs. Chase heard her son's words and instantly fell silent, her face cycling from pale to flushed with embarrassment.

I rolled my eyes at her.

"Hear that? Your son and I are completely unrelated now."

With that, I hung up.

Mrs. Chase stood there, stunned, unable to say a word for a long time.

My dad walked over, a frown on his face.

"How could Derek be such an jerk? Ava just gave him chocolates she made herself two days ago! Ava's never even made me any!"

My mom looked displeased too.

"All these years, our family has partnered with yours because Ava liked Derek. If Derek chooses another woman, then our business arrangements will be a completely different story."

Mrs. Chase's face drained of color, then flushed crimson.

"No, that's not it. Derek is just confused right now."

"Ava, don't worry, I'll definitely help you get rid of that bad woman."

I looked at her coldly. "No need. I don't care about him."

Mrs. Chase was so flustered she stomped her foot.

"But how will you go to Cambridge without Derek? Your grades aren't that great, didn't you always rely on Derek to tutor you?"

I yanked my hand away from her again.

"You should worry about your own son first."

Seeing my reaction, Mrs. Chase left dejectedly.

As she reached the door, she looked back, still unwilling to give up.

"Ava, are you really not going to reconsider?"

I closed the door, ignoring her shouts.