Chapter 5

Lydia Reese POV

Vincent blocked my door, his voice suppressed and vicious.

"Open the door. Hand over the asset transfer documents."

I didn't open the door.

"The assets are what my mother left me. No one can touch them."

Vincent laughed coldly in anger.

"You've already given up the engagement and you're still clinging to those assets? Lydia Reese, how can you be so selfish!"

I listened to him curse from outside. "The marriage between the two families isn't finalized yet. Keeping the assets in the Reese family will at least prevent us from losing face."

Christine's voice came from the stairs.

"Vincent, don't let your anger harm your health. There's still a pre-wedding party tonight. If Lydia makes another scene, the Carter family will look very bad."

With one sentence, she temporarily suppressed Vincent's fury.

"You must attend tonight."

Vincent slammed down those words before leaving with his people.

That evening, the pre-wedding party was held at a club owned by the Carter family.

When I arrived, Christine had already changed into an evening gown. Her hair and makeup were done according to the wedding trial.

Guests whispered praise about how gracious and proper she was.

I entered in my vibrant dress. Those gazes immediately shifted from praise to watching a spectacle.

Harrison stood beside the Carter family members. When he saw me, his brow furrowed.

The party procedures began. The host invited the future bride to accompany Harrison in toasting the guests.

I was about to stand when Harrison first looked at Christine.

"Lydia isn't quite suitable today. Let Christine familiarize herself with it first."

Vincent responded faster than anyone.

"Christine knows propriety. Having her go through it first is safer."

Christine declined twice, her eyes reddening slightly.

Harrison personally handed her the wine glass.

She stood beside him, accompanying him through the toasts.

The guests' murmurs couldn't be suppressed.

I sat alone in my seat. The wine glass at my side was never handed to me from beginning to end.

After the toasts ended, I got up and went to the hallway.

Before long, Christine followed out, still holding the wine glass Harrison had given her.

She placed the glass in front of me.

"Lydia, look. Harrison is already used to letting me clean up situations for you."

I looked at her coldly.

Christine smiled again, her voice so soft only the two of us could hear.

"Vincent has already agreed. On the wedding day, he'll add your mother's assets to my name to maintain my dignity."

My expression grew colder and colder.

Christine still didn't stop.

"The words your mother wrote to you on the asset ledger will also enter the Carter family with me."

The wine glass shattered on the floor.

I raised my hand and pushed her against the wall.

Christine let herself hit it and immediately cried out.

"Lydia, I was just advising you to go back... I wasn't trying to steal your things..."

Guests from the other end of the hallway gathered around.

Harrison came too.

He first checked Christine's wrist, which quickly reddened.

Christine clutched her wrist, crying and trembling.

"I only mentioned those assets and Lydia couldn't handle it."

I didn't deny it.

"She touched things she shouldn't have."

Harrison cut me off. "Enough."

He looked at the shattered glass on the floor, his face ugly.

"Apologize to Christine."

Vincent pushed through from the back of the crowd and immediately cursed. "Lydia Reese, isn't losing face enough for you? Christine is about to walk through the wedding procedures for you, and you're still being petty over some assets!"

I looked up.

"When did the things my mother left me become Christine's wedding dignity?"

The hallway went quiet.

Harrison's eyes darkened. He gripped my wrist and pulled me from the crowd.

I was dragged all the way to the club's back courtyard.

Outside the door, Harrison coldly instructed the bodyguard. "Watch her."

I looked at him.

He didn't let go.

"When you're willing to go back and apologize, you can come out."