Chapter 2

Ethan asked to meet me.

“Claire, there’s a problem with our engagement.”

I had known Ethan for more than ten years. The moment he said that, I understood what he meant.

I said coldly over the phone, “I heard I’m not the Whitmore heiress anymore, so you want to cancel our engagement?”

He fell silent.

Those ten seconds of silence told me everything.

“Fine. But canceling an engagement isn’t something the two of us can decide on our own. The Hayes and Whitmore families still need to discuss it. Don’t you agree?”

After a long pause, he finally said, “Fine,” and hung up.

I let out a long breath, feeling as though a heavy burden had been lifted.

For the past ten years, I had devoted myself to the Whitmore family and taken the company to new heights. Our engagement with the Hayes family had also been a mutually beneficial arrangement.

I had always thought I had been a good fiancée, and Ethan and I had gotten along well enough.

We understood each other without saying much. In public, we always protected each other’s dignity. I thought Ethan and I had a genuine bond.

I never expected that one change in identity would turn us into this.

I took a deep breath and shook my head. After taking care of everything, I prepared to leave, only to find that Ava and the others had returned.

I had to admit that money was a wonderful thing.

Ava had been timid just yesterday, but today she had changed into an elegant outfit and looked like an entirely different person.

Her skin was still somewhat dark, but with time and proper care, that would change.

When she saw me carrying my bag, Ava froze.

“You’re leaving?”

I nodded.

“It isn’t convenient for me to keep living here.”

“Claire, you’re leaving the moment I come back. Are you upset with me?”

My mother’s expression darkened too.

“Claire, what’s happened to you? The moment Ava comes home, you start giving her the cold shoulder!”

“Mrs. Whitmore, let’s be honest. Didn’t you discuss kicking me out of the Whitmore family in the group chat yesterday? I’m only doing what you said. Is there a problem?”

Her expression stiffened.

“I… They were talking nonsense. That wasn’t what we meant. The Whitmore family can easily afford to support you. By doing this, are you trying to humiliate us?”

I smiled.

“If that isn’t what you meant, why did you contact the Hayes family?”

“Ethan already proposed canceling our engagement today. I’m returning everything to you, and moving out now should be exactly what you want. Or do you want outsiders to say that the Whitmore family has two daughters and that you somehow gave birth to twins?”

My words made her sway.

Ava spoke from the side.

“Why are you saying that, Claire? Mom was only trying to help!”

“And the place you live in belongs to the Whitmore family too. If you really want to cut ties with us, then you can’t…”

I stopped and stared straight at her.

The force of my presence made her shut her mouth in fear.

“The money I, Claire, earn is mine to control. Whether I depend on the Whitmore family or the Whitmore family depends on me, you clearly don’t understand. That’s fine. Just have someone teach you properly later.”

With that, I walked away.

My mother shouted after me.

“Claire! Claire!”

I didn’t slow down.

They had forced me into this today, but one day they would be the ones begging me.

I didn’t expect my father to call right after I left.

“Claire, they may not understand you, but you should understand them. Leave some dignity for everyone and stop making a scene, all right?”

“Tomorrow is your sister’s family reunion banquet. You have to come.”

I smiled without saying anything.

The moment my assistant heard that I had left the Whitmore family, she immediately followed me.

“Wherever you go, Ms. Whitmore, we’ll go too.”