Chapter 3

"Are you really going to keep throwing yourself at me?"

I paused.

Finally understanding—he'd misunderstood.

"What I meant was, I'm not getting married because my career is in an upward phase."

Preston stared at me for a moment.

Then suddenly laughed.

"Don't you think that excuse is pathetic?"

I froze.

"Nexus's CEO is also a woman about your age.

"Even she's thinking about marriage. What are you pretending for?"

I couldn't find words to argue.

Everyone knew I'd been love-obsessed.

Which meant now that I'd woken up, no one believed it.

Even my business partner was the same.

"Listen to me."

He leaned closer.

"I didn't like you before, and after getting engaged, I definitely won't like you.

"Throwing yourself at me will only make me despise you more. Unless..."

He narrowed his eyes. "You think you can be my mistress?"

I suddenly understood my past self even less.

The man before me—

Shallow, arrogant, classless.

Why had I fought with Jade over him until we were both exhausted?

With a cold laugh, I pushed past him and walked away.

My partner wanted to come apologize.

At the party, I quietly sipped orange juice.

A whistle.

Seven or eight men sat down around me.

Surrounding me.

"Well if it isn't the little princess! You actually came to Preston's engagement party."

"We were all wondering if the princess would be too heartbroken to show up."

"Looks like the princess is still in love."

A hand grabbed my shoulder strap.

I frowned and slapped it away hard.

"Whoa, a few years abroad and you've got a temper!"

"Not like when you used to beg us to put in a good word for you, huh?"

When I was obsessed with Preston, I didn't just fawn over him—I fawned over his friends too.

Jade was talented and accomplished. I couldn't compete, so I pinned my hopes on these buddies helping me look good to Preston.

I remembered all of Preston's hobbies.

I remembered these friends' hobbies even better.

Every year I'd send expensive gifts, begging them to help me make a good impression on Preston.

Thinking back now, I understood myself less and less.

I'd been too sheltered.

"Hey, Preston's engaged now. You've got no chance. It's true you can't compete with your sister's position in his heart.

"That's reality."

"But it's not completely hopeless."

The man leaned closer, the smell of alcohol and cigarettes invading my space.

"Spend one night with us, and we'll put in a good word for you.

"So you can sleep with Preston later. How about it?"

I tried to dodge.

But someone grabbed my chin. "Don't be shy. We'll keep it secret."

"Hey? Preston?"

Someone spotted Preston passing by.

"Preston!"

I jumped up, but was yanked back onto the couch.

Preston had heard everything.

"Preston! Make your friends leave!"

His friends' faces showed a flash of nervousness.

They exchanged glances.

But Preston just put his arm around Jade's waist.

No expression on his face.

He turned and left.

The man pulled me into his arms, gripping my chin.

"Still don't get it?

"To Preston, your sister comes before us, before dogs, before you."