This time, I was ready. She didn’t even manage to touch the corner of my clothes.
She looked like she was about to explode with rage and shouted, “You bitch! Don’t dodge if you’ve got the guts!”
Wobbling on her eight-centimeter heels, she charged at me.
Just as things were about to escalate, a furious voice rang out from behind.
“Stop!”
“Nina, you’re still pregnant. How can you just start fighting someone on the street like this?”
Michael rushed forward, carefully supporting Nina’s belly, fussing over her tenderly.
Nina looked even more pleased with herself. She pointed at me and let tears spill from her eyes, putting on an aggrieved act. “That whore tried to hurt me and the baby. She even told me to get on my knees and lick watermelon off the ground.” “Honey, teach her a lesson for me…”
I couldn’t hold back and corrected her coldly, “You tried to steal my watermelon and slapped me first. Everything I did was in self-defense.”
The moment my eyes met Michael’s, his brows furrowed deeply. He looked at me with uncertainty and asked, “Are… are you the only daughter of the Anson Family… Sophia?”
I nodded.
Our grandfathers were lifelong friends and we’d been engaged since childhood by family arrangement.
When we were kids, we met a few times. But as I grew older, I was stationed long-term at a classified unit.
Then, after the elders in both families passed away, we gradually lost contact.
The only reason I could recognize him now was because of the old photos our parents exchanged.
Back at the unit, I saw his firm, sharp features and figured. Since he was raised by Mr. Graham, his character wouldn’t be too bad. So I agreed to the marriage without hesitation.
Never thought I’d run into something like this the moment I arrived in Valebrook.
Michael gave me a quick once-over, his hand still resting possessively on Nina’s belly. He didn’t move it away.
His voice was full of contempt.
“Stop clinging to me. There’s no way I’m registering a marriage with you. Marriage is about equal social standing. Go home and tell your dad to stop trying to curry favor. We’re just not meant to be.”
My mind buzzed.
Wasn’t it the Graham Family who begged my parents to honor the childhood engagement? How did it suddenly become my family trying to suck up to them?
Not to mention, a marriage alliance with my family—an established military household—should be something a merchant family like the Grahams would dream of.
Holding back my temper, I smiled faintly and asked, “Did you tell Mr. Graham that you don’t want to get married?”
Michael’s face instantly darkened. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you threatening me with my parents now? I’m warning you, even if you pull some trick and get me to marry you, my heart will never be yours.”
With that, he wrapped his arm around Nina’s waist and kissed her passionately in front of everyone, like he couldn’t bear to let go.
He didn’t forget to throw in one last jab. “With someone like Nina, a real beauty, just looking at you makes me want to puke.”
The moment he said that, the group of lackeys who had followed him all jumped in, laughing and jeering.
“Look at that glare! With that face? No man on earth would want her, even if it killed them!”
“She’s clinging shamelessly to Mr. Graham and bullying Miss Lane? What a trashy woman.”
“She’s not even worthy of carrying their shoes!”
I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. Honestly, I was this close to just turning around and walking away.
Why waste time on idiots when I could be doing something useful, like returning to my research?
Even getting these couple of days off for the wedding had been a hard-won battle. My superior practically approved it through tears, repeatedly reminding me to return to base the moment it was over.
But then I thought, if I were the one to call off the engagement, who knew how they’d twist the story later? I could already imagine the smear campaign.
So I opened my mouth and said calmly, “Fine. Canceling the engagement? No problem. I’ll book a private room and let’s each call our parents. Tonight, both families can sit down and make it official.”
Eight o’clock wasn’t too late. I quickly reserved a room and sent the address to my parents.
But Michael didn’t move. Not a single step.
I sneered, staring straight at him.
Of course he didn’t dare bring up breaking off the engagement to his family. If he really had that kind of nerve, with his spoiled young master temper, he never would’ve gone this far, right up to the marriage registration.
“What’s wrong?” I asked with a mocking smile. “Weren’t you just saying I made you sick to look at?”
