"Serena Matthews, if you smash my car today, I guarantee no one will be able to protect you—no matter who shows up!"
Serena looked at me with pure disdain.
"Smash it. I want to see who's protecting who."
The moment she finished, Ethan's entourage grabbed iron rods and swung at my car with obvious glee.
The first blow landed. Not a scratch on the body.
Serena's eyes narrowed. She ordered them to keep going with bricks. Finally, the body caved in. Glass shattered.
"You're looking for death, Serena!"
I clenched my teeth, trying to stand, but she had someone press down hard on my shoulder.
"Smashing your car is nothing—today, even if I hit you, no one would dare touch me!"
She raised her hand, ready to bring it down on my face.
Then a cold, sharp voice cut through from behind.
"What's going on here?"
I lifted my head with difficulty. My gaze met Ethan's deep eyes.
Three months apart, and he looked even more high-spirited.
The second Serena saw him, she threw herself into his arms, voice dripping with grievance.
"Ethan, Alex knew today was your wedding day, and she still showed up in some beat-up domestic car just to embarrass you. She even mocked me for not being able to afford one."
Ethan swept his gaze over my car—now dented beyond recognition—then looked at me with disgust.
"Alex, several important leaders are attending our wedding today. You show up dressed like that, driving a domestic car—are you trying to make me lose face?"
I glanced down at the work uniform I hadn't had time to change out of.
Sure, it was worn. But it was made of specialized materials—cold-resistant, fire-resistant. You couldn't buy this with money. You couldn't even get it custom-made.
Besides, the leaders attending today? They were coming because of me. Not him.
For years, I'd worked at the Classified Institute. The leadership appreciated my contributions enough to hand Ethan several projects—just to put my mind at ease about the future.
I looked at him and let out a cold laugh.
"You set the wedding venue at a crematorium—and you're worried about embarrassment?"
Before he could respond, Serena spoke over him, looking down at me.
"What would a bumpkin like you understand? Holding it here shows a thrifty side to the leaders. Wins a good impression. You think everyone's like you—all bark, no brain?"
"There's a piece of land in Linport City going up for bidding soon. Once Ethan takes it, his net worth multiplies. A bumpkin like you was never worthy of him."
The entourage piled on immediately.
"Exactly. Our Ethan's about to head a publicly traded company. A country woman like you isn't fit to carry his shoes."
"If Ethan wasn't so kind-hearted—if he hadn't felt obligated after three years together—you think you'd be marrying him?"
"Honestly, only a beauty like Serena matches Ethan's status now. A woman like Alex? If she ate my fruit platter at a nightclub, I'd still slap her around."
Laughter erupted.
Ethan looked at me coldly, eyes full of disgust.
"Alex, if we hadn't been together for three years—if I hadn't promised to marry you—do you think I'd ever marry a country woman like you? You've never helped my career. All you do is embarrass me."
I stared at his face—so familiar, yet so foreign now.
All I felt was how unbelievably ridiculous this was.
