Back then, when Ethan went bankrupt and hit rock bottom, I was the one who pulled him back up.
Without my connections and the influence behind me, there would be no Ethan Gilbert today. Even that piece of land Serena mentioned—it had already been arranged for him.
Now? No need.
I lifted my head and met his eyes with ice in mine. "Since that's the case, let's break off the engagement."
He froze for a moment, then let out a cold laugh. "Alex, that playing-hard-to-get routine doesn't work on me."
I clenched my fists, trying to stand, but the men holding me down wouldn't budge. I swallowed my rage and stared at him. "Ethan, I'm advising you—have them let go. Now."
His expression softened slightly.
Serena immediately latched onto his arm. "Ethan, just now, trying to stop Alex from driving that crappy domestic car and embarrassing you—my hand got cut."
She held up her finger—barely a scratch, nothing that even needed a bandage—and gazed at him with wounded eyes.
He took her hand, all concern, then turned a dark look on me. "You let Serena get hurt? Kneel and apologize to her. Right now. Or I won't let this go."
My gaze hardened. "And if I don't?"
His expression went colder. "Then I'll announce in public that we're breaking off the engagement. Let's see who'll want you after that—a woman who got dumped. Secondhand goods."
His entourage joined in, mocking faces all around.
"What's the difference between getting dumped on your wedding day and being unwanted leftovers? You'll never get married!"
"Just apologize! Besides Ethan being generous enough, who else would marry a country bumpkin like you?"
"Miss this chance and there won't be another. Once your reputation's trashed at the wedding, you won't be able to show your face anywhere!"
His words stabbed through my chest like a knife. I could barely breathe.
Three years. Three years of feelings—and they meant nothing to him.
I clenched my fists until my nails bit into my palms. "Then let's see who really gets their reputation trashed when this engagement ends."
His expression turned sinister. He waved at the men holding me down. "Since you still don't understand what you did wrong, don't blame me for what comes next."
The man behind me swung an iron rod down hard on my other leg.
Crack.
My knees slammed into the ground. The searing pain nearly made me black out. I swallowed the blood rising in my throat and glared at him. "Ethan Gilbert. I won't let you off for this."
He chuckled softly. "Right now, it's me who won't be letting you off."
He had them force my head down, shoving me into a kowtow at Serena's feet.
I struggled wildly, but a boot slammed into my shoulder, and I pitched forward, sprawling at her heels.
Somehow, she'd gotten her hands on a cup of liquor. She smiled sweetly at Ethan. "Let's not make things too hard for Alex. After all, today's supposed to be your wedding day."
She tilted her head, all innocence. "How about this—if she drinks this, I'll pretend today never happened. Okay?"
Ethan glanced at me, took the cup from her, and crouched down in front of me.
