As I spoke, my tone suddenly shifted, growing colder.
“But do you know the consequences of breaking off our engagement with me?”
I had meant it as a warning, but the arrogant woman before me wasn’t listening. She even thought I was bluffing.
“Loser, stop playing games with me!”
“I’m the daughter of Los Angeles’s wealthiest family. Do you really think I’d be afraid of you?”
Instead of getting angry, I laughed.
“Isabella, I’m only stating a simple fact. Whether you believe it or not makes no difference.”
“As for this ‘richest family’ title you love to brag about—without me, it means nothing.”
The wedding hall erupted in chaos.
“My God, this guy is insane. He doesn’t even put the Reed family in his eyes—has he lost his mind from studying too much?”
“Exactly! The Reeds are the real elite in Los Angeles, and this idiot dares say they can’t survive without him?”
“If you ask me, he just wanted to latch onto a rich family, but failed, and now he’s throwing a tantrum.”
I ignored the jeers around me.
Yes, in Los Angeles the Reed family was indeed powerful, their business thriving.
But… what no one knew was that at least half of their success came from me.
I still remembered vividly when Richard Reed, Isabella’s father, now the city’s wealthiest man, had begged me to marry his daughter.
In less than thirty minutes, his white shirt had been soaked through with sweat, terrified I would refuse.
He probably had no idea that the fortune he had begged for was now being destroyed by his own daughter’s hands.
“Isabella, I’ll ask you one last time. Are you truly determined to break off our engagement?”
Her indifference was like a slap in the face.
“That’s right!”
“Even if every man on earth were dead, I still wouldn’t marry you!”
At that, Daniel couldn’t sit still anymore. He shoved me hard.
“Ethan, I was kind enough to invite you to my wedding, but you’ve harassed my wife again and again!”
“Do you even respect me as the groom?”
I narrowed my eyes, my voice low and cold.
“Daniel, do you actually think stealing another man’s fiancée is something to be proud of?”
Daniel burst out laughing.
“Stealing your fiancée?”
“Come on, man—strength speaks louder than words. If Isabella doesn’t want you, it’s because you’re not good enough!”
“The Carter family may not be as wealthy as the Reeds, but in Los Angeles we’re still a family of status. What do you have to compete with me?”
I let out a quiet sigh, my gaze unwavering.
“Daniel, as a former classmate, don’t say I didn’t warn you. If you dare to marry the woman standing beside you today…”
“Within half an hour, both of you will end up in prison.”
But before Daniel could reply, Isabella stepped forward with a sneer.
“Loser, stop trying to scare us.”
“You’re just hanging around here because you want money, aren’t you?”
“Fine—how much hush money do you want?”
If it weren’t for my classified status, I would have slapped her right there.
The moment Isabella said that, the crowd burst into laughter again.
“See? I told you—people marry the spouse they deserve. A broke nobody like him? Even with an engagement, his fiancée was bound to run off with someone better.”
