Edgar cooed at her, his voice dripping with tenderness. "Whoever makes my Lydia unhappy deserves to be punished."
"Go on, sweetheart. Tell me how you'd like me to punish her."
The crowd milling through the gallery buzzed with whispers.
"She's done for. Nobody crosses that tyrant Edgar Fox and walks away unscathed. That Miss Sullivan is in for a world of hurt."
Even the gallery manager furrowed his brow and nudged me with his elbow.
"Look, just stop being stubborn. Take the money and go."
"Dragging this out isn't going to end well for you."
I folded my arms and let out a cold laugh. "I'd love to see how Edgar plans to treat me over this woman... his own fiancée."
"Fiancée?"
Someone nearby stared at me in disbelief. "She's lost it. The poor woman's been scared out of her mind."
Six months ago, the Sullivan family had decided to reshape its position as the unchallenged power in Seaview City. The best way to cultivate a loyal business partner was through a strategic marriage alliance.
The eligible heirs of every prominent family had lined up before me in their finest suits, ready for my selection.
Whoever I chose would become the Sullivan family's son-in-law.
And that meant gaining access to every resource the Sullivans had to offer.
So naturally, every last one of them was falling over himself to impress me, all flattery and fawning smiles.
Every one except Edgar Fox, who stood there with a look of open defiance. "If my family hadn't forced me to come, I wouldn't be caught dead standing here."
"Sullivan, if you're going to pick someone, hurry it up. I've got financial reports waiting for me back at the office."
And just like that, amid a lineup of handsome, polished men, Edgar stood out.
My interest was piqued. I pointed at him, almost on a whim.
Edgar Fox. Chosen.
Three days later, he was named the heir to Fox Group.
Word was he thought his ancestors had blessed him from beyond the grave. He'd apparently rushed off to church, dropped to his knees, and thanked God profusely, convinced his prayers had finally been answered.
What a fool.
He had no idea that the only reason he'd become heir to Fox Group was because I had picked him.
Just then, Lydia's eyes darted around, and a coy little laugh escaped her lips.
"What kind of garbage art is this?"
"Painted at this level, and you actually have the nerve to display it in a gallery? You're embarrassing yourself."
I watched her reach for the paintings on my table, about to sweep them to the floor.
My expression changed instantly. "Don't touch those!"
But it was already too late.
The paintings tumbled to the ground, smeared with dust and ink.
My fists clenched so tight my knuckles ached. Those paintings represented six months of my life.
I had booked this exhibition half a year in advance for one reason alone: to fulfill my late mentor's dying wish and share these works with the world.
And now Lydia had destroyed them.
My eyes burned crimson. Before I even realized what I was doing, a sharp crack rang through the gallery as my palm connected with Lydia's face.
The force of the slap snapped her head to the side. She clutched her cheek and gaped at me, stunned.
"You hit me?!"
"So what if I did?"
I lifted my chin, my voice ice-cold. "Didn't your mother ever teach you not to touch other people's things without permission?"
Edgar's face twisted. He lunged in front of Lydia, his tone venomous.
"Have you lost your mind, Katherine?!"
"I'm standing right here, and you dare lay a hand on Lydia?"
In that single moment, every shred of regard I'd ever had for Edgar Fox turned to ash.
I narrowed my eyes, and a deep, bitter disappointment settled over my gaze.
"Edgar, when I chose you to be the Sullivan family's son-in-law, it was because I saw a glimmer of business sense in you. Not so you could stand here and make my life miserable."
The Fox family heir.
It was time to pick a replacement.
