Chapter 2

Upon returning home, Kylee told her parents that she intended to break off her engagement with Michael.

To her surprise, her father, James Stewart, did not erupt in anger. Instead, he remained remarkably calm.

He said, "I've long anticipated this day. You've been engaged for three years, but Michael keeps postponing the wedding. You are so useless. Fortunately, I've already arranged another marriage for you. You will get engaged with the son of the Spencer family from Banland, Jerald Spencer. The Spencer family is prestigious with a long history. You must seize the opportunity this time."

Kylee's heart sank. It was said that Jerald was temperamental, with disabled legs, and impotent.

James always valued interests the most, caring little for Kylee's happiness.

With a bitter smile, Kylee replied, "Fine. I will marry him. But once I get married, I will have nothing to do with the Stewart family."

With that, she returned to her room directly, ignoring James's darkened expression.

As soon as she entered, her phone buzzed.

It was a friend request from an unfamiliar contact, noted with just one word, Spencer.

Seeing the family name, she felt an inexplicable tension within her.

She accepted the request, and almost immediately, a message came through. "I will have someone pick you up a week later."

Kylee was a little afraid when she thought about facing Jerald, who was said to be ruthless.

However, she had agreed to the arranged marriage. So she had no intention of backing out. She simply replied, "Okay."

The following day, a friend asked her to a gathering. She realized that she wouldn't be in undefined for long and decided to attend it.

To her surprise, Michael was also there. A young, delicate woman was next to him. She seemed as fragile as a breeze.

She was Michael's childhood sweetheart, Sonya Wheeler. She had just returned from abroad and was known among their circle as the "delicate and ethereal beauty."

When Sonya noticed Kylee, the former stood up awkwardly. "Michael, I'll sit somewhere else so Kylee can sit next to you."

"Stay where you are." Michael held Sonya's hand tenderly, and his eyes were full of adoration. "This seat is only for you."

His words were a blatant affront to Kylee, his fiancée, and left her dignity trampled.

Many glanced at Kylee with mockery.

Kylee's face turned pale, but she said nothing. She just found an empty seat for herself.

She ate her meal silently while watching as Michael attentively served Sonya with various dishes, wiped her lips, and poured her a drink. Anything she liked was immediately placed in front of her.

His gaze, his expressions, and his every thought seemed entirely focused on her. He spared not a glance for Kylee.

Sonya responded to him with her gaze full of affection. She recounted stories of their childhood together with a smile.

"Back then, Michael and I used to play house. He was so mischievous, using his mom's lipstick to draw on my face, and insisted I be his bride. If I refused him, he'd sit on the floor crying. He said I was his wife. The adult laughed at us on hearing him." She softly punched him on his chest after she said that.

And Michael caught her fist with a soft smile. His eyes brimmed with adoration and tenderness.

Kylee lowered her head. She didn't want anyone to notice her reddening eyes.

She had decided to break off the engagement with Michael, but she still felt so much pain as she witnessed that scene.

Even at their most intimate moments, he never said she would be his wife. When she had once slipped and said he would be her husband, his expression changed, and he shook her off with anger.

He had flinched at the term, as he told her it was outdated.

But it turned out that he only disliked using it with Kaylee because only Sonya was his wife in his eyes.

Her spoon slipped from her grasp, and she awkwardly bent down to retrieve it. "It's closer to me. Let me help you," Sonya offered, bending down.

Under the tablecloth, Sonya's fingers accidentally brushed against Michael's leg.

In that moment, Kylee clearly saw his body tense up. A certain reaction occurred, and his breath quickened.

Was such a simple touch enough to turn him on?

As Kylee accepted the spoon. Sonya's face flushed, and Kaylee was overwhelmed by the pain, which almost consumed her.

She couldn't stand it any longer and found an excuse to leave early.

In the restroom, she splashed her face with cold water repeatedly, trying to quell the pain in her heart. But she was startled when someone embraced her from behind.

The familiar scent enveloped her.

It was Michael

He tilted his head and kissed her neck passionately. His fingers deftly unbutton her clothes.

Anger surged through Kylee as she shoved him away. "What are you doing? We've already broken up."

He chuckled, and his hands grew warmer. "Come on. Don't refuse me. I'm really turned on now. Let's do it..."