If I hadn't been worried about ruining my friend's exhibition, my hand would've already landed on James's face.

I clenched my fists, struggling to stay calm. "James, have you forgotten how your family climbed to where it is?"

He'd grown too comfortable, forgetting that before his father saved mine, the Sterlings were just a failing small business.

My father, out of gratitude and my feelings for James, bailed them out time and again, securing their wealth.

Even for his father's sake, I never made trouble for the Sterlings over the years, keeping our partnerships intact. But now, James was pushing his luck.

Irritation consumed me. I glared at him, my teeth grinding. "I'll say it once more. Give me back my jewelry, or I'll personally see to it that your family's hundreds of employees lose their jobs."

James lowered his gaze, studying me for a long moment.

Then he chuckled softly. "Emma, don't talk nonsense. You're just a woman. What power do you have? After we're married, stay home and learn to be a proper wife. Stop saying things that make people laugh at you."

He winked at me, urging me to be generous. "We'll be family soon. I'll make the call and give this jewelry set to Sarah. When you're pregnant, I'll buy you another one. That's fair, right?"

My anger flared. I kicked James aside, grabbed Sarah's arm, and reached for the box.

Sarah yelped in pain, a flash of venom in her eyes.

The next second, she let go, and the jewelry box crashed to the floor.

The contents shattered instantly.

Sarah covered her mouth, her eyes crinkling with a smug smile. "Oh, I didn't mean to! Don't be mad, Emma. This set was too flashy for you. I'm not saying you're old or unattractive, just that it doesn't suit you."

James didn't reproach her at all. He shot me a sidelong glance. "Great, now it's broken. Happy now?"

He sighed helplessly. "Maybe it's better this way. Stops you two from fighting over it. Apologize to Sarah, and we'll call it even."

Looking at the scattered pieces, my heart sank.

This set was made from jade Henry had bought overseas for millions, painstakingly shipped back, and crafted by a renowned designer just for me.

It was meant to make me shine at our wedding.

Now, these two idiots had ruined it.

James let out a long breath.

He shoved a piece of white jade into my hand. "Just bought this today for a few hundred thousand. It was meant for Sarah as a token of our commitment, but I'll let you have it. Feeling better now?"

Sarah stared at the jade in my arms, clearly itching to snatch it back.

I didn't even glance at it. I threw it to the ground.

The jade split in two.

"The appraisal, design fees, and invoices will be sent to the Sterling family later. Get ready to go bankrupt." Without another word, I turned to leave.

James's suppressed anger erupted. He grabbed my arm and slapped me hard across the face. "Have you had enough?"

Sarah chimed in, feigning concern. "Emma, you're so immature. No wonder James is upset. That was our engagement token, and you threw it away. How can we even get married now? Apologize to James quick, and he might still marry you. Otherwise, you'll just be abandoned."

James stared at me coldly. "Emma Monroe, apologize! Don't push me to call off the engagement. Even if you beg me later, I won't look back."

I stumbled to my feet, tasting blood, my fury burning away all reason.

Looking for trouble? Fine, I'd give it to them.

The moment I dialed my phone, trained bodyguards rushed in.

My eyes blazed as I pointed at James and roared, "Throw him out. Then break his legs."

James's face twisted with rage, but he maintained his air of superiority, glaring at everyone. "Who dares touch me? Don't forget who pays your salaries."

He was still lost in the dream of his brief time running the Monroe Group, dismissing the bodyguards with contempt.

I smirked coldly and waved my hand. The next second, the bodyguards moved in unison, tossing him out like trash in front of everyone.

Back home from the hospital, James couldn't keep up his confident facade anymore. He furiously smashed everything in sight.

Seeing her son like this, his mother, Clara Sterling, slapped her thigh in anger. "That wretch, how dare she treat you this way! She should remember, who else would marry an orphaned woman like her? Once she's married into our family, I'll teach her a lesson for her parents!"

James rubbed his brow irritably, silently agreeing.

His mother was right. I needed to be put in my place.

But I only acted this way because I loved him so much.

Though he was angry, he was still willing to give me a wedding as compensation for waiting for him all these years.

But if I kept being this reckless after marriage, he wouldn't go easy on me.

When Henry got home, it was already dark.

He strode toward me with his long legs, dressed sharply in a suit. Before he could speak, his eyes caught the faint slap mark on my face, and his pupils narrowed sharply.

"Who did this?"

I beckoned him closer with a finger. He hurried over, his fingertips gently brushing my cheek.

"James Sterling," I said flatly.

His fingers trembled faintly. Moments later, he looked up, meeting my gaze. "If I take care of him, will you feel bad?"

I snorted with a laugh. "Feel bad? Not a chance. I'll send him to his grave myself."

Henry's eyes glinted with satisfaction. He grabbed the first-aid kit and knelt beside me, carefully applying ointment. "You lead, I'll follow."

Thinking of James, he lowered his gaze, a cold edge creeping into his expression.

Meanwhile, James was eagerly planning his wedding.

When a mutual friend called, he was caught off guard. "James, did you know Emma's holding a wedding?"

Our friends had heard Henry and I got a marriage license but never held a ceremony, so they thought it was a rumor.

It wasn't until they received my wedding invitation that they believed it.

Those close to James immediately tipped him off.

James got a bit upset. "How can she be so reckless? A wedding is a big deal. The Sterling family hasn't even set a date, and she's spreading the news. So immature. How can I trust her to be Mrs. Sterling?"

His tone was angry, but his eyes betrayed a hint of joy.

He thought to himself that no matter how harsh my words were, I still loved him. The moment marriage came up, I couldn't wait to tell everyone.

That being the case, he could grudgingly forgive my earlier tantrums.

The voice on the other end paused, then spoke with shock. "James, what Mrs. Sterling? Emma's marrying the Galton family heir, Henry Galton!"

James froze. Unease surged in his heart.

Before he could have time to press on, his secretary broke in the house.

"Mr. Sterling, emergency! Galton Group and Monroe Group both announced ending all the cooperation with us!"

The cup in James's hand slipped, shattering into pieces and cutting his calf, but he didn't even notice. "What did you say?"

The secretary watched James's expression closely and spoke cautiously. "They said our products had severe quality defects, failing to meet partnership standards, and they would pursue liability afterward."

At the same time, my legal team knocked on his door.

"Design fees and damages of the jewelry are total ten million," the lawyer said, adjusting his glasses with a calm, even tone.

Clara fumed, jabbing a finger at the lawyer's nose. "Get out! Ten million? I wouldn't give that wretched bitch a single dollar!"

The lawyer stood firm, his smile not reaching his eyes. "If Mr. Sterling refuses to compensate, we'll meet in court. The Monroe Group's legal department will see it through to the end. Mr. Sterling, Ms. Monroe asked me to relay a message. If you've forgotten your roots, the Monroe Group will remind you."

Fear flashed in Clara's heart, but she held her ground, refusing to yield. "We're practically family! What family tallies every penny like this? Isn't she just throwing a fit? She's not even married to James yet and already so rude. Is this how the Monroes raise their daughters?"

James seemed to snap to life. Right, we were family.

Emma was just mad at him. A few sweet words, and it would all blow over.

He stumbled out the door, nearly knocking Sarah over, ignoring her protests without a backward glance.

James rushed to the Monroe house in a panic, only to learn I had gotten married that very morning.

He drove to the Galton estate like a maniac.

He yelled downstairs, demanding to see me.

What a joke.

On my wedding night, who had time for him?

Henry wrapped his arms around me contentedly, eagerly displaying himself. "Honey, like what you see?"

He leaned over, his hot breath fanning my neck. In the shadows, his eight-pack abs stood out sharply, glowing with an alluring honeyed tone.

My throat tightened. I reached up, gripped his neck, and kissed him deeply.

We stayed up all night.

The next morning, we stepped out hand in hand and bumped right into James, who had waited all night at the door.

He looked sleepless, dark circles under his eyes, his usually impeccable clothes rumpled. The instant he saw me, he struggled to his feet.

When he glanced at Henry, a malicious glint crossed his vacant eyes.

He pointed at Henry, his voice raspy, eyes full of agony. "You're with him just to spite me, right? Emma, you succeeded. Seeing me suffer like this, does it make you happy?"

I was utterly speechless. I held up my hand, fingers laced tightly with Henry's. "Are you insane? Or blind?"

A successful woman like me had no reason to wrong myself by marrying someone I didn't love over a loser like him.

If Henry hadn't pulled out all the stops and chased me shamelessly for six months, I never would have agreed to the marriage license.

After testing him for over two years, I decided to make it official. Yet in James's mind, it was all a show for him.

James shook his head with a bitter chuckle. "You two never got along as kids. Being with him is just to get back at me. You can't fool me. Why else would you marry him right after I returned? But I can overlook it all. Come back to me, and I'll forgive everything. After all, I love you."