"Mom," Chelsey said gently.

Gretchen turned toward Chelsey, her eyes reddening almost instantly.

With a calm smile meant to soothe, Chelsey spoke again. "Mom, please don't let this get to you. Someone like Brett isn't worth your anger. You'll only end up hurting yourself."

Noticing the wheelchair beneath her, Brett seemed to recall something and asked with visible unease, "Are you alright, Chelsey?"

Fixing her eyes on him, Chelsey replied with open sarcasm, "Why would that matter to you at all?"

A spark of sarcasm flickered inside her. Brett's attention was entirely on Lydia, to the point that he had forgotten how her injury even happened.

With his brows drawn together, Brett said, "I'm sorry. I know this hurts you. But my feelings for Lydia are real, and I hope you can understand my decision."

Did he mean the decision he made during the fire last night, or the one he was making now?

As that thought surfaced, pain gripped Chelsey's chest once more.

Soon enough, the ache grew so overwhelming that it dulled into emptiness.

Letting out a cold scoff, she said, "A man who can cancel a wedding at the very last moment has no right to call himself decent. Brett, listen carefully. Even if you got down on your knees and asked me to marry you now, I would still say no."

A faint crease formed between Brett's brows as he focused on Chelsey.

What he saw from her completely missed his expectations.

He thought she would cry, cause a scene, or angrily demand answers. He even braced himself for the possibility that she might lash out at him.

That was how Chelsey had been at twenty. She was proud, direct, and quick to react.

He had even prepared himself for every possible outcome. But none of those reactions came.

Instead, she looked more like an onlooker, and her composure left him deeply uncomfortable.

Could it be that she had also been reborn?

As that idea took hold, Brett's expression stiffened, and the look he gave Chelsey grew increasingly conflicted.

Sensing the strange tension between them, Lydia stepped forward and blocked Brett's line of sight.

With guilt written plainly across her face, she spoke. "Chelsey, I'm sorry. I never planned for this to happen. Hurting you was never my intention. Last night, Brett stayed beside me the entire time. Even in his sleep, he kept calling my name, and I couldn't bring myself to reject him. You'll forgive me, won't you? Can we go back to how things were and still be best friends?"

Chelsey rolled her eyes and refused to acknowledge Lydia at all.

The reaction left Lydia stiff, and the awkwardness showed clearly on her face.

Trying to recover, she pressed her lower lip and put on a look that seemed wronged.

Watching Chelsey ignore Lydia entirely, Jorge spoke with sharp displeasure. "Chelsey. The guests have been waiting downstairs for quite some time, and you are only showing up now. Have you forgotten basic courtesy?"

Already holding back her fury, Gretchen finally snapped again. "Chelsey breathed in a large amount of smoke, and her ankle is injured. As her father, have you shown her even a shred of concern since she came home? If you refuse to care about her, that is your choice, but you have no right to lecture her about manners."

After finishing her words, she turned away and raised her voice. "Phyllis!"

At once, the housekeeper hurried over. "Yes, Mrs. Holden."

Fixing Lydia with a cold stare, Gretchen spoke without restraint. "Since Lydia never planned to stay long and has already secured herself another place to live, she should leave now. Our home is far too small to accommodate such a distinguished guest. Throw all her things out. Not a single belonging is to remain."

Throughout the last six months, Gretchen had shown Lydia nothing but careful attention.

From tailored suits to branded handbags, from rare perfumes to newly released jewelry, anything she believed suited Lydia had been given without a second thought.

She had even planned to introduce Lydia to a suitable partner after Chelsey and Brett were married.

Looking back on it now, the whole situation felt bitterly ironic to Gretchen.

Following the order, Phyllis Fuller acknowledged it and moved toward the stairs leading to Lydia's room.

Rushing forward, Jorge tried to block her path before turning on Gretchen. "Gretchen, haven't you made enough trouble already? Those things were gifts you gave Lydia. How can you just throw them out?"

Not bothering to look at him, Gretchen kept her gaze fixed on Phyllis and spoke with firm authority. "Phyllis, take several servants with you and carry out my instructions. Anyone who dares interfere today can try."

Phyllis gave a quick nod in response. "Understood, Mrs. Holden."

Without another glance, she gathered several servants, passed by Jorge, and headed straight for the upper floor.

Unable to contain himself, Jorge jabbed a finger toward Gretchen and shouted, "You're being completely unreasonable!"

Still, once he met the force of Gretchen's rage, his anger wavered and lost its edge.

In the end, he lacked the courage to challenge her further.

Before long, a handful of servants came back downstairs, their arms filled with carefully wrapped boxes and branded bags, which they placed in a messy pile at Lydia's feet.

Pointing toward the scattered belongings, Gretchen gave a cold order to Lydia. "Pick up your things and leave. Now."

At once, Lydia's eyes turned red, and tears slid down her cheeks.

Her expression made it seem as though the Holden family was using their authority to torment a poor, innocent girl.

Without hesitation, Brett stepped forward and pulled Lydia behind him, his voice low but firm. "Mrs. Holden, this is going too far. If you don't want her here, then I'll take her away."

After a brief pause, he turned to face Chelsey. "What happened today was because of me, and I regret hurting you. Even so, my choice hasn't changed."

Holding Lydia's hand more tightly, he said with conviction, "I won't ever let go of the person I've chosen in this life. Come with me, Lydia."

Without another word, he led Lydia away and never once glanced behind him.

Letting out a weary breath, Jorge muttered to himself, "This has turned into a complete disaster."

After that, he rushed after them and called out, "Brett. Lydia. Please wait."

Hearing his voice, Lydia came to a halt and turned around, and tears still lingered in her eyes. "Mr. Holden, I'm truly sorry for bringing so much trouble to you."

Her fragile state stirred sympathy in Jorge, and he shook his head gently. "You don't need to apologize. None of this is on you."

Closing the distance between them, he leaned in and whispered, "Lydia, don't forget what we agreed on. Come to the company next Monday. The role of technical director is still yours."

In response, Lydia gave a respectful nod. "I won't forget. Thank you very much, Mr. Holden."

Once Brett guided Lydia beyond the gates of the Holden residence, chaos suddenly broke out behind them.

Boxes and shopping bags that the servants had carried earlier were hurled outside one after another.

Several finely crafted containers cracked open when they hit the ground, and their contents spilled messily across the pavement.

Turning around, Lydia stared at the jewelry she had treasured for half a year, now abandoned as if it meant nothing, and her face showed both hurt and embarrassment.

After briefly scanning the scattered items, Brett pulled Lydia closer and reassured her, "Don't dwell on it anymore. From now on, if you want anything, I'll get it for you. None of those things were ever worth holding on to."

Inside the living room, Gretchen pulled Chelsey into her arms. Her chest felt tight, and tears fell without restraint. "Dear, this happened because I was too blind. I trusted the wrong people, and because of that, you had to endure so much humiliation."

In response, Chelsey lifted her hand and gently rubbed Gretchen's back.

She understood that Lydia's betrayal likely cut deeper for Gretchen than Brett's actions ever could.

During the past six months, Gretchen had treated Lydia with genuine care and affection.

"Mom, please don't blame yourself. None of this is on you. Some people enter this world without empathy, and they never develop a sense of right or wrong."

At that moment, Jorge stepped into the living room, his expression tense and unyielding.

Instead of acknowledging the sight of them holding each other, he let out a sharp scoff and walked straight toward his study.

After watching his retreating figure, Chelsey frowned slightly and asked, "Mom, don't you think Dad has been acting odd today?"

"He's likely just worried about crossing Brett." The thought came to Gretchen at once, and she spoke up in Jorge's defense, even though her tone sounded uncertain.

On hearing that explanation, Chelsey scoffed silently.

Coming from an ordinary background, Jorge had only climbed to his current position because of the backing from Gretchen's family.

Even after so many years navigating the business world, some of his old ways still clung to him.

Still, Chelsey could not fully accept that he was as simple as he seemed on the surface.

Carrying that doubt, she pressed the issue further and asked, "Mom, even if Dad is cautious around the Haynes family, he wouldn't really ignore his own daughter just to support an outsider, would he?"

Chelsey's words left Gretchen momentarily stunned, and her gaze lingered on her daughter without focus.

Reaching out, Chelsey took Gretchen's slightly cold hand and whispered, "Mom, from now on, you need to pay closer attention to Dad."

After a brief silence, she made her point clearer. "This matters most when money is involved. You should watch the household spending and keep track of the company's accounts as well. No matter the situation, having funds that belong only to you is never a bad thing."

Gretchen had never been foolish. The meaning behind Chelsey's advice was obvious, and she understood it without needing further explanation.

As she reflected on Jorge's strange behavior earlier that day and connected it with certain moments from the past, a wave of unease washed over her, making it hard for her to steady herself.

"Chelsey, I know what you mean," she finally answered in a strained voice.

Later, once Chelsey returned to her bedroom, she shut the door and secured the lock.

According to her maternal grandfather's will, she held shares in Galaxy Ventures, and the terms were clear—until she reached the age of twenty-five, those shares would be managed jointly by her parents if she remained unmarried. If she married, she would obtain forty percent of the management authority.

In her previous life, she had been scheduled to marry Brett the very next day, which would have placed those rights firmly in her hands.

Now, however, the wedding had been called off, and Brett was no longer an option.

Because of that, she needed to find a suitable husband as soon as possible, ensuring that the inheritance stayed protected and leaving no opening for Jorge or Brett to take advantage of it.

After settling her thoughts, Chelsey reached for her phone and searched for her best friend's contact.

Moments later, she sent a short message. "Tessa, do you have time right now?"

No sooner had the message gone through than her phone rang, and Tessa Cooper's voice burst through the speaker, buzzing with excitement and gossip.

"Chelsey, I just saw someone mention in the group chat that Brett showed up at your house today to cancel the wedding. They're saying he plans to marry Lydia instead. Tell me that's not true."

Pressing her fingers to her temples, Chelsey answered calmly, "It's true."

"Are you kidding me?" Tessa shouted. "Has he completely lost his senses? He throws away someone as rare as you for a manipulative woman? Is he blind or just stupid? I warned you before. Brett always puts on a gentle front, but underneath it all, he's nothing but calculating and dishonest. He was never worthy of you, and you refused to listen!"

Without pausing, Tessa went on and on, her anger spilling freely with every word.

Quietly, Chelsey listened, and her eyes slowly filled with moisture.

If she had taken Tessa's advice seriously in her previous life, she would never have fallen so deeply into that deception.

At least this time, fate had shown mercy and given her another opportunity to make a different choice.

After Tessa's rant finally lost some of its heat, Chelsey said, "Tessa, you once mentioned your cousin..."

Caught off guard, Tessa asked, "Which cousin are you talking about?"

"The one whose family keeps pushing him to get married, but he's still single."

"So you mean him?" A sharp note of surprise entered Tessa's voice, followed quickly by excitement. "Why would you suddenly bring him up? Wait a second. Did you finally wake up?"

Without hesitation, Chelsey answered, "Yes. Is he still searching for someone to marry?"

"Obviously. Why wouldn't he be?" Barely able to contain herself, Tessa sounded like she was about to leap off the sofa. "I'm serious. My cousin is insanely attractive. He's around 1.9 meters tall, with broad shoulders, a lean waist, and long legs. He looks amazing in clothes, and honestly, even better without them. I won't sugarcoat it, though. His temper can be rough, and he tends to come off cold. You'll understand once you meet him. That said, his character is flawless. He's a hundred times better than Brett, who only knows how to look decent while being rotten inside."

Listening to the unfiltered praise, Chelsey felt a faint smile tug at her lips.

After a brief moment of thought, she asked, "Tessa, can you help me arrange a meeting with him?"

"That's easy. I'll handle it. I'll reach out to him immediately. But... are you sure?"

"Yes. I need to get married." A steady calm settled into Chelsey's voice.

Silence followed for a few seconds before Tessa spoke again, this time in a heavier tone. "Chelsey, is Brett canceling the wedding really affecting you that much? You're not doing this just to get back at him, right?"

"This isn't revenge. I'm thinking clearly," Chelsey replied. "I'll explain everything later. Right now, I just need you to set up the meeting as soon as you can."

"Alright. Wait for my message. I'll let you know the time and place once everything is arranged."

Tessa worked quickly and sent the details to Chelsey later that very night.