Before I could leave, I was stopped.

Marcus Castillo stood by the elevator, a phalanx of men in black suits surrounding him.

He wore a custom suit, diamond cufflinks glinting under the lights.

I looked up at his handsome profile. He was at least two heads taller than me, his lean muscle visible even through the fine fabric.

If not for this mess, I might have appreciated his looks.

Too bad he had a good face but carried himself with such arrogance.

"Victoria, is this how you do your job?" he asked, not even looking at me, addressing his own assistant.

Victoria stood beside him, head bowed, looking as if she'd messed up. "I'm sorry, Mr. Marcus, I..."

"Shut up." Marcus waved a hand, and the bodyguards immediately spread out, blocking every exit in the hallway.

He finally turned to me, his gaze sweeping over me.

"The Vincent family's adopted daughter, right?" His tone was casual. "Heard you grew up in an orphanage, only brought into the Vincents at ten?"

I took a deep breath. "Mr. Marcus, I want to explain—"

I was about to tell him my true identity, that there might have been a misunderstanding, and that Grandpa had arranged this marriage, but I didn't want to disappoint him.

But before I could finish, he cut me off.

"No need." The man pulled out his phone, glanced at it. "Your past doesn't interest me. The Vincent family is sending you over for this marriage alliance to latch onto the Castillos. You're no different; you're just looking to use this marriage to secure your own future."

I gripped my clutch tighter. "Mr. Marcus, you're too arrogant."

"Is this how you speak to your future wife?"

He smiled, a cold, dismissive smile.

"Arrogant?" Marcus stepped forward, looking down at me. "Aria, understand your place. You don't deserve my respect."

"If it weren't for family politics, do you think I'd marry you?" His voice was low but clear, every word sharp. "After we're married, you'd better behave. Beyond satisfying my desires, you'll get nothing of my power, my assets, or anything belonging to the family."

Blood rushed to my head.

I looked up, meeting his eyes directly.

"Since Mr. Marcus is so unwilling, perhaps we should call off the engagement." My voice was calm. "It would be better for both of us."

The hallway fell silent.

Marcus blinked, then burst into laughter.

"Playing hard to get?" He turned to his men. "You hear that? She says she wants to break off the engagement."

The bodyguards nearby chuckled.

"This girl really knows how to act."

"Does she think that will make him back down?"

"So many socialites in New York would kill to marry Marcus Castillo, and she's putting on airs."

Marcus turned back, the smile gone from his face.

"Aria, I know what you're thinking," he said, stepping closer, his voice a warning. "But you've chosen the wrong tactic. There are hundreds of women in New York, better than you, lined up to marry me. You think a little coyness, a little temper, and I'll coddle you?"

"I'm not having a temper tantrum." I took a step back, creating distance. "I just genuinely think we're not compatible."

"Not compatible?" he sneered. "You, an orphan raised in a convent, what right do you have to say you're not compatible?"

"Mr. Marcus." I cut him off. "I will explain the engagement to Don Castillo personally. I believe he will understand."

Mentioning his father changed Marcus's expression.

"You—"

"As for what you just said." I adjusted my skirt. "I will relay it to Don Castillo truthfully. Let him judge whether his son is worthy of the Castillo family's honor."

Marcus's face flushed red.

The guests who had gathered to watch gasped.

"Is she insane?"

"How dare she threaten Marcus!"

"She's out of her mind, giving up the chance to join the Castillos for nothing."

I ignored the voices.

Marriage was never a transaction, but about whether two people fit.

Marcus Castillo was clearly not my choice.

Besides, I had seen Julian Castillo's demeanor in front of my "Don."

That man, who commanded influence throughout New York, was reduced to humbly seeking cooperation before my family.

In less than ten minutes, his palms were sweating, and he nearly dropped his glass.

He probably had no idea that the alliance opportunity he'd worked so hard for was just destroyed by his son's few words.

"I'll ask you one more time." Marcus's voice broke my thoughts.

He stared at me, his eyes blazing with disbelief and anger.

"Are you sure you want to call off the engagement?" he asked, each word deliberate. "This is your last chance."

I looked at him and suddenly found it amusing.

This man truly believed everyone would bow down to the Castillo name.

"Of course. Since Mr. Castillo is so unwilling to be engaged to me," I said softly, "why should you force yourself?"

Marcus's face paled.

He clearly hadn't expected me to be this firm, and for a moment, he was unsure how to proceed.

The guests were here, and the press had been tipped off. Canceling the wedding now would be a real slap in the face to the family.

"Mr. Marcus, if Miss Aria is set on this, why force her hand?"

"Someone of your standing deserves a better woman," she continued. "Perhaps… the daughter of the Saranto family, Miss Isabella."

Saranto?

I narrowed my eyes.

The family that ran the show in European trade?

"The Saranto family?" Hearing that, Marcus perked up, his interest piqued.

"That's right," Victoria smiled. "Miss Isabella is twenty-two, a graduate of Columbia Business School, fluent in five languages. More importantly, the Saranto family's trade network in Europe is precisely what the Castillo family needs right now."

Marcus's eyes lit up.

Watching this, I suddenly understood.

"Marrying into the Vincent family gets you nothing but a pretty doll," Victoria continued. "But marrying into the Saranto family is a real power play. Don Castillo will be proud of your choice."

"Miss Isabella…," Marcus mused for a moment. "Is she willing?"

"Of course!" Victoria's smile widened. "In fact, Miss Isabella is already here. She heard about today's wedding and flew in from Europe to offer her congratulations. If you agree, she can meet you anytime."

Already here?

I let out a cold laugh.

What a setup.

This whole "marriage contract" wasn't Marcus's idea at all; it was Victoria's plan.

Her goal was clear: to break off my engagement to Marcus, then arrange a marriage between the Castillo and Saranto families.

And Marcus, for someone who had made it to Underboss, was being played like a fiddle without even realizing it.

Or perhaps this was what he wanted.

I let out another cold laugh.

"Hold on," I interjected into their conversation.

They both looked at me.

"Since the engagement is off, then forget it," I said to Marcus. "But switching brides at the last minute isn't exactly classy. Don Castillo probably won't appreciate that kind of move."

"It's none of your business," Marcus said coldly. "You're no longer part of the Castillo family."

"It's true, it's none of my business," I turned to Victoria. "But I am curious, whose idea was that contract I saw earlier?"

Victoria's smile faltered.

"It was Mr. Marcus's idea, of course," she answered quickly. "Miss Aria, you didn't think—"

"What did I think?" I cut her off, ignoring her rapidly changing expression, and turned back to Marcus.

"I'm curious, did you actually read that agreement?"

Marcus waved his hand impatiently. "Signing that contract for you was me doing you a favor. What, you were the one who didn't want it, and now you're changing your mind and want to be my bride again?"

I frowned. The heir to the Castillo family was this dim.

I'll have to tell Grandpa when I get back to do less business with them.

Victoria, hearing this, gave a smug smile and turned to Marcus, saying respectfully, "The wedding still needs to happen. Since Miss Aria doesn't want this position, why not give it to someone else?"

The next second, the lounge door opened.

A young woman in a champagne-colored dress walked in.

She was beautiful, no doubt. Blonde hair, blue eyes, her features as perfect as a doll's.

The woman gave a graceful bow. "Mr. Marcus, I've heard so much about you."

Marcus looked at her, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

"Mr. Castillo," Isabella said again. "I know today's events are a bit sudden. But please believe, the Saranto family is sincere. Our trade network in Europe can help the Castillo family break into the international market. The Vincent family could never offer you that."

She wasn't wrong.

The Vincent family might have a foothold in New York, but compared to the Saranto family, they were a level below.

Marcus swallowed.

I could tell he was hooked.

"So, Mr. Castillo," Isabella extended her hand. "Will you have me?"

Before Marcus could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the end of the hall.

A man in a dark suit strode forward, a dozen bodyguards trailing him.

"Mr. Antonio!" Victoria stepped forward immediately, her voice laced with respect. "You're here!"

She turned to Marcus. "Sir, this is Antonio Salanto, the Saranto family's representative in New York!"

Antonio smiled and nodded, his gaze sweeping across the room before landing on me.

"Miss Aria." He approached me. "We finally meet."

I looked at him, and suddenly, everything clicked.

"So you're the one pulling Victoria's strings."

Antonio smiled, a gentle smile that hinted at calculation.

"Smart girl," he leaned closer, his voice low. "But sometimes, being too smart isn't a good thing."

"You've been waiting for this day for a long time, haven't you?" I didn't back down, meeting his gaze coldly.

"Indeed." Antonio admitted readily. "The marriage between the Castillo and Saranto families. I've been pushing for three years. A pity that old man from the Vincent family suddenly interfered and almost ruined my plans."

He sighed, a hint of regret in his tone.

"All it took was making Marcus dislike you. I didn't expect you to be so stubborn, unwilling to sign even that simple contract."

"Don't you regret losing the chance to become Mrs. Castillo?"

I laughed.

"A marriage like that is better off without it."

I looked over at Marcus. He was chatting and laughing with Isabella; they seemed to get along well.

"And I have Mr. Antonio to thank," I continued. "You've solved a big problem for me—how to explain to Don Castillo why I'm calling off the engagement. Now that you've taken my fiancé, I don't have to take the blame."

Antonio's smile vanished.

"You..." His eyes turned dangerous. "Aria Vincent, do you know who you're dealing with? If you cross the Saranto family, you and your own family will have nowhere to stand in New York."

"Is that so?" I pulled out my phone in front of him. "Then I'd like to see whose power is greater..."

I paused deliberately.

"My backer's."

Antonio froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Your backer?" He turned to everyone around. "Did you hear that? She says she has someone behind her!"

Even the servants started whispering.

"Who does she think she is?"

"Just a Vincent family foster daughter, putting on airs."

"Daring to be so arrogant after offending the Saranto family?"

Marcus scoffed. "Aria, that's enough. Stop embarrassing yourself."

I ignored them.

My finger slid down my contact list, finding that familiar number.

I pressed dial.

Almost instantly, the call connected.

"Aria." A deep male voice came from the earpiece, tinged with a gentle smile. "How's the wedding going? Are you happy with your future partner?"

I glanced at Antonio. He still wore that mocking smile.

"Grandpa," I cleared my throat, my voice tinged with a hint of grievance. "I'm calling you about this very matter."

"The fiancé you arranged for me... seems to have been snatched away!"

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the line.

Then, a roar that almost shattered my eardrum.

"What?!"

It was an anger I'd never heard from him before.

The Don's voice, like thunder before a storm, echoed through the receiver. The air itself seemed to freeze.

"Who dares?!"