I suppressed my disgust and rolled my eyes at Connor.

“When did Mr. Connor Gregory fall so low? Can’t you even give your lover a proper gift, and instead dig up a secondhand dress from someone else’s closet?”

Rachel instantly lost her composure.

“What lover? What secondhand dress? Stop being so snide!

“Connor loves me. That dress was given to me by him.”

That dress was one I had designed especially for Connor to wear with me to a party celebrating his first project.

Now, he had put it on Rachel with his own hands.

Connor’s expression darkened as he looked at me.

“It’s just a dress. Why make such a fuss?

“You designed it for my female companion in the first place. Rachel is coming to our house tomorrow, so isn’t it normal for her to wear it?”

I could hardly follow his twisted logic. It was almost amusing how shameless some people could be.

When I didn’t reply, Connor mistook my silence for backing down. His expression grew smug.

“From now on, you and Rachel are both my women. Naturally, there’s no need to draw lines over whose dresses or jewelry belong to whom.

“You brought your luggage here because you’re planning to move in with me, right? Perfect. Let’s take this as a start. It’ll help tone down that jealousy of yours.”

For the first time, the man before me felt like a stranger.

He had once been the light in my life, the one who lifted me up when I was at my lowest.

But somewhere along the way, he had turned into a shameless b*stard who refused to listen.

Word by word, I retorted, “Since when was I your woman?

“Didn’t I make myself clear at the engagement party? The one I’m marrying is Liam Gregory.”

Connor shook his head and gave a helpless smile.

“Helen, be realistic. Do you really think someone like you can convince my uncle—the man who has never dated anyone—to get married?

“All this fuss over a cheap dress? The last ring I gave you could buy thousands of dresses. You were the one who didn’t want it!”

The more he spoke, the more agitated he became.

Sensing her chance to paint me as “unreasonable,” Rachel put on an innocent look and leaned tearfully against Connor’s chest.

“Connor, don’t be angry. Don’t fight with my sister because of me. I don’t deserve this dress. Let’s just give it back to her.”

I had no interest in their farce. Tossing the old belongings I had packed from home onto the floor, I swept my gaze over the two of them, my expression calm.

“Forget it. Since you like hand-me-downs so much, keep wearing them.

“As for me… I don’t like secondhand clothes, or the used man who makes me sick.”

My words hit Connor like a blow. The man who had been glaring at me just moments ago froze in place.

In my past life, I had argued with him, even quarreled with him, but I had never once looked at him with the same contempt I would show trash.

He suddenly tore open the suitcase I had thrown down. Inside were all the things he had once given me.

Only then did he finally realize—I truly no longer cared.

“Helen, you—”

He started to speak, but I was already walking away without turning back.

He wanted to chase after me, but Rachel clung to him.

“Connor, what’s wrong? Don’t leave me behind.”

Too prideful to admit defeat, Connor immediately masked his insecurity.

“What could possibly be wrong with me? Let Helen dream for a couple more days. Once she sets foot in the Gregory family’s mansion tomorrow, she’ll have plenty to cry about.”

Yet, for some reason, when his eyes fell again on the dress Rachel was wearing, it suddenly looked out of place.

His voice softened, his expression dark and unreadable.

“Rachel, don’t wear this dress anymore. I’ll buy you a new one.”

…

I didn’t want to see that shameless couple for another second.

But the thought of my carefully designed dress being desecrated still left me feeling wronged.

On the way home, Connor kept calling, which only made me more annoyed. I turned off my phone.

Even though my mind told me I had let go, the anger burning in my chest refused to fade.

Why could Connor Gregory trample so carelessly on my feelings?

Why was he so certain I would stay put, letting him twist and toy with me as he pleased?

Then again… maybe this was for the best.

Shattering the last fragile thread of attachment I still had for him meant I could finally cut ties once and for all.

Broken things could never return to what they once were. The same went for broken love.

The next morning, I rose early and dressed with steady hands. My heart carried no more hesitation.

On the way to the Gregory estate, my mother handed me a simple velvet box. Inside lay a pair of black onyx cufflinks.

“Helen, these were left to you by your grandfather, meant as a gift for your future husband. I’m giving them to you now.

“No matter who your match turns out to be, I believe in your choice.”

My eyes stung as I accepted the box solemnly.

In the Gregory estate’s reception hall, guests from both families began to arrive.

Connor came in with Rachel. Even though only half a day had passed, Rachel’s gaze toward me held even sharper hostility.

Connor, meanwhile, sat down beside me with his usual air of entitlement.

Though he’d always lived like a spoiled playboy, his standing within the family was low. In front of his father and uncle, he never dared act out, so today he kept a careful distance from Rachel instead of flaunting their intimacy.

When Connor noticed the velvet box in my hands, his lips curled in satisfaction.

“Finally showing some sense? You even brought me an apology gift. Since you’ve admitted your mistake, I’ll forgive what happened yesterday.

“Just make sure you behave properly in front of my family later. Don’t bring up the unpleasantness again.”

This man always twisted facts to fit his own version of the truth. I didn’t bother arguing, only shifted further away from him.

“Mr. Gregory, please have some respect. This gift isn’t for you, and neither is that seat.”

I had phrased it politely, mindful of being a guest, but Connor mistook my restraint for softened attitude. Growing smug, he prattled on.

“Enough with the sulking. Look at where we are.

“My uncle’s back today—don’t embarrass me like last time.

“As long as you apologize to Rachel in private, I won’t bring our matter up in front of the elders. I’ll even make sure you get a grand wedding.”

I let his words wash over me like meaningless noise, turning my head away. There was no point in saying anything. Once Liam arrived, Connor would see reality for himself.

Moments later, footsteps echoed from the entrance.

Something in me knew—it was Liam.

I looked up and saw a tall, commanding figure at the doorway.

His black overcoat carried the chill of early winter, his shoulders sharp as blades sheathed in steel. For a moment, it felt like the lights in the reception dimmed under the weight of his presence.

Every gaze in the room was drawn to him, yet his eyes found only me.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

I opened my mouth to reply, but Connor jumped to his feet, blocking my view.

“Uncle, you’re too polite. I heard you wrapped up a billion-dollar project and rushed back without rest. You must be exhausted. Let me show you to your seat.

“You’ve carried such heavy responsibilities these past three years. Father will surely want to speak with you. Sitting at his side would be more fitting.”

Connor’s words dripped with flattery, but I noticed his fingers trembling. He was clearly terrified of this uncle.

Liam cast his useless nephew a single indifferent glance before striding past him—straight to me.

The instant our eyes met, his frosty expression softened ever so slightly into the faintest smile.

“No need for the trouble. I’ll sit beside my fiancée.”