I rushed forward to stop them, shouting for them to let go of Mom. But before I could even take two steps, two of the bodyguards pinned me down and held me so tightly that I couldn't move.

Mikael crouched in front of me, his eyes dark and unreadable. "I never said I wouldn't marry you. What are you getting so worked up about?"

I ignored him completely and struggled against the men with all my strength. But no matter how hard I fought, I could only watch helplessly as they dragged Mom out of the hall.

My family had no relatives here. Every guest in the audience was acquainted with the Jardine family. With such chaos unfolding, everyone just watched and gossiped. Not a single person stepped in to help.

Once Mom was gone, Mikael reached out and took my hand again like nothing had happened.

"Alright, let's continue the wedding," he said.

I yanked my hand away. "Didn't you hear what I just said? I said: This wedding is off!"

I threw the bouquet I had carefully curated to the floor and turned toward the door.

Mikael panicked and rushed over to block my way. As we struggled, Tori pulled out her deck of tarot cards again. She said soothingly, "Don't worry, Mikael. Harmony is only acting out because of her energy field. If I just adjust her frequency a little, she'll go back to normal."

I could practically feel the blood pounding in my head as fury surged within me. I lifted my hand and tried to slap Tori. "Enough with your stupid witchcraft!"

Tori squeaked and darted behind one of the bodyguards stealthily like a sneaky rat. My hand caught nothing but air.

Then, she pulled something burning out of her purse and hurled it straight at me. Instinctively, I raised my arm to block it. The flames struck the back of my hand.

There was a sharp sizzle, and then searing pain.

Mikael clapped his hands and laughed. "Tori told me that burning sage purifies a person's magnetic field. Go on. Thank her."

I clutched my burned hand. In my current state, I regret the choice that led to the scenario today. I should have ended things long ago, on the very first time Mikael believed one of her tarot readings.

On our first anniversary, I had booked a fancy restaurant a month in advance. I showed up that night in my favorite dress. With a gift I had prepared, I waited for Mikael.

Two hours passed, and he still didn't show up. I made every excuse I could think of for him, telling myself not to get angry. But it all came crashing down when I saw him sitting outside his office with Tori, eating cheap street food from a stall.

I ran up to him, demanding an explanation. He just replied calmly, almost bored, "Tori saw in the tarot that we wouldn't have a happy date tonight, so I decided to stay and keep her company instead."

I held back my anger and asked, "I called you so many times. Couldn't you have at least explained the situation over the phone?"

He took out his phone and glanced at it. Then, he said perfunctorily, "A tarot reading can't be disrupted when it is ongoing. So, I silenced it."

That was when I first realized that everything between Mikael and me revolved around Tori's tarot cards. He checked the tarot before every date and every trip we went on.

Even when I had an asthma attack and needed to get to the hospital, Tori stopped the ambulance just to ask the driver's astrology signs.

I had fought with Mikael about it before. But every time, he would back down and apologize. I'd forgive him again and again, losing myself in the illusion of his tenderness.

But not this time. I was done with compromising. I said, "Mikael, I'll say it one more time. No matter what tricks you and Tori try, I won't marry you."

Mikael's parents, Nathan Jardine and Lisa Potter, watched his outrageous behavior from the sidelines like they were watching a show. It was obvious that just like him, they looked down on Mom and me from the bottom of their hearts.

When they saw that I really was about to leave, Nathan finally stood up with an annoyed expression.

He said, "Harmony, don't say I never gave you a chance. If you dare walk out that door today, I'll never let you become a member of our family ever again, even if you come begging later."

Tori chuckled beside him and said sarcastically, "Harmony, you better calm down. This is your only chance to get into a different social class.

"Your mom's already humiliated herself just to help you marry Mikael. How can you be so unsensible?"

I did my best to stop myself from losing my cool as I left the hall without looking back.

Outside, Mom was sitting near the entrance. She was wiping her tears as the cold wind bit through her thin clothes. She wasn't crying because she felt wronged but because she thought she had embarrassed me in front of all those people.

That thought made my nose sting, and my own tears began to spill over. I helped her to her feet. "Mom, let's go home."

Once we got back, I tore down every ribbon and balloon in the house. Then, I stood under the cold shower until my restless, furious heart finally calmed down.

When I checked my phone, there were over 20 missed calls, all from Mikael. As he called again, I declined it and blocked his number.

It was always hard for two people to come together, but the breaking up part was easy. With that, we were done, and it was over. But I never expected things to spiral out of control so quickly.

The next day at noon, I suddenly got a call from one of Mom's coworkers. "Where are you, Harmony? You need to come to Jardine Group right now!

"Your mom's being accused of stealing something. They're about to take her to the police station!"

My blood froze. My mind went blank as I sprinted out the door. As soon as I entered the Jardine Group lobby, I saw Tori and Mom surrounded by a crowd.

Mom was gripping a broom tightly, her face streaked with tears. There was a fresh, red handprint on her cheek.

The sight riled me up with rage. I shoved through the crowd and lunged at Tori. I only managed to slap her once before the security guards grabbed me and pulled me back.

Tori clutched her chest, glaring at me with exaggerated indignation. "Your mom stole Mikael's watch, and now you're hitting me? What are you, a family of bandits?

"Mikael's the heir of the Jardine Group, and your mom's just a cleaner here. Her poverty must have driven her to theft!"

Mom hid behind me and spoke up uneasily. "I didn't steal it… I don't know how Mikael's watch ended up in my bag…"

Lisa stood nearby and scrutinized Mom with an unfriendly, piercing gaze that was full of disdain. She chimed in, "Yeah, right. Could the watch have walked into your bag on its own?

"How disgusting. Not only are you poor, but you're also cowards. You can't even admit what you've done."

I was about to argue when my phone buzzed with a message notification. The man I had saved as "Deadbeat" in my phone sent me a text.

He wrote, "My dear daughter, I really miss you and your mom. Please give me a chance to make things right, okay?"

I quickly typed out a single line in reply, "Can you protect Mom?"

The reply came almost instantly. "Of course I can."

Just as I put my phone away, Mikael and Lisa suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He was slightly out of breath. The moment he saw me, he reached out and tried to pull me into his arms.

I dodged him coldly. Instead of getting angry, he turned with a fake smile and grabbed Mom's arm in a show of warmth.

"It's fine, really. It's just a watch. If Flora likes it, she can keep it. Consider it a gift from me," he said.

"Mikael!" Tori shrieked. "That watch is worth over a million dollars. It's a rare auction piece!

"It was no wonder that the old hag's eyes lit up when she saw it. If you give such an expensive thing to a thief, what will everyone else at the company think?"

Mikael sighed, pretending to look torn. "Flora, if you really liked it, you could've just told me. Why did you have to steal it? You're putting all of us in a difficult position."

Mom was on the verge of tears. "Mikael, I swear I didn't steal it. Here, take it back."

Lisa snorted coldly. "Oh, sure. Now that you've been caught red-handed, you're suddenly ready to return it?"

I snatched the watch out of Mom's trembling hand and hurled it straight at them. "Here! Take it! Now, why don't you tell me who hit Mom?"

Tori rolled her eyes dramatically. "She wouldn't admit that she stole it. Of course, she deserved a slap."

My fury finally broke loose. I didn't even know where I got the strength to shove off the three security guards holding me back. I grabbed a vase from a nearby table and smashed it down hard on Tori's head.

Mikael gasped and threw his arms around her protectively. "Harmony! How could you get violent and hit her?"

I laughed bitterly. "Didn't you say you were calling the police? Go ahead, do it! Let's pull up every camera in Jardine Group and see if Mom actually stole anything."

Lisa frowned hard and retorted, "There are blind spots in every surveillance system. Don't think you can use tricks to wriggle out of this. Besides, if anyone's calling the police, they'll come for you first for assault."

At that, Tori suddenly started wailing dramatically while clutching her head. "Ah! My head! I think I've got a serious concussion! This counts as a grievous injury! She could go to prison for at least three years!"

Lisa gave a cold, fake smile. "Don't worry, Tori. We have connections at the hospital. The injury report will say whatever we want it to say."

The moment she said that, Tori dropped the act and stuck her tongue out at Mom.

Tori taunted, "You old hag. Let's see what the hospital report will say later. I wonder if it is my slap or your daughter's wild act that did more damage.

"Who knows? Maybe by the time Harmony gets out of prison, you'd already be dead."

I was about to lash out again when Mom suddenly clamped a hand over my mouth. Streams of tears rolled down her face.

She trembled as she cried out, "Please don't call the police! Don't arrest Harmony… I'm the one who stole it! I'll go with you. Arrest me instead!"

"Mom!" I shouted, my voice breaking.

Mom squeezed my hand, her tone desperate and pleading. "Don't say another word. Please."

My nose stung, and my vision blurred with tears. I gripped her hand back, silently making a vow.

Even if it meant I had to go to prison, I wouldn't let her suffer anymore. Just as I steeled myself to do whatever it took, a roar of engines echoed from outside.

A convoy of luxury cars pulled up in front of the Jardine Group building.

Lisa gasped, her expression shifting from arrogance to surprise. "Wait a minute… Aren't those cars from Gilbert Group? They rejected our partnership offer last week.

"Why are they suddenly here? Could it be that they changed their minds after seeing how sincere we are?"

Mikael's eyes lit up, too. "Look at that lineup. The chairman must be here himself! They must've decided to accept our proposal. Let's go meet them."

Mom's grip on my hand loosened slightly. She turned to me with confusion written all over her face.

"Kenneth? Why is he here?"