This elegantly dressed woman, adorned with jewelry and carrying herself with an arrogant expression, pushed through the crowd and stepped forward before looking at me with disdain.

"I never invited your father to attend the party. He showed up rudely, uninvited, and that's why he got hit.

"If my husband hadn't insisted, you wouldn't even have been allowed into our home, let alone connected to us through marriage. My son even compensated your family with five hundred thousand dollars. You've already profited greatly from this."

The surrounding guests nodded in agreement.

In their eyes, the position of Mrs. Ethan Alvarez was far more important than the life of an ordinary elderly man.

Diana took Mia's hand and gently comforted her.

"The engagement party hasn't started yet. I believe that after my husband meets you, Mia, he'll change his mind about this marriage alliance with a nobody."

"I'm sorry. It's all my fault... I was careless and almost ruined Ethan's engagement party."

Mia bit her lip, her eyes glistening with tears.

Seeing that, Ethan protectively pulled her into his arms and glared at me.

"Celeste, the man is already dead, and you've taken the money. Mia is still young. You shouldn't keep focusing on her and ruin her future.

"If you still want the engagement party to continue, put away your accusations and jealousy."

He took out an agreement.

"Sign this. Give up your right to pursue this matter, and you'll still be my wife."

I looked coldly at the man who was supposed to become my husband, favoring and protecting his childhood sweetheart.

"This agreement has nothing to do with me."

I calmly turned to him.

"Don't you find it strange that your father hasn't appeared? Because the person lying in the hospital is him—"

"Shut up!"

Diana shouted at me.

"Who gave a nobody like you the nerve to jinx my husband? He went to Lanford two days ago to attend a confidential meeting! He's only coming back tonight!"

What they didn't know was that this meeting was actually with my dad regarding the McKenna family's plans in Enotria.

Unexpectedly, after settling my father in, the poor old man was accidentally hit by Mia at the venue.

No, it was murder.

"Celeste, my father is the most important person in my life and the pillar of our family. I won't allow anyone to jinx or harm him."

Ethan looked at me coldly.

"I sincerely wanted to make you my wife, but I never expected that because of jealousy, you would challenge my limits again and again.

"I'll give you another hundred thousand dollars. Sign the agreement, complete the engagement party, and behave yourself.

"My father will be here soon, and I hope you won't bring up your father's death in front of him and turn this place into your family's funeral."

The other guests erupted in discussion and praised his generosity and tolerance.

"Six hundred thousand dollars! That old man was nothing more than a rude and ill-mannered country bumpkin, yet he's worth that much money? Mr. Alvarez is truly generous!"

"What is she still hesitating for? Hurry! Sign it and zip your mouth!"

I sneered and looked toward the luxury car approaching in the distance.

It was my dad's car.

"Since you insist, I'll sign it."

I signed my name, raised the agreement, and looked straight into Ethan's eyes.

"I won't be getting engaged to you. The reason I came was because of your pitiful father, and I hope you won't regret this."

Furious, Diana jabbed a finger against my chest.

"Still refusing to admit it? I'll be delighted to cancel this marriage alliance with people like you! Take your dead father and get out of here!"

"Whose daughter are you telling to get out?"

A dignified voice rang out.

Dad stepped out of a limited-edition Lincoln and walked toward us one step at a time.

As he rubbed the ring on his thumb, the guests stared at it closely.

It was the symbol of a Lanford mafia don, engraved with the McKenna family crest.

At that moment, Ethan's phone rang.

"Mr. Alvarez, your father passed away after emergency treatment failed following a car accident. Please come to the hospital as soon as possible to claim the body."