Sensing that things were spiraling out of control, Benedict was afraid that Reynold would completely ruin her, so he hastily arranged our marriage.

Originally, I had just completed my PhD and signed a contract to join a prestigious national laboratory. But because of this sudden turn of events, I had no choice but to give it all up.

For the next thirty years, I poured everything I had—my knowledge, my passion, my life—into pharmaceutical research for the Lincoln Family business.

Under my efforts alone, Lincoln Pharmaceuticals rose from being one of Jarethorn’s top ten companies to one of the top three pharmaceutical enterprises in the entire country.

And yet in the end, I was repaid with exhaustion-induced illness, burned alive in flames, dying with not even a grave to mark my existence.

To Metta, this marriage tore her away from the man she loved Reynold.

But to me… wasn’t it also a lifetime of self-sacrifice in the name of repaying kindness?

With that thought, I made my decision.

Looking up at Metta who was still glaring at me with hatred, I calmly opened the door.

“If your heart isn’t in this, then let’s cancel the engagement. Go.”

Metta’s eyes widened in disbelief. She was stunned that those words had come from my mouth.

"You schemed for all these years just to become the Lincoln Family's son-in-law, didn't you? Now that you're so close to getting what you want, there's no way you'd suddenly grow a conscience!"

Seeing the suspicion and guardedness in her eyes, I felt an overwhelming weariness settle in my chest.

In the past, out of gratitude toward the Lincoln Family, I always obeyed Metta without question. I was tolerating everything, to the point of groveling.

Because of Reynold's deliberate slander, Metta and even the entire upper-class circle of Jarethorn, believed I was a scheming social climber, using my adopted son status to cozy up to Metta's parents in hopes of marrying a rich girl and changing my fate.

As long as Metta’s heart belonged to Reynold, nothing I said would ever change her mind. It all just sounded like empty excuses.

I shook my head and gave a bitter smile. “No matter how awful you think I am, I’ve always treated you as family. Even if we can’t be husband and wife, I don’t want to become your enemy.”

Metta froze, her gaze faltering.

For the first time in years, I saw a flicker of that pure expression she used to have as a child.

“Fine, I’ll trust you with this once.”

She slowly stood up and changed into a set of more casual clothes.

With my help, she slipped past the layers of guards stationed around the house and disappeared into the night.

By the time Metta’s father found out, she had already reunited with Reynold. They even posted a video of them kissing passionately on a hotel bed, on her social media.

Furious, Benedict smashed his phone on the spot and had no choice but to announce the postponement of the wedding.

The next day at noon, Metta returned hand-in-hand with Reynold. Her deliberately lowered neckline revealed a trail of hickeys, leaving little to the imagination about how wild their night had been.

“Dad, Reynold and I love each other. We've already sealed the deal and your grandchild might already be on the way. Just give us your blessing!”

She didn't care that I was standing right there. She clung to Reynold, laughing and flirting like they were the happiest couple in the world.

“Metta, you’ve truly lost your mind. Why must you insist on jumping into a pit of fire?”

Benedict’s face was dark with fury, but in the end, he was helpless. He could only turn to Reynold and warn sternly,

“From now on, you’d better straighten up. Stop with your reckless behavior and don’t bring shame to the Lincoln Family.”

Hearing this as an approval, Metta was overjoyed.

But Reynold still wore his usual careless smirk. He glanced sideways at me and sneered, “Since Metta and I are getting married, there’s no reason for an outsider like you to keep staying in this house, right?”

Benedict’s expression shifted. Even Metta looked surprised and tugged at Reynold’s sleeve. “Reynold, that’s not necessary…”

“Not necessary?” Reynold scoffed. “Every time I see his face, I’m reminded of how shamelessly he tried to climb the social ladder by chasing after you. Just that alone makes me sick!”

He shook off Metta’s hand and pointed at me with provocation in his eyes.

“Unless you’re ready to get on your knees right now, act like a dog and swear loyalty to the Lincoln Family for life, don’t expect any mercy. Maybe then I’ll throw you a scrap or two to survive on.”

The moment I heard those words, my gaze locked onto Reynold like a blade.

The reason I backed down was never because I feared him. It was because I didn’t want to repeat the same tragic fate.

But clearly, my stare struck a nerve.

Reynold gritted his teeth and sneered, “What? You’re just an outsider. Are you really thinking of laying hands on me, your future brother-in-law, in front of Metta's parents?”

At that moment, Metta’s father let out a cold snort, completely unwilling to give him face.

“Hmph! If you hadn’t said anything, I might’ve actually forgotten who the head of this family is. You were barking out orders so naturally that I almost mistook you for the one in charge!”

I understood then that Benedict was still on my side.

After being put down by both of us in quick succession, even someone as shameless as Reynold couldn’t keep up the act.

“Come on, baby, say something for me!” Reynold immediately clung to Metta’s arm, swinging it back and forth like a child throwing a tantrum.

Metta hesitated, clearly torn. But in the end, she looked at me and said, “Ferry, it’s your choice. Either do as Reynold said, or…”

“No need for any more nonsense,” I cut her off calmly. “I never intended to stay in the first place.”

My words made Benedict rise to his feet in alarm. “That’s out of the question!”

He grabbed my shoulder tightly. “You’re the Lincoln Family’s chief pharmaceutical expert! If you leave, what will happen to the unfinished drugs? Those are your life’s work!”

Benedict gave a bitter smile. I understood that he wasn’t truly worried about the research impacting the company’s performance. He just wanted an excuse to keep me around.

“Benedict, all the finalized data for the drug projects has already been meticulously recorded. The Lincoln Family’s expert team can assist you in completing the follow-up research.”

I smiled. There was no anger in my expression, not even the slightest hint of resentment at being cast out. In fact, I felt freer than ever.

“As long as the work is continued by professionals, the results won’t go wrong. It’s just a pity I won’t be around to help anymore. I hope you’ll soon find a true successor.”

I even took the time to give Benedict a final word of advice.

The Lincoln Family’s research team was capable enough to complete my work, but only if they kept people like Reynold, that kind of worthless scum, out of it.

“What do you mean by that, Mr. Carver? What do you mean by ‘the true successor’? Are you implying that Metta and I are unworthy of being successors?” Reynold was furious.

But I didn’t even spare him a glance in response to his anger.

“Benedict, I’ll be leaving now.”

With that, I was ready to walk away.

“Stop right there!” Reynold stretched out his arms to block my way. “Since you’ve already decided to leave, then do it cleanly and decisively!”

“How did you come into the Lincoln Family back then? Then leave the Lincoln Family the same way! The clothes you're wearing, the jewelry on your hands, the car you drive, weren’t all of them bought with the Lincoln Family’s money? Do you have the nerve to take all this with you?” Reynold raised his chin and glared at me.

It was obvious. He was just picking a fight now.

“If you can’t come up with a real critique, then just keep your mouth shut,” I said, shooting him a cold look. “No need to dig too deep. Let’s just look at the last two years. I developed three drugs for Lincoln Pharmaceuticals, all of which launched successfully. Each one has brought in over 140 million dollars in profit. That’s over 420 million dollars total. Can’t that buy all of this?”

I stared straight at Reynold. The corners of his mouth twitched.

He had failed again.

I just wanted to make it clear to him. I was leaving because I chose to leave, not because I was driven out by a useless piece of trash like him.

But what I didn’t expect was for Metta to suddenly step in front of me, biting her lip. “Ferry, everything you mentioned… was merely your way of repaying the Lincoln Family for all the years we raised you.”

"I think Reynold is right. Since you're leaving, then leave the same way you came!"

She lifted her head and stared at me, eyes unwavering.

Something inside me ached sharply.

I had tried so hard to leave with dignity, but with just one sentence from Metta, I was thrown into helplessness.

"Metta, don’t be ridiculous!" Benedict slammed the table with a loud bang.

I raised a hand to stop him. Then I removed my watch and shrugged off my suit jacket.

"Ferry, don’t listen to her nonsense!" Benedict quickly tried to intervene.

But I simply said, calmly, "It’s alright. I know very well who this debt should be settled with."

The implication was clear. This was a grudge between me and Reynold.

Reynold finally showed that same smug, twisted grin he wore when he first arrived. "Alright, alright, no need to strip down to your underwear. Just get lost already!"

He waved dismissively, then wrapped an arm around Metta and kissed her again and again.

Metta, however, looked guilty and avoided my eyes.

I took a deep breath.

I strode out, leaving behind the place that was once called home.

To my surprise, a swarm of reporters had gathered outside, mostly from financial and pharmaceutical media outlets.

Some of them had even interviewed me in the past.

But today, they all raised their cameras and mics, launching a relentless barrage of questions.

"Mr. Carver, is it true you postponed the wedding because the Lincoln Family heiress rejected you?"

"Mr. Carver, how does it feel to watch the woman you love be with someone else?"

"Judging by your current state, it looks like you’ve been kicked out with nothing. What are your plans now that you’ve left the Lincoln Group? Are you going to work in a factory screwing bolts?"

Laughter broke out among the crowd.

Their questions dripped with malice and I knew exactly who had arranged this spectacle.

I looked at them calmly, then reached out and grabbed a microphone.

"Here’s one thing I want to say to everyone waiting for me to fall. Time will prove everything."

No one cheered for me, only endless ridicule and mockery.

“Haha, seriously? Are you still pretending even after being abandoned by the Lincoln Family?”

“Do you think you’re still the chief advisor of the Lincoln Corporation? Without them, you’re nothing!”

“If you ask me, time will only prove how ridiculous you are!”

Amidst all their jeers, I held my head high and walked out.

They thought I had lost everything, but they didn’t know, it was me who willingly gave it all up.

Once I was out of everyone’s sight, a discreet red-flagged car pulled up in front of me.

“Dr. Lincoln, on behalf of the National Laboratory, I officially welcome you.”

An elderly man with graying hair stepped out of the car.

I smiled and shook his hand.

Even when I was at my lowest, standing there in nothing but underwear, those who truly saw my worth never cared about appearances.

“Thank you, Sir. I am willing to dedicate the rest of my life to the laboratory!”