Even the men who witnessed the scene earlier knew what Angelia’s move meant.

There was an evident tension in the air that would send shivers to anyone who felt it.

In addition, all of Bruce’s friends knew that Lucy liked Bruce a lot. After all, they also had been friends with her for years. So, to ease the tension a little and comfort her, they offered some suggestions.

“Hey, Lucy. How about we help you carry Jack to your car?” one of them said.

Lucy turned to them. “Sure,” she replied. “You may continue your little party here. It seems like you’re having a blast.”

“We’ll make sure to invite you next time,” another one replied jokingly. “And you look so pretty! Damn!”

Lucy laughed. “Bye!” she said and trailed behind the men who carried Jack.

Angelia pursed her lips. It was apparent that Lucy was already familiar with Bruce’s friends. Well, who could even forget a face as beautiful as Lucy’s?

The difference between Lucy and Angelia was that Bruce’s friends seemed to have grown fond and comfortable around Lucy. There was a familiarity with the way they acted around her. And this made Angelia feel uneasy.

Not to mention, Bruce deliberately called Lucy a “babe.” He might be drunk, but Angelia still couldn’t help but feel hurt.

Angelia paused for a moment.

‘Still… A pretty face doesn’t guarantee you everything. In the end, Bruce chose me over her.’

Right after Lucy drove Jack home, she received a call from Sherry. The woman informed her about a party at some rich women’s club tomorrow, and she wanted her to come with Bruce.

The scandal about Bruce rejecting Lucy’s proposal still haunted Sherry now. She hoped that someday, she would be able to hold her head high and face the people again after all the embarrassment they got from the scandal.

Seeing Bruce act sweet and caring around Lucy gave Sherry a new perspective. She thought that perhaps Bruce had already matured this time.

At the same time, Lucy also seemed happy and comfortable with her boyfriend’s behavior, so it seemed that there was no problem on her part.

On the other hand, Lucy was unsure if Bruce would be willing to come to such an event.

So, the next morning, she decided to call Bruce.

Bruce didn’t answer her calls until after a few rings. When he finally picked up, a soft feminine voice entered Lucy’s ears.

“Uhm, Bruce is still in the shower.”

Lucy paused for a moment. Then, she finally decided to tell Angelia the reason why she called.

“Sorry, Miss Glen. Bruce and I are supposed to go skiing today,” Angelia said after a while.

Lucy raised her eyebrow. The agreement that she and Bruce had was clear. They need to do some things to please their families.

“I think you should ask Bruce first,” she calmly said.

“Bruce has already said I can also decide on his behalf,” Angelia retorted. Her tone was gentle, but Lucy still sensed her dismay.

Lucy didn’t push the matter anymore. In the end, she showed up at the party alone.

Sherry saw her niece at the entrance. Her face looked pale, and she didn’t see any trace of Bruce.

“Lucy,” Sherry met her halfway.

Lucy smiled at her. She was wearing a designer dress and a limited-edition necklace. She looked very sophisticated and elegant.

She handed the gift to Sherry and said, “Bruce is busy at the company with Uncle. It’s an important project, so he couldn’t leave there. He says he’s sorry.”

Sherry’s shoulders relaxed as she let out a sigh of relief.

Sherry was satisfied with Bruce’s excuse. It showed that he was taking the project with the Glen family seriously. Most importantly, his gift cost millions of dollars, showing how much he valued Lucy’s family.

The other women couldn’t stand Sherry’s blatant joy with Bruce’s gift. However, they still complimented Lucy, saying she was lucky to have such a generous and thoughtful boyfriend.

Sherry let out a sad smile. “Lucy’s parents passed away when she was still a child. Bruce came into her life to make up for all the mishaps she had suffered. I saw how Bruce changed because of Lucy, and he was willing to do anything for her. This girl is one lucky woman. I want to know she catches men like that.”

The women listening mentally scoffed upon hearing Sherry’s speech.

Lucy touched her aunt’s arm. “I’m starving. Shall we eat out dinner?”

Unlike her aunt, Lucy was a humble woman with good character. She was respectful and polite to others. Not to mention gorgeous. That was why these rich women liked her very much.

Despite her remarkable personality, most of them didn’t think of Lucy as a potential wife for their sons. Lucy had no parents, and the Glen family was facing a major crisis. The worse thing was that Lucy was not directly part of the family. So, she basically had nothing to do with their company.

Of course, the scandal between Bruce and Lucy wouldn’t be forgotten. No one would want their sons to become Lucy’s fallback after being dumped by Bruce.

Lucy was aware of all of these. After the scandal, she rarely dated other guys. She became wary of guys that might take advantage of her.

Halfway through the meal, Lucy volunteered to pay the bill. She took care of everything and made sure that everyone was having fun. The party ended very well thanks to her.

Satisfied and happy, Sherry asked Lucy to go shopping with her. Inside the car, Sherry wouldn’t shut up about Bruce and their relationship.

“You should handle your boyfriend well, Lucy. He’s so clingy and too smitten. You can control him a little bit, you know? Your position in the Glen family would definitely improve. Imagine the jealousy on people’s faces once that happens,” she said.

Lucy gave her a fake smile. She kept thinking about how long she needed to pretend in front of everyone, especially her aunt. Bruce was such a good actor, so her aunt was pretty convinced that they were getting on very well.

In the end, she stayed quiet and let her aunt say whatever she wanted.

Lucy thought that things would end well today, but she was wrong.

As soon as they entered a shoe store, the first people they ran into were Bruce and Angelia.

Unaware of their presence, Bruce kneeled in front of Angelia and gently held her slender snow-white ankle. There was a small bruise on her feet, probably caused by her skiing shoes.

Bruce leaned near her ear and muttered something. Angelia instantly blushed and gently slapped his arm. Then, she bent down and kissed his cheek.

Lucy froze on her spot, not knowing what to do. However, Sherry had already seen everything. Livid, she walked past her niece and slapped Angelia.

Everything happened so fast that no one stopped her.

Bruce quickly hid Angelia behind him. He coldly looked at Sherry, very different from the way he had behaved toward her before. Then, he turned to Angelia and checked her face.

“Are you okay? Does it sting?”

Angelia’s eyes blurred with tears. “I’m okay,” she said.

“Let’s go to the hospital,” Bruce worriedly said as he scanned her flushed face.

“No, I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt,” she said before smiling reluctantly.

Sherry was extremely furious. Her shoulders constantly moved as she breathed.

“You, bastard!” she yelled. “How dare you cheat on my niece?!”

Bruce thought he and Lucy could continue their pretend relationship for a long time. But now that Sherry had already seen them, he decided to reveal the truth.

“Why? Should I feel sorry for her?” he mocked.

Sherry’s eyes glistened with anger. “You’ve wasted my niece’s time! Everybody knows that you have fucked her several times, thanks to you! Now, who would ever want Lucy? No one!”

Her aunt’s use of such vulgar words almost made Lucy faint. It was her first time hearing that word from Sherry’s mouth.

But what her aunt said was true. People must have a much worse opinion of her.

She opened her mouth, wanting to stop her aunt from her outburst. However, her throat suddenly felt dry, and her lips could barely make a sound.

A memory suddenly flashed in her mind. In the past, she and Bruce took photos while doing ‘it’ in the car. They were leaked, and almost everyone saw them. Bruce’s friends even called her names like slut or whore. But Lucy didn’t even know that.

She never really cared about people’s opinions about her. But now, it was as if every insult was dumped on her that she couldn’t breathe.

“Mark my words! I won’t let this pathetic woman have her happy ending with you!” Sherry’s voice thundered inside the store.

Her words were enough to fuel Bruce’s rage. He looked at Sherry with pure anger and stepped forward.

Lucy immediately stepped forward as well. She held her aunt’s arm and looked at Bruce.

“I’ll handle her,” she muttered.

When she noticed that Bruce didn’t seem to back down, she clenched her teeth and sternly said, “Bruce, if you hurt any of my family members, I will fight back. I know I’m powerless compared to you, but I know what can destroy you. We’ve been together for two years. You should’ve known by now what I did to your flings.”

Bruce narrowed his eyes at her. “Are you threatening me?” he uttered in a dangerous voice.

Lucy raised her brow. “No, I’m just reminding you what I’m capable of.”

Angelia’s gaze scanned the store and realized that they were starting to attract people’s attention. She pulled Bruce’s arm.

“Bruce, Let’s just go,” she pleaded.

Bruce didn’t move on his spot at first, but he realized Angelia was already uncomfortable and anxious.

In the end, the two of them left the store, but the scowl on Bruce’s face remained.

A few minutes later, Lucy apologized to the store manager and dragged Sherry out of the mall. Her aunt was silent until they got inside the car.

“Are you aware of all of this, Lucy?” Sherry coldly asked.

“Yes,” she replied.

“Since when are you two aren’t together anymore?”

“We never got back together after the scandal,” Lucy murmured.

Sherry turned to her. Disappointment and confusion were evident in her eyes. She wanted to say something, but nothing seemed to come out of her mouth.

“Right after I was discharged from the hospital, I asked him to meet me. But I didn’t receive any response from him ever,” Lucy confessed.

“I figured out what he meant at some point, so I also stopped trying.”

Sherry started to get riled up again. “How dare that bastard to ruin you?! You were pregnant at that time! Of course, he should marry you. He’s the father of the child, so it’s his responsibility!”

The two of them fell quiet for a long time.

“Well, he doesn’t like children,” Lucy shrugged her shoulders before turning to Sherry.

“Aunt Sherry, let’s just let him go. Past is past. The most important thing is that I’m fine now.”

Sherry perked up in her seat when an idea popped into her mind. “Then, who bought the gift for the party the other day?”

“Me,” Lucy answered.

Sherry pursed her lips and stared outside the window. A sudden wave of worry invaded her mind. Now that her niece and Bruce had broken up, the James family would probably no longer support them. She suddenly wondered if their family would even be able to survive.

She loved Lucy, yes. But she felt more worried about the future of their family. She looked at her niece and held her hand.

“You’re far more beautiful than that witch earlier. How can you simply give up your position in Bruce’s life?”

Lucy could feel the slight anger in her aunt’s tone. “Angelia is young, pretty, and kind, Aunt Sherry. She’s a thousand times more charming than me. How can I compete with that kind of woman?”

Sherry stared at Lucy, still pondering.

Two days later, Sherry decided to reveal the truth to Bruce’s parents.

Unaware of what her aunt did, Lucy received a call from Zoe, who told her to go to their house immediately.

Lucy stepped inside the house, and her eyes immediately widened by what she saw.

In front of her was Bruce, kneeling on the floor while his white shirt was stained with drops of blood. Bruce’s father was holding a long piece of wood near her. It looked like he was beating his son using it.

Bruce’s mother stood by their side. Her eyes were filled with unshed tears, probably for her son.

“How can you do such a thing to Lucy, huh?” Bruce’s father growled.

In fact, the patriarch of the James family was a former soldier. He was strict and violent, even to his son.

“Did you forget everything I taught you when you were still a kid? How can you hurt a woman who loved you? You’re a fucking playboy, huh? Well, here’s to being that kind of man!” he shouted before hitting him again.

Bruce groaned in pain. “Lucy and I broke up long ago,” he revealed.

“Guess what? No woman would stick with a cheater, Bruce! You treated her like garbage!”

“There’s no more love between us, Dad! So, we decided to end things. Times have changed. Stop judging me using your old school rules,” Bruce nonchalantly said.

“Beat me all you fucking want, but I will choose Angelia. Only her.”

Rage rushed through Bruce’s father. He raised the wood and mercilessly slapped it on Bruce’s face.

Blood immediately appeared on Bruce’s face, making Lucy and Zoe gasp in terror and worry. Zoe hurriedly went to her husband’s side.

“You’re father’s right, Bruce. You’ve been with Lucy for years, and everybody knew that you two were meant for each other. You shouldn’t smear Lucy’s reputation, son,” she said and moved closer to Bruce. “Listen to me. Break up with that woman. Lucy is the right woman for you. Only her.”

Bruce stubbornly shook his head. “Angelia’s a great woman, Mom. If only you give her a chance, you’ll get along pretty well.”

“Why aren’t you listening to me?” Zoe asked in frustration. “I don’t want that woman for you! I won’t accept her!”

Bruce lowered his head as he let out a dry chuckle. “Why do you all like Lucy?”

The entire house fell quiet.

“Is it because you pity her? Her parents died, her younger sister disappeared, and her uncle didn’t want her. But why? Is it because of our family?”

“Shut your mouth! Don’t you ever say that again!” His father yelled.

Bruce slightly turned his head. His facial expression immediately changed when he saw someone standing by the door.

“Hi, Aunt Zoe. Hi, Uncle,” she calmly greeted as if she had just arrived and didn’t hear their conversation.

Bruce’s parents stared at Lucy with shock and wariness, unable to say anything to comfort the girl.

Lucy transferred her gaze to the man on the ground. His back remained facing her. He didn’t even turn around to look at her. The way he clenched his fists was an indication that he was angry or guilty.

“I just want to clarify everything. Bruce and I broke up a long time ago. It was a mutual decision. I was the one who broke up with him, and he respected my choice,” she softly spoke.

She smiled at Bruce’s mother. “You should meet her, Mrs. James. She’s very kind and lovely.”

Sadness and disappointment flashed through Zoe’s eyes. “Lucy… Did Bruce force you to say those words? Be honest. We just had a wonderful dinner a few days ago! I don’t understand!”

Lucy shook her head, slightly feeling guilty. “I’m sorry, Aunt Zoe. I shouldn’t have kept this a secret from you.”

Zoe hugged Lucy. “You’re so kind, Lucy. Unfortunately, Angelia took advantage of your kindness and stole Bruce from you,” she whispered.

Bruce’s father sighed and glared at Bruce.

Sensing that his father was already done punishing him, Bruce stood up and went straight to his bedroom upstairs.

Bruce’s father sneered and threw the wood on the ground. He faced Lucy with a much gentler expression and said, “I’m sorry for what my son did to you, Lucy. Don’t worry. We’ll deal with Angelia. Only you deserve my son.”

Zoe mentally agreed with what her husband said. But she could deal with that issue later. For now, the only thing she could think of was her son and his wounds. So, she silently asked Lucy to check on Bruce.

“Sure, Aunt Zoe,” she replied with a smile.

Zoe’s heart warmed upon hearing her reply. “How can you and Bruce easily end your relationship like that? I always thought that you two would last forever. I remember the first time he introduced you to me. I thought that you were too pretty and kind for my son! But I really liked you, and I thought my son would treat you well. I don’t know why his attitude toward you suddenly changed.”

Lucy stayed silent. Zoe rubbed her arm in a motherly manner. “I really like you for my son, Lucy. I won’t give up on you two easily.”

“You can’t do anything anymore, Aunt. Bruce really likes that girl. I don’t want you to ruin your relationship with your son because of me. He’ll despise you if you hurt Angelia. If you’re really concerned about me, perhaps you can just introduce me to a nice bachelor?” Lucy said, trying to comfort her.

Zoe frowned at her last statement. She couldn’t do that, and her husband was the one who made the decisions in the family. He already knew that Lucy would be his daughter-in-law.

Zoe guided Lucy to their common bathroom and pulled out the first aid kit. “Bruce seems badly hurt. That boy is so stubborn! All because of that filthy woman!”

Lucy didn’t make further comments. She took the kit and went upstairs.

She had been in Bruce’s room several times already. This was where they had sex for the first time. At that time, Lucy’s uncle threw her out of their house, and Bruce immediately took her to their home.

Lucy was in the shower when Bruce suddenly appeared behind her. Then, things led to one thing and another. She didn’t refuse, but Lucy found herself crying when they got out of the bathroom.

Bruce lovingly covered her with a blanket and held her in his arms. He wiped her tears and hugged her tightly.

“Shh. It’s okay, babe. It’s not your fault that your uncle is an asshole. I’ll take care of you. I’ll be your only family. I promise,” he whispered with so much sincerity and affection.