The announcement was shattering. But by the time my parents processed it, their faces lit up with uncontrollable joy, their smiles stretching from ear to ear.

"Sweetheart, you finally came to your senses!"

Mom looked so overjoyed that she seemed ten years younger, beaming with relief. "I've said it all along. Julian was never the right man for you. You would never be truly happy with him."

She was right. It was such a simple truth, yet it had taken me far too long to realize.

Thankfully, it wasn't too late.

With a steady hand, I took the microphone from the officiant and addressed the crowd. "The wedding is canceled," I announced calmly. "But please, enjoy the meal. Think of it as my treat."

The words had just left my mouth when Lilian Waverly—my almost-mother-in-law—stormed forward, her face twisted in outrage. "Absolutely not! After all the effort put into this wedding, how can you just cancel it? I won't allow it!"

I let out a cold chuckle. "Oh? Then, maybe you should take that up with your son. And as for you disagreeing…" I fixed her with a pointed stare. "Mrs. Lancaster, have you forgotten? Julian and I never even got a marriage certificate.

"Those were your exact words, weren't they? That until I gave birth to your grandson, I wasn't worthy of officially joining your family."

Lilian's face paled as murmurs rippled through the guests. They were whispering now, casting judgmental glances her way.

She had assumed my love for Julian meant she could control me and humiliate me whenever she pleased. But she had forgotten one thing—if love wasn't properly cared for, it, too, could spoil.

My patience with Julian had reached its limit, and this time, nothing and no one could make me change my mind.

Seeing her mother humiliated, Isabelle Lancaster, Julian's sister, couldn't sit still any longer. She stormed over, arms crossed.

Her tone was filled with mockery as she said, "Seriously, Clara? You're being so petty. Julian was just checking on Vivi. It's not like this hasn't happened before. Why are you making a big deal out of it this time?"

"Because I was a fool before," I said flatly. "I am not anymore."

I watched as the Lancaster family launched into a full-blown attack, but their words no longer had any effect on me.

Then, Lilian's eyes flickered with sudden calculation. Clinging to her last hope, she sneered. "But you're carrying my grandchild!"

She spoke as if she had me backed into a corner.

"Clara, you're a woman. You should understand the importance of reputation and family honor. You're pregnant with my son's child, so of course, you have to marry into our family! Otherwise, rumors will spread, and your reputation will be ruined."

I stared at her, stunned by her shamelessness. "Mrs. Lancaster, are you seriously implying that morals and decency are only meant for women? Do men not have to follow them?"

Lilian was at a loss for words, unable to counter me.

I smirked, placing a hand on my stomach. "And don't worry about the baby. If it comes down to it, I'll just raise the child myself."

At that moment, Dad and Mom stepped forward, standing firmly by my side, facing off against the Lancasters.

"My daughter's worth isn't for you to judge," Dad said firmly. "The engagement is off, and that child has nothing to do with your family anymore."

Mom backed him up without hesitation, saying, "If my daughter decides to keep the baby, it'll have our family name. If she doesn't, that's her choice, too!"

"You—"

Lilian stomped her foot in frustration, her desperation finally showing. "Think carefully, Clara! If you break things off with Julian, who would want to marry you after you've already been with someone else?"

Dad let out a dry laugh, his voice firm. "Not a problem. The Whitmores have more than enough money. My daughter will marry when she wants to—if she wants to. And if she doesn't, we'll take care of her just fine."

Mom wasn't about to back down, either. "That's right! Honestly, instead of worrying about my daughter, who is far too good for your son, you should be more worried about your son. After all, he's the one we've decided isn't worth keeping!"

I turned to look at my parents, gratitude welling up in my heart. Even at my lowest, they stood by me.

Lilian, realizing she had lost this battle, clenched her jaw and exhaled sharply. "Fine. If that's how you want to play it, then give back every cent my son spent on you!"

"What money?" I frowned at Lilian, utterly confused by her sudden demand.

"The money Julian spent on you all these years! You need to pay back every single cent!" Lilian stood there, looking self-righteous.

Isabelle quickly chimed in, nodding along, "That's right! You have to pay every penny back!"

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Mrs. Lancaster, are you serious? Didn't Julian hand over his entire paycheck to you for household expenses the moment he got paid?"

I raised an eyebrow. "For years, I was the one covering rent, appliances, clothes, and everything. Honestly, I had almost forgotten about it. But since you've brought it up, let's settle this properly. You owe me money."

I pulled up my phone and opened my financial records. Every transaction was neatly listed.

Julian hadn't just relied on me. He had lived off me. Everything from his underwear to his apartment had been bought with my money.

No wonder Lilian was so desperate to defend this marriage. Without me, she wasn't sure they could ever find another golden opportunity like this again.

"T-This…" Lilian stammered and staggered back a few steps, looking visibly shaken by the astronomical figure displayed on my phone. "Where would I even get that kind of money?"

Even if Julian worked his entire life, he wouldn't be able to earn a fraction of what I had spent on him.

How ironic! The man I had poured my heart—and wealth—into had turned around and betrayed me for another woman.

Even a dog knew loyalty, but some people didn't even measure up to that.

I watched Lilian put on her best sob story, but I only smiled coldly. "Not my problem. I just know one thing—debts must be paid. That's how the world works."

I met her eyes. "If I don't get my money back within three days, I'll see you in court."

To be honest, the money itself didn't matter much to me. I wasn't someone who nitpicked over every dime.

But after seeing the Lancasters' shameless behavior, I realized that some people would never be grateful—no matter how much you gave them.

They needed a harsh lesson—one they wouldn't forget.

"Money… Money…" Lilian muttered blankly, pacing back and forth in agitation.

Then, all of a sudden, she spun around and shouted at me, "Fine! If you want the money back, then return the wedding gift first!"

Isabelle joined in instantly. "That's right! My brother gave you a million dollars as a wedding gift. You can't just keep it!"

Hearing their ridiculous argument, Mom and Dad exchanged a glance, both of them sighing in exasperation.

I held onto the last shred of my patience as I explained, "Mrs. Lancaster, have you forgotten? When your family came to propose, you called me desperate and refused to pay a single cent in wedding gifts.

"It was my parents. Wanting to save your family from embarrassment, they took a million dollars out of their own pockets and told everyone it came from your family."

My parents immediately confirmed my words.

Mom, wrapping her arms around me protectively, said, "That's right! We weren't going to argue over it. That money was meant as a starting fund for both of them."

Her voice hardened. "But since your family has chosen to be so disgraceful, there's nothing more to discuss."

"You—" Lilian's face twisted.

Realizing she could no longer squeeze any money out of me, she finally lost control.

She jabbed a finger in my face, ranting furiously, her anger spilling out uncontrollably, "You shameless woman, Clara Whitmore! You were the one who clung to my son, begging to marry into our family! And now, you're backing out?"

Her voice turned vicious. "Do you think having a little money makes you special? Let me tell you the truth—Julian never even thought you were good enough for him! Who knows if that bastard in your belly is even his?

"Julian has plenty of women lining up for him, but a used-up, discarded woman like you? Good luck finding someone who would want you now!"

My parents' expressions darkened instantly as they heard those filthy words.

Without another glance at Lilian, I pointed toward the security guards.

"What are you standing around for? Get them out of here."