I ignored Ember and Harry, but she wasn't finished. "Isn't the gown Ms. Webb's holding a limited edition?

"I saw it on television once. It must be worth a fortune. If I could just wear a dress like that once in my life, I'd die happy."

Ember lowered her head in feigned sorrow.

Upon seeing this, Harry strode over to me and said firmly, "Since Ember likes it, you should give it to her."

A spark of anger flared in my chest. "Why should I?"

Harry spoke with self-righteous confidence. "You're going to be engaged to me. No matter what you wear, it's for my eyes, isn't it?

"And besides, Ember got hurt because of you. So what if you give her one of your gowns? If that bothers you so much, I'll pay you back."

Hearing his words, I couldn't help but let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Who said I'm getting engaged to you?"

For an instant, panic flickered across his face, but he quickly masked it with a cold sneer. "Victoria, everyone knows you've been trailing after me since you were a kid. Who else would you choose if not me? Stop wasting time and just hand the gown over to Ember."

With that, he yanked the gown from my hands and thrust it into Ember's hands.

Harry's grip was too strong. Before I could brace myself, the sequins on the gown cut into my hand, leaving gashes that began bleeding instantly.

Harry didn't even glance at me. He just led Ember back to the room to try it on.

She turned and shot me a smug little smile, and her eyes were full of provocation. It was as if she were reminding me that I was nothing but a complete failure.

I forced a twisted smile, even as my heart grew colder and colder inside.

...

On the eve of the engagement banquet, Dad gathered all nine men and announced that I would be formally engaged to one of them tomorrow night.

At that, everyone's expressions shifted in different ways.

In the corner, Jeffrey downed glass after glass of liquor, his expression unreadable.

Harry kept glancing restlessly at Ember's quarters.

The other seven turned to him with smiles.

"Congratulations, Harry. Looks like you'll be the Webb family's heir."

"Remember, you must protect Victoria well. Don't betray Mr. Webb's trust."

At their words, Dad gave me a knowing glance and smiled faintly without correcting them. The silence alone led everyone to assume that Harry was the one I had chosen.

That night, Harry barged into my room. His face was dark with rage as he yanked me from the bed and dragged me to the floor. His hand clamped around my throat, squeezing tighter with every word.

"Victoria, why won't you stop clinging to me?"

His voice trembled with fury. "Because of you, Ember's gone! She left nothing but a letter before running away. If anything happens to her, I'll never forgive you."

His grip tightened until I was gasping for air.

"Have you lost your mind, Harry? What does her running away have to do with me?"

Harry's eyes burned red. "If you hadn't forced this engagement on me, Ember wouldn't have been in so much pain. She wrote that she can't go on living. If she does something reckless, it'll be on you!"

I wrenched his hand off my throat and spat coldly. "I didn't even choose you. You can be with whoever you want. But if you don't get out of my room right now, I'll tell my father."

That warning jolted him back to his senses. Harry let go and stormed out of my room.

The next morning, he returned with Ember at his side.

Harry looked worn and sleepless, while she appeared disheveled and pitiful, as though she had endured a night of torment.

Harry stopped in front of me, his eyes dark and menacing as he said, "Victoria, even if I'm forced to marry you, I'll never love you. And if you dare flaunt in front of Ember that you've 'won' me, I'll make sure the wedding never happens!"

With that, he stormed off with Ember at his side without even glancing back.

I watched their retreating figures, a cold laugh rising in my chest. For the first time, I couldn't fathom why I had ever fallen for someone like Harry in my past life.

...

The engagement banquet was about to begin. I had just finished my makeup when Ember came looking for me.

Her face twisted with resentment as she spat out, asking, "Victoria, why? Why should you get everything? It's not fair!

"Why were you born into privilege, while I had to grow up as the poor woman everyone looked down on? Even Harry, the man I love, has to give in to your father's power and get engaged to you instead!"

Hearing that, I let out a cold laugh and shot her a look full of disdain. "Ember, hasn't my family treated you well all these years?

"My father paid for your schooling when your family couldn't afford it. After your parents died, he brought you into our home and raised you as his own.

"And what did you do? Instead of gratitude, you've sown discord at every turn. As for Harry, if he truly loved you, he would give up everything to be with you, and not cling to my family's wealth and influence."

My words hit Ember like a blow. She staggered back a few steps, shaking her head. "No… That's not true. Harry said once the Webb family is his, he'll divorce you and marry me!"

I sneered. "Do you really think my father, who's dominated the business world for decades, is that naive? You think he hasn't already paved the way for my future?"

Ember's expression shifted abruptly, her eyes flashing with malice as she hissed, "If that's the way you want it, don't blame me for what happens next then!"

Before I could react, she pulled a knife from her pocket, slashed her own arm, and let out a piercing scream.

Several bodyguards rushed in to find Ember glaring at me with feigned weakness. "Ms. Webb, why would you do this to me?"

Harry's face turned livid. He stormed forward and slapped me across the face, hard.

The very next second, the bodyguards had him pinned to the ground. "Harry, are you out of your mind? If Mr. Webb saw this, you'd be finished!"

Ember was rushed to the hospital, while Harry eventually calmed down under the bodyguards' stern warning.

The banquet began soon after. The hall was packed with relatives and family friends. Dad took me by the arm and led me onto the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming.

"Tonight, I invite you all to witness a joyous occasion—my daughter's engagement. This evening, she will be formally betrothed to one of the young men here. And that young man is—"

"Wait!" Everyone in the room froze as Harry interrupted Dad mid-sentence.

All eyes turned toward him. Dad's face darkened with fury, but Harry stood his ground. "Mr. Webb, I don't love Victoria. Even if it means offending you tonight, I won't get engaged to her."

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

"What's going on?"

"Did Ms. Webb just get rejected in public?"

...

Dad let out a cold laugh, his words cutting through the air and chilling the room. "My daughter was never meant to be engaged to you, Harry. The one she's promised to is Jeffrey!"

At that, the room fell silent. No one had expected that the fiance I chose was Jeffrey.