I stared coldly at Alexander. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about, but rest assured, I will never choose you as my husband.”
I thought Alexander would back off, but instead, he grabbed my hand.
“If not me, then who? Max or Dylan?”
“Dylan’s passionate about art and wants to study abroad. Max craves freedom. Ruining me isn’t enough for you? You want to sink your claws into them
too?”
Alexander took a deep breath. “Just promise you’ll leave Penny alone, and I’ll marry you. Can you stop making a scene already?”
His eyes were sunken, full of exhaustion, like I’d spent years grinding him down.
I looked deep into Alexander’s eyes. “Everything will be exactly as you wish.”
He was terrified I’d bully Penny, yet he didn’t want to marry me either.
Once I married Lucas, all his worries would magically disappear.
I’d been avoiding Alexander for weeks, until he finally showed up at my birthday gala with a face like thunder.
Max and Dylan trailed behind him, both looking equally annoyed.
I frowned at my assistant–I specifically said not to invite them since I was announcing my engagement to someone else entirely.
But my assistant frantically shook her head with a “don’t look at me, they came on their own” expression.
I sighed, deciding to pretend I hadn’t seen them.
The guests seemed more excited about their presence than mine, rushing to greet all three of them.
“Young Mr. Reed, such an accomplished young man! That project you closed last month must’ve brought in at least a million. No wonder Miss Sinclair only has eyes for you.”
Yet I was the one who negotiated that deal–Alexander just signed his name.
“Mr. Dylan, even though you’re short–tempered, you always stand up for what’s right. With you protecting her, Miss Sinclair will never have to suffer.”
I sneered. Out of everyone, Dylan bullied me the worst–he looked at me like I was a snake he wanted to stomp to death the moment we met.
“Mr. Max, you’re quite the handsome one yourself. Miss Sinclair wouldn’t go wrong choosing you either. Please remember us when you’re in charge.”
The three of them moved through my birthday party like they owned the place.
I frowned, about to call off this nonsense when all three checked their phones at the same time.
Before I could react, Dylan’s face contorted with rage. He stormed over and slapped me hard across the face.
My head spun from the impact, and I nearly fell to the floor.
Everyone froze, backing away to avoid getting involved.
Alexander clenched his fists and stopped Dylan from hitting me again, then turned to me with gritted teeth:
“We’re already here like products for you to choose from. What more do you want?”
“Are you trying to drive Penny to suicide?”
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Chapter 3
I was completely lost. Max saw my confusion and scoffed in disgust.
“You waited until we weren’t around Penny, then had someone kidnap her? I’m telling you right now, you won’t get away with this!”
Instantly, I realized Penny had played another one of her tricks.
Every guest here was either my father’s friend or business partner, yet not a single person stepped in when I was slapped in front of everyone.
A cold realization washed over me–they must believe I won’t inherit the Sinclair fortune, so they didn’t dare offend these three.
I held my stinging cheek and fixed Dylan with an icy stare. “Apologize. Now.”
Dylan glanced at my reddening eyes and sneered. “Penny almost lost her virtue. You just got slapped–what do you have to cry about?”
Right on cue, Penny ran in, sobbing her heart out. Her dress was torn in key spots, clearly meant to make everyone think the worst.
Alexander quickly removed his jacket and draped it over Penny’s shoulders, then turned to me with utter disgust:
“You’re always so calculating and manipulative. I would never marry a woman like you!”
Max, usually the quiet one, stepped in front of Penny, face icy:
“Your mom couldn’t have a son, so she took x us three in as tools for the family business. We’ve come to terms with that, but clearly you’re still not
satisfied, are you?”
“Fine then–there’s no point pretending we’re one big happy family anymore.”
He turned to leave, completely disregarding the Sinclair family’s reputation.
Before walking out, Alexander threw one last arrogant remark: “I’ll marry you, but you’ll just be for show. If you want me to protect the Sinclair assets, you’d better behave yourself.”
I smiled. Had they forgotten?
Without me, the Sinclair family would never have adopted them in the first place.
Seeing the three of them about to leave, someone finally tried to stop them.
But I coldly shouted: “Let them go!”
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Chapter 4
