Jonathan walked toward me. He was tall, poised, and strikingly handsome—more commanding than in his photos. He skimmed me in disdain before fixing his gaze on my face. "This is our engagement party. What embarrassing stunt are you pulling here?"

I broke free from the security guards' grip, stood up, and let out a cold laugh. "Isn't the situation clear enough? Tell me, Jonathan. Is having your security rough me up at the entrance your idea of courtesy? Do you even know what your secretary just—"

He cut me off with a frown before I could finish. "Enough of this! You show up late to the ceremony, refuse to come inside, and act crazy at the door. If my security doesn't restrain you, should they just let you run in and bite the guests like a rabid dog?

"My time is valuable, and you've just wasted it. You're a worthless, stupid orphan. I don't know why my dad insists I get engaged to you."

The guests who had stepped out to watch the drama glanced at me while whispering under their breath. All those condescending looks made me feel like a clown on display.

I felt like my time was wasted, too. I'd spent ages getting ready and had even taken time off work—time that could've been spent pushing a fresh round of data for my new experiment.

"What a coincidence. I think my time was wasted, too. Since neither of us is impressed with each other, let's just call off the engagement," I said evenly.

Jonathan narrowed his eyes at me, clearly not expecting this. "Are you threatening me? Playing crazy in front of me isn't enough. Now, you're threatening to call off the engagement to cause a scene? You think that'll intimidate me?"

I suddenly felt at a loss for words when I saw the look on his face. I felt helpless. It was as if human language wouldn't reach his brain.

Beside him, Linda leaned into him, her body soft and pliant. "Mr. Ford, if she's causing such a fuss at the engagement party, imagine what she'll do after you're married. She'll wreak havoc!

"Just now, when she found out I was your secretary and that I'm somewhat attractive, she flew into a jealous rage and tried to hit me. If the security guards hadn't protected me, she would've gotten her way."

Jonathan stared at me incredulously. "Linda has been my secretary for two years and has handled countless matters for me. Do you think she's just an airhead like you? What do you have to be jealous of?"

I smiled, but it didn't reach my eyes. "I'm curious to know why you think I'm just an airhead, but are you going to believe her words so easily? She was the one who—"

He cut me off again. "If I don't believe Linda, am I supposed to believe a raving lunatic like you?"

Linda raised a hand to cover her smug smile. She blinked, and tears welled up in her eyes. "Mr. Ford, my heart goes out to you. You're already an important figure in Javron, yet you still have to be constrained by your father and forced to marry a lunatic."

Jonathan had only taken over Ford Group two years ago, and his father, Arthur Ford, still interfered in company affairs. He had accumulated a lot of anger and resentment because of Arthur's constant meddling.

At Linda's words, the tension thickened.

Jonathan growled, "You'd better apologize and make amends, Sophia. Otherwise, even my dad won't be able to get you out of this."

I had a grasp of things now. Rather than call Linda Jonathan's trusty aide, she was more like someone who knew how to flatter him just right. She knew what to say to get to him.

The fact that he thought I was nothing but an airhead was probably due to her feeding him lies about me. Thanks to her fawning, it was easier to get things done if one went along with what he wanted.

I shot him a look, feeling resigned. "How do you want me to make amends?"

Jonathan scoffed. "Call my father and tell him you're the one who wants to call off the engagement."

I nodded readily. "Alright."

With that, I whipped out my phone and pulled up my contacts.

Jonathan glanced at me in surprise and pressed his lips together. "You'd better think this through. Once you make this call, Ford Group and the Ford family's wealth and power will have nothing to do with you."

I didn't respond. Instead, I scrolled right to Arthur's number and called him.

"That's not enough. I want her to kneel before me and apologize with everyone watching!" Linda whined, her voice shrill and grating. "Mr. Ford, I've worked for you for ages. All my achievements came about due to my abilities. I genuinely can't accept the way she bullied and humiliated me earlier. I won't forgive her if she doesn't apologize!"

I laughed out loud at that. The security guards were standing right there. Who was the one who'd been bullied?

I asked, "Linda, do you think everyone here is stupid enough to fall for your twisted version of the truth? You ordered the security guards to pin me down and even tried to slap me, yet now you claim I was the one who bullied you."

Jonathan stepped forward, shielding Linda behind him. "You must've hurt Linda first. She was just trying to protect herself. If you had even a shred of basic human decency, you'd apologize to her right now. If you refuse, I'll have no choice but to use my methods to make you do it."

He swept a glance at the security guards, who eyed me beadily upon getting the order.

"I can assure you that Sophia has plenty of decency. If you ask me, you and your secretary have proven just how shameless you both are."

A refined, elegant voice rang out behind Jonathan. It belonged to Elliott Landeau, the CEO of Landeau Group. He approached us with a winning smile on his face. The tiny mole beneath his eye seemed to sparkle under the lights.

Landeau Group was Ford Group's competitor. Their businesses overlapped in many areas.

Elliott had taken over the family empire early and had been running it exceptionally well—so well that he and Jonathan had always kept a respectful distance from each other, lest things turn nasty.

But because of my patented technology, Ford Group's latest product upgrade had begun to edge ahead of Landeau Group's.

Jonathan was surprised to see Elliott show up at the engagement party. Then, he frowned in displeasure and said, "You must have a lot of free time on your hands, Mr. Landeau. Not only are you gracing your rival's engagement party with your presence, but you're also trying to meddle in my personal affairs."

I stood there, equally stunned. I stared at Elliott's broad back as he positioned himself protectively in front of me.

We'd worked together before, and the collaboration had actually been quite pleasant. What I hadn't expected was that halfway through the project, he suddenly tried to seduce me. It had scared the hell out of me, making me flee back to my lab that very night.

This particular patent had only ended up with Ford Group because Steven and Arthur had been close friends for decades. That was why I'd sold it to them.

I never imagined Elliott would still be willing to step up and shield me like this.

"Sophia, how's the engagement going? Are you happy with the venue?" Arthur's cheerful, kindly voice came through the phone.

"I'm calling to tell you the engagement is off. Jonathan's secretary blocked me from entering the venue and even had security rough me up. When he came out, he didn't bother asking what happened. He just demanded I get on my knees and apologize to Linda. The Ford family doesn't seem to welcome me, so I'll stay away from it, thanks."

Arthur was silent for a heartbeat. Then, he roared, "What? That brat is always causing trouble for me! I'm on my way. I'll deal with him myself!"

That was followed by the sound of a car engine starting.

"Don't listen to that wretch, Mr. Arthur! She's got you completely fooled!" Linda suddenly snatched the phone from me, pouting and putting on a pitiful act.

She continued, "I was at the entrance to give Ms. Rook a proper welcome, but she refused to come in and started causing a scene. After everything I've done for Ford Group all these years, don't I even deserve a simple apology?"

Arthur's voice turned icy. "Linda Jones, is it? You're fired. Go to HR and complete the exit procedures."

Linda froze. Arthur continued, "This is my son's marriage. How is it any of your business? Did you really think your lies would work on me?"

Linda's face twitched, clearly shocked that Arthur had taken my side so decisively. Her grip on the phone tightened, and her knuckles went white. She forced out a few tears and looked pleadingly at Jonathan.

She asked pitifully, "Mr. Arthur, if you don't care about your son, can't I do it? You're forcing him to marry some orphaned, penniless woman just to win over one professor. Are you treating Mr. Jonathan as a bargaining chip for a marriage alliance?"

There was another long silence on the other end of the line. Finally, Arthur let out a weary sigh, suddenly sounding much older. "Jonathan, is that what you think, too? Do you think I made a mistake? Is that why you've done all this? Because you don't want to marry Sophia?"

Jonathan glanced at me, then looked away. "As long as Sophia is willing to sincerely apologize to my secretary, I'm still happy to proceed with the engagement."

Linda's manicured nail scraped across my phone case with a shrill screech. I looked over and saw her face contort in anger.

"Well… Sophia, what do you think?" Arthur sounded almost hopeful.

Hopeful for what? That I would apologize to Linda?

I'd negotiated the patent deal with Arthur personally. I used to think he was fair. I'd trusted the way he raised his children, so when Steven told me my arranged fiance was Jonathan, I had come to the engagement party with genuine anticipation.

But in the end, a businessman would always be shrewd and sly. Even knowing the truth, Arthur was still willing to make me swallow this humiliation if it got him what he wanted.

I was curious. Did he think I was desperate to marry Jonathan?

I suddenly found the whole thing hilarious.

I reached up and lightly poked Elliott in the waist. He flinched. He had been seething at everything the Fords had said and was ready to fire off a sarcastic remark, but my touch stopped him.

He instantly softened and lowered his head toward me with his lips pressed tight. He tilted his ear like he was all mine.

I spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. "Elliott, I've decided to switch grooms. Care to nominate yourself?"