All I did was give Olivier a light push, but heck he stumbled dramatically backward and straight into Eliane’s arms.

“Jerome, will you stop already?” she scolded me.

“Can't you see Ollie’s devastated? He’s not asking for much—just to hold a small memorial for his dog here, in the corner of your party. You seriously can’t bring yourself to allow that?”

“You’re usually more empathetic. What’s wrong with you today? Why are you being so bitter and mean?”

As she said it, she shoved me hard, as if she poured her anger into it. I staggered back and slammed into the corner of the table. A sharp pain exploded through my arm and I instinctively clutched it as I felt the bruising rise.

Despite all that, I couldn't fully keep the creeping laughter. She said I was being mean?

So what? Was I suppose to keep smiling while someone tramples all over my boundaries?

I met her glare with a cold laugh. “Eliane, don’t play the saint when it’s not your sacrifice to make.”

“You want to help your assistant throw a funeral for his dog? Fine. But do it on your dime and your property. Why the hell does it have to hijack my birthday party?”

I didn’t mean any disrespect to Olivier, but respect goes both ways. He crossed a line and I wasn’t going to let anyone guilt-trip me for pushing back.

Eliane’s face twisted. “Do you think I have time to organize another venue? You’re just being difficult.”

I shot back, “If you’re that committed to Luffy’s memorial, why not host it at your place? I hear your living room’s a decent size.”

She looked like she was about to argue again when Olivier suddenly dropped to a crouch on the floor, shoulders trembling, tears hitting the framed photo of his dog.

“Luffy, I’m sorry… this is all my fault,” he murmured through sobs. “You were my only family and I swore I’d give you a better life. But before I could… you were hit by a car and taken away from me.”

“I just wanted to say goodbye. That’s all. I thought borrowing Mr. Carrington’s space for half an hour wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

“But clearly, I was wrong. We’re not welcome here.” He wiped his eyes, picked up the photo and staggered toward the door. As he reached it, he paused and looked back at me with tearful eyes.

“Mr. Carrington… I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t ruin your big moment. Please, go ahead and enjoy your birthday.”

Before I could say a word, Eliane rushed forward, grabbed his hand and pulled him into her arms.

“Ollie, you’re not going anywhere. I promised you a proper farewell for Luffy and I meant it. We’re going to honor him right here.”

The tenderness in her eyes hit me like a punch to the chest. That unguarded affection used to be reserved for me.

Suddenly, I remembered what my best friend warned me more than once...

“Watch that new assistant of hers. He plays innocent, but I’ve got a feeling he’s not just there to fetch coffee. He’s way too close to Eliane.”

I laughed it off back then.

“Eliane and I have been together for eight years,” I told him. “She’s not interested in other men.”

But now… watching her clutch Olivier like she’d rather lose me than let go of him—I felt something in me break.

When Eliane turned to face me again, her eyes were icy. She actually ordered the guards to take me out and send me away.

“Elijah, since you’re too petty to let Luffy’s memorial happen here, I’ll have security escort you to a hotel where we can rearrange your birthday party.”

“I’ll stay here with Ollie and help him say goodbye. Once it’s done, then I’ll join you.”

I actually laughed, out of pure disbelief! My own bodyguards stood there, blocking me, while I tried to get off them.

“Eliane, are you serious right now? This is my house. If anyone should be leaving, it’s you! Not me!”

My voice rose with every word. I could care less about the coming guests. I didn’t care how I looked anymore, any pretense of grace or composure was gone.

I regretted this, deeply. I never should’ve let Eliane’s assistant plan my birthday party. Because of that, I didn’t even have my usual security team on-site today.

All these years growing up, every birthday had been carefully handled by my parents. Every public appearance had layers of security. But now I got being manhandled out of my own property by strangers.

I’d had enough.

“Eliane Langford, I’m calling off the engagement,” I snapped.

“You’re no longer my fiancée. You don’t have any right to be here, so get out of my birthday party. And take your entourage with you.”

This villa where I was hosting the party wasn’t just any venue. It was a pre-wedding gift from my parents, part of my premarital assets. I’d planned to move in after we got married.

Now, it was about to become the place where our engagement ended.

Eliane’s froze. “What did you say? You want to call off the engagement? All because of this? This minor thing?”

“Jerome, don’t forget—our marriage was arranged by both of our families.”

Her voice faltered and something shifted behind her eyes—hesitation. She was finally thinking this through.

The truth was, she had been the one pushing for this marriage from the beginning. She’d spent years trying to get into my father’s good graces—waking up at 5 a.m. every day to bring me breakfast, driving me to and from work like clockwork, rain or shine. She wore her devotion like armor.

Eventually, my father caved—not entirely convinced, but willing to entertain her effort. She wasn’t about to throw all that away over a dog’s memorial.

Suddenly, Olivier stepped forward. His voice was hoarse but firm as he wiped the tears off his face.

“Director Langford, this is my fault. Please… don’t let this affect your engagement. I’m just your assistant—I don’t want to be the reason Mr. Carrington walks away.”

“I’m nobody. Just a kid from the countryside. No connections, no background. I can’t even afford a proper funeral for my dog…”

He took a few steps toward the door, but tripped over a corner rug. The casket in his hands flew from his grip, crashing to the floor and slightly broke open.

The smell soon filled the room.

“No! Luffy—” he gasped.

He dove to repair what he could for the casket. Suddenly, a jagged edge of the box sliced deep into his finger. He bled instantly.

“Ollie!” Eliane’s voice rang out in panic. She rushed to his side, grabbing him by the shoulders and holding him upright.

Olivier sobbed uncontrollably in her arms, ignoring his bleeding hand. “I’m so sorry, Director Langford… I failed. I couldn’t even protect Luffy’s remains. I promised him he’d live a better life and now I’ve lost even this last chance to honor him.”

“He was all I had. And now—now he’s just… gone. And it’s my fault.”

Eliane glared up at me, her eyes cold and sharp. “Well? Are you happy now, Jerome?”

“I told you—Ollie’s been through enough. His only companion is gone. He didn’t ask you for anything. Just a few minutes to say goodbye.”

“And now the casket's broken. Is this what you wanted? Do you feel powerful now?”

Then she stood and turned to the security guards. “Wreck this party. If Ollie can’t have his funeral, then Jerome doesn’t get to have his birthday either.”

The guards didn’t hesitate. They picked up batons and started smashing everything in sight.

I watched in horror as one of them struck the porcelain vase my mother had gifted me—a one-of-a-kind artisan piece worth 30 million crowns.

“No! Stop!” I lunged forward.

Too late. The vase shattered on the floor, splintered into dozens of worthless pieces.

I spun around to search for Eliane, but she was already walking away. Without even glancing back, she left the house with Olivier.

Knowing that Olivier cried so hard he nearly passed out. Eliane immediately sent a whole team—dozens of people—to the scene and mend whatever could be done to his dog's casket.

She ordered a brand-new and custom-made casket right then. It was no doubt a top quality.

Eliane even going as far to hold a livestream of the whole thing and put it on the company's intranet, just to save her assistant's dignity. A few media outlets got involved too, probably tipped off by her PR team, painting him as some devoted and compassionate dog owner.

I crouched down, hopeless, trying to pick up the broken pieces of the brown porcelain vase. I was hoping there was still a chance to fix my mother's gift.

Just as I unlocked my phone, a message from Olivier popped up.

[So what if your family’s rich and you’re Eliane’s fiancé, Jerome?]

[See? She still dumped you today—and chose me.]

Then came a photo. Olivier's hand interlaced with Eliane. The same hand that still wore the engagement ring I had given her.

[See this hand? She touched me with it last night. Sure, you two are engaged, but have you even slept with her yet?]

[She felt sorry for me being all alone, so she gave herself to me—right there in the office. Even if you marry her, you'll just be using secondhand goods.]

Expressionless, I closed the message box.

Then, my voice came out cold. “Get Legal Team on the line. I want a full audit of everything exchanged during the engagement. I'm breaking it off.”

After all—I’ve never been one for secondhand goods.

My father had been watching the livestream and saw the whole humiliation unfold at my birthday party. He showed up, entourage in tow, stepping in to take control of the chaos.

He didn’t mince words with the press.

“My son is a Carrington. Do you really think he can’t find a wife? This engagement is over—effective immediately. As of today, Eliane Langford is no longer his fiancée. From now on, they go their separate ways.”

When I saw my dad, my eyes welled up and tears finally spilled over. “Dad…”

He pulled me to my feet, his face full of concern. “Come on. We're heading to the Château de Verre.”

That’s when I found out that my father had never trusted anyone else to handle my birthday properly. He and Mom had already arranged a second grand celebration for me.

With a single call, he rerouted every guest to the Château. The party continued.

I was stunned. “Wait… Dad, Uncle Baptiste and Aunt Paola flew back?”

Growing up, our closest family friends had always been the de Verres.

Uncle Baptiste was my dad’s sworn brother. Aunt Paola was Mom’s best friend. Meanwhile their daughter Claudine, she was my good childhood friends.

The de Verres had been living abroad for years, tied up in international trade. It had been forever since we’d last seen each other.

My dad gave me a knowing smile.

“Not just your aunt and uncle. Claudine’s here too.”

As soon as I walked into the Château de Verre, I was met with a warm welcome. Uncle Baptiste and Aunt Paola looked thrilled to see me.

Aunt Paola grabbed my hand affectionately. “It’s been years, but Jerry—my goodness, you’ve grown into such a handsome young man. I can’t stop staring!”

And then I saw her. Claudine. She was taller than I remembered. Elegant. She wore a gold-rimmed glasses. There was something intellectual and graceful about her.

“Jerry, long time no see!” She smiled, reaching out to shake my hand. “Remember me? I’m Claudine.”

I nodded, suddenly aware of her gaze on me—and to my surprise, my face flushed hot.

Years ago, I’d written her love letters. Even stolen one of Mom’s gold rings to give her, proudly declaring it our “token of eternal love.”

When we were kids, I once swore I’d ride in on a white horse and marry Claudine when she grew up. Now, as she brought up those childhood promises with a laugh, I felt my face heat up so fast I wanted to crawl under the table.

Throughout the entire birthday celebration, Claudine was incredibly considerate—bringing me tea, handing me tissues exactly when I needed them. Every time I glanced at her, she was smiling gently. And every time our eyes met, I found myself blushing and looking away like a schoolboy.

Aunt Paola caught on in an instant. Her knowing “auntie smile” said everything.

My dad chuckled heartily and brought up the idea. “My son’s single now. That engagement he had? Just ended. So how about we arrange something between our two families instead?”

Uncle Baptiste and Aunt Paola lit up with excitement and immediately set their utensils down, ready to agree... But just then, a hoarse voice cut through the room.

“No! You can’t!”