After driving the whole day from a classified unit back to my hometown to get my marriage certificate, I stopped by the neighborhood and bought a watermelon.

Just as I finished paying, a woman suddenly rushed out and started smashing the watermelons on the tricycle. While smashing, she shouted, “You bastard! How dare you let that little slut feed you watermelon? I’ll smash every single one of them and see what you eat then!”

In less than ten minutes, half the alley's watermelons had been destroyed.

Still not satisfied, she came to grab the one in my hand.

I stepped back to protect it and before I could say anything, she slapped me.

Arrogant and overbearing, she threw money in my face.

“I’m the most favored woman of the Crown Prince of Valebrook. I want this watermelon, unless you have a death wish!”

The Crown Prince of Valebrook was my fiancé, the one I was registering the marriage with tomorrow.

Suppressing my fury, I turned around and threw the watermelon into my military vehicle, then locked the door.

Fine. I wanted this watermelon too.

——

I slapped her right back.

I didn’t hold back.

By the time I had placed the watermelon inside the military vehicle and locked the door, the woman finally snapped out of her shock.

She flailed her arms and lunged at me like a madwoman. “You little slut! How dare you hit me! I’m the Crown Prince’s most favored woman! You’re dead!”

I couldn’t help but laugh. If someone wanted me dead, they'd first have to get the military district’s permission.

No exaggeration, if I got even a scratch tonight, the entire city of Valebrook would be turned upside down by tomorrow.

Besides, I was clearly acting in self-defense.

“You’re laughing?” she screeched.

Fuming, she stomped her foot and angrily made a phone call.

“Hello? Michael? Someone’s trying to kill me in Valebrook! If you’re still fooling around with that little slut, just get ready to collect my body!”

Her exaggerated and dramatic words sent the man on the other end into a panic.

“Who’s got the nerve? Baby, just wait. I’m bringing the whole crew right now!”

The nearby stall owners all changed their expressions after hearing what she said.

"She's got a death wish! That’s the Crown Prince’s most pampered mistress. This is going to be a show."

“Damn, don’t just stand there! Give her the watermelon! It’s just a watermelon, your life’s more important!”

“This young girl has a real temper. She got slapped once and she slaps back right away. Just wait, this won’t end well.”

As the murmurs around us grew louder, the smug look on her face became even more gleeful.

She stomped on the broken watermelons, grinding them into mush.

“You little whore, while my man hasn’t arrived yet, lick clean the watermelon under my foot and maybe I’ll put in a good word for you. If not, don’t blame him for being ruthless!”

Every time she said “my man,” my anger flared higher.

I had taken precious marriage leave from my classified unit and the night before registering our marriage certificate, I was being provoked by the other woman?

Forcing down my fury, I asked, "Didn’t you know? Michael’s getting his marriage certificate tomorrow."

I thought that would knock the wind out of her sails.

But to my surprise, that woman only looked more smug.

“So what if they’re getting married? Michael and I are true love. Everyone else is the mistress!”

“Cut the crap. You’ve got three minutes to lick the watermelon. My man’s got a bad temper. Don’t go looking for death!”

I wasn’t the least bit fazed by her threats. In fact, I found it amusing.

“You’re abusing your so-called status under the Graham Family’s name. Does Mr. Graham know about this?”

“I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourself. Lick the watermelon under my foot clean, or else—not even the Graham Family could afford the consequences.”

I mimicked her move and stomped the watermelon next to me into a puddle of pulp.

“You fucking provoking me?”

The mistress was livid. She raised her hand, ready to slap me again.

This time, I was ready. She didn’t even manage to touch the corner of my clothes.

She looked like she was about to explode with rage and shouted, “You bitch! Don’t dodge if you’ve got the guts!”

Wobbling on her eight-centimeter heels, she charged at me.

Just as things were about to escalate, a furious voice rang out from behind.

“Stop!”

“Nina, you’re still pregnant. How can you just start fighting someone on the street like this?”

Michael rushed forward, carefully supporting Nina’s belly, fussing over her tenderly.

Nina looked even more pleased with herself. She pointed at me and let tears spill from her eyes, putting on an aggrieved act. “That whore tried to hurt me and the baby. She even told me to get on my knees and lick watermelon off the ground.” “Honey, teach her a lesson for me…”

I couldn’t hold back and corrected her coldly, “You tried to steal my watermelon and slapped me first. Everything I did was in self-defense.”

The moment my eyes met Michael’s, his brows furrowed deeply. He looked at me with uncertainty and asked, “Are… are you the only daughter of the Anson Family… Sophia?”

I nodded.

Our grandfathers were lifelong friends and we’d been engaged since childhood by family arrangement.

When we were kids, we met a few times. But as I grew older, I was stationed long-term at a classified unit.

Then, after the elders in both families passed away, we gradually lost contact.

The only reason I could recognize him now was because of the old photos our parents exchanged.

Back at the unit, I saw his firm, sharp features and figured. Since he was raised by Mr. Graham, his character wouldn’t be too bad. So I agreed to the marriage without hesitation.

Never thought I’d run into something like this the moment I arrived in Valebrook.

Michael gave me a quick once-over, his hand still resting possessively on Nina’s belly. He didn’t move it away.

His voice was full of contempt.

“Stop clinging to me. There’s no way I’m registering a marriage with you. Marriage is about equal social standing. Go home and tell your dad to stop trying to curry favor. We’re just not meant to be.”

My mind buzzed.

Wasn’t it the Graham Family who begged my parents to honor the childhood engagement? How did it suddenly become my family trying to suck up to them?

Not to mention, a marriage alliance with my family—an established military household—should be something a merchant family like the Grahams would dream of.

Holding back my temper, I smiled faintly and asked, “Did you tell Mr. Graham that you don’t want to get married?”

Michael’s face instantly darkened. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you threatening me with my parents now? I’m warning you, even if you pull some trick and get me to marry you, my heart will never be yours.”

With that, he wrapped his arm around Nina’s waist and kissed her passionately in front of everyone, like he couldn’t bear to let go.

He didn’t forget to throw in one last jab. “With someone like Nina, a real beauty, just looking at you makes me want to puke.”

The moment he said that, the group of lackeys who had followed him all jumped in, laughing and jeering.

“Look at that glare! With that face? No man on earth would want her, even if it killed them!”

“She’s clinging shamelessly to Mr. Graham and bullying Miss Lane? What a trashy woman.”

“She’s not even worthy of carrying their shoes!”

I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. Honestly, I was this close to just turning around and walking away.

Why waste time on idiots when I could be doing something useful, like returning to my research?

Even getting these couple of days off for the wedding had been a hard-won battle. My superior practically approved it through tears, repeatedly reminding me to return to base the moment it was over.

But then I thought, if I were the one to call off the engagement, who knew how they’d twist the story later? I could already imagine the smear campaign.

So I opened my mouth and said calmly, “Fine. Canceling the engagement? No problem. I’ll book a private room and let’s each call our parents. Tonight, both families can sit down and make it official.”

Eight o’clock wasn’t too late. I quickly reserved a room and sent the address to my parents.

But Michael didn’t move. Not a single step.

I sneered, staring straight at him.

Of course he didn’t dare bring up breaking off the engagement to his family. If he really had that kind of nerve, with his spoiled young master temper, he never would’ve gone this far, right up to the marriage registration.

“What’s wrong?” I asked with a mocking smile. “Weren’t you just saying I made you sick to look at?”

“If we’re not calling off the engagement, then I’ll go register the marriage with you tomorrow and give you ten sons while we’re at it.”

I said it just to disgust Michael, to provoke him into reacting.

Sure enough, he clenched his fists in anger and finally sent the address to his parents.

I was quite satisfied with myself. I turned to head to the car only to have my wrist grabbed by Nina.

“What about my watermelon?”

“Honey, she took one and locked it in her car just now,” she whined. “The baby and I want to eat it right now. Will you go get it for me, please?”

She nestled into Michael’s arms like a helpless little bird, completely different from the arrogant, aggressive woman from earlier.

Michael turned to me. “Hand it over.”

I looked at him like he was joking. “I paid for that watermelon. It’s mine.”

Michael let out a cold laugh. “It’s just a lousy watermelon. I’ll give you a thousand for it.”

He flung a dozen or so bills at me, the cash slapping against my chest and falling to the ground. Then he gave his lackeys a look, silently instructing them to go get the watermelon.

No surprise there. People who slept in the same bed eventually thought the same way. Both of them loved throwing money at others like it was worthless.

But that stunt seriously pissed me off.

I stayed where I was, holding the car key without moving.

This was a military vehicle. The windows were bulletproof and the body was even tougher.

Those guys could mess with it all they wanted—at most, they were just adding a few scratches.

After working up a sweat with no results, one of them finally turned to Michael, panting and shaking his head.

“Mr. Graham, this looks like a military vehicle. We can’t get it open.”

Michael’s face went stone cold. He glared at me and ordered icily, “Open the door.”

I met his gaze directly. “And if I say no?”

After years of holding a high-ranking position in the military, my eyes carried a sharpness Michael couldn’t match. After all, he was the typical pampered rich boy.

Seeing that he couldn’t hold my stare and was about to look away, he suddenly shoved me hard.

A violent glint flashed across his brows. “I’ll ask one more time—are you opening that door or not?”

I shoved him right back and said the same thing, calm as ever. “No.”

Normally, it was just a watermelon. I wouldn’t have cared and would’ve given it away for free, even.

But after everything this disgusting couple pulled tonight, one humiliation after another, now I was keeping that watermelon no matter what.

Of course, the crowd around us misunderstood the situation.

They thought I was putting on a tough front just to save face, foolishly blinded by rage after finding out that Michael had cheated and even fathered a child before the wedding.

Someone tugged gently on my sleeve and tried to advise me, their tone sympathetic but condescending.

"Miss Anson, please don’t act on impulse… Rich men cheating's just normal."

“You can’t possibly win against the Graham Family’s influence here in Valebrook.”

“It’s just a watermelon, right? Later, I can give you a few for free, okay?”

“A woman should know when to back down. Even if you’re driving a military car, it doesn’t matter. A powerful outsider still can't beat the local kingpin.”

Hearing this, Nina was even more smug. She raised her chin and mocked, “I’ve seen plenty of rich girls like you—stubborn, acting all different just to catch Mitchael’s attention. You’re making a scene like this because you still want to marry him, don’t you? Who are you trying to fool with this act? We don’t want your stupid watermelon anymore!”

Michael pulled her close and gave her a loud, wet kiss.

“Now that’s my sensible Nina.”

Then he looked up at me, his expression cold with disdain.

“You're just a backwater bumpkin trying to act important, clutching that one watermelon like it’s priceless. Pathetic. I honestly don’t know what my parents were thinking, letting me marry some petty, stingy woman from a poor family like you.”

I let out a laugh—furious, but amused. “Sure, you’re absolutely right. Let’s go cancel the marriage right now.”

I couldn’t be bothered arguing with this pair of lunatics.

The only thing that mattered now was getting this engagement officially called off.

Just the thought of sharing a bed with someone like Michael made my skin crawl.

But the moment I unlocked the car door, a few people suddenly rushed past me.

Before I could react, several of his lackeys grabbed me.

They pinned me down so hard that I couldn't fight off that many at once.

My hands were forced up, my body slammed against the car window—completely restrained.