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.

Everything happened so fast. I was dazed for a few seconds before realizing I’d been ambushed.

No one had ever dared treat me like this.

Valebrook really was full of surprises.

Nina strutted over proudly and pulled the watermelon out of the car. She slammed it to the ground, smashing it into pieces.

Still not satisfied, she stepped on it again and again in her heels, grinding it into a mess of bright red pulp.

Then she looked up at me, smug and taunting. “I told you—this watermelon was mine to destroy.”

“Let me go!” I shouted, my voice sharp with commanding authority.

The lackeys froze, startled by my tone. They turned to look at Michael.

He gave a small nod, then looked at me and said with calculated calm. “Alright, say it. What do you want?”

“I’ll let you compensate for the watermelon Nina smashed,” I said calmly, catching my breath as I stared straight at Nina, who still wore that arrogant, high-and-mighty look.

I smiled slightly and said, “130 thousand dollars. Or this doesn’t end here.”

The words had barely left my mouth when the entire crowd fell into stunned silence.

“She’s crazy! That busted watermelon’s worth six dollars at most and she’s asking for 130 thousand dollars?”

“Mr. Graham even offered compensation. What an honor! And she dares try to blackmail him? She’s dead.”

“Quit making a fool of yourself. Take a few grand and get out. That’s already more than enough for you to gloat about for months.”

I ignored the mocking voices around me. With arms crossed, I spoke coolly, “Sure, a regular watermelon is worth a few dollars. But this wasn’t a regular watermelon. I spent time picking it out carefully. It was specifically requested by my superior, meant to be brought back for the lab team to celebrate a major breakthrough. In terms of both significance and value, it’s worth every cent of that 130 thousand dollars.”

Of course, in reality, I had grabbed that watermelon in under ten seconds and no superior had told me to buy anything at all.

But asking for 130 thousand dollars was just me being petty because I couldn’t stand this disgusting couple. And it was time they got a little payback.

“I already said this watermelon is mine. Even if it’s been smashed to pieces, I’ll make sure someone pays for it.”

Nina finally saw through me. She realized I wasn’t in it for the money, I was here to make her life miserable.

She spoke up first, furious. “I don’t agree with this! A ruined watermelon and you’re demanding 130 thousand dollars? Who the hell do you think you are? Mitchael was being kind to you and now you’re climbing all over his head! Take a look in the mirror, do you really think you're something special?”

“Born with a dad but raised without a mom and still trying to marry into the Graham Family? Your ancestors must be rolling in their graves with all that smoke!”

Her venomous words made my brows furrow tightly.

It had been barely an hour since I arrived in Valebrook and I’d already suffered more humiliation than in my entire life up to this point.

Right then, I changed my mind.

It wasn’t enough to just avenge the watermelon.

Now, I wanted Nina to kneel and apologize.

I looked her in the eye and nodded slowly.

“Alright. Forget the money. But I want you to kneel down, knock your head to the ground and lick up every last bit of that smashed watermelon off the pavement.”

“You dare?” Nina screamed, livid. “Who do you think you are, daring to humiliate me like this?”

Michael quickly pulled her behind him, shielding her. His face was tense as he tried to remember the relationship between our families.

Then he said coldly, "Fine, 130 thousand dollars it is. Give me your account number."

But I stood still, unmoving, a cold smile playing on my lips.

"Sorry," I said slowly, deliberately, "I just changed my mind. Now you name a price. How much would it take for Nina to kneel, kowtow and lick up the watermelon?"

My blatant provocation sent a collective gasp through the crowd. People looked at me like I’d lost my mind.

Michael clenched his jaw, rage flashing in his eyes. "Sophia! Don’t push your luck!"

I shot back coldly, “You broke my watermelon first. I was kind enough to drop the compensation and even offered money for a simple apology. What more do you want from me? The ones pushing their luck are you two!”

Michael's face turned livid at my words. He tried to forcibly take Nina away.

I got in the car and hit the gas, pulling straight in front of them to block their path.

Rolling down the window, I looked at the frustrated pair and spoke coldly, “Name your price.”

Michael shielded Nina and cursed angrily, “You crazy woman! What the hell are you doing! I’d rather die than marry you!”

His words had no bite at all. Honestly, they made me want to laugh.

Nina, on the other hand, was so furious that her face twisted. She blurted out, “13 million! In cash! I want it here in five minutes!”

Her eyes glinted with malice. “Sophia, if you're even one cent short, or one second late, you'll strip naked and streak down the street!”

Everyone was stunned.

Just the transaction process alone would take more than five minutes.

Nina smiled smugly at me.

“Scared? If you’re scared, then get out of the way!”

Amid gasps all around, I smiled faintly.

“Deal.”