My fiancé’s pampered niece, Jenna Quinn, had just returned from abroad.

The moment she got back, she caused a scene at our engagement party, throwing out so-called “evidence” of my alleged affair in front of the media.

Zac Quinn had no choice but to leave me with the mess, clutching his hysterical niece as they left. His parting words? “This is just an engagement party. Jenna’s well-being is far more important.”

After I painstakingly managed to control the public narrative and was waiting for Jenna to make a public clarification to settle the matter, she instead curled up in Zac’s arms, crying softly.

Zac’s expression turned cold. “Jenna only has me, while you have so many people who love you. Why must you target her?”

At first, I thought Zac was just being overly protective of his niece, who had lost her parents at a young age—until I saw the two of them kissing.

“You’re the precious girl I’ve raised with my own hands. From now on, Nina will be your aunt, and she’ll shower you with love, too,” he said.

I clenched the ultrasound report in my hand and, without hesitation, tossed it into the trash.

Love that can’t be held onto isn’t worth keeping.

I decided to return home, accept my family’s marriage alliance, and fully embrace my role as the heiress of the Walker Corporation.

When the engagement party reached the moment for exchanging vows, the doors suddenly flew open.

“Take a good look, everyone! Nina Walker is nothing but a shameless homewrecker!”

A sharp voice cut through the room as a young woman threw a stack of photos onto the floor.

Reporters nearby rushed to grab the scattered pictures. One of them gasped. “Miss Walker really did get involved in someone else’s relationship!”

The unexpected interruption left me frozen, unsure of how to react. Instinctively, I turned to look at Zac Quinn, who was standing beside me.

Zac’s face tightened with shock. “Jenna?”

The realization hit me. She was Jenna Quinn, Zac’s niece, though not related to him by blood. He had raised her as family since she was a child, but three years ago, she was sent abroad to study.

The reporters flipped through the photos and passed them around. Their stares turned judgmental as they shifted toward me. Even a few of Zac’s key business partners caught sight of the images, their expressions turning complicated.

I couldn’t fathom why his niece would cause such a scene the moment she returned to the country.

Still, I steadied myself and addressed the room calmly. “Before Zac and I got together, he was single. Perhaps Miss Quinn has misunderstood something?”

I then turned to Zac, waiting for him to clarify Jenna’s identity.

To my surprise, Zac, usually so composed, hurried toward Jenna at the door. His steps were quick and uneven, revealing his agitation.

Zac tightly embraced Jenna, who was acting hysterical, and whispered something to her before attempting to lead her away. It wasn’t until they reached the doorway that Zac seemed to suddenly remember I was still standing on the stage.

When he turned back, the tension in his eyes hadn’t completely faded. His voice was cold and clipped. “This is just an engagement party. Jenna’s well-being is far more important.”

I stood there, frozen, trying to process what had just happened.

Oh, that’s right.

Zac’s niece had bipolar disorder.

Soft murmurs spread through the crowd, the whispers growing louder by the second. The reporters, seeing Zac leave, didn’t miss a beat and turned their attention to me, shoving microphones in my direction.

“Miss Walker, there have been rumors that three years ago, you came between Mr. Quinn and his former lover, forcing her to leave. It was even said that your parents disowned you over the scandal. Is there any truth to these allegations?”

My expression hardened. To bring up such accusations at an engagement party was beyond inappropriate.

I shot a sharp glance at the reporter. I knew every reporter we had invited today, and this one was clearly here to cause trouble.

“Did you just sneak in?” I asked curtly. “Let me make this clear one more time. Before Zac and I started dating, he was single. And the young woman you just saw? She’s Zac’s niece, not some so-called lover.”

After addressing the issue, I apologized profusely to the guests and quickly brought the absurd engagement party to an end.

Once I found a quiet stairwell, I pulled out my phone and called Zac.

The line rang several times before the call abruptly disconnected.

I froze.

Zac had never hung up on me before.

Maybe Jenna was having an episode, and he was too preoccupied to answer.

Clinging to that thought, I headed to the restroom.

As soon as I shut the door, I overheard two women chatting just outside.

“I’d heard rumors that Mr. Quinn had a mysterious girlfriend, but I didn’t think they were true!”

“They absolutely are! Back when Mr. Quinn was negotiating a contract with StarTech, he was about to close the deal. Then his mysterious girlfriend called, and he immediately gave up two percentage points to the other party and signed the contract on the spot.

“If it had been for something urgent, it would’ve made sense, but she just wanted him to come home and watch a horror movie with her.”

“Wow, Mr. Quinn spoils her that much? No wonder the bonuses for that huge deal were so small.”

As their voices faded, I loosened my grip on the phone.

Suddenly, I remembered that day when Zac and I first got together. We had planned to see a movie.

But even after the credits rolled, he never showed up. Calls went unanswered.

I waited in the theater until nightfall before he finally sent me a single text. “There was a meeting at work I couldn’t get out of.”

Five minutes later, another message followed. “I don’t like movies. Don’t plan time-wasting activities like this again.”

So, it wasn’t that watching movies was a waste of time—it was watching them with me that was.

“Ding, ding.”

My phone suddenly rang. It was Zac.

My tense expression softened slightly as I answered.

“Take care of today’s incident with PR,” he said. “I don’t want this affecting Jenna.”

I pressed my lips together and said nothing.

Sensing my silence, Zac asked, “Did you handle the guests?”

“Yes,” I replied quietly.

Hearing this, Zac briefly reminded me to head home early before hanging up.

Staring at my now-dark phone screen, a thought crept into my mind.

“You don’t have to marry someone your parents approve of, but you should never marry someone they don’t.”

There were plenty of people eager to watch the drama surrounding the Quinn family, and even more hoping to take advantage of the situation.

By the time everything was dealt with, two days had passed.

As I stepped out of the office, I received a message from Zac asking me to meet him at the hospital.

The VIP suite was on the sixth floor. When I reached it, I was stopped by security.

“The sixth floor is a private area reserved for the Quinn family. No entry allowed.”

“I’m Zac Quinn’s fiancée. I’m here to see him,” I replied.

The bodyguard hesitated for a moment before saying, “Please wait,” and disappeared inside.

A moment later, the bodyguard returned and stepped aside. “Mr. Quinn said you may go in, but please keep quiet—Miss Quinn is resting.”

Inside the room, Zac, as composed and handsome as ever, leaned against the bed, casually flipping through a book. His arm was gently cradled by Jenna as she lay curled up on the bed. Sunlight streamed in at an angle, bathing the two of them in a soft, golden glow.

The scene was so serene and picture-perfect, it felt almost wrong to intrude.

“Nina.”

Zac glanced over at me, his brows furrowing slightly as our eyes met. He gave his arm a small tug, but when it didn’t budge, he lowered his voice and said, “Why did you come looking like this? It’s your first formal meeting with Jenna. You could’ve at least taken the time to tidy yourself up.”

Before I could respond, the girl at his side stirred with a soft whimper and slowly woke up.

Zac immediately lowered his head to check on her, his expression filled with concern. “Jenna, did we wake you?”

Jenna rubbed her eyes, her tone filled with mock annoyance. “Uncle Zac, you know how lightly I sleep, yet you let someone come in and disturb me.”

Zac coaxed her gently, his demeanor so tender that it caught me off guard.

The Zac Quinn I knew was always calm and composed, treating everything with an air of detachment. Even when it came to matters of romance, he rarely revealed much emotion.

After Zac spent some time coaxing her, Jenna finally shifted her gaze to me. “So, she’s going to be my future aunt? Uncle Zac, don’t tell me you’re still stuck on those outdated ideas about marrying a woman for her virtues. It’s the 21st century. How can you be so old-fashioned?”

Hearing yet another jab about my appearance, I instinctively glanced to the side.

In the reflection of the glass door, I saw myself—bloodshot eyes and an exhausted, haggard face.

No wonder Zac had made that comment earlier.

I forced a faint smile and stepped into the room. “I just came from the office. Everything’s nearly wrapped up. All that’s left is for Miss Quinn to release a clarification video.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Jenna buried her face in Zac’s chest and started sobbing softly.

The speed of her shifting her demeanor was nothing short of astonishing.

Zac held Jenna protectively and turned to me with a cold expression. “Jenna only has me, while you have so many people who love you. Why must you target her?

“I asked you to suppress the trending topic because I didn’t want this to affect Jenna. And this is how you handle it?

“Nina, it’s hard for me not to question your professional competence.”

Zac’s voice grew colder, his gaze turning icier with each word.

Right on cue, Jenna shifted subtly, tilting her pale, slender neck as she spoke in a soft, nasal tone. “It’s all my fault, Uncle Zac. Don’t be upset. I’m willing to do anything for you.”

Her delicate neck was fully exposed, and if I hadn’t noticed the Angel’s Tear necklace she was wearing, I might as well have been blind.

While Zac reassured her that she would never have to make a public statement, he glanced at me with clear displeasure.

Perhaps noticing my gaze lingering on Jenna’s neck, Zac followed my line of sight. His expression grew a bit uneasy.

He pulled the blanket higher over Jenna and cleared his throat. “It’s just a necklace. I’ll get you a new one at the next auction.”

I pressed my lips together but said nothing.

He knew full well that I had adored that necklace for ages, yet he gave it to someone else.

And now, he had the audacity to criticize me.

Sensing the tension, Jenna reached up to remove the necklace, her face apologetic. “I didn’t know this was something Uncle Zac bought for Aunt Nina. I’m sorry. I’ll give it back to her right away.”

Zac grabbed her wrist and frowned deeply. “It’s yours now. She’s your aunt. She’s not the type to fight over a necklace with you.”

At this point, if I insisted, I would only make myself look petty.

“If you like it, then keep it,” I said flatly.

Without another word, I turned and left, not bothering to say goodbye as I walked out.

When I returned to the apartment, I fell into a deep sleep.

Finally, I felt like myself again.

That evening, Zac knocked on the door of my apartment.

Standing outside, he pressed his lips together slightly. When he saw me in my pajamas, looking like I had just woken up, he said, “You’ve worked hard these past two days.”

Hearing that, I thought he had come to apologize, and some of the frustration I had been holding onto eased a little.

Before I could respond, another figure appeared from behind him, clinging tightly to his arm. She looked at me with a hint of provocation in her eyes. “Hello, Aunt Nina.”

I didn’t reply, but Zac spoke up, explaining, “There are too many paparazzi around these days. Jenna’s health is still fragile. You’re her future aunt, so I feel comfortable leaving her here with you.”

He said it so matter-of-factly, as if the unpleasantness before hadn’t even registered with him.

I let my face harden. “She’s not welcome here.”

“Aunt Nina, it was all my fault before,” Jenna interjected, her voice soft and syrupy. “I was just so worried someone might trick Uncle Zac, and I overreacted because of my condition…”

Before she could finish her insincere apology, Zac stepped in protectively.

“Nina, I bought this apartment, so I have every right to let Jenna stay here. And it’s not just this place—if, after we’re married, she wants the master bedroom in the Quinn estate, you’ll have to give it up for her.”

I froze, my breath catching. I never thought I would live to hear someone say something like this to me.

When I first set my eyes on this apartment and planned to buy it, Zac used his connections to purchase it ahead of me, claiming it was a gift.

To repay the favor, I even went out of my way to have my best friend secure a major deal with Quinn Corporation.

I stayed silent, no longer trying to stop Zac from letting Jenna move into my home.

Jenna wandered through the apartment, looking around before sweetly suggesting she take my bedroom.

She claimed that room had the best sunlight and said she wanted to wake up each morning bathed in the first rays of light.

Zac patted her head affectionately. “Whatever makes you comfortable. Nina, go tidy up the room for her.”