The very next day, Clara saw Ryan at the business gala she was hosting.

Ryan was dressed impeccably in a tailored suit, while Lily stood beside him in a custom couture gown.

Lily held onto Ryan's arm as they greeted guests around the ballroom like the stars of the evening.

From time to time, Ryan leaned close to whisper in Lily's ear, speaking to her with shameless intimacy. Again and again, he made her laugh so hard she had to cover her mouth delicately. To anyone watching, they looked far more like a couple than Clara and Ryan ever had.

Sensing Clara's gaze, Lily turned around instinctively.

But the moment their eyes met, Lily lowered her head immediately, looking like a frightened child caught doing something wrong.

That single gesture made Ryan step protectively in front of her at once.

The warmth in his eyes vanished completely. What remained was nothing but disgust and caution.

"Clara, what are you doing here?"

To Ryan, the question probably didn't seem strange at all.

Every gala hosted by Hayes Group in the past had been attended by Ryan on Clara's behalf, while Clara herself remained behind the scenes.

She had wanted the entire business world to know one thing clearly. Ryan belonged to her.

Whatever status Clara held in the corporate world, Ryan would share that same status beside her.

But now... he no longer deserved it.

Clara motioned for the event manager to come over and pointed directly at Ryan.

"Why is he here?"

Ryan completely misunderstood her meaning. He immediately shielded Lily behind him even more firmly.

"Why can't Lily be here?"

At that, Lily cautiously peeked out from behind Ryan's shoulder.

She looked fragile and nervous, her eyes already shimmering with tears before anyone noticed.

"Ms. Hayes, I've always attended these events with Mr. Brooks before... I didn't realize you disliked it. I'll leave..."

Seeing Lily look so small and hurt instantly filled Ryan with sympathy.

He grabbed Lily before she could leave and turned on Clara angrily.

"Clara! Lily's the one who's always been by my side at these events! You're the one who never bothered to show up! Lily's been helping you maintain connections this whole time. Do you even know how many contacts she's brought you? And instead of thanking her, you're humiliating her and trying to throw her out?"

Clara glanced at Lily, whose tears hovered dramatically on the edge of falling, and nearly laughed from disbelief.

Since when had Clara Hayes ever needed someone else to build connections for her?

She was the connection.

Clara pressed a hand to her temple and spoke more sharply this time.

"Then let me repeat myself. I want to know why the two of you are here. As far as I know, Ryan, I never sent you an invitation. So who let you in?"

Clara's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly across the ballroom.

The once lively venue fell silent in an instant.

The surrounding guests began staring at Ryan and Lily with thinly veiled curiosity and judgment.

Ryan finally snapped.

"Clara! What the hell is wrong with you? Weren't you the one begging me to attend these galas for you before?"

He wasn't wrong. Every single time, Clara had been the one persuading Ryan to attend.

She had wanted him to establish himself in the ruthless corporate world. She had wanted to protect that fragile pride of his.

But now, it seemed unnecessary.

Clara waved a hand dismissively.

"But today, I didn't invite you. So get out of my event."

At last, Lily's tears finally spilled over.

"Ms. Hayes, I don't understand why you insist on humiliating Mr. Brooks like this. If my presence bothers you that much, then I'll leave. But please stop treating him this way! He's genuinely an amazing person!"

Before Clara could even respond, Ryan exploded again.

"Clara, enough with the crazy behavior already. Fine. I admit it was my fault for not taking care of you when you were sick that day. Happy now? I apologized."

Clara let out a cold laugh and stepped backward, widening the distance between them.

A week earlier, Ryan's proposal had been rejected by the Hayes Group board.

The project itself had enormous potential, but the execution plan from Ryan's company had been far too weak to convince the shareholders to invest.

Clara had spent an entire month revising it herself before it was finally ready.

But on the night before submission, her body gave out completely.

She had collapsed over her desk struggling to breathe, desperately hoping Ryan would come take care of her.

Instead, Ryan had been vacationing at the beach with Lily. And the trip had been paid for with Clara's black card.

She had only discovered that while reviewing company expenses over the past few days.

"That's enough, Clara. Stop making a scene."

Ryan stepped forward and grabbed her wrist tightly.

"If you still want to marry me, then stop acting like some spoiled rich girl."

Clara looked at Ryan quietly, her expression unreadable.

The first time Clara met Ryan, he had been too timid to say a single word. He only kept his head lowered the entire time.

The second time she saw him was at school, when he was being bullied by a group of boys. Clara had been the one who stepped in and pulled them apart.

Back then, Ryan once told Clara that she had been the only light in his world, the person who gave hope to a boy born into a declining family business.

In those days, Ryan always followed quietly behind her, his calm eyes filled with admiration.

He never dared raise his voice at Clara. Even speaking a little too loudly would make him blame himself afterward.

No matter how difficult or unpredictable Clara's temper could be, Ryan had never shown even the slightest resentment.

When Clara once said she wanted to see roses made of snow in the middle of winter, Ryan dragged himself outside despite running such a high fever he could barely stand, just to make them for her.

When Clara wanted to go skydiving, Ryan jumped with her even though he was terrified of heights.

But somewhere along the way, Ryan changed. He became reckless, indulgent... and slowly forgot the person he used to be.

After saying that, Ryan finally released Clara's wrist and calmly adjusted his suit jacket.

In the blink of an eye, he returned to that composed, self-assured version of himself, standing confidently in the center of the ballroom.

Then he gave Lily a subtle look.

Lily nodded obediently, though the smug satisfaction in her eyes was impossible to miss. She glanced at Clara before turning toward the surrounding guests.

"My apologies, everyone. Ms. Hayes and Mr. Brooks had a small misunderstanding just now. Sorry for interrupting the evening. Everything's been resolved, so please continue enjoying yourselves."

Clara let out a cold laugh, her gaze sharp and indifferent.

"Who gave you permission to speak for me? I said get out."

Unable to bear the tension any longer, someone stepped forward to calm Clara down.

"Ms. Hayes, you love Mr. Brooks so much. Don't ruin your relationship over a moment of anger. Whatever the problem is, you two can talk it out. There's really no need to take things this far..."

Clara glanced at the man trying to persuade her and let out a quiet sigh.

He wasn't wrong. Once upon a time, Clara truly had loved Ryan deeply.

Ever since she was young, Richard had always told her that the key to a happy marriage was finding a man who was loyal and devoted.

And when Clara met Ryan, she had fallen for him completely.

She loved the quiet restraint in him. The unwavering devotion he once seemed to have.

But all of it... had been fake.

"There's no problem between us."

Clara cut him off calmly. She looked directly at Ryan, her emotions already carefully restrained, her tone so composed it sounded as though she were speaking to a complete stranger.

"Mr. Brooks, I don't believe your company meets the entry requirements for this event."

Hearing that, Lily spoke up immediately in a wounded voice.

"Ms. Hayes, if my presence is upsetting you, then I'll leave. But there's no reason for you to insult Mr. Brooks or Brooks Group like this!"

Clara almost laughed as she looked at Lily.

The only reason Brooks Group had ever been allowed into events like this was because Clara herself had permitted it.

And now, simply stating the truth was somehow considered an insult.

Some people, once placed too high above the ground, truly forgot what they originally were.

"I'm not insulting anyone. Your qualifications simply don't meet the standard. I'm only stating facts."

Ryan practically roared in anger.

"Clara! What the hell is wrong with you? If you insist on acting like this, then don't ever beg me to attend another event for you again! And forget about marrying me!"

The moment Lily heard those words, satisfaction flashed openly across her face.

For the first time, she felt as though she had finally stepped over Clara and crushed her beneath her feet.

She waited eagerly for Clara to break down, to beg, to humiliate herself in front of everyone gathered there.

But Clara merely lifted her champagne glass and took a slow sip, her expression perfectly calm.

"Of course I won't marry you. And one more thing. Hayes Group will also be reclaiming every outstanding debt Brooks Group has owed us over the years."