Three years later, I finished my studies and returned home. As soon as I got off the plane, I saw Ryan in the crowd.

His eyes lit up when he saw me. He quickened his pace and walked towards me.

"Belle, it's been a while. How have you been abroad all these years?"

I glanced at him indifferently and curled my lips. "Great."

He heard that I used to be depressed and spent all day at home, and I went abroad to put the betrayal behind me.

He had thought that I'd complain bitterly when I saw him today.

To his surprise, I acted all cool. He wanted to apologize, but now, he simply didn't know what to say.

Seeing him standing in front of me stiffly, I was a bit impatient. I was about to bypass him and leave, but I was surrounded by my friends who showed up only now.

Everyone came to welcome me. They said that they had booked a restaurant for my return.

I figured that refusing them would make me look impolite, so I went to the private room of the restaurant together with them.

Not long after we sat down, I heard the sound of footsteps from the door of the private room.

Lara was standing outside the door. She was wearing a red dress that showed her cleavage and a pair of silver high heels. Her makeup was exquisite, and her curly hair was tied up in a bun. She looked very charming.

She was no longer a student. The current her was mature, sharp, and domineering. Her gaze swept over everyone present.

Ryan lowered his head as low as he could. Seemed that he wished he could vanish into thin air right now.

Lara sat down next to him very naturally. She patted him on the shoulder and said, "Why didn't you tell me about today's gathering?"

Ryan's body trembled, and he didn't say anything.

She looked at me. "Belle, I haven't seen you for a few years. You've become much prettier."

I smiled and retorted, "I haven't changed at all. I've been this pretty since I was a child."

At the same time, the waiter served the dish, which was a plate of fried shrimp that looked great.

I ate nothing but cold dishes when I was abroad, so I was greatly tempted by the fried shrimp. I picked up a few and started to eat.

As I ate, I felt something, so I looked up. Then I saw Lara stare at me without eating.

I lost my appetite at once. I asked her, "Why are you staring at me instead of eating?"

She clicked her tongue in disdain and said, "I don't like peeling shrimp. My mom said we women had to wait for men to peel the shrimp for us. Well, I won't ask for it. Now that there's no one peeling shrimp for me, I choose not to eat."

After that, she glanced sideways at Ryan next to her.

Ryan had just finished peeling a shrimp and was putting it into his mouth. Hearing her words, he stopped.

A friend next to him poked him and teased, "Aren't you a man? What are you waiting for? Peel for her."

Everyone couldn't hold back their laughter anymore and burst out laughing.

"If you want the shrimp, peel it yourself," Ryan said harshly with a blush.

Lara was embarrassed and said angrily, "Fine! If you don't wanna peel, then don't. I don't wanna be here to begin with."

After that, she picked up her bag, stood up, and left the room.

"Ryan, your woman is angry. Go apologize!" everyone in the private room teased him again.

Ryan said to me apologetically, "Sorry for ruining the meal. Gotta go."

After he left, my friends started to gossip.

They said to me.

"Belle, after you went abroad, Ryan always found some excuse to ask us about you."

"The second he knew you were coming back, he offered to hold a party to welcome you."

"Does he regret it and want to get you back?"

I shook my head.

That's impossible! He's a scumbag. Why would he want me back? I bet he just wanna see if I still have feelings for him.

If the answer is yes, he'll show his charisma and flirt with me when he has nothing better to do in order to kill time.

He just didn't expect Lara to find out about the party.

She came to ruin the party and made him lose face, so he treated her harshly.

Guess when they return home, he'll do anything to make her happy.

"Belle, it seems that you've grown a lot after going abroad for three years.

"You used to stay at home due to depression because of Ryan, but now you see things so clearly," one of my friends said.

I nodded. "I can only attract better men after loving myself."

My parents invested 10 million dollars in me, hoping that I could demonstrate what I had learned in those three years and run a photography company.

I had to do everything myself, including choosing the location, decorating, and construction. I was so busy.

After several comparisons, I decided to cooperate with Vince Riley.

We agreed to talk about the renovation plan in a cafe, but he showed up with Ryan.

I was very upset. I didn't understand why he had brought an outsider.

Noticing my gloomy face, Ryan hurriedly explained, "Don't blame Mr. Riley. I insisted on being here because I had a business proposal."

Hearing that, I calmed down a bit and listened to him patiently.

He said, "I've taken over the modeling company of the Gildon Group and can provide models for your studio for free. If my modeling company gets a photo shoot in the future, please send me your best photographer and give me a fifty percent discount."

I pondered and figured that it was a great deal.

The idols of the Gildon family's company were all good-looking and good at singing and dancing. Presumably, the models of Ryan's company were also outstanding with excellent performance.

I'm starting up, and I ought to save as much money as possible. If I can take great photos and attract many customers with the help of Ryan's resources, my company will have a bright future! Money is waving at me!

I have no feelings for him anymore, and though he embarrassed me at the engagement party, I've gotten over it.

There are only a handful of rich families in New York, and we're all friends with business cooperation.

If I refuse the Gildon family's olive branch because of what happened three years ago, it'll make me look bad. I should be forgiving.

A successful businessman or businesswoman should put profit first. Personal feelings aside, Ryan is a perfect business partner.

I immediately agreed to his proposal.

Then we came to his modeling company, and the male models had already lined up in a row.

I felt like there were so many of them.

Gee! They're all so handsome!

I was excited and overjoyed, as they were all outstanding. Ryan really had a good taste.

"My photography company has just started, and I have no idea what it'll become. You said you wouldn't charge me no matter what. If I fail, and you suffer from a great loss, then..." I warned him.

With a smile, he said, "Chill. I'm sure your company will thrive under your leadership."

I looked around and finally set my eyes on one of the models.

"Now is the female models' turn, right?" I asked Ryan.

His smile froze, and he said awkwardly, "I have no female models here. They were all fired by Lara."

I was shocked.

What kind of modeling company doesn't have any female models?

My company specializes in wedding photography. How am I supposed to do my promotional photo shoot without female models?

"Who says we don't have female models? I'm here!" A delicate female voice rang out.

Wearing a silver and dark print sheath dress that showed her sexy body, Lara walked to Ryan charmingly and took his arm.

She had been a model for years, and it seemed that her temperament had improved a lot. I had to admit I was quite impressed.

She said, "I've got no objection to Ryan working with you. But the most important thing in business is fair dealing.

"Tell you what? Ryan and I will be your models for free. But you must add his company's logo in your final work.

"And make sure the logo is big enough. Oh, and remember to put your final work in the most conspicuous place of your exhibition stand."

Everything had been going well, and she came out of nowhere, which annoyed me a lot. I even suspected that they had planned it in advance, for they wanted to play tricks on me.

I wanted to refuse her, but Ryan beat me to it. He said to me, "Stop messing around. I don't agree."

"I just wanna help. I'm not messing around!" she said in an aggrieved tone.

"I'm the boss here. I'm not a male model.

"And I'll only take wedding photos with the woman I love the most. I'll never do it for advertising."

With tears in her eyes, Lara said, "Aren't I the woman you love the most? We'll take wedding photos someday anyway. Isn't this a great chance? We might as well take it."

Ryan was at a loss for words and frowned.

I was a bit surprised when I heard Lara's words. Back then at the engagement party, Ryan introduced her to everyone that she was the love of his life.

He sounded so sincere, and his words were touching. I thought he'd marry her immediately after he dumped me.

But three years had passed, and they hadn't even taken wedding photos yet.