For the third time, I smelled men's perfume on my fiancée. It was identical to the one her male assistant often wore.

For the third time, I caught the faint scent of men’s cologne on my fiancée. It was unmistakably the same fragrance her male assistant always wore.

Deep down, I knew—Selena Hart had probably fallen for another man.

I didn’t hesitate. I called off our engagement that very night.

Tearfully, she swore she would sever all ties with her assistant, love only me, and make things right.

Because of our long history together, I decided to give her one last chance.

Three days later, Selena attended the Autumn Festival Banquet dinner in full view of everyone—pushing her male assistant’s wheelchair.

When I confronted her, she screamed for the entire hall to hear.

“Ethan Cole, you might have used your tricks to get me, but you’ll never win my heart!”

“Lucas loves me! Even if you break his other leg—or even kill him—he’ll never leave me!”

“For love, we have no regrets!”

The entire audience gasped in shock.

To them, I instantly became the villain—a cruel, heartless man who had forced a woman into marriage and crippled her lover.

Under the weight of their condemning stares, I simply smiled.

If they wanted a monster, then I would be one.

——

After Selena’s hoarse outburst, the grand hall fell eerily silent. The crowd’s earlier confusion quickly turned to disgust.

“I never thought the Cole family’s young master would be this kind of man…”

“Force a marriage and break someone’s leg? That’s barbaric.”

“Looks can deceive. The Cole family may be rich, but their heir is rotten inside.”

“No wonder Selena lost control. She’s suffered too much…”

The whispers spread like wildfire.

Expressionless, I stood still, my gaze sweeping coldly across Selena and Lucas Grant—the pitiful figure in the wheelchair before her.

Selena, emboldened by her own performance and the crowd’s sympathy, gripped the wheelchair tightly. Her eyes shimmered with tears, her expression the very image of tragic devotion.

Lucas Grant played his role perfectly—his pale face full of pain, his trembling voice barely holding back fear.

“Young Master Ethan,” he said weakly, “this is my fault. I couldn’t help falling in love with Selena. She’s innocent…”

“Please… have mercy. Spare the Hart family. Spare her.”

He took a deep breath, straightened his back, and continued with feigned courage.

“If you’re still not satisfied, then come at me alone.”

“If you want to beat or kill me, I’ll accept it—but don’t make things hard for her.”

His pitiful self-sacrifice stirred even more sympathy from the onlookers.

People murmured in admiration of his so-called bravery, and others sighed in pity for Selena’s supposed suffering.

And all their anger turned to me—the Cole family’s heir, a cold and domineering man who trampled on love and used power to destroy others’ happiness.

Selena wept and clung to Lucas. “Lucas, stop! Don’t do this for me! If we die, then we die together!”

What a touching performance—so moving that even though I almost believed it.

If I weren’t the betrayed fiancé standing in their shadow, I might have applauded their grand, star-crossed romance.

Instead, I laughed.

The sound was sharp, echoing through the suffocating air. Everyone turned toward me, uneasy and silent.

“Coming after you?”

I repeated his words slowly, my tone even, yet colder than ice.

“Lucas,” I said, meeting his eyes, “who do you think you are? Do you really believe you’re worth my attention?”

"Lucas, who do you think you are? Are you worthy of my dedicated attention?"

I took two steps forward, my gaze sliding past him and fixing directly on Selena.

“Selena,” I said evenly, “three days ago, you swore before me that you’d cut ties with this man and begged for my forgiveness. You cried then, too.”

I tilted my head slightly. “Tell me, are your tears more sincere now? Or do they just look better in front of an audience?”

Her face blanched, her eyes darting nervously.

Then, as if finding courage, she clutched Lucas tighter and screamed, “Ethan! That’s enough!”

“You forced me back then! I was scared you’d hurt Lucas!”

“Now I finally understand—running away won’t solve anything. You’ll never let him go!”

“You just can’t stand that he and I truly love each other!”

“True love?” I echoed with a cold smile. “So your version of ‘true love’ is to parade your lover in a wheelchair, begging for sympathy?”

“Is this what you call protecting him?”

I gave a short, humorless laugh. “Seems your love comes pretty cheap.”

“You—!” Selena trembled with fury.

Lucas caught her hand and murmured gently, trying to calm her before looking up at me again.

“Mr. Cole,” he said, his voice soft but trembling, “I know you despise me.”

“I ruined your marriage with Selena. I’m sorry. If you want revenge, I’ll take it.”

“You can insult me, hurt me—whatever you wish. But please, don’t twist Selena’s feelings. She truly cared for you once.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You keep saying I forced her into marriage. That I’m cruel, ruthless…”

I paused. My gaze sharpened, voice dropping to a chilling calm.

“Since I’ve already been painted as the villain, wouldn’t it be a waste not to live up to everyone’s expectations?”

I took another step forward, closing the distance between us.

Lucas stiffened, instinctively trying to retreat—but the wheelchair held him in place. Selena rushed to block me, her voice trembling. “W-What are you going to do?”

“In front of everyone, do you dare hurt Lucas?”

“Relax,” I said lightly. “I won’t touch him—not yet.”

My eyes drifted to his cast leg. I smiled faintly. “A broken leg, huh? Make sure you take good care of it.”

I let my tone turn sharp, deliberate. “You’ll need it for the long road ahead.”

“Or maybe,” I added softly, “you won’t—depending on where you’re headed.”

Their expressions froze—hers pale with fear, her rigid with confusion. I ignored them both, as well as the whispers rippling through the crowd, and walked out of the hall without looking back.

The night air outside was cool, the murmurs inside fading as I reached my car.

Just as I started the engine, my phone buzzed. Selena’s father.

“Ethan,” his voice came, low and weary. “Selena… her mother and I spoiled her. She’s always been willful.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that tonight. On her behalf, I apologize.”

He hesitated, expecting a courteous reply.

I stayed silent.

He cleared his throat, his tone shifting—gentle at first, then probing.

“But Ethan, no matter how angry you were…”

“You shouldn’t have had someone break Lucas’s leg.”

“That was too much. If word spreads, it won’t look good for the Cole family, will it?”

A short, cold laugh escaped me. “Uncle Hart,” I cut him off, “which eye of yours saw me order that?”

There was a pause on the line—then his voice rose, laced with righteous certainty.

“Who else could it have been but you?”

“Come on, Ethan. Everyone knows. Lucas and Selena had just grown close when it happened.”

He scoffed. “No one’s stupid.”

I laughed—a sound stripped of warmth. “Alright then. Since Richard has decided I’m guilty, I’ll accept the blame.”

“Not just that one leg—I’ve already reserved Lucas’s other leg too.”

“Make sure he gets used to the wheelchair early.”

“You—!” Richard Hart’s polite facade finally cracked, his voice rising with anger. “Ethan! Must you really make things this ugly?”

“We’ve been family friends for years, and you’d destroy it all for an outsider?”

“Yes.”

My answer was crisp and firm.

“Uncle Hart,” I said coldly, “since your family has chosen your side, I’ll respect your choice.”

“From now on, all pretenses are gone.”

Two years ago, during a Cole family banquet, Richard had personally invited my father and me for a private toast. After a few flattering remarks, he brought up a long-forgotten verbal promise—an engagement arranged between my late grandfather and Mr. Hart.

At the time, the Hart family was in decline, and the matter had been quietly set aside.

That night, Richard spoke with careful humility, emphasizing the old bond between our families.

“Mr. Cole, I know it’s bold of me to bring this up now,” he said, his tone deferential.

“But the old man’s greatest wish before he passed was to see Selena’s happiness secured.”

He sighed heavily, stealing glances at my father’s face.

My father, who valued his word and my grandfather’s legacy, was moved.

“Richard, you’re being too modest. Since this was the old man’s wish, it’s only right that we, the younger generation, fulfill it.”

When I later met Selena, I agreed to the engagement.

From that moment, the Cole family began fully supporting the Hart family.

The struggling Hart Group was pulled from the brink brink—receiving huge contracts, easy access to financing, and connections that opened every closed door.

In just two years, the company soared like a rocket, eventually going public and securing its place among the city’s elite.

Richard, once a small-time businessman eager to please everyone, became the confident chairman of a listed company.

As for Selena, I treated her as any fiancé should.

She adored jewelry, especially the work of a particular European designer. So, for her birthday, I reached out to that designer directly, commissioning a custom diamond necklace and earrings—a six-month project, one of a kind.

That night, she was the center of attention among her friends, basking in admiration.

For two years, at business dinners or private events, I gave her the respect and attention she wanted.

Once, a young heir from another wealthy family made a crude remark about her. I didn’t hesitate—I slammed him to the ground in front of everyone.

From that day on, the entire circle knew Selena was mine. No one dared show her the slightest disrespect.

I used my name, my influence, and my patience to lift the Hart family up—and used my sincerity to please her.

Yet this was the return I received: betrayal, perfectly rehearsed lies, and public humiliation.

When I returned home, I called my father. Calmly, I recounted everything that had unfolded that night—including Richard’s shameless accusations.

He was silent for a long moment before speaking, his voice steady.

“The Cole family doesn’t bend.”

“If the Hart family has made their choice, then so be it. Do what needs to be done.”

“I’ll handle the rest.”

His words cleared away the end of my hesitation.

That night, I gave my orders.

Effective immediately—every partnership, contract, and deal between the Cole Group, its subsidiaries, and the Hart Group was to be terminated without exception.