Two weeks later, it was time for my engagement party with Edmond Hardy.

Edmond is the sole heir to Maltimum Enterprise. In the brief time we'd spent together over these past two weeks, I realized he wasn't as cold and distant as the rumors had suggested. Instead, he was humble, gentle, and genuinely attentive to me.

I didn't want an extravagant event for the engagement, and Edmond respected my wishes, so we decided to keep it simple and host it at our family's villa.

Even though it was a modest affair, my parents still invited some of the city's most prominent figures.

"After all, this is the engagement of our only daughter and the heir to Maltimum Enterprise. We need to have the proper display, or people will think I don't value this son-in-law! I'm so happy you and Edmond are getting together! Honestly, Edmond's much more presentable than those two fellas. Once you two marry, the company will be yours to manage, and your father and I will be waiting for grandchildren!"

After saying this, my mother rushed off to greet the guests.

I stared at the decorations around the house, lost in thought.

Before Vivian came into the picture, I was the center of attention to Zeke and Hendrick. On every holiday, big or small, they would never miss a chance to be there. No matter how expensive an item I wanted, they would buy it just to see me smile.

We'd even talked about marriage before. At that time, Zeke and Hendrick fought over who I would end up with.

Zeke had said boldly, "Trish is going to marry me!"

Hendrick wasn't intimidated either. "You're wrong! Trish is destined to be my wife!"

They were certain they would throw me the most extravagant engagement and wedding, making me the envy of everyone.

Back then, I was truly conflicted about whether I preferred Zeke or Hendrick.

But there was never a clear answer in my heart.

Now, fortunately, there was no need to choose.

Vivian was my junior, born into a poor family. I had pitied her for having come from a small town and working hard to get into university. During the autumn recruitment, I had offered her a job as my assistant at the company.

Knowing she didn't have many friends locally, I introduced her to Zeke and Hendrick, hoping she'd be happy to have some companionship.

What I didn't expect was that Vivian's intentions weren't just to make friends. She wanted to replace me.

Ever since she entered this small circle, Zeke and Hendrick had been determined to win her favor.

For Vivian's last birthday, Zeke and Hendrick spent an extravagant amount of money to buy fireworks to celebrate, even traveling to Ugonland to ask a retired artisan to make her a pair of ruby earrings.

When my birthday came around, neither of them even wished me a simple "Happy Birthday".

Looking back, the signs had been there from the beginning.

I changed into my dress and walked to the villa's entrance to join my mother in greeting the guests.

The people attending the engagement party were all local dignitaries. Once they learned that our family was about to form an alliance with Maltimum Enterprise, they were eager to butter us up, each gift they brought seeming more expensive than the last.

After all, who wouldn't want to climb aboard the Maltimum Enterprise ship?

Of course, there were also those who didn't like me, gossiping behind my back.

"Trish is suddenly getting engaged to the heir of Maltimum Enterprise... Could it be a shotgun wedding?"

"Wasn't she always hanging around with Zeke and Hendrick? How did she change so quickly?"

"With her looks and background, it's a miracle that Edmond even noticed her. My daughter's prettier than she is!"

"I bet Edmond's just playing around with her. They'll probably be divorced within a few months!"

"Ha! Let the Chambers enjoy themselves today. They'll be humiliated soon enough!"

My cousin, Payton Hilburn, who had grown up with me, couldn't stand it and was about to rush over to confront them, but I stopped her. "Let it go. A clean conscience has nothing to fear. Let them talk."

It turned out that those years I had spent tangled up with Zeke and Hendrick were seen as scandalous in the eyes of others.

I could only blame myself.

After escorting the guests to the banquet hall, Payton and I were heading to my bedroom to change into my second dress.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of the back door's keypad lock being disengaged.

I had only shared the code with two people—Zeke and Hendrick.

One winter, I had caught a terrible cold and wasn't recovering. Zeke and Hendrick had been frantic but didn't want to visit directly. So, they tried sneaking into my house by climbing over the wall, nearly getting caught by the police. That was when I decided to give them the back door code.

But this time, there was someone else with them—a smiling, demure Vivian.

"Trish!" Vivian greeted me, her smile sweet and innocent. She pulled a damaged diamond necklace out of her pocket, with a few stones missing.

"Trish, this diamond necklace was a gift for you," she said, her voice full of fake sorrow. "But I'm so clumsy that I accidentally broke it. It's still wearable, though. Hope you don't mind."

Vivian looked up at me with wide, pleading eyes.

I stared at Vivian, then glanced at the two men standing behind her, solid and unmoving, but said nothing.

Payton, however, couldn't stay quiet. "What's this? You're giving Trish a broken necklace?"

Vivian's eyes immediately reddened as she clutched the necklace tightly. "I'm sorry, Trish. It's my fault. Please don't be upset and stress yourself out. I'll make it right—I'll pay for the necklace. Please don't be angry with me."

I smiled at her. "Sure. I'll hold you to it."

A diamond necklace like that could easily be worth hundreds of thousands. How could Vivian, who came from a poor mountain village, ever afford to replace it?

Vivian's expression began to falter, and I could see panic flicker in Zeke and Hendrick's eyes.

"Alright, alright! Trish, stop making Vivian feel bad," Zeke said, his tone urgent. "We bought the necklace. She doesn't need to pay for anything!"

"Vivian's already upset, and you're pushing her like this," Hendrick added angrily. "Trish, what happened to you? Why are you treating Vivian this way?"

They both seemed so flustered, as if I were bullying Vivian.

Vivian looked around at everyone, lowering her head as she softly sniffled. "It's okay, Zeke, Hendrick. Don't be mad at Trish. I deserved that. It's all my fault. I'll do anything I can to make up for the necklace..."

Zeke pulled her into an embrace, looking at her with concern. "Stop saying foolish things, Vivian. You don't need to pay for it."

He shot me a glare, as if I were the one in the wrong.

Hendrick, equally furious, gave me an icy look. "Trish, why do you keep making things hard for Vivian? Are you really that bothered by how we treat her?"

I almost laughed, but the bitter frustration was enough to make me want to scream.

"I told you both before—I'm getting married. Please stop causing a scene at my engagement party."