Seeing me boil over with rage, Alden frowned.

"Letitia, look at the state of you. Hair a mess, face a fright. Where's the poise of a future Mrs. Delgado? Honestly, not fit to be seen. I'll have Evie teach you some manners later."

These past two years, the family business really had taken a hit from the international market and slipped from what it once was. My parents had handed the company to professional managers and gone off to travel the world.

I'd always preferred my quiet, and I only had the nanny come during the day, so right now it was just me at home. Otherwise I'd have had someone pin him down and give him the beating he deserved.

"Alden, if Evelyn's so wonderful, just marry her."

I sincerely hoped the two of them would end up together.

They really were a matched pair.

A scumbag and a snake. Just leave me alone.

Alden heard that and grinned.

"Look at you, jealous again. How many times do I have to say it? I only love you. Evie loves me, but I won't marry her. Just be a good girl and wait for me to come riding in on my white horse to make you mine."

A wave of helplessness washed over me. I didn't want to waste another word on him. I slammed the door shut and went back to my room to sleep.

Then I thought of how my parents had said they'd be back in a few days, that they missed their little granddaughter, and the corners of my mouth lifted.

Lying in bed, I got a message from my husband: "Home in three days."

Perfect. Once Alden met him, he'd finally stop hounding me.

The next day, Alden actually had someone deliver a ring.

A dark green luxury box, the brand name embossed in gold, everything about it whispering how expensive it was.

But I couldn't even be bothered to look.

I'd already worn a one-of-a-kind ring designed by someone's own hand. Who would care about a ring that didn't even fit her finger size?

As I was about to hand it back to Alden's assistant, I noticed a line the jeweler had engraved on the bottom of the box: "Wishing Ms. Simmons and Mr. Mason a lifetime of happiness."

A single line had been struck through it, changing it to Ms. Swanson.

I handed the box back to Assistant Fox without batting an eye.

"Assistant Fox, I'm afraid this was delivered to the wrong person. You'd better take this ring to Ms. Simmons. It's her size, after all. She'll be thrilled."

Assistant Fox rolled his eyes in contempt.

"Look here, Miss Swanson, there's a limit to throwing tantrums. Mr. Mason and Ms. Simmons are a perfect match, talent and beauty, made for each other. If you hadn't wormed your way in first, they'd never have split up. And now here you are, putting on airs."

Just as I'd thought. Like owner, like dog.

I shoved Liam Fox aside while he was still yapping and walked off briskly.

I'd gotten used to being driven around, so I couldn't be bothered to drive myself. I hailed a cab to my favorite spot nearby, a spicy Southern-style restaurant.

The moment I stepped out, I ran into Alden opening the car door for Evelyn.

He'd just finished saying, "Your carriage awaits, princess."

Then his eyes landed on mine, and he looked a little surprised.

"Said you didn't want the ring I sent, and yet here you are at Azure Manor. Letitia, you're such a hypocrite."

"I know you can't wait to discuss the engagement with me, but turning me down and then showing up uninvited is downright ill-bred. You mind me being with Evie, but she and I have known each other so long. When it comes to being together, where does that leave any room for you?"

I curled my lip, ignored him, and walked straight into Azure Manor.

Alden strode forward and grabbed my arm.

"Letitia, drop the vanity. I just saw you climb out of some cheap little car. Took a cab, didn't you? The Swansons went bankrupt, is that it? You can't even afford a decent runabout anymore?"

"It's not that I look down on you, but someone in your position surely can't afford this place. Quit the act. Don't expect me to cover the bill when you can't pay it later."

The business had taken a hit, sure, but I wasn't so far gone that I couldn't afford a single meal here, was I?

Just because I climbed out of an economy car, he'd decided my family had gone bankrupt?

I really wanted to crack open Alden's skull and see just how badly his brain had shriveled.

As calmly as I could manage, I said to Alden, "Are you sure that was walnut milk you drank and not straight-up battery acid?"

Alden's face broke into a delighted, smug smile.

"So you do still care about me. You even remember I love walnut milk, and you went out of your way to remind me not to buy a knockoff!"

"Since that's the case, it works out perfectly. I've turned the engagement dinner into a family get-together today, and Evie's here too. You can apologize to her in a bit. Given that your family's gone bankrupt, we'll skip the gift, and I'll help smooth things over when the time comes. You two can shake hands and make up!"

Watching Alden wear that face of pure entitlement, my appetite vanished completely.

Any interest I had in this meal was gone. I turned to leave.

A figure stepped into my path.

"Sis, you just got here and you're already leaving! Is it because of me?"

Evelyn wore a pink tweed skirt suit. Gone was the washed-out school uniform, and now she looked every bit the wealthy young heiress.

Her eyes were faintly red. She sniffled pitifully and went on.

"Sis, are you upset about the ring? You and Alden haven't seen each other in three years, and he bought it overseas. You know how he is, he was too embarrassed to ask for your ring size, so he used mine..."

"Don't blame Alden. Guys like him just don't think about these things. Whatever's between us is one-sided, only on my end. Alden's never once returned my feelings. He loves you. As long as I get to watch him be happy, that's enough for me!"

As she spoke, the tears spilled like beads off a snapped string, until she was gasping for breath.

"Don't cry, Evie."

Alden pulled Evelyn tight against him, his heart clearly aching for her. After murmuring a few soothing words, he fixed a frown on me.

"Letitia, I thought three years would've given you time to reflect, that you'd at least have reined in that temper. I never imagined you'd still be this domineering!"

"What exactly did I say?"

A smile stayed on my face as I met Alden's gaze, but my eyes were pure ice.

Alden froze, probably realizing I truly hadn't said anything, and only then did he soften.

"Letty, you grew up in comfort. Evie isn't like you. Her parents favored sons over daughters, and her family was poor, which left her insecure and sensitive on the inside. You may not have said anything, but your attitude wounded her all the same."

"Just apologize to Evie. Prove you don't hold anything against her. After all, once you marry me, you'll be her sister-in-law, and you should look after her like the little sister she is."

I let out a cold laugh.

"Who's her sister-in-law? My husband isn't you, so quit dreaming up relationships that don't exist, would you?"

"And her parents favoring sons over daughters is her parents' problem. Go take it up with them. Why drag me into it? And as for her family being poor..."

"Shut up!" Disappointment crossed Alden's face. "Letitia, if you still want to marry me, then pack away that arrogant, overbearing temper of yours!"

"Alden, I will not allow Letitia to set foot in our family! That temper is too much, more than the Masons can afford! You were so upset by her back then that you ran off overseas for three years. If it weren't for Evie by your side, your father and I would've been worried sick!"

"That's right, Alden, listen to your mother just this once! Everyone's seen how good Evie's been to you. She waited for you all these years. In our hearts, we've already settled on her as the Mason family's daughter-in-law."

"Letitia, stop pestering my son! If I were you, I'd be too ashamed to show my face here. You were the one who abandoned my son back then, and now you come crawling back to seduce him and ruin what he has with Evie. It's disgusting!"