Soon, everybody knew Brad had called off his engagement with me.

Unexpectedly, I was not beaten up.

However, I lost contact with my siblings, who were abroad, again.

I knew that was how my father always used to vent his anger.

He and my stepmother started searching the entire city for a suitable man for me to get married to. They wanted to marry me off to let the Young family remain wealthy.

However, nasty rumors about me gradually started spreading.

They said I had done many nasty things to make Brad happy over the years. They said I was damaged, and I could not even bear a child anymore.

Nobody in the capital city was willing to take in a woman like me anymore.

My father's temper got worse as days passed, and my life got harder and harder to endure.

Two months after Brad broke off his engagement with me, shocking news about him started spreading again.

They said he was about to get engaged again, and it was to Zoe. Brad even fought with his parents for her.

The group of people who loved drama deliberately sent me the news.

I knew what they wanted to see.

They were just too bored and were starting to miss the days when they had a clown like me by their side.

[Leah, I think Brad still likes you very much.]

[You must be having a hard time now, right? Why don't you go beg Brad?]

[He's quite a soft-hearted person. Just go and cry to him. If that doesn't work, just pretend to take your own life. He might just take you back.]

[How could Zoe compare to you, Leah? You're much prettier than her.]

I looked at the texts, and I did not reply to any of them.

I concentrated my efforts on getting ready to get married instead.

A week ago, I spent the whole night begging on my knees.

Finally, I got my father to agree to let me go to Clason City to get married instead of my sister, who had just come of age.

I had heard about James Blackwell, the heir of the Blackwell family from Clason City. He was ruthless, but he was incredibly powerful. He was the uncrowned king of Clason City.

However, his legs were crippled, and he had a violent temper.

Despite that, I was not afraid at all.

I was willing to do anything to escape the Young family and to give my siblings freedom.

Besides, I could not stay in the capital city anymore.

I might have a fighting chance in Clason City.

Before I got married, I went out for a meal with my best friend. When I went to the restroom, I bumped into Zoe.

She looked like a changed person.

She had gorgeous makeup on and was wearing a classic little black dress. She had a slender figure, and she looked flirtatious. She had a cigarette in between her luscious lips.

"You've heard, right, Ms. Young?" Zoe sneered as she looked at me. "Brad is going to be engaged to me."

I looked at her and suddenly thought of how bashful and innocent she looked when I first met her. For some reason, I could not help but sigh.

"Mmhmm... I heard," I replied.

Zoe's smile grew wider. "Are you dying of jealousy, Ms. Young? Rumor has it that you've terminated three pregnancies for him. I also heard you were willing to do all kinds of nasty things to make him stay and to marry him."

She leaned against the window. Her smile was mixed with disdain.

I glanced at her indifferently and said, "You've said it yourself, Ms. Spencer. It's just rumors. You and I are women. There's no need to start a rumor like this about me."

Zoe sneered. "Everyone in this city knows about it. How is it still a rumor?"

I did not want to waste my breath talking to her anymore, so I turned and left.

However, Zoe suddenly said, tauntingly, "Ms. Young, we may be women, but we're not the same. You have no self-respect. Did your mother not teach you that before she died?"

I stopped in my tracks.

I felt my blood boil at the mention of my mother.

I did not have the time to think and could not remain rational. I simply turned around and slapped her.

"Ms. Young—" Zoe was stunned. She immediately cupped her cheek and cried, feeling wronged.

"I know you're upset because Brad and I are getting engaged, but you can't slap me. I understand you're angry, but relationships can't be forced. It's not my fault that Brad doesn't like a loose woman like you."

She sobbed pitifully, but she was killing me with every single word she said.

"I know your mother passed away when you were young, and you had nobody to teach you. So, I'll let you off the hook this time, Ms. Young."

I gritted my teeth so hard that they were hurting. I raised my hand and wanted to slap her again.

However, Brad grabbed my arm with all his might.

"Leah, apologize to Zoe," he ordered.

"I won't apologize," I replied.

I straightened my back. My face and lips were pale, but my reddened eyes were bright.

Brad was taken aback.

Over the years, he had seen me being innocent and obedient. He had also seen me crying hysterically as I harassed him.

I had been naive. I had been seductive. I had cried, smiled, and thrown tantrums in front of him.

However, I had never been as calm and cold as I was then.

He pushed Zoe aside, and he walked up to me indifferently. "Leah, I'm giving you one last chance. Apologize to Zoe."

I looked right at him, and I suddenly laughed.

My laughter was resolute. It was like I was risking everything. "Brad, I told you. I won't apologize. Over my dead body—"

The sound of a crisp slap echoed through the empty hallway.

Brad seemed to be stunned as well after the slap.

Zoe's hand was on her face, and her eyes were widened. She was in a slight disbelief as well.

Everyone but me was taken aback. I raised my hand slowly and cupped half of my face that was hurting. Tears started welling in my eyes.

"Leah—" Brad subconsciously took a step forward, but I immediately stepped back.

He was going to reach out, but he put his hand down again. His expression turned cold again as he said, "Leah, you brought this onto yourself. I wouldn't have raised my hand to you if you apologized just now."

Brad's voice was deep and a little husky. "You know it—I don't hit women. We've been together for years, and I've never laid a finger on you. You shouldn't have slapped Zoe today. I like her. It's not her fault. Leah, just stop. Have some self-respect."

He had always been a man of few words. He had never said that much before.

However, I heard none of it, not a single word.

Tears welled in my eyes. I did my best to hold them back, but I failed.

At last, tears started streaming down my cheeks like they would never stop.

Brad's hands were clenched into fists. His eyebrows were furrowed tightly as well.

Zoe walked up to him and said, "Forget it, Brad. Let's go."

Brad held her hand, but his eyes were still on me.

"Leah, stop trying to give Zoe a hard time. Don't appear before Zoe and I again, either. This is my final warning to you."

He did not take Zoe away after he said that. He just stared at me as if he was waiting for my answer.

However, I said nothing. I just lowered my head a little. It was as if I was trying to shed my lifetime of tears in one go.

After half a minute, Brad left with Zoe.

Right as he turned around, I said softly, "Alright. I'll never appear before you and Zoe again for the rest of my life."

Brad stopped in his tracks for a moment, but it did not take long for him to walk forward with Zoe again. He did not look back, not even once.

Zoe, however, turned around and glanced at me. There were tears in her eyes, but she also had a smug smile.

I put my hand down slowly.

'This is great,' I thought.

I had been entangled with Brad for five years. The love and hate I had for Brad that were almost etched in my bones had finally been eliminated once and for all.

I could leave for good without any distractions and anything to hold onto.