Audrey's POV

I was the sole heir of my family. But I was a woman.

Everyone said the three foster husbands my father chose for me are the true heirs. Yet none of them has ever even looked me in the eye.

I’d tried countless times to get Melvin Butler’s attention—flirting, reaching out, anything—but all I ever got in return were cold, disdainful stares.

At first, I thought he treated all women like this. Then I saw it with my own eyes.

He knelt before Addison Dolton, the chauffeur’s daughter, and promised, “I only agreed to marry Audrey to repay the Rodgers for raising me. Once I take control of the company, I’ll give you a grand wedding. If she doesn't lay her hand on you, I’ll leave her a few million to live abroad comfortably. That's how much I love you.”

The day before the board meeting, my father asked me who I had chosen.

I thought of those three men and the way they always avoided my gaze. Then I smiled and said, “I’m the heir of our family. Marriage should be about maximizing benefits. So, I’ll choose Luke Davidson from the Washington, D.C..”

My father frowned. “Luke’s been paralyzed since a car accident five years ago. He’s not just in a wheelchair, he can’t… function as a man. Are you sure?”

——

I nodded and in a soft but steady voice I replied, “In our world, there’s no such thing as true love. If it’s all about power anyway, then I’ll pick the one who offers the most—Luke’s family.”

My father’s expression turned grim. “I understand your reasoning, but out of the three foster sons I raised for you, none of them caught your eye?”

My father loved my mother deeply. But she died of a brain hemorrhage the same year I was born. He never remarried. Still, he couldn’t bring himself to hand over our entire company to a woman.

So, on a friend’s advice, he adopted three boys from an orphanage—boys with no family, no ties. He even wrote a will early on, saying whichever of them I chose would co-lead the company with me and keep the other board members in check.

My father loved me, yes—but that didn’t mean he believed a woman alone could hold up our legacy.

I looked him in the eye and firmly said, “Luke might be physically disabled, but we can still have children through IVF. And he’s the sole heir of the Davidsons. Wouldn’t it make more sense to ally with a powerful family than gamble on orphans?”

Finally, my father nodded. “If those three couldn’t win your heart, then they have no place at Rodgers Corp.”

The truth is, it wasn’t just because Melvin didn’t love me. I just didn’t want to force anything.

If I had told my father just how Melvin treated me, he would’ve made him kneel in front of me and asked what right a foster son had to refuse his daughter.

I didn’t want to use years of gratitude as a weapon against him. I didn’t want to make him marry me out of obligation. And I definitely didn’t want to end up in a loveless marriage full of resentment.

Especially after hearing those sweet words he spoke to another woman, my heart had completely gone cold.

Letting him go without a fight was the kindest thing I could offer.

As I walked out of the office, my father gave Melvin a sideways glance.

After sending my father off like an obedient son, Melvin turned to me, scowling. “What did you tell him this time?”

His eyes were filled with disgust, like I had committed some unforgivable crime.

Before I could even respond, Gerald Pearson sneered from the side. “What else could it be? Probably whining that the three of us ignore her and don't spoil her enough.”

Darren Richards, the third one, looked just as disdainful. “Come on, Miss Rodgers. We're not in a kingdom. You think just because you’re rich, you’re some kind of princess? That everyone’s supposed to orbit around you?”

The three of them stood united, their words sharp and cutting.

I stared at them, completely baffled. “None of you want to marry me. So why has no one ever told my father?”

My father might have wanted to groom one of them as my husband, but he would never force anyone.

All they had to do was say no, and my father would’ve happily written them each a check and sent them off abroad to enjoy a carefree life.

Audrey's POV

At the end of the day, they still couldn’t let go of the wealth behind the Rodgers name.

Darren, the most hot-tempered of the three, snorted, “Oh please. That sounds nice and all, but let’s be real—us three? We’re just dogs you Rodgers folks raised. Since when did dogs get to say no?”

Melvin shot me a cold look and remarked, “If you’re going to pick me, then fine. Just don’t make things hard for the other two.”

That single sentence moved Darren and Gerald. You could see it in their eyes. Like he was some kind of martyr, sacrificing himself for the greater good.

But all I felt was bitterness.

Before I could say a word, Addison suddenly showed up.

The moment she saw me, she shrank back like she’d seen a ghost and practically dove behind Melvin.

Seeing her reaction, he instinctively stepped in front of her and said, “She hasn’t done anything wrong. Just let her go today, alright?”

I looked at the two of them in confusion until I realized something that made my chest tighten.

The three men who were supposed to be protecting me were now all standing in front of her, shielding her like I was the threat.

Five years ago, when Addison first arrived at our house, she gave me a simple hair clip as a gift.

I returned the gesture with a bracelet worth over tens of thousand as a welcome present.

But just as I was about to open its box, Melvin suddenly snatched it from my hands and snapped, “That clip is all she has left from her mom, and you’re trying to take it from her?”

I stared at him, confused, hoping Addison would speak up and explain that she gave it to me willingly.

But instead, she suddenly dropped to her knees, tears spilling down her cheeks like a pitiful porcelain doll, and said, “She didn't take it. I gave it to her myself. She’s always been kind to me. She even gave me a bracelet. I’m not upset, I promise.”

She banged her head against the floor as she spoke. The sight made the three boys tear up, as if they’d been reminded of their own miserable upbringing.

One after another, they lashed out at me like knights defending a helpless maiden.

“Even if you’re the Rodgers’s heirress, you have no right to force someone to give up their mom’s last keepsake!”

“Sure, the bracelet might be worth more, but it means nothing compared to that clip. Give it back to Addison right now!”

“Same old Audrey—always getting what you want, no matter who it hurts.”

Switching to serious expression, I tried to tell myself it was just a misunderstanding, that it could be cleared up with a little honesty.

Swallowing my pride, I handed the hair clip back.

But Addison fumbled it on purpose, causing it to fall to the floor and shattered instantly.

Then, she bit her lip, eyes full of rage, and shouted, “If you’d rather destroy it than give it back, why pretend in the first place?!”

Melvin had always hated seeing poor people bullied. So, he turned to me and sharpply threatened, “Apologize to Addison right now! Or don’t blame me for breaking off the engagement.”

At the time, I had already confessed to Melvin. I told him I wanted to marry no one else but him.

But he used that against me, cornered me into bowing my head and apologizing to Addison.

Back then, I was too young, too scared to lose someone I thought I loved. So I apologized with red, burning eyes and a heart full of shame.

And that apology haunted me for five whole years.

Since then, every time Addison saw me, she acted like a scared mouse. She’d either fall to her knees or burst into tears.

But the truth? I’d never even laid a hand on her.

I turned to Melvin, face icy cold. “If you’re so afraid I’ll bully your precious Addison, maybe you should just tie her to your belt and keep her there.”

It was sarcasm, plain as day, but Melvin’s brows knit together and countered, “Was that a threat? What are you planning to do to her?”

Darren clapped dramatically and pointed at me. “Don’t tell me this is about the 'Milky Way' thing. You’re mad because we gave it to Addison, and now you’re looking for an excuse to go after her?”

Gerald narrowed his eyes. “You already have everything. But Addison? No one’s ever celebrated her birthday, not even once. It’s just the Milky Way necklace, why make such a big deal out of it?”

My eyes turned cold. “Just the Milky Way necklace?”

Audrey's POV

The Ocean Deep wasn’t just any gift. It was an underground marine exhibit that had been under construction since the day I was born.

On its southeastern end, a rare patch of imperial green jade sat beneath the water. When the sunlight hit just right, the reflections shimmered like stars across a galaxy.

Six months ago, the project was nearly complete. My father entrusted the finishing touches to Melvin, asking him to officially present it to me during my upcoming birthday banquet.

But now, the Ocean Deep, something meant for me, had somehow become Addison’s.

I turned my gaze on Melvin. He was in charge of the final stages of construction. Without his approval, no one should’ve been able to access the unfinished site.

Caught under my stare, Melvin looked uneasy and turned away in irritation. “Addison grew up in the countryside. She’s never seen any marine exhibit, let alone something like this. I just wanted to give her a special experience. Besides, the ownership is still yours, isn’t it?”

Then he added, as if he were doing me a favor, “Stop being unreasonable. If it means that much to you, I’ll announce our engagement at your birthday party next month. Happy now?”

He looked at me like I should be grateful. For a second, I wondered if I was the one who’d been taken in.

What stung even more was that nobody else in the room thought anything was wrong. In fact, they all acted like Melvin was some kind of martyr.

“Why would you sacrifice yourself like that? Audrey is spoiled, arrogant, and downright cruel. Marrying her’s worse than becoming a monk,” Darren scorned.

Gerald even derided, “She’s probably over the moon now. Been dreaming of this for years.”

“Please, Melvin, don’t throw away your happiness for me! I’ll bow to Audrey, serve her like a slave. I’ll do anything!”

My throat felt dry, but I still managed to get the words out. “I’m not marrying you.”

Melvin’s eyes narrowed in disbelief while Darren and Gerald exchanged nervous glances, probably terrified I’d pick one of them instead.

I had grown up with these three, and now even they looked at me like I was some kind of burden. I suddenly wanted to get out of there before I cried.

I turned to leave, but Addison yanked my wrist, stopping me.

Her eyes welled up again, and just like always, she dropped to her knees.

“Please don’t be mad at Melvin,” she pleaded, her voice trembling. “The three of them were taken in by your family. We’re already lower than everyone else. If you’re upset that they gave the Ocean Deep to me, and you’re planning to tell Mr. Rodgers, then please...” she lowered her forehead to the ground, “...let me apologize.”

She started bowing, hard again and again. Before long, her forehead was red and bleeding.

Melvin immediately rushed to pull her up, his expression dark with fury as he turned to me.

“You say you don’t want to marry me? Then prove it. Don’t pick me when the time comes!” he snapped. “You're making things hard for me again just to get what you want. Now, you’re using this to force her out!”

I stared back at him, cold and calm. “I don’t know what you’re even talking about. But don’t worry, I have no intention of choosing you.”

I thought that’d be the end of it, but Melvin suddenly grabbed my wrist.

“If not me, then who? Gerald? Darren?” he demanded. “Darren’s leaving the country to study art. Gerald wants a free life. Isn’t ruining my future enough? Now you want to drag them down too?”

Suddenly, he let out a heavy breath, then softened his tone a little. “If you promise to stop targeting Addison, I’ll marry you. Let’s just stop this nonsense, okay?”

He looked exhausted, like I’d been tormenting him for years.

I looked him straight in the eye nad said, “Everything will go exactly how you want.”

If he didn’t want me and was only worried about Addison, marrying Luke would fix everything. I wouldn’t have to look at Melvin again.

I stayed away after that. I didn’t see him until the day of the banquet.

When he finally showed up, his face was like ice. Darren and Gerald were with him, and they didn’t look too thrilled either.

I frowned and turned to my assistant. “Didn’t I make it clear that I’m not announcing my engagement to any of them today? Why are they even here?”