After my 99th confession, my childhood best friend, Michael Leight, finally says yes.

I am overjoyed, believing that my years of unrequited love have finally paid off.

But when I walk past the pantry, I overhear him speaking tenderly to our family chef, Tahlia Duvey.

"Once I take everything from the Kingstons, I'll kick that idiot Ariel to the curb and throw us a grand wedding. Everything here will be yours."

My heart feels like a sword has been plunged into it.

That night, I storm into Grandpa's study and point at a photo of the Gordon family's heir—Charles, known for always keeping his distance from women.

"Grandpa! I want to marry him!" I announce.

"Grandpa, I've made up my mind. I want to marry into the Gordon family."

Grandpa's pen slipped from his hand, clattering onto the table in surprise at my sudden announcement.

"Nonsense! Aren't you and Michael getting along just fine? Charles has dedicated himself to the religion of Treyism, which requests him to keep his distance from women and renounce all worldly attachments. And he's his family's only heir."

I looked at Grandpa, my voice firm.

"The way I see it, it's better to choose one person who has renounced all worldly desires instead of one of the three greedy men I have to constantly keep an eye on. And this way, our family can keep its peace."

Grandpa, seemingly sensing something, asked, "Has Michael done something?"

Just then, Michael suddenly swung the door open, his face full of anxiety.

"Mr. Kingston Senior, Ari is just a little mad at me. I'll be sure to spend more time with her from now on," he said, looking wronged.

I coldly watched as he continued his act, not feeling anything inside.

Howard and Jeremy squeezed themselves into the room behind Michael, too.

"Ari, why are you throwing a tantrum?" Howard asked, pretending to be concerned.

Jeremy was even more direct. "I heard you wanted to marry that Treyist from the Gordon family? Stop joking. I bet he's never even touched a woman's hand before."

"Exactly. How can someone like Charles Gordon possibly be worthy of you?"

Michael took the chance to grab my hand. "Don't be stubborn, Ari. I know you're just testing my sincerity."

These three were only putting on a show in front of Grandpa. They certainly didn't treat me like this behind closed doors.

Michael Leight, Howard Wilkins, and Jeremy Zadinski were all underprivileged students whom Grandpa sponsored. Grandpa, feeling sorry for them, treated them like his own grandchildren.

Moreover, Michael was clever and good at making himself appear to be a great person, so Grandpa trusted him immensely. As long as I was willing to give my heart to Michael, he would immediately be Grandpa's grandson-in-law.

Grandpa, feeling unwell, cut us off.

"All of you should leave. Stop bothering me every time you have an argument—you're all grown adults!"

Though I was upset, Grandpa and I had relied on each other after my parents passed, and I couldn't ignore his health.

I had to come up with some other way to cancel my engagement to Michael without affecting Grandpa's health.

I had just stepped out of Grandpa's room when Tahlia Duvey coincidentally appeared in the hallway, carrying a steaming bowl of soup.

Her eyes were red, and she opened and closed her mouth a few times, looking hesitant to speak.

"Ms. Kingston, please don't be mad at Mr. Leight anymore. He really cares about you."

Her voice was as soft as a whisper, but just loud enough for everyone to hear her. She always made herself look pitiful like this, and as she walked toward me, her steps were shaky as if she might topple at any moment.

Sure enough, she suddenly let out a loud gasp, and the bowl fell to the floor with a crash.

Tears streamed out of her eyes, and she glanced over at Michael pitifully.

I watched this familiar scene unfold with cold eyes.

"Tally!"

Michael darted over and gently took her hand, clearly feeling sorry for her. "Why are you so careless? Were you scalded badly?"

His tone was so gentle, and it was one he had never used with me.

Tahlia bit her lip. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she stubbornly held them back.

"It's nothing, Mr. Leight. I was the one who was careless…"

Michael turned to look at me, his eyes full of reproach.

"Ariel, why do you always bully her? Look at how badly Tally's hurt."

At my last birthday, Tahlia had accidentally knocked over my birthday cake and gotten her clothes dirty. Without hesitation, Michael took off his jacket and draped it over her, and my birthday party turned into a stage for her performance.

The funniest part was that I had bought a necklace for her, intending for it to be a gift to recognize the work she had done.

Who would've expected Michael to confront me the very next day?

"Why would you humiliate Tahlia with something so cheap? She cried the whole night, saying that you did it on purpose!"

I couldn't defend myself, and he only berated me further.

Now, this woman was trying to pull the same trick again.

"Ms. Kingston…"

Tahlia, shoving her pain down, continued to put on her kind-and-understanding act as she said, "I know you love Mr. Leight, and the feelings between you two run deep. It's not something you can break off just because you say you want to."

Their gazes all fell on me, with Michael even looking a little smug. He assumed I would still obsessively cling to him like before.

I walked up to Tahlia and, with a voice that only the two of us could hear, said, "I heard everything you two said in the pantry. If Grandpa found out that his carefully mentored grandson-in-law-to-be has been fooling around with the family's chef, do you think he'd still allow you to stay in our home?"

Shooting Michael a cold glare, I said louder, "Keep a closer eye on her. Don't let her roam around and be an eyesore."

Michael leaped to his feet. "Ariel! Don't go too far! What did Tally ever do to you?"

Tahlia tugged on his sleeve, her eyes brimming with tears as she continued to look pitiful.

"Surely you're not feeling bitter about us wanting to give Serene Grove to Tally as a birthday present?" Jeremy taunted.

Howard chimed in, "Serene Grove may be the Kingstons' ancestral home, but it's been left empty for so many years. Tally doesn't have parents, so what's wrong with giving it to her so she has a place to live? You're so rich, and you have everything, so why be so stingy?"

I glared at Howard. "Serene Grove?"

That was my mother's favorite villa when she was still alive. It contained a garden that bloomed throughout all four seasons—one that she had personally grown and tended to.

Grandpa had promised that he'd give it to me as a wedding gift. And yet, they dared to set their sights on it?

Michael insisted, "That villa is empty anyway, and Tally likes her peace and quiet. She's just borrowing it from you—it's not like you won't get it back."

A scoff of disbelief escaped me. He was but a stray our family picked up, and yet he was brazenly coveting our property.

"Serene Grove was my mother's heart. Let's see which of you dares to touch it!"

Michael faltered at my glare, taking a step back.

Tahlia hid behind him as she sobbed quietly. "Mikey, I didn't know how important that villa was to Ms. Kingston—"

"Enough!" I snapped, cutting off her act.

Michael hurried to explain, "Ariel, it was just a suggestion. If you don't want to give it to her, then don't. Why yell at Tally?"

"Suggestion? Do you think my grandfather is an idiot? Or do you think I am?" I scoffed coldly.

Just as I turned to leave, I heard Tahlia comforting Michael. "Don't be mad, Mikey…"

Michael replied coldly. "Don't worry. Even without Ariel, I can still get what I want."

His words made my steps falter. Had they long been viewing the Kingston family as their prey?

…

At the engagement banquet, the guests all looked at me enviously as three excellent potential husbands stood next to me.

"Michael graduated at the top of his class from one of the country's most elite universities. Ms. Kingston is truly lucky."

"They're both talented and good-looking. The Kingstons have someone to carry on their legacy now."

But what no one knew was how much help I had secretly given for this alleged top graduate. I had been the one who had stayed up the whole night editing Michael's thesis for him.

I had believed my efforts would eventually win him over. How naive of me.

Halfway through the banquet, Howard suddenly stood up, a look of righteous anger on his face.

"Ariel! Where did you lock Tahlia up?"

The room erupted into chaos as the guests all exchanged looks.

I froze. What were they up to now?

Jeremy immediately backed him up. "Tally's been missing for three days. We have proof that you've been holding her captive!"

Michael looked at me, his expression heartbroken. "Ariel, I'd never thought you'd do something like this out of jealousy."

Before I could even defend myself, the doors to the banquet hall flung open, and in walked Tahlia. Her clothes were disheveled, and there were tear stains down her cheeks. Two deep gashes were also visible on her wrists.

The guests all gasped in shock.

"Mikey, I thought I'd never see you again…" Tahlia cried out, her voice trembling as tears poured out of her eyes.

Michael rushed forward and pulled her into his arms, his gaze filled with heartache. But when he turned to me, his expression hardened with resentment.

"Everyone, I'm making an official announcement today—I refuse to take Ariel Kingston as my wife!"

Even though I had already accepted that he held no feelings for me, hearing those words still cut deeper than I expected—I could hardly breathe.

Jeremy chimed in with a smirk, "Mr. Kingston Senior is severely ill and bedridden. Kingston Group needs a successor. If no one steps up to manage it, then it'll be in crisis."

Giving me a meaningful look, Howard added, "Ariel, smart people know how to read the room. You should know what to do."

Just as I wondered what scheme they were cooking up this time, Michael strode over to me arrogantly, tilting my chin up with his finger.

"If you sign an agreement that gives me full control of your assets after we get engaged, then I might just be convinced to accept you," he said, his tone filled with contempt.

Jeremy and Howard nodded in agreement. "Ariel, hurry up and thank Michael."

Still pretending to be heartbroken and with tears streaming down her face, Tahlia said, "Mikey, you don't need to sacrifice yourself for me…"

The guests whispered among themselves—some pitied me, but most of them looked at me with disdain.

I had never felt so humiliated in my life. Slowly, I stood up, and the whole room instantly fell silent.

A calm smile broke out over my face.

"I am indeed announcing my engagement today, but it's not to you. Don't flatter yourself."

My voice wasn't particularly loud, but it was enough to send shockwaves through the crowd.

Michael's smug expression froze instantly, while Howard and Jeremy exchanged uneasy glances. Even Tahlia's expression morphed from sorrow to panic.

At that exact moment, the doors to the hall swung open once more.

A strikingly handsome man wearing a white suit walked in. There was an ethereal air about him, and each one of his movements radiated a serenity untainted by worldliness.

"Isn't that the Treyist from the Gordon family—Charles Gordon?"

"Goodness! I thought he had withdrawn from society!"

"Rumors have it he'd long since renounced all worldly attachments. What is he doing here?"