His brow furrowed in irritation. “You were the one who insisted that you’d marry no one but Cole. When he finally agreed to marry you, you wanted to break up with him. I arranged the Holt match to secure your future, and you wailed like a banshee. Now, when Cole offers to take you back, you refuse again! What do you actually want?”

His words felt like a knife twisting in my chest.

I never imagined my own father would be so willing to throw me into the fire just to clear the way for his illegitimate daughter.

A bitter laugh escaped me as tears streamed down my face.

Just as my father was about to unleash his anger at my silence, his phone rang and broke the tension.

He answered it with visible irritation. When the caller introduced themselves, all color drained from his face.

“You’re the… the Holt family?”

A calm, authoritative voice said, “Yes. Congratulations, Mr. Theroux. Your daughter, Bethany, has been chosen by Mr. Vincent Holt himself. Someone will be delivering the wedding gifts shortly.”

My father stared ahead in disbelief. His voice trembled as he asked, “T-This isn’t some kind of mistake, is it? You’re sure he picked my daughter?”

The reply was sharp and brisk. “Mr. Theroux, this was a personal decision made by Mr. Vincent himself. There are no mistakes. But if your family intends to treat this engagement as a joke, be prepared to face the consequences.”

At that, cold sweat broke out across my father’s forehead. He forced out a shaky smile.

“No, no, I was just overjoyed by the news! We’re honored! Truly! Our family will cooperate fully with the arrangements!”

The call ended. His phone clattered to the floor.

His face darkened as he pointed at me and shouted, “You stupid girl! If you hadn’t broken up with Cole, we’d never have attracted the attention of the Holt devil himself! That’s the man who threw his own father into prison. If you think marrying into that family means a life of luxury, you’re being delusional!”

As soon as he said that, his hand, with its veins bulging, swung toward me.

I did not flinch. “Dad, what do you think Vincent Holt will do when he finds out someone laid a hand on his fiancee?”

His face flushed a deep red with rage, but the fear of crossing the Holt family made him hesitate. He pulled back his hand.

“Fine! We’ll see what game Vincent is really playing!”

With that, he stormed off and slammed the door behind him.

I stood frozen in place.

Cole’s betrayal, my father’s manipulation, and a marriage I could not see the end of…

The weight of it all crashed over me.

Half an hour later, a chauffeur from the Holt family arrived with a group of servants who carried in eight sandalwood chests.

Each one was filled with exquisite and rare jewels.

“Miss Bethany, these are but the first of Mr. Holt’s wedding gifts.”

His words sent a jolt through me.

I had assumed the engagement would be a quiet, perfunctory affair, but I had not expected that they would make such a grand display.

Not long after, footsteps echoed down the staircase.

Cole descended with Lulu clinging to his arm. They were stunned when they saw the sandalwood chests wide open in the foyer.

They were clearly unaware of what had just taken place.

Lulu deliberately tilted her neck to display fresh hickies as she sniffled against Cole’s chest.

“Oh, I envy you, Bethany! You’re marrying your true love with such splendor. Unlike me… I can’t even provide my child with a legitimate status.”

At her words, Cole shot me a smug glance.

“Bethany, just days ago, you were sobbing about breaking up. And now, you’ve prepared a wedding gift? Couldn’t wait to be my wife after all, huh?”

Then, he turned to Lulu affectionately.

“My family has more than enough of this stuff. Let’s just give it all to Lulu.”

Lulu covered her mouth and feigned surprise.

“Bethany, you’d really give me all of this?”

Before I could speak, Cole chimed in, “Consider it our baby’s welcome present.”

“I couldn’t possibly…”

Before I could respond, she turned to order her bodyguards. “Take these to my villa. Be careful, there shouldn’t be a single scratch.”

The villa had been a gift from Cole just last month, supposedly for the baby.

In moments, the eight sandalwood chests were whisked away.

I had not uttered a single word the entire time.

As she turned to leave, Lulu cast one last taunting glance in my direction. Her hand brushed gently over her round belly.

I leaned against the wall with a sneer as I pondered something.

What price would Vincent Holt, the man they called “the Devil,” exact when he learned his wedding gifts had been stolen?

My father returned home in the evening after failing to glean any information from the Holt family. He paced the living room with his phone clenched tightly in his hand.

He wanted this alliance desperately, yet the stories of Vincent’s ruthlessness slithered through his mind like poison. What if he ended up crossing him?

Then, suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, as if something had just occurred to him.

“Didn’t the Holt family say they were sending over some wedding gifts? Why aren’t they here yet?”

I shook my head. “No idea.”

A wave of relief washed over his face. “That’s actually a good thing. Maybe they’ve changed their minds. Families like ours were never meant to reach that high. Maybe it was a misunderstanding.”

Muttering to himself, he suddenly turned and fixed his sharp gaze on me.

“In that case, you’ll do as you’re told and marry Cole.”

My face hardened. “Am I even your real daughter? Why are you so determined to marry me off to that cheating trash?”

“If it weren’t for the Brody family supporting us all these years, the company would’ve gone under a long time ago. Cole wanting to marry you is a blessing you don’t deserve. Who do you think you are that you get to be so picky?”

“So, in your eyes, I’m just a bargaining chip to win over the powerful?”

That hit a nerve. He flushed with anger and yelled, “Enough! You know nothing! Why do you think I’m humbling myself in front of the Brody family? I’m doing it for our family!”

“If you really respect the Brody family that much, why haven’t you told Cole that I caught Vincent’s eye?” I scoffed.

My father’s face twisted further in rage. He raised his hand to strike me.

“You ungrateful girl! Do you want to destroy this family?”

The door suddenly swung open. My father’s hand stopped midair.

Lulu walked arm-in-arm with Cole. Her diamond bracelet glinted under the light as she held up her wrist and said in a sweet, chirpy voice, “Daddy, do you like my new jewelry?”

I recognized it immediately. It was picked straight from Vincent’s wedding gifts.

My father’s anger vanished in a flash. “Gorgeous! You look beautiful in anything, honey!”

His face was practically glowing. He was clearly thrilled by Cole’s generosity. Cole’s generosity meant the Theroux family’s coffers would stay full.

I stood at the side with arms crossed and watched in silence. Then, Cole turned to me and held out a plastic beaded bracelet.

“Lulu picked this out for you when we were shopping today. You will wear it at the wedding.”

Lulu added with a hypocritical smile, “I hope you like it, sis! It’s not expensive, but it comes from the heart.”

Things like these did not faze me anymore.

When Lulu wanted something, my father and Cole would bend over backwards to get it for her.

Whatever she did not want always ended up with me.

Once, I would have made a scene and accused them of playing favorites, but not anymore.

I calmly took the bracelet and looked Cole in the eye. “As you wish.”

I let them think I had surrendered.

Even if marrying into the Holt family turned out to be a torment, I would make sure they tasted the flames first.

Seeing my reaction, my father assumed I had finally agreed to marry Cole. He brightened up at once. “See? Isn’t it better when you behave? After you marry Cole, you can help take care of Lulu and the baby. I’ll finally have some peace then.”

Lulu’s eyes welled up with tears. “I won’t upset you again, Bethany! I just hope you will accept me and the baby.”

Cole’s arm tightened protectively around her waist.

“Lulu has been having terrible morning sickness lately. I’m taking her to the villa on the outskirts. It’s quieter there and is far better for her pregnancy.”

Before leaving, he shot me a warning glance.

“No more games. Just focus on getting ready for the wedding.”

I did not respond.

After they left, my father’s face darkened again.

“No matter how nice Cole is to Lulu, he’s only doing it to repay her kindness. So, stop throwing tantrums and acting out. Lulu is carrying his child, and you’re going to marry him like you always wanted. Both of you will have the Brody family’s protection. That’s more than most people could ever hope for. Be grateful!”

I sneered. “You seem awfully sure I’m going to marry Cole.”

“What does that mean? Don’t tell me you still think you’re marrying Vincent Holt!” My father’s face turned stormy.

Then, he let out a scornful chuckle.

“Even if you really wanted to marry that cripple, it wouldn’t matter. The Holt family is clearly playing with you. If they were serious, the wedding gifts would’ve arrived by now. Let me make this clear once more: marrying Cole is your only option.”

With that, he shot me a glare and turned upstairs.

The wedding day arrived before long.

I was in my room getting my makeup done when Cole walked in with Lulu, who was draped in glittering jewels from head to toe.

Lulu said in a wounded tone, “Bethany, you’re not wearing the bracelet I gave you. Do you not like it?

Cole glanced impatiently at his watch, then snatched the bracelet and tossed it at me.

“Lulu gave you a gift. Instead of being thankful, you’ve got the nerve to turn your nose up at it. Just put it on! This wedding is just a formality anyway. Who are you getting all dolled up for? Come on, let’s just get it over with. I’ve got to take Lulu to the prenatal class after the wedding.”

I was just about to speak when my father’s furious voice barked from behind me.

“What are you dawdling for? Do you think Mr. Brody’s time is yours to waste? Look at your sister. She’s pregnant and still thinking about you! Why are you putting on such airs? Stop acting out all the time!”

I said coldly, “My mother gave birth to one daughter. Don’t pawn your mistress’s child off as my sister.”

My father’s face twisted in fury. “You wretched—”

Before he could finish, his phone rang.

The screen flashed with a name that turned his blood to ice.

[Holt Corp.]

Cole frowned. “Mr. Theroux, who is it? Why aren’t you answering it?”

Finally, my father managed to pull himself together and fumbled to pick up the call.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Theroux, the bridal escort fleet will arrive in ten minutes. Is the bride ready?”

“W-what? Mr. Holt is really going to marry Bethany?”

“Mr. Theroux, are you senile? Mr. Holt personally picked Miss Bethany as his fiancee. You think it’s a joke?”

My father tried to say something but could not utter a word.

After the call ended, Cole and Lulu, having clearly heard every word, stared in disbelief.

After a beat, Cole looked at me and sneered. “Bethany, you really expect us to believe the Holt family chose you?! Staging such a show just to get under my skin? You make me sick!”

Lulu quickly caught on. With feigned concern, she said, “Even if you wanted Cole’s attention, this is too much. If the Holt family finds out you dragged their name into this, you could take our family down with you!”

I rose to my feet and tossed aside the cheap bracelet she had given me. I said icily, “You might want to worry about yourselves first. Stealing the Holt family’s wedding gifts is not exactly a small offense.”

The disdain on their faces was clear as day because they were convinced that I was bluffing. They did not take my words seriously.

The look on my father’s face, however, was another story. His face cycled from pale to livid. He did not even notice as his phone slipped from his hand.

When I brought up the wedding gifts, it was like something clicked in his mind.

His eyes widened in panic as he snapped, “What wedding gifts? When were they delivered? What do you mean, they were stolen?”

I crossed my arms and met his gaze with calm indifference.

“Maybe you should ask your precious illegitimate daughter and the golden boy you’ve been groveling to.”

That was when their faces turned livid, too.

I did not want to get involved. So, I brushed past them and walked out.

I ignored the shouting and insults that trailed behind me.

As I left the house, a fleet of black luxury cars lined the driveway with bodyguards standing on either side.

At the center of it all sat Vincent in a wheelchair. He radiated an air of cold authority.

The trio who had chased after me skidded to a halt at the scene. Their faces were slack with horror. They froze in place in utter shock and were rendered speechless.

Then, in perfect unison, the bodyguards bowed to me. “Welcome, Mrs. Holt!”