Sean rushed over, immediately pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the wine from Selena's face.

"I'm fine, Sean," she said, eyes red as she fought back tears. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have said those things and embarrassed Ms. Rowley."

Hearing her choked voice, Sean's eyes filled with concern. His breathing grew heavier, anger beginning to show. "It's not your fault. You didn't say anything wrong."

He then looked up at me coldly. "Louise, are you done causing a scene? This is an engagement party, not a place for your tantrums. Ms. White is a guest I invited, not someone for you to vent on. Apologize to her."

Apologize? I almost laughed from exasperation. The pain I'd just suppressed began to rise again.

"Sean." I forced myself to stay calm, though my voice still trembled slightly. "I didn't touch her at all. So, I will not apologize. And since she deliberately framed me, she should be the one apologizing to me."

Sean froze for a moment at my stubbornness, as if he had never seen this side of me before.

Just then, Selena suddenly pushed him aside and struggled to her feet. "Sean, don't argue with Ms. Rowley because of me. I was being insensitive and ruined your engagement party."

As she spoke, she took off his coat and placed it into my hands. "Louise, don't misunderstand. I've always been frail since I was young. That's why Sean takes extra care of me."

At that moment, Sean seemed to realize something. His expression darkened completely as he said, "It's just a coat. You went so far because of that? Louise, I don't even know who you are anymore."

With that, he tossed the coat onto me in front of everyone. "Since you want it so badly, take it. Wear it as long as you like." Then, he pulled Selena into his arms and strode away, ignoring the crowd.

All the guests turned to look at me. Some expressions were curious, some were mocking. But I felt nothing anymore. I simply took the coat in my arms and casually tossed it into a nearby trash can.

The night wind was cold, cutting straight through my skin. But I didn't want to shed another tear over him. For the sake of my child, who hadn't even been born yet and didn't deserve to feel this pain with me, I would be strong.

After the party ended, chaos broke out in the Benson family. The day's incident quickly reached the ears of Sean's father, George Benson.

George called Sean into his study and gave him an earful. "If Louise's father hadn't gone to prison in my place back then, do you think you would still be the respectable Mr. Benson that you are today?"

Sean's eyes were bloodshot as he yelled back, "That was your debt! Why should I be the one to repay it? Do you know how heartbroken Selena was the day we broke up? At that moment, I wished Louise would just die in an accident so all of this could end…"

Bang!

George grabbed a cup and hurled it at Sean. "Say that again if you dare! When you were kids, you followed Louise around everywhere like a lost puppy. And now, you're cursing her to die because of another woman?

"I'm warning you one last time. Go make things right with Louise. Otherwise, I can have you replaced as the Benson family heir at any time."

I stood outside, leaning against the wall. When Sean came out, blood was trickling from his head, and his eyes were red. There was a hatred in his gaze that I had never seen before.

So, all this time, being close to me was so painful for him. I let out a self-deprecating laugh.

Don't worry, Sean. It won't be long before I give you back your freedom.

Not long after I returned to my room, Sean knocked on the door and handed me a gift box. "I was impulsive today," he said in a flat tone, not even looking at me.

I gave a soft "Mmm" in response and took the box.

Seeing my indifference, he hesitated, then asked, "Have you changed the wedding invitations?"

I nodded. Only then did his expression ease slightly. He told me to get some rest before turning to leave.

I opened the box. Inside was a one-of-a-kind necklace—extremely valuable. Beneath it was a card that read, "Happy birthday, Selena."

I tossed the box aside. Then, I began drafting new wedding invitations. I changed the date and also the groom's name.

Just as I was about to send the invitations to friends and family, a notification suddenly popped up on my phone. It was a call from a bartender, saying Sean had drunk himself unconscious at a bar.

I hesitated for a moment, then braved the cold and rushed over.

But when I pushed the door open, Sean looked perfectly sober. A crowd had gathered around him. Standing among them, I saw Selena deliberately raise her voice toward me. "Sean, you should head back. If Ms. Rowley finds out you're here with me, she'll be upset again."

Sean didn't even look up. He said impatiently, "I'm not going back."

The others immediately burst into laughter. Someone couldn't help asking, "Sean, Louise grew up with you. You really don't feel anything for her at all?"

I stood at the entrance, staring at him through the crowd, waiting for his answer. This was the question that had been knotted deep in my heart all along.

Sean was silent for a moment, then let out a chuckle, his eyes turning cold. "She's just a woman who takes advantage of an old favor to force someone into marriage. What kind of feelings do you think I should have for her? It's good enough that I don't hold a grudge against her, considering the past."

At that moment, I finally understood. Sean had always thought that I was the one who pushed for this engagement. But the truth was, I hadn't known anything.

The others chimed in one after another.

"George is too soft-hearted. Repaying a favor is one thing, but he actually sent her straight into Sean's bed."

"No wonder she's clinging so tightly. After all, if she missed this chance, she'd never make it into our circle again."

Sean listened quietly, not rebutting.

Suddenly, someone laughed. "Sean, how about this? Once you get the shares, let us have some fun with her. We'll help you take care of her."

Sean slammed his glass onto the table and shot that man a cold glare. "I don't share my women."

The atmosphere instantly turned tense.

Sean looked away, then added casually, "If you really wanted her, you should've gotten to her before I did. It would've saved me a lot of trouble."

In that instant, the last thread holding me together snapped. But I didn't cry. I couldn't cry.

I simply pushed through the crowd. Under everyone's stunned gaze, I grabbed the bottle from Sean's hand, then smashed it hard against the floor.

Meeting my reddened eyes, Sean's expression darkened. "Louise, were you following me?"

For a second, I thought I had misheard. I hurled my phone at his chest. "The bartender called and said you were drinking yourself to death. That's why I came!"

Sean glanced at it. Then, the next second, he laughed mockingly and handed the phone to the person beside him. "Frankie, since when did you become a bartender?"

I froze. It was only then that I realized that I had been played again.

The man named Frankie looked at me with disdain, then said, "Ms. Rowley, I only called to say I couldn't make it to the wedding. When did I ever say Sean was drunk? A bartender? Your imagination is really something."

With every word he spoke, Sean's expression grew colder. He tossed the phone back to me. "The wedding is right around the corner. I don't have time to keep entertaining your shenanigans."

After that, he looked away, as if even sparing me another glance was too much.

The room fell into a tense silence.

Just then, Selena suddenly stood up, picked up a glass of red wine, and walked toward me. "Louise, it's normal to feel insecure before a wedding. But don't worry. I have no interest in someone else's husband."

She raised her glass and smiled faintly. "Here's a toast to you. Let's put all misunderstandings behind us."

Selena paused, then glanced at Sean, her tone soft beyond belief. "But you really shouldn't keep following Sean. He's been under a lot of pressure at work lately, and you…"

I poured the wine straight over her head and blurted, "Selena, are you done pretending?"

The crowd froze in an instant. Sean's expression changed as he grabbed my wrist. "Louise!"

His grip was alarmingly strong, causing pain to shoot through my bones. "Look at yourself right now. You're no different from a shrew!"

A shrew…

I laughed from exasperation. I was about to speak when he cut in again. "I saw it with my own eyes this time. Are you still going to deny it?"

At that moment, every word lodged in my throat. I didn't want to say anything anymore. Because the Sean who always stood by my side when we were kids was already long gone.

I shook his hand off and turned to leave.

"Stop." He stepped in front of me, held out a bottle of whiskey, and said coldly, "Drink it."

I didn't take it.

He didn't pull his hand back either. He added, "If you don't drink it, the wedding is off."

The room fell silent. No one had expected Sean to take it this far.

"Sean, forget it…" Selena hurried over, tugging at his sleeve, her voice soft and gentle. "You're about to get married. Don't make things so ugly because of me…"

Before she could finish, Sean shook her off coldly. His gaze locked onto me, dark and terrifying. He repeated, "I'll say it one more time. Drink it. Otherwise, on our wedding day, I'll leave you standing at the altar alone. Let everyone see just how pathetic you, Louise Rowley, really are."

I stared at him in disbelief, then suddenly laughed.

He was betting that I wouldn't give up this wedding I had fought so hard for. But he was wrong. I had already decided not to marry him.

So, I turned and walked away without looking back.

Just then, Selena suddenly rushed toward me and grabbed my sleeve tightly. "I'm sorry, Louise. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have disturbed you. Please don't be angry at Sean."

Disgust surged through me. I shook her off.

The force wasn't even strong, but she flew backward into the bar counter. A shattered glass pierced deep into her skin.

Sean's pupils shrank. When he looked up again, his eyes were bloodshot. "Hold her down."

Before I could react, his friends pinned me to the ground. His cold voice rang out beside my ear. "Make her drink that whiskey."

In that instant, panic settled in, and I blurted, "No! That alcohol is too strong! Sean, I'm preg…"

Before I could finish, the burning liquid flooded my throat, searing like fire. I was held down, unable to move. I twisted my head desperately, but the whiskey still spilled down my lips and chin.

It felt like my throat was being scorched. My vision darkened as I choked, forcing out the words, "Preg…nant… I can't drink…"

But the room was filled with laughter and jeers. No one heard me.

The people holding me down even laughed. "Begging now? It's too late."

As darkness closed in and I was about to lose consciousness, Sean finally spoke coldly. "Enough."

Only then did they stop. Someone grumbled in disappointment, "She barely drank anything. Are you going soft on her, Sean?"

Sean looked down at me, his eyes devoid of warmth. His tone was cold, almost cruel. "I'm not as heartless as she is. This is enough to teach her a lesson."

He then frowned at me lying on the ground, trembling in pain. "Stop pretending. I know you can hold your liquor."

But I couldn't move or even say a single word.

His patience ran out. "If you love putting on a show so much, keep going. But I don't have time to watch."

With that, he walked over to Selena and gently lifted her into his arms. "Let's go. I'll take you to the hospital."

As he stepped over my body, he said in a low voice, "Louise, behave yourself. I liked you better when we were younger."

As the crowd dispersed and the night ended, all that remained were whispers and mocking laughter. And half an hour later, the bartender's frantic call for help, and the distant wail of an ambulance.

My stomach burned like it was on fire. That pain brought back memories.

Because Sean didn't like the smell of alcohol, at every family dinner or business event, any drink meant for him ended up in my hands. That was how I built my alcohol tolerance. But what he never knew was that I hated drinking.

Every time, I would throw up afterward. The worst time, I was even sent to the ER.

He had long forgotten those memories from our youth. So, how did he still have the nerve to talk about "when we were younger?"

At the hospital, the doctor treated me urgently. When he heard I was pregnant, he was shocked. "Miss, how could a pregnant woman drink such strong alcohol? If you had come any later, the baby wouldn't have made it."

I said nothing. Once I was stable, I left.

Back at the villa, I went straight to my room. I burned everything to ashes—letters from when we were young, and every gift Sean had given me from age seven until last year. Then, I put the remains, along with the wedding ring, into a box.

Finally, I slipped into George's study and left a letter on his desk.

When I came out, I ran into Sean returning. Our eyes met. I looked away and walked past him.

He stiffened slightly, then instinctively grabbed my wrist. He took a few hangover pills from his pocket and placed them in my palm. "Louise, I lost my temper earlier. I was impulsive. But Selena is my friend. I couldn't just stand by and watch you hurt her."

I couldn't be bothered to say another word. I just murmured a response and closed the door. Then, I tossed the pills into the box as well.

The next day, Sean personally brought my wedding dress to my room and asked about the wedding details. I answered calmly as usual. And seeing how composed I was, he finally relaxed.

On the wedding day, he arrived at the church early, watching the bustling crowd with a complicated expression.

But even as the bells rang, the bride never appeared.

Impatient, he called me. "The wedding ceremony is about to start. Where are you?"

I looked at the long red aisle before me and chuckled softly. "I'm already here."