After seeing how calm I was, Lorraine's friends began panicking on her behalf.

"You've really gone too far this time, Lori. I think Cyrus is genuinely mad."

"You can't go back to the Jensen family, and now you've lost Cyrus as your boyfriend, too. How are you going to support yourself from now on?"

Lorraine brushed them off, not feeling the least bit worried.

"Why are you guys freaking out? Cyrus is nothing but a simp for me. Just wait and see. In less than three days, he'll come crawling back to me, begging me to take him back.

"Besides, I'm going to become a CEO in the future! Once that happens, all of the richest and most powerful people in Jannington will be dying to suck up to me."

Even as I walked away, I could still hear her confident boasting, and it made me laugh.

She was going to become a CEO, huh?

In my previous life, I was the one who put her in that position by investing in the company and clearing all the obstacles in her path. If it hadn't been for that, with that pea-sized brain of hers, she wouldn't even be able to work as a clerk in an office, let alone become a CEO.

Either way, Lorraine's life was no longer any of my business. I had something even more important to do.

The Lloyds and the Jensens had arranged a marriage between the two families, and when the Jensens found Lyra, they decided to let her marry me.

Today was supposed to be the day of our engagement party.

In my previous life, I chose not to show up at the engagement party because I'd decided to break the marriage alliance. I even left Lyra at the altar on our wedding day, making her the laughingstock of Jannington.

Yet, she didn't hold that against me. She even gave me the money to pay for my mother's medical bills, and when I became a homeless beggar, she graciously brought me home and took care of me.

To think that I'd shunned such a kind and gentle woman for a bitch like Lorraine… I was a foolish bastard, alright.

…

Even before the car came to a complete stop, I opened the door and dashed into the Jensen residence. As soon as I opened the door, I heard a steely voice saying, "Dad, I don't want to marry Cyrus Lloyd."

I tripped over my foot and nearly fell flat on the floor. There was no way I'd fail to recognize that voice. It belonged to Lyra.

My eyes misted over, and I felt a pang in my heart.

Memories of the previous life flooded through my head.

When Lyra first brought me home off the streets, I wasn't in a good place emotionally. I had constant mood swings and could fly into a rage without warning.

Yet, not only did Lyra not get mad at me for that, but she also didn't mind how dirty I was. She would wipe me down, feed me my medicine, and slowly clear up the mess I'd created in my fits of anger.

Lyra… Oh, Lyra.

Mr. Jensen sighed. After recalling all of the outrageous things I'd done for Lorraine's sake recently, he didn't feel like letting Lyra suffer by marrying me either.

He turned to my father and said, "Simon, Cyrus is a good man, but Lyra isn't the one he loves. Why don't we just forget about the engagement?"

"No, don't!" I rushed into the living room and got on my knees in front of Mr. and Mrs. Jensen. "Please, Mr. and Mrs. Jensen. Don't call off the engagement. I want to marry Lyra."

As soon as I said that, everyone stared at me in shock, their expressions colored with doubt.

I could only grimace at that. Prior to this, in an attempt to stick up for Lorraine, I'd declared to the media that she was the only woman I'd ever marry. Therefore, it wasn't a surprise that none of them believed me now.

"I mean it, Mr. and Mrs. Jensen. I want to marry Lyra. I know it'll sound ridiculous to you if I say that I love her, but I've truly thought things through. I won't marry anyone but Lyra."

I looked up at Lyra, staring fixedly at her, and said, "Lyra, will you give me another chance?"

She quickly averted her eyes, but I noticed how they'd reddened slightly. Seemingly moved by my actions, she nodded. With a determined gaze, she said, "Alright. I'll give you one last chance."

…

The moment I left the Jensen residence, I got a message informing me that 100 thousand dollars had been charged to my debit card.

Gaze cold, I instructed my assistant, Heath Oakley, to freeze the card I'd given Lorraine. "Take back all of the properties, cars, and retail outlets I gave her, too.

"Also, get the word out that from now on, she has nothing to do with me."

Heath, who'd always been collected no matter the situation, looked positively thunderstruck right now.

Lorraine and I had been childhood sweethearts. I'd doted on her and defended her ever since we were children. Even when I found out she wasn't the Jensens' biological daughter, I didn't scorn her for that.

No one had ever doubted my love for her.

Thus, when the news spread, all of my friends asked if I was preparing yet another surprise for Lorraine.

Thinking about the wedding ceremony that was taking place next month, I smirked. "It's going to be such a pleasant surprise for her, alright."

After all, she avoided me like the plague, didn't she?

She should probably be happy that I was getting married to someone else, then.

Three days later, it was Lyra's birthday. I'd personally planned a yacht party for her.

She still didn't quite believe that I loved her, so my only option was to slowly prove it to her.

After getting Lyra to board the yacht first, I instructed Heath to prepare the fireworks and make sure they went off at 12:00 am sharp.

Once I was certain that everything was perfect, I boarded the yacht to look for Lyra—only to end up seeing Lorraine instead.

She was wearing the gown I'd picked out for Lyra. The pearl necklace I'd prepared for Lyra was now hanging around her neck.

With a man on her arm, she was smugly flaunting in front of Lyra.

"Who let you onboard, Lyra? Cyrus prepared this yacht party for me, and I didn't invite you."

Lorraine's friends were openly making jokes at my expense, too.

"I didn't believe Lori at first when she said that Cyrus was her simp, but I believe her now. Even after she'd humiliated him like that, he went to such great lengths to prepare a birthday party for her, like a groveling doormat."

"Well, unfortunately for him, Lori likes sweet and thoughtful guys like Evan. It's a shame that all of Cyrus' devotion will go to waste."

Thanks to their sycophantic flattery, Lorraine was practically floating on cloud nine. Leaning against Evan, she remarked with a self-satisfied smile, "I didn't even want to show up today, but I had to just to put a stop to Cyrus' constant begging.

"Who would've thought I'd run into this dear sister of mine here? She's such an eyesore. My mood is completely ruined thanks to her. Say, why don't I let you guys see a performance, huh? Who wants to see a mermaid show?

"Call the staff over. Tell them to throw Lyra into the water. Feed her to the sharks."

"I dare anyone to try!" I growled as I shielded Lyra behind me, my expression hostile.

I never knew that Lorraine and Evan had already known each other at this point in time. What a despicable couple they were.

Sneering, Lorraine looked at me with a haughty expression and said, "Cyrus, didn't you make the announcement saying that we no longer had anything to do with each other just so you could give me a surprise today?

"Well, I've seen your surprise, and it's not all that special to me. Everything looks so tacky, from the flowers to the gown and jewelry, and even you.

"You're still the same guy who likes to use your money to humiliate everyone else. You're nothing like Evan. He's a refined gentleman—a true prince among men. Just having you in the same space as him puts me off. I wouldn't want you sullying his sophisticated bearing."

Laughter erupted all around us. Evan's eyes also flashed with smugness as he said with a chuckle, "Lori tends to speak bluntly, Mr. Lloyd, but it's only because she's innocent. Please don't take it to heart."

Eyes darkening, I smirked. "Why would I take it to heart? Since she doesn't know how to talk properly, I'll just have to teach her."

Lorraine seemed to have thought of something. Her eyes turned cold as she snapped, "Don't you dare mess around, Cyrus! I won't be kissing you in public. It'll only sicken me."

I could feel Lyra's body swaying a little behind me. My heart clenched as I squeezed her hand. A wave of regret washed over me.

Since Lorraine and I used to date, it wasn't unusual for us to kiss or hold hands, but I was afraid that Lyra might get the wrong idea.

"Shut up, Lorraine!"

Scoffing, Lorraine retorted, "What now? Are you going to use your power to coerce me? What do you have besides money, huh, Cyrus?

"I'll have you know that I'm going to become a CEO in the future. I'll be even richer than you! When the time comes, I won't have to suffer under your thumb any longer.

"I don't care for this surprise you prepared for me either!"

Saying that, she pushed over the 24-layer cake beside her. The movement also knocked over the champagne tower, which shattered into pieces on the floor.

The birthday party I prepared for Lyra was now completely ruined.

Clinging to Evan's arm, Lorraine attempted to strut off. Furious, I marched up to them and gave the signal. Instantly, a group of bodyguards stood in their path.

Frowning, Lorraine snapped sharply, "Don't make me despise you even more, Cyrus."

"How dare you leave after destroying the birthday party I prepared for Lyra? You wanted to see a mermaid show, didn't you?"

Snapping my fingers, I instructed the bodyguards in an icy voice, "Grab her and everyone she brought with her. Tie them to the yacht and let the sharks have at them."

All the color drained out of Lorraine's face. Without any regard for her image, she started cursing hysterically.

"Cyrus! Have you lost your mind? I'm warning you! If you dare do this to me, I'll never forgive you! Once I become a CEO, the first thing I'll do is make you pay for everything you've done to me! Cyrus! Cyrus!"

At last, the noise came to an end. I'd only just turned to Lyra with an apologetic look when fireworks began bursting across the sky.

I led Lyra to the deck and got down on one knee, holding up a ring with a massive diamond on it.

"I'd prepared this birthday party for you, Lyra. I'm sorry. I couldn't even make sure it went off without a hitch. Will you marry me?"

Under the dazzling fireworks show, Lyra slowly stretched out her hand. I thought I saw the shimmer of tears at the corners of her eyes.

"Yes, I will."

The moment I heard her answer, I was so thrilled that I scooped her up in my arms and spun around many times.

…

As the wedding drew near, I was so busy that I barely got any rest.

In my previous life, since I hadn't wanted to marry Lyra, I didn't care about the wedding. However, the same couldn't be said now. I was determined to give Lyra the grandest wedding possible.

As the officiant's voice echoed through the hall, my heart pounded wildly. Never in either one of my lifetimes had I felt as nervous as I did now.

My eyes locked on the doors at the end of the aisle. Any moment now, they'd open, and my bride would walk through them.

At the cue given by the officiant, the doors slowly opened.

But when I saw the woman who came in, my smile froze.

"Why is it you?"

Dressed in Lyra's wedding gown, Lorraine walked up to me, her expression reluctant.

"Didn't you freeze my card and take back everything from me because you wanted me to give in to you, Cyrus? I know what you're like. You're used to feeling superior to others. You'd never let anyone else rebel against your wishes.

"So fine. I admit defeat. I'll do as you wish and marry you. Happy now? But I'm going to make one thing clear to you. I'll never love you. Evan is the only man I'll ever love!" Lyra screamed at the top of her lungs, her eyes bloodshot.

Evan came dashing into the hall and tried to lead Lorraine away. "Don't marry him, Lori. I'll take you away. We don't have to be afraid of him! Even if we can't continue living in Jannington anymore, we can just go somewhere else. Let's never be apart ever again."

Lorraine clung to him tightly and cried her heart out. "Don't worry, Evan. We'll only be apart temporarily. We'll definitely be together in the future."

"Didn't I tell you? I'm going to become a CEO in the future, and you're going to be my most capable assistant. We're going to live happily ever after."

The guests were whispering among themselves, but nothing was registering in my head. All I wanted to know was where Lyra was.

"Hand Lyra over, Lorraine!"

Wiping her tears away, Lorraine said with a look of stubborn defiance, "Cyrus, as long as you promise me you won't cause any trouble for Evan, I'll marry you."

However, the fear of losing Lyra had left me at my breaking point. Closing my eyes, I clenched my teeth and snarled, "I'm going to ask you one last time. Where is Lyra?"

Lorraine simply smiled ruefully, as if mourning the future that was in store for her.

"You can drop the act now, Cyrus. As long as you agree to my terms, I'll do my part and be a dutiful Mrs. Lloyd to you."

I couldn't hold back anymore. Outraged, I slapped Lorraine right across the face, the sound shocking everyone into silence.

"I asked you a question! Where is Lyra?"

Clutching her swollen cheek, Lorraine stared at me in disbelief. "Cyrus! How dare you hit me!"