Calvert’s POV

Eldzier sneered, clearly thinking I would finally back down by now.

But the next second, I laughed.

“Go on then, pull the trigger,” I taunted Lizbeth. “Let everyone here see how, for the sake of your personal assistant, you spilled your fiancé’s blood all over your engagement party.”

Her eyes trembled. Slowly, she lowered the gun and said, “You know Eldzier only spoke harshly because he cares about me.”

Her voice hardened as she added, “But you did go too far when you hit him, so you have to apologize!”

She delivered the command like a queen, deciding everything on her own.

Compared to three years ago, she had become a completely different person. She had lost all her gentleness, all her sense of mutual understanding.

“Apologize?” I repeated. “Don’t forget—he owes me a life!”

I stared straight at her. “Three years ago, he got into a fight with others, and you were dragged into it. They cornered you in an abandoned factory. I was the one who saved you both—and I was stabbed eight times for it! And let’s not forget—he mixed mango juice into my milk. I went into anaphylactic shock because of that!”

The words weren’t loud, yet they carried across the entire hall. Everyone heard.

One by one, people turned to Eldzier with eyes that said, ‘How ungrateful can you be?’

And the truth was that those were just the big things. On top of that, Eldzier’s smaller mistakes were endless—he smashed my computer, lost my research files, and once, drunk, leaked my client list.

The moment he saw the crowd’s reaction, Eldzier switched his expression in an instant. He snatched the gun from Lizbeth’s hand and pressed it to his own temple.

“Don’t make things harder for the young lady!” he cried out. “One man takes responsibility for his own actions. You want my life? Fine, I’ll give it to you!”

For a moment, Lizbeth’s eyes flickered with guilt. But the instant she saw his performance, she rushed to stop him and then turned her glare back on me, frowning.

“You really had to bring up every petty little thing from the past? Do you have to drive Eldzier to his death before you’ll be satisfied?”

She really had changed. That single sentence froze half my heart. My molars ground together as I bit down hard.

Eldzier carried on with his drama. He grabbed a fruit knife from the table and suddenly stabbed it deep into his own palm.

“Mr. Rubenstein,” he hissed, “consider it paid back. Now, can you finally sign the contract?”

The blood from his palm gushed violently. Lizbeth’s beautiful eyes flew wide in shock. Tearing off a strip of her gown, she bound his hand and then turned on me in fury.

“Look at what you’ve become!” she shouted. “Always so aggressive, always so unreasonable! Why can’t you be more like Eldzier and think of me first?”

Her gaze was sharp enough to cut flesh, as though she wanted me hacked into a thousand pieces.

But from beginning to end, I hadn’t forced Eldzier into anything.

We both knew it was the two of them who had pressed me gradually.

We both knew it was she who had changed.

And yet, somehow, it was all my fault?

Hadn’t I considered her enough, not to mention taking the knife for her back then, even in the little things?

Back when we were still dating, she said she didn’t like apples. I, who had loved them since I was a kid, never bought one again.

She wanted homemade lunches, so I made whatever she liked.

She once forgot her documents; I ran them to her in the middle of a storm.

And what about the three years I spent waiting for her?

It was a long-distance relationship.

She was busy, barely able to call me more than a few times a month.

Yet, my heart never wavered.

How many people could endure that? Was that still not enough sincerity?

“All right, all right, tonight’s an engagement party. Stop arguing,” someone nearby said, trying to smooth things over.

But Lizbeth refused to let it go. She snapped at me again.

“You’re getting more and more out of line. Tonight, you must apologize to Eldzier. Otherwise, what will stop you from turning the sky upside down in front of me tomorrow?”

I looked at her, and suddenly, I was at a loss for words; my throat tightened until I could barely breathe.

For the first time, I felt that I myself and this whole relationship had become more and more ridiculous.

“Say something!” she pressed. “Can’t you see how much blood Eldzier has lost? Is an apology really so hard for you, Calvert?”

Her brows knit tightly as her voice rose louder and louder.

Calvert’s POV

Those words sounded all too familiar.

Back when I’d been stabbed eight times, drenched in my own blood, it was exactly what Lizbeth had screamed at Eldzier.

But now, she was using the same words to condemn me.

When I still didn’t answer, Lizbeth’s fury reached its limit. She snatched up the wine glass beside her and hurled it at me.

“Apologize!” she demanded, her voice sharp as a whip. “Otherwise, forget about marrying me! I’ll even cut you to pieces!”

The glass shattered on impact.

In an instant, blood trickled down from my forehead, running to the tip of my nose.

The entire hall fell into stunned silence, and then a wave of murmurs and whispers rippled through the crowd.

Only then did Lizbeth seem to realize how reckless she had been. She stood frozen for over ten seconds, lips pressed together as she lowered her head slightly and bit down.

“Miss Lizbeth…” Eldzier’s voice slid into the tension like oil on water. “Let’s just leave it, alright? There’s no need to make such a scene. Everything tonight was my fault. Let me apologize to Mr. Rubenstein.”

At this moment, he suddenly began to take the blame. Even now, there was a flicker of sly amusement deep in his eyes.

That bastard really was a cunning fox, pretending to smooth things over, yet secretly fanning the flames.

“Oh, Eldzier, you’re always so sensible,” Lizbeth praised him softly.

Then, she turned back to me, her expression softening a little. She let out a faint sigh. “Calvert, you know, as long as I’m happy, everything can be negotiated.”

Of course, I knew that. That was why, for the five years we’d been together, I had always behaved, always tried to keep things in line.

But… did my feelings not matter at all?

I drew a slow, steady breath and finally tore the mask off. My voice was cold as I replied, “Tonight, between Eldzier and me, you can only choose one.”

For an instant, the light of expectation in her eyes went out, replaced by disappointment and rage. And then, in a heartbeat, she became the haughty queen once more.

“Calvert!” she snapped. “If you won’t sign the goddamn contract, if you won’t apologize, then live on your own from now on!”

With that, she seized Eldzier by the arm and stormed away.

He glanced back at me, wearing the expression of a victor.

This time, I had truly lost miserably.

Watching my fiancée’s retreating figure, I muttered under my breath, “From this day forward, Lizbeth and I are nothing to each other.”

“Everything ends here,” I announced.

Her steps faltered for a moment. But in the end, she didn’t turn back.

The room erupted into gasps. Clearly, no one had expected it to come to this.

When the last of the guests had left, the hotel manager hurried over.

“Sir,” he said softly, dabbing at the blood on my forehead as he handed me my phone, “your father’s on the line.”

“Word is you and Lizbeth have broken up?” my father asked the moment I picked up.

“Mm,” I admitted with a nod. “I don’t want to be with her anymore.”

For the first time, when it came to something involving Lizbeth, my tone was utterly calm.

“You loved that girl to death, my boy. You’d give up so easily?” Dad’s voice was grave. “Once you two separate, I’ll pull back every resource, and she’ll lose everything.”

He paused, his tone still sharp. “I’m giving you one night to think about it, son. If you truly want to give up, then cut all ties completely.”

With that, he hung up before I could answer.

Honestly, I couldn’t really blame him for thinking that way.

After all, I had spoiled Lizbeth far too much before. I couldn’t bear to see even a trace of unhappiness on her face.

I would rather swallow my own grievances than see her upset.

I’d do everything just to make her happy.

Now, I shook my head hard, trying to cast off these thoughts.

I told the hotel staff to keep the dishes coming and invited the manager and servers to eat and drink with me.

Not long after, Lizbeth’s father, Morris, arrived at the hotel in a hospital gown.

I had assumed he’d come to comfort me after rushing from the hospital.

But the moment he opened his mouth, he was full of accusations.

“Calvert!” he barked. “You’re out of your mind! What’s another three years when you’ve already waited three? Is my daughter not worth waiting for?!”

I downed another glass of wine and asked back, “Is that really the point here?”

Calvert’s POV

“What do you mean by that?” Morris frowned deeply.

“Everyone knows,” I sneered coldly, “everyone but your family, it seems.”

The hotel owner, standing nearby, quickly chimed in, “That Eldzier is nothing but a lowly personal assistant. How dare he shout and boss around Sir Calvert like that?”

The servers all nodded repeatedly in agreement.

“Miss Lizbeth has been protecting Eldzier this whole time. To outsiders, it looks as if he’s her boyfriend.”

“Three years, and now another three years—are you just toying with Sir Calvert like a fool?”

“Every word out of Miss Lizbeth’s mouth is that Eldzier is doing it ‘for her own good.’ Does that mean Sir Calvert treats her badly?”

Hearing these voices rise one after another, Morris was stunned at first. Then, his face darkened with displeasure.

“Calvert!” he barked. “I am your future father-in-law, and you’re just going to stand there while outsiders insult me? And over such a trivial matter, you’re talking about breaking off the engagement? Don’t be ridiculous! Do you not care about our family’s reputation at all?”

As I had expected, her daughter was just like him. Their faces and words were cut from the same mold.

“How about you? Have you ever cared about my reputation?” I fired back.

“What reputation?” Morris scoffed. “Marrying my daughter isn’t enough for you? If you truly loved her, if you were sincere enough, three years wouldn’t matter. Heck, even ten years of waiting wouldn’t matter.”

He gave a cold snort, his tone full of authority when he continued, “I’ll arrange a press conference. You will admit it was your mistake. Just say you drank too much.”

“And remember,” he added, “that just because people respect you like an heir doesn't mean you really are one!”

In truth, over these past three years, as the Sternfels grew stronger, Morris had grown more arrogant toward me. This man truly believed it was his own family’s merit.

“See him out!” I ordered.

I set down my wine glass with a heavy thud, letting the three words cut the air like a blade.

Morris’s eyes bulged with rage. He threatened, he blustered, but I didn’t spare him another glance. I just let the bodyguards drag him out of the hotel.

Originally, I intended to stay the night at the hotel. But then, a message from Lizbeth appeared on my phone.

[I’m sorry. I was wrong.]

[Come home. Let’s talk this over properly. Please?]

She… admitted she was wrong?

It felt almost unreal, a fleeting dream. Still, with a sliver of hope burning in me, I hurried home.

But the moment I stepped through the door, a faint and tipsy voice drifted from the bedroom.

“Eldzier… stop messing around.”

My heart lurched violently. I crept toward the bedroom, pressing close to the door, peering through the small crack.

Inside, Eldzier was holding Lizbeth tightly in his arms.

“Miss Lizbeth,” he whispered, his tone thick with lust. “Didn’t you say you liked my body? Didn’t you say I outclassed Calvert in every way? Touch me, then.”

He grabbed her hand and pressed it against his abdomen, his voice low and urgent. “You promised me once you’d grant me a wish.”

He paused, then said, “I want you—just once.”

Before I could blink, his mouth crashed down on hers.

Lizbeth gave a token struggle at first. But soon, she yielded—sinking into his embrace, into his kiss.

A sharp pain ripped through my chest. My whole body trembled uncontrollably. With shaking hands, I lifted my phone and recorded it all. Then, I turned silently away.

Outside, cold rain lashed across my face. I dragged deep, trembling breaths of smoke into my lungs before dialing my father.

“Dad,” I said hoarsely, my voice shaking, “I’ve thought it through. Lizbeth isn’t worth it!”

Perhaps he heard the tremor in my voice. Perhaps he already guessed what had happened. He cut straight to the point.

“What do you want to do?”

I clenched my teeth, my eyes flashing cold. “Since I was the one who lifted her family… then I will be the one to destroy them.”