Chapter 5: Chapter 5

524 words

<html><head></head><body>Zephyr Ashcroft's lips curled into a sneer. "Isn't this the ever-so-ascetic Alistair Cortez?" "Who would have thought our engagement gala could lure such a distinguished guest?" "Have your Buddhist devotions addled your brain? Do you mistake my fiancée for your own?" "Everyone knows Astrid Valrose has been destined to marry me since childhood." Alistair Cortez shielded me behind him. Only half of my body was visible. "Zephyr Ashcroft, take a good look." "This is my engagement gala with Alistair!" He followed my pointing finger and turned around. Before he could read the names on the backdrop, he saw our parents emerging from the inner hall. My parents had always been kind to him. But now, they didn't even spare him a glance. Instead, they smiled warmly at Alistair. "Alistair, Astrid can be a bit willful at times. Please be patient with her." "Don't worry, Auntie. I'll take good care of her."  Alistair's gentle, jade-like voice made Zephyr's face darken instantly. He raised his voice, "Auntie, I'm your future son-in-law." My mother completely ignored him. My father looked past him at me, "What happened just now?" I pointed directly at Mrs. Ashcroft. "Yesterday, they locked me in the Ashcroft mansion." "They forced me to kneel and serve tea, forced me to sign a property transfer agreement." "Today, she played a video in public, trying to ruin the Valrose family's reputation." My father's eyes turned icy. Bodyguards immediately seized the phone. The crowd erupted in uproar.  The onlookers who had been enjoying the spectacle quickly backed away. Reporters' cameras frantically focused on the Ashcrofts. "So Miss Valrose is actually marrying Alistair Cortez?" "Were the Ashcrofts trying to force a marriage?" Zephyr finally saw the names on the backdrop. Astrid Valrose, Alistair Cortez. The six words made his pupils contract sharply. "So the arranged marriage was never with the Ashcroft heir?" I heard him gasp. He reached out to grab me, but Alistair blocked him. "Mr. Ashcroft, please behave yourself."  "Impossible! You were supposed to marry me!" Mrs. Ashcroft stood frozen. Mr. Ashcroft shook his head in panic, "This isn't true..." After watching the video, my father smashed the phone to the ground. "You dared to make my daughter kneel? How audacious!" "From today on, anyone who cooperates with the Ashcrofts is my enemy!" The Ashcrofts turned pale. Alistair took my hand and led me towards the ceremonial platform. Zephyr tried to follow, but Seraphina Vance clung to him desperately. "Zephyr, now you don't have to marry her!" "We can be together openly!"  "Get lost! Who do you think you are?" He shoved Seraphina away and rushed to me. "Astrid, this must be a misunderstanding, right?" "You love me, don't you?" Countless eyes focused on us. I knew I had to end this once and for all. I looked straight into his eyes, enunciating each word clearly. "Zephyr Ashcroft, I stopped loving you long ago." "You were deluding yourself, thinking I couldn't live without you." "In reality, I'd rather die than marry you!" I linked arms with Alistair, revealing the jade cufflinks on his sleeve. Engraved on them were three letters - A.C.C. Zephyr's pupils contracted violently.  </body></html>