Chapter 2

The ballroom went silent.

Then murmurs spread through the room like a Manhattan cocktail party.

Everyone knew I was the market's golden girl.

A born financial prodigy.

Julian throwing away our marriage for an assistant?

He's insane.

Mrs.Hawthorne came over with a practiced smile.

She reached for my hand.

"My dear child,you've been wronged.But Ava is carrying a Hawthorne heir,after all.Be the bigger person.It's only a dress."

I pulled my hand back and gave her a cold look.

"Mrs.Hawthorne,when your family approached mine about this marriage,you gave your word.You promised that no outsider would interfere in this marriage."

Mrs.Hawthorne avoided my gaze.

She answered stiffly.

"Of course.You're going to be Mrs.Hawthorne.Surely you can show a little grace to a pregnant woman."

Before I could say anything,my brother Ethan stepped out from the crowd.

He lowered his voice in warning.

"Scarlett,think about the fallout for our family and the company."

I stared at him.

"You expect me to just swallow this?"

Ethan frowned.

"The Hawthorne Group is too powerful.What will happen to the Sterling family's reputation if you call this off in public?"

Julian's expression eased.

He walked over and lowered his voice.

"Scarlett,I know you feel wronged.Ava has been with me for three years.She went undercover in a rival firm when my company was at its lowest.Now she's carrying my child.I can't walk away.Why do you have to make this so difficult?"

I stared at him and let out a cold laugh.

"So you want me to give up the dress,the wedding,and the title?"

"And what's next?Am I supposed to raise her child for you,too?"