Chapter 3

Julian fell silent.

Mrs.Hawthorne spoke for him.

"Legally,the child would be yours.No one would challenge your status.And with your health,this may actually be easier for you."

I laughed.

So they had it all figured out for me.

I took the custom Cartier bracelet from my wrist.

He had put it on my wrist after pleading with my family for days.

I threw it at his feet.

The heavy Cartier bracelet clattered against the floor,silencing the room.

"Julian Hawthorne,this deal between our families is over."

Julian's expression twisted.

"Scarlett,think this through."

He stepped forward,jaw tight.

"It's on the front page of The New York Times.Every prominent name in the country is here.If you dare call this off today,you'll make both our families a laughingstock."

I looked at him,my voice ice-cold.

"You made me a laughingstock first."

Julian didn't expect that.

He tilted his head back arrogantly.

"Who else would dare have you?"

A voice cut in from outside the ballroom.

"I would."

Every head turned.

It was Damian Blackwood.

He strode in wearing a bespoke black suit,flanked by his notorious team of ruthless lawyers.He was the head of the Blackwood Group,a financial empire powerful enough to shake global markets.

What was he doing here?