Chapter 3

All the way there,

my tears never stopped.

Julian's black Maybach was relentlessly tailing me.

Was he really so afraid I'd expose his affair with Briar?

Well, I was going to expose it.

I would tell Alex.

I would tell him not to marry Briar, that she didn't truly love him.

We had all been tricked.

My car pulled up to the bridal shop.

Alex was still happily trying on his groom's suit.

Seeing my tear-streaked face, he looked surprised for a moment.

I was about to speak when Briar's call came through.

I don't know what she told him, but Alex's gaze turned scrutinizing.

"Clara, are you trying to tell me that Briar and Julian are involved in an illicit affair?"

I didn't have time to think, just nodded furiously.

I desperately spilled the entire truth.

"Yes, Alex, Julian cheated! Briar has been his mistress for three years. She deliberately approached you to get revenge on Julian!"

My mind gradually cleared.

From their earlier conversation, I could sense it.

Briar hadn't moved on from Julian.

And Julian, too, seemed to still harbor feelings for her.

But to my surprise,

Alex's expression remained calm, and he kept staring at me.

A bad feeling crept into my heart.

Sure enough, Julian and Briar strode in.

"Alex, I suppose Briar has already explained everything to you, right?

"Clara and I had a little argument. I ran into Briar on the way to the office. We just said hello, and Clara immediately became suspicious."

Julian spread his arms, making a gesture of utter helplessness.

As if I was completely unreasonable.

I instantly understood Julian's meaning.

He was convinced I had no proof, twisting the truth to protect Briar.

Briar squeezed past me and stood in front of Alex.

Her eyes were swollen from crying.

"Alex, I know I'm not worthy of you, and Clara doesn't like me. But she can't just accuse me of being with... with her boyfriend! Am I really that vile and shameless in her eyes?

"Maybe we shouldn't have this wedding after all. I'm truly terrified!"

With that, she cast two fearful glances at me,

and instinctively cowered backward.

Seeing Briar's pitiful act, Alex's heart instantly ached.

He pulled her into his embrace.

Then, he raised his hand and, without warning, delivered a resounding slap across my face.

"Clara, if you ever dare to speak ill of Briar again, I'll disown you as my sister. This is your only warning."

I was stunned.

From birth until now, my parents had never laid a hand on me.

But Alex had struck me.

Faster than my reaction, though, was Julian's sudden fist.

It landed squarely on Alex's nose.

"The girl I've cherished above all else? You think you can lay a hand on her?"

Julian exploded with fury, grappling with Alex.

Eventually, Alex conceded, raising his hands in surrender.

He begrudgingly apologized to me.