After three agonizing days of being relentlessly tormented by the Sterling brothers, I finally dragged myself back to their family estate, my spirit bruised and battered. “Grandma Martha, Grandpa Arthur, I’ve made my decision. The man I choose for our family alliance… is Rhys Sterling.” Grandma Martha looked utterly stunned. “Anya, are you sure you heard yourself right? Rhys is their *uncle*! The boys’ uncle!” A knot of anxiety tightened in my chest, but I had no other choice. I gripped the hem of my dress, forcing a strained smile. “Grandma Martha,” I began, gathering all my courage, “the alliance between the Sterling and Yu families doesn’t strictly require me to choose from Landon, Caleb, and Blake, the men of *their* generation, does it?” “Those three… they clearly don’t like me. I don’t want to force anyone’s hand anymore. Please, Grandma Martha, I’m begging you. Just ask Rhys if he’s willing to agree to this alliance!” My eyes, brimming with desperate hope, pleaded with her. Grandma Martha noticed my expression and let out a deep, weary sigh. She exchanged a meaningful glance with Grandpa Arthur, then slowly said, “Rhys is currently on a business trip overseas. We’ll have to call him. Now, sweetheart, try to relax.” My heart pounded with apprehension. As I heard the phone connect, my heart hammered against my ribs, lodged firmly in my throat. “Mother?” Rhys Sterling’s voice, distant and calm, answered the call. Grandma Martha briefly explained the situation, and then silence stretched on the other end of the line. Those few seconds of waiting felt like an eternity. My mind was a complete blank, and I could barely register anything being said on the phone. After what felt like an agonizing eternity, Grandma Martha’s face softened into a gentle, knowing smile. She nodded slowly. “Rhys has agreed to this alliance. Given his consent, our two families will set a wedding date as soon as possible, so you can be married without delay.” A tremor of shock ran through me, quickly replaced by an exhilarating surge of joy. I nodded, a firm, decisive gesture. My heart was still pounding wildly as I walked back. A massive weight had suddenly lifted from my chest, and I felt an immense sense of relief. After taking a few deep breaths and calming myself, I called my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison. “Dad, Mom, my fiancé has been switched to Uncle Caleb.” On the other end, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison sounded surprised for a moment, then quickly returned to their usual detached tone. “That’s fine. Caleb Sterling holds a lot of power; he has more sway than the other three Sterling brothers. Let us know the wedding date once it’s set. We’ll be there for the ceremony.” The line went dead with two sharp beeps, leaving me adrift in the chilling silence of my empty home. My parents had always been indifferent towards me, prioritizing company interests above all else. They were constantly traveling for business, and I had grown perfectly accustomed to their purely transactional tone. The Sterling and Harrison families were old money, the two most powerful dynasties on the East Coast. Generations ago, our ancestors forged a pact: an arranged marriage, binding our empires together. I couldn’t fight it. As the only girl of my generation in the Harrison family, I had no choice but to accept. I grew up with Landon, Rowan, and Kian Sterling. From childhood, my parents always told me that I would eventually marry one of the three brothers. So, I tried my best to get close to them, to be good to them, to desperately make them like me a little more. Five years ago, during a massive earthquake that rocked the country, I even risked my life to save them, only to be left battered, broken, and barely clinging to life. But they remained cold and distant, all because their affections lay with Skylar, the housekeeper’s daughter. Therefore, none of them wanted to marry me. They despised the engagement that tied them to me even more. The cruel irony was that they claimed to love Skylar because *she* had supposedly saved them during the earthquake. But *I* was the one who had saved them! As I approached my 24th birthday, the arranged marriage deadline loomed. I tried to tell them the truth countless times, but they not only refused to believe me but, fueled by Skylar’s manipulations, grew to detest me even more. Just as despair began to consume me, Landon, the eldest brother, sent a message. “The arranged marriage is unavoidable. I can take responsibility and marry you. Meet me at the courthouse.” Overjoyed, I stood outside the courthouse with my ID, foolishly waiting in the rain all day. But he never showed up. I suffered from a high fever for a day and a night. The next day, I received a call from Rowan, the second brother. “Aubrey, I heard you waited for Landon all day and night yesterday. Are you really that desperate to tie the knot? How about this: if you can find a pair of rings I buried in the garden, I’ll marry you.” I believed him again. I searched all day, tearing up the entire garden, breaking my nails, only to realize he had also been playing a cruel trick on me. On the third day, Kian, the third brother, invited me to watch the meteor shower on a mountain. But as soon as I climbed to the top, he made an excuse and left me alone on the summit, taking all the transportation with him. I walked back, bruised and exhausted, and went to confront them. That’s when I overheard them. “We were just messing with her. How could we possibly marry her for real? That day, I deliberately made Skylar get wet and fall, injuring herself. Consider it revenge for Skylar.” Hearing that, my heart completely froze. I walked home in the rain, pondering all night, and finally understood. The arranged marriage was unavoidable, but the groom could be changed! Now, I no longer had to stoop to their level. As soon as I got home, I heard footsteps outside the door. Landon stormed in, his face dark. “ Aubrey, I’ve told you countless times I don’t want to marry you. Are you still trying to force this marriage, eagerly showing up at our house to discuss wedding plans? Are you really that desperate to get married?” Rowan followed closely, his cool eyes filled with impatience, his tone cold and heartless: “I believe I’ve also told you countless times that the person I love is Skylar. What kind of heiress is as shameless as you?” Kian frowned deeply, his rebellious face etched with annoyance: “Which of us three did you finally choose?” I looked at the three similar yet distinctly different faces before me and said coldly, “I chose none of you.” Kian knitted his brows. “What do you mean? We’re the only eligible brothers in the Sterling family of our generation. If you don’t choose us, who else could you choose?” Rowan’s tone was hostile. “You’ve been clinging to us since childhood, always so desperate to tie the knot, and now you say you chose no one? What game are you playing now?” “No matter what stunt you pull, we will never love you!” Landon pinched the bridge of his nose, thoroughly exasperated. I took a deep breath. “Who says the arranged marriage has to be with someone from the same generation? I chose…” Before I could finish, a bodyguard rushed in, his face panicked. “Young Masters! It’s bad! Skylar heard you were about to be engaged, and she… she… she tried to kill herself!” Hearing this, the three brothers’ expressions changed instantly, and they rushed out. Landon suddenly remembered something and turned back, his sharp eyes filled with disgust: “Aubrey, look at the mess you’ve made. If you had chosen me, I would have fled the wedding, making you the laughingstock of the entire city!” Rowan’s eyes also held a chilling coldness, his voice icy to the extreme. “If you dared to choose me, I’d have a dog wear a groom’s suit and exchange vows with you on our wedding day!” Kian also said angrily, “You’d better not choose me, or I’ll smash the wedding venue! Every single time!” “We only love Skylar. Even if you force this marriage, we will never acknowledge you as our wife!” With that, all three of them stormed out. I watched their anxious retreat, finding it utterly ridiculous. The marriage partner was already set. From now on, I would have only one identity: their elder! The next day, I opened my phone and saw a new post from Skylar, the same Skylar who had threatened suicide last night. “What’s it like to be spoiled by three young masters?” She posted three pictures. The first showed Landon, usually so aloof and detached, cradling her in his arms, spoon-feeding her. The second captured Rowan, typically reserved and composed, sitting by her bedside, his fingers intertwined with hers. The third depicted Kian, notoriously arrogant and wild, kneeling before her, his eyes filled with tender concern as he gently applied medicine to her wounds. The delicate girl in the photos smiled shyly and sweetly, looking like the happiest princess in the world. The comment section was filled with envious remarks. “All three Sterling young masters are in love with me. Skylar must have saved the galaxy in her past life.” “Tell me about it. One is impressive, but *three*? How did Skylar manage it?” Besides the admiration, there were, of course, those who wanted to see me humiliated. I casually scrolled through, and a few comments caught my eye. “I wonder what Ms. Harrison thinks of all this?” “What could a desperate cling-on think? She used to chase after the three Sterling young masters all day. Seeing this, she’s probably green with envy and already rushing back to them. I bet she’ll be there in how many minutes?” “I bet ten minutes!” “I bet five minutes!” “I bet three minutes! I’ll stake my new sports car on it!” Many people excitedly started placing bets, with the stakes growing higher and higher. But I just smiled, a quiet sense of release washing over me. No more would I chase after them, shamelessly abandoning my dignity. My slender fingers flew across the screen, tapping out a defiant message: “I’m betting on forever!” Seeing my comment, many messaged me, asking if I was joking. I simply turned off my phone, ignoring all messages. Just then, a knock came from the front door. It was the Sterling family’s butler. “Ms. Harrison, the old madam has chosen an auspicious date. It’s set for the 5th of next month, a propitious day for marriage.” “The Sterling family will handle all wedding arrangements. You only need to choose your favorite wedding gown and rings and make the final decisions.” “This is a set of keys to the bridal home that Mr. Caleb asked me to deliver. You can decorate it however you like.” With that, the butler presented a property transfer agreement and a set of keys, respectfully placing them before me. “Oh, and Mr. Caleb is currently on a business trip abroad, handling urgent matters. He will return before the wedding, so please rest assured, Ms. Harrison.” After meticulously explaining all the details, the butler turned and left. The 5th of next month – that was barely two weeks away. It would come quickly. I clutched the bridal home keys, their cold, hard metal gradually warming in my hand. My heart felt a little more settled. I bought many ornaments and decorations for the bridal home and called in the staff to help me arrange everything. As soon as the festive red wedding characters were put up, a sense of wedding day excitement filled the air. The minimalist modern decor was gradually filled with my chosen pieces, and the house began to feel like a home. Looking at the nearly finished bridal home, I suddenly felt a strange nervousness. Caleb wasn’t of my generation. Growing up, I only felt reverence and awe towards him. Now, I was actually going to marry such a man. Back home, a staff member brought me an auction invitation, accompanied by an item catalog. I wasn’t in the mood, but I idly flipped through it. Towards the end, a men’s watch caught my eye. The watch was named “Devotion,” symbolizing eternal love. It was custom-made for her beloved by Princess Anna in the last century. It exuded elegance and nobility, and it was the only one of its kind in the world. Just one glance, and I knew this watch perfectly matched Caleb’s demeanor. On my wedding day, I should have a gift ready for him. So, the next day, I went to the auction, determined to acquire that watch. Entering the auction hall, I walked towards my seat. Just as I was about to sit down, the chair, which had been behind me, was suddenly yanked away by a large hand. I didn’t react in time, and with a thud, I fell to the ground. A fracturing pain shot through my tailbone, making my face go pale. Just as I tried to get up, a glass of red wine was poured over my head. My carefully prepared dress and makeup were instantly ruined, and the previously quiet auction hall erupted in laughter. I looked up to see the three Sterling brothers standing over me, looking down. Landon’s gaze was heavy, his sharp eyes slightly narrowed. “Didn’t you say you’d never come looking for us again? What, couldn’t hold back that quickly?” Rowan’s cold face twisted into a sneer. “I actually thought you were serious about giving up, only to hear the news that the Sterling family is having a wedding in two weeks. Which of us three did you choose in the end?” Kian’s expression was grim, and he gritted his teeth. “No matter who you chose, I’m telling you, today is just a small warning. If you actually marry one of us, you won’t have an easy life afterward; it’ll be even worse than today.” As the three brothers spoke, the entire venue buzzed with whispers. “How pathetic. A top heiress, so utterly humiliated.” “All these years, not one of the three Sterling young masters has liked her. If it were me, I would have given up long ago.” “Tell me about it. If she’s this miserable before marriage, who knows how much worse it’ll be afterward.” They pointed and whispered, enjoying the spectacle, but a hint of pity also laced their words. I took a deep breath, and after a moment, pulled some wet wipes from my purse. After cleaning the sticky red wine from my face and body, I righted the chair and sat down. “I’ll say this one last time: I am getting married in two weeks, but the groom is not one of you.” Landon frowned. “Aren’t you marrying into the Sterling family?” “Yes,” I replied calmly. Rowan sneered. “You say no one, then you say yes. Besides us three, who else in the Sterling family could you marry? What reverse psychology game are you playing now?” “You don’t seriously think this will make us change our minds, do you? We don’t love you; our hearts are only for Skylar. Whatever game you’re playing, give up now!” Kian said impatiently. Just as I was about to speak, the auction began. “This charity auction will now commence. We will begin by introducing the first item…” Skylar quickly tugged at the Sterling brothers’ sleeves, softly pleading: “Young Masters, please, Ms. Harrison has an engagement with the Sterling family after all. She will rightfully be a Sterling wife in the end. You really shouldn’t treat her this way.” “Skylar, you’re the one we love. Even if we marry her, she’d just be a wife in name only. She could never compare to you in our hearts!” The three Sterling brothers declared their loyalty in unison. They even vied to bid on several items I had been eyeing, securing them for Skylar. I ignored them entirely, quietly waiting for the final item to be presented. Finally, the watch was brought onto the stage. After the auctioneer announced the starting bid, I raised my paddle without hesitation, increasing the bid again and again. The three Sterling brothers cast their gazes my way. This watch, named “Devotion,” would, without a doubt, be bought by me to give to *them*. How ridiculous. They’d already said they didn’t like me, yet they were still so eager to curry favor. Finally, I successfully bid on the watch. Holding this substantial, exquisitely crafted timepiece, I couldn’t help but imagine Caleb wearing it. The auction was nearing its end, and I had acquired what I wanted. Just as I was about to leave, I suddenly heard Skylar, her face pale, say in a weak voice: “Young Masters, I suddenly have a stomach ache. It might be my period. Could you please get me… that?” Hearing this, the three brothers’ faces were filled with gravity and tension. Their eyes met, and they instantly assigned tasks. One went to buy sanitary products, one to the nearest pharmacy, and one to call a private doctor. After the three left, Skylar, who had appeared weak moments before, instantly changed her expression. She quickly stepped forward and blocked my path. “Ms. Harrison, this watch is beautiful. Can I see it? Since it’s for the Young Masters, I can help you decide who it suits best.” I looked at her with cold indifference and flatly refused: “It’s not for them.” Skylar’s expression froze for a moment, then she let out a scoff. “Ms. Harrison, don’t you know that playing hard to get is a really low-level trick? Well, I suppose you’ve put in so much effort, and they still don’t love you, so you’re just resorting to desperate measures.” With that, before I could react, Skylar snatched the watch from my hand and forcefully smashed it to the ground. In an instant, the hundred-million-dollar watch lay shattered into pieces! I stared at the scene in disbelief, my anger surging. I raised my hand and slapped Skylar across the face. The sharp crack of the slap echoed, and Skylar instinctively clutched her swollen cheek, completely stunned. But I felt it wasn’t enough; I wanted to strike her a second time, when my wrist was suddenly seized tightly. “Stop!” The three brothers had rushed back, now glaring coldly at me. Seeing her backup arrive, Skylar’s tears instantly flowed, streaming down her face like pear blossoms in the rain. “Young Masters, please, just let Ms. Harrison hit me. It’s all my fault for breaking the watch she bought for you. Her anger is justified.” Rowan immediately looked distraught. He gently wiped away her tears with his thumb, comforting her softly: “Skylar, don’t cry. It was for us anyway. If it’s broken, it’s broken.” Kian’s face was icy cold, and he looked at me with disgust. “It’s just a watch, and you actually laid hands on Skylar? Aubrey, you’re completely out of control. When you bought it to give to us, did you ever consider that we didn’t even want it?” Landon’s face darkened even further. He immediately called for several bodyguards. “Men, throw her into the pool! This is her punishment for hitting Skylar!” Upon receiving the order, the bodyguards instantly stepped forward and, before I could even react, threw me directly into the pool. With a loud splash, I was completely submerged, instantly soaked to the bone. Even more desperately, I couldn’t swim at all! “Help… help…” I thrashed wildly, but only managed to gulp down more water, choking my lungs . My strength slowly drained away, my flailing grew weaker, my body heavier. Air grew scarce in my lungs, and the scene before me blurred. Just before losing consciousness, I heard fragments of conversation from the poolside. “Landon, Rowan, Kian, I think Ms. Harrison can’t swim. Will she be okay?” “Of course, she will. She’s always pretending. This act of not knowing how to swim is just to get more attention from us.” “Skylar, you’re too kind. I’ve treated her this way, and you’re still defending her. I deserve this.” “Yes, it’s better if she dies. Then no one will force us into marriage.” Hearing these words, despair consumed me. The world slowly faded to black, my body sank endlessly, plunging into the water, and I completely lost consciousness. When I awoke again, my nostrils were filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant. I struggled to sit up. The doctor who had been looking after me for years, his eyes filled with concern, urged, “Ms. Harrison, you can’t keep neglecting your health like this. Last time, during the earthquake, you fractured two ribs saving those three Sterling young masters, and your body has never fully recovered. How can you possibly stay in a pool for so long now?” No sooner had he finished speaking than the病房 (hospital room) door burst open. Landon, Rowan, and Kian rushed in, exclaiming in unison: “Who did you just say saved us during the earthquake?!” I froze for a moment. Then, I looked at them calmly. “I believe I’ve mentioned this before. During the earthquake, I was the one who saved you.” I was already going to marry Caleb, so I had no intention of using this to win their favor anymore. I was simply stating the facts. To my surprise, the three instantly erupted. “Now, to trick us, you’ve even learned to get accomplices to put on an act!” “You don’t seriously think we’ll believe your nonsense, do you? Don’t you think *we* know who saved us?” “No matter how convincing you are, no matter what methods you use to please us, we will never marry you!” Hearing this, I felt no surprise, just a sense of “I knew it.” They wouldn’t believe me, even if the evidence was right in front of them. So, this would be the last time. From now on, I wouldn’t say another word. I closed my eyes, wanting to dismiss them, but Rowan suddenly spoke: “We’ve always known about the earthquake incident, but Skylar’s face is still swollen from your slap. You must get down on your knees and apologize to her!” I could barely believe what I was hearing. It was just one slap; how could it still be swollen? Moreover, Skylar was the one who broke my item. They threw me into the water to humiliate me, and now they wanted to force me to apologize on my knees? “She broke *my* item. Why should *I* apologize to her?” Seeing my refusal, Landon’s eyes instantly turned icy, his voice heavy with an unyielding authority. “You’ll go today, whether you want to or not!” “Someone, escort her. Make her kneel before Skylar. When Skylar forgives her, then you can release her!” Not just me, but the doctor also found it utterly absurd. He tried to intervene, but the bodyguards restrained his arms and legs. A burly bodyguard forcefully yanked out the IV from my hand, and another directly dragged me off the hospital bed. I was extremely weak, still recovering, and had no strength to resist. Even my defiance felt pitifully futile. As I was pushed out the door, I stiffened my body against the frame, clinging to my dignity as a Harrison heiress. I had done nothing wrong. I would not apologize, especially not to the housekeeper’s daughter who had slandered me! My fingertips were white from gripping the doorframe, tears streamed down my face, and I screamed hoarsely, “If you dare to force me to apologize, I’ll die right here in front of you!” The defiance and stubbornness in my eyes deeply stung the three Sterling brothers. It had been so long; this was the first time any of them had seen me cry. Seeing me so agitated, they were all somewhat taken aback, a flicker of panic stirring within them. After a long silence, Landon’s expression softened unnaturally. He gave a cold warning: “This time, we’ll let it go. But if you ever bully Skylar again, we won’t be so lenient!” Rowan and Kian also showed signs of relenting, their previously unyielding attitudes softening. “Let me go.” Once released, I clung tightly to the wall. Only after the three had left did my tears finally fall in earnest. I stayed in the hospital for three full days. After my body had recovered, I was discharged. The first thing I did after leaving the hospital wasn’t to go home, but to buy several bouquets of flowers and head straight to the bridal home, intending to complete the final arrangements. But when the bridal home door opened, I could barely believe my eyes. The meticulously decorated bridal home had been utterly trashed. All the wedding decorations and festive stickers had been ripped off, replaced by pink and white decorations and balloons, emblazoned with: “Happy 23rd Birthday, Skylar!” The cute, warm, and festive ornaments were all covered in cream and colored streamers. Music blasted, and everyone was immersed in the joyful atmosphere of the birthday party. A raucous crowd chased and played throughout the villa, the five-tiered giant cake practically serving as a weapon in their cake fight. Seeing this scene, my heart instantly stopped. I barely managed to maintain my composure, walked over, and pulled out the speaker plug. The music abruptly ceased. The three Sterling brothers all looked displeased, turning to face me. I forcibly suppressed my rage, incredulously asking, “Why are you throwing a party in *my* bridal home?!” Landon frowned, speaking carelessly. “This is our Sterling family property. We’re holding Skylar’s birthday party here. Is there a problem?” Rowan’s eyes were cold. “This bridal home won’t be used anyway. No matter who you marry, we won’t be coming home, so we might as well make good use of it now.” Kian even scoffed. “It’s an honor for this house to host Skylar’s birthday party. What are you complaining about?” Skylar, clutching a pile of gifts, walked forward. “Ms. Harrison, look! This is a custom-made gown Landon gave me. It’s the only one in the world, isn’t it beautiful?” “And this, Rowan gave me a yacht.” “And this, Kian gave me an estate. How about we all go play there sometime soon?” She listed her treasures proudly, her eyes sparkling. “They’re so good to me! Not only did they give me so many gifts, but they also let me host my party in this bridal home. Since you’re here, why don’t you join us?” I was so furious I could barely maintain my composure, roaring, “I’ve said it many times! My fiancé is not one of you! This is not *my* bridal home with you! You have no right to be here!” “There you go again. One act was enough. Are you never going to stop?” “We’re the only three eligible Sterlings. If you’re not marrying us, who else could it be?” “You say it’s not us? Fine. Call your fiancé right now. Let us see who this mysterious person is.” Facing a chorus of mockery, a vein throbbed in my forehead. Just then, my phone rang. Caller ID: Caleb! My heart leaped. My eyes red, I enunciated each word: “Fine! You want to know who my fiancé is? He just called! I’ll tell you right now who he is!” With that, I flipped my phone over, showing the screen to everyone. In an instant, almost everyone in the villa crowded around. But three seconds later, a burst of laughter erupted. “Ms. Harrison, weren’t you going to show us your fiancé? Why is your phone screen black?” “Hahahaha, you couldn’t keep up the act, and now you’ve shot yourself in the foot!” My face fell. I quickly flipped the phone over, repeatedly pressing buttons, but it wouldn’t turn on again. My phone was dead! I rushed to find a charger, but Landon blocked my path. “Enough. Haven’t you caused enough embarrassment already?” “I haven’t…” Before I could finish, Rowan said coldly, “Someone, smash this so-called bridal home to pieces!” Upon his command, several black-suited bodyguards stepped forward, their faces grim, and immediately began to smash the furniture and ornaments. With a crash, bang, and clatter, some of the curious onlookers also eagerly joined in. “What are you doing! What right do you have to touch anything here!” “Landon, Rowan, Kian, stop!” I screamed hoarsely, trying to rush forward to stop them, but bodyguards on either side held my shoulders firmly. Tears streamed down my cheeks. Everything I had meticulously arranged was being destroyed. I was filled with rage and despair, feeling as though I had plunged into an ice cellar, chilled to the bone. Kian scoffed, looking at my tear-reddened eyes, no longer panicked as he had been last time. “You don’t seriously think your tears will make us let you off the hook again, do you?” “This is your punishment for lying. If you’re smart, you’ll stop playing hard to get.” Watching the elegantly furnished and cozy villa turn into a ruin, I felt utterly desperate. The crowd came noisily and left noisily. Only I remained in the devastated villa. I don’t know how much time passed, but I wandered home like a ghost. After charging my phone and turning it on, I saw that Caleb had called me several times. After gathering all my emotions, I quickly called Caleb back. During the few seconds I waited for it to connect, I was incredibly nervous. Caleb and I weren’t of the same generation. Although he was only five years older than me, his status always imposed an invisible distance and a sense of awe. Our previous interactions were few and far between, and I only had a vague impression of him in my mind. The call didn’t connect, and my nervousness subsided. But soon, Caleb’s message came through. 【In a meeting, inconvenient.】 【I called you earlier to tell you that I’m returning to the country tomorrow. The Sterling family is hosting a welcome banquet, and I’ll be there to announce our engagement.】 For some reason, even though it was just a text, and I hadn’t heard his voice yet, my heart still thumped nervously. Fearing he might be waiting, I quickly replied. 【I understand, Uncle… no, Mr. Caleb.】 【There’s one more thing I wanted to tell you. Our bridal home… it was trashed.】 After a long silence, he replied with just five words. 【My three nephews did it?】 I paused, then sent a 【Yes.】 He replied with only three words, but they instantly calmed my heart. 【From now on, I’m here.】 Looking at those words, my eyes welled up slightly. Yes, for the rest of my life, he would be there. The next day, the Sterling family’s welcome banquet. The day after, as I walked in, I saw the three Sterling brothers gathered around Skylar. “Skylar, don’t be afraid. Uncle Caleb may seem cold, but he doesn’t bite. No need to be so nervous.” Skylar lowered her eyes, her forehead still beaded with nervous sweat. “But I’m scared. This is my first time meeting your uncle. Do you think he… he’ll like me?” “Of course, he will. You’re so wonderful; anyone who meets you is sure to like you.” “Don’t worry, we’re here, aren’t we? No need to be afraid of meeting elders. Just hide behind us if anything happens.” Under the comfort of the three young masters, Skylar finally took a deep breath and nodded. “I’ll definitely leave a good impression on Uncle Caleb!” Seeing her faux-innocent act, I smirked and found my seat. Landon’s face instantly turned cold when he saw me. “You certainly are eager. Knowing you’re getting married in a few days and moving into the Sterling family, you’re rushing to curry favor with Uncle Caleb, aren’t you?” Rowan scoffed. “Too bad. No matter how much you try to please him, no matter which of us you marry, you won’t have an easy life afterward. Haven’t you heard you can’t force love?” My expression was calm, and I said indifferently, “I’ve said it many times. My fiancé is not one of you.” Kian was utterly impatient and cut me off directly: “How many times have you said that? You’re still saying it today? Do you have no other tricks to play? Wasn’t the last lesson enough?” I didn’t argue. My mind was perfectly calm as I simply watched the entrance. No matter how I explained, they wouldn’t believe me anyway. In that case, let their respected Uncle Caleb announce it to them himself. I didn’t want to provoke them anymore, but then Skylar approached me with a bowl of soup. “Aubrey, I remember you love this chicken noodle soup. You can’t reach it; let me help you.” The steaming soup was poured into the bowl, but as she handed it to me, she deliberately loosened her grip. Immediately, a large bowl of scalding soup splashed all over me. My exposed skin turned instantly red from the hot liquid. “Skylar, what are you doing?!” Landon immediately pulled Skylar into his arms: “Why are you shouting so loudly? Skylar didn’t do it on purpose. Why do you have to make such a big deal out of it?” “Skylar was kindly serving you soup. If it spilled, it spilled. It’s not that hot. Why are you scolding her? Can’t you see she’s crying?” Rowan immediately rushed to gently wipe away Skylar’s tears. Kian even snapped, “Aubrey, you scared Skylar! Apologize to her!” Me, apologize to Skylar? The victim apologizing to the perpetrator?! My head buzzed. Just as I was about to retort, the grand doors burst open! Light streamed in, and under everyone’s gaze, a man in a sharp suit walked in. But it wasn’t Caleb. It was his assistant, Mr. Hayes. “My apologies for the wait, everyone. Mr. Caleb has urgent matters to attend to, and his return flight had to be postponed for a few days. Please bear with us.” As the head of the Sterling family, no one dared to question Caleb’s itinerary, and they all expressed understanding. Meanwhile, Mr. Hayes scanned the crowd and walked straight towards me. When he faced me, his previously aloof demeanor instantly softened. “Ms. Harrison, please come with me. Mr. Caleb has something important he wants to discuss with you privately.” As soon as I followed him, Mr. Hayes, as if by magic, produced an exquisitely wrapped gift box. Inside was a dazzling diamond necklace. “Ms. Harrison, this is Mr. Caleb’s apology gift to you. To rush back for the wedding, Mr. Caleb worked almost non-stop for a week to complete all his tasks. But he fell ill as soon as he boarded the plane. We were truly worried about his health and finally managed to persuade him to rest for a few more days, so he could appear at the wedding looking his best. We hope you won’t blame him.” I certainly wouldn’t blame him. I shook my head repeatedly. This marriage had, after all, come about because of my sudden change of partner. That he was willing to agree already filled me with immense joy. Not to mention, I heard he pushed himself to the brink of illness to rush back for the wedding. More than whether he could return, my concern now was for his health. I only breathed a sigh of relief when I learned he was fine and only needed a few days of rest. Since Caleb wasn’t present, there was no need for me to stay at this welcome banquet. After bidding farewell to Mr. Hayes, I turned to leave but was suddenly blocked by the three Sterling brothers. “What were you talking about with Uncle Caleb’s assistant just now?” Landon’s sharp eyes narrowed slightly as he scrutinized me. Seeing the gift box in my hand, Rowan instantly understood something. “You truly never change your ways. You couldn’t win over Uncle Caleb, so you started trying to charm his assistant.” “You still haven’t apologized to Skylar! Come back with us!” Saying that, Kian tried to grab my hand, but I deftly dodged him. I didn’t want to waste any more words with them, so I simply turned, took a different path, and hurried away. In the middle of the night, as I was sleeping soundly, my phone suddenly rang frantically. One call after another. I impatiently answered, only to find it was the friends of Landon, Rowan, and Kian. As soon as I picked up, the voice on the other end said rudely, “Are you still sleeping? Don’t you know Landon, Rowan, and Kian crashed their cars and ended up in the hospital?! How can you sleep when you haven’t even visited them?” Indeed, earlier that afternoon, I had heard rumors in our circle that the three brothers had participated in a high-stakes street race to win Skylar a necklace she wanted, but their cars had gone out of control and they were injured. But what did that have to do with me? “No.” I coldly hung up the phone and blocked all their friends’ numbers, giving the caller no chance to react. For several days, I stayed home, peacefully preparing for my wedding. I tried on wedding dresses, wedding rings, and inspected the wedding venue. The news reached the three brothers, who had just been discharged from the hospital. The next second, Landon’s message arrived. “I see you haven’t taken our previous words to heart. I said that an arranged marriage is fine, and you can have the title, but no matter who you choose, none of us three will attend the wedding. And you’re still making such a huge fuss. Aren’t you afraid of becoming the laughingstock of the entire city?” “I’ll give you one last chance. Go to that exclusive patisserie downtown and queue for Skylar’s favorite gourmet macarons. Bring them back within twenty minutes, and we might consider attending the wedding.” Seeing this self-important message, I almost burst out laughing. It took several hours just to queue for those macarons. I had no intention of going. However, I did have something to see the three brothers about. I went back to my room and, when I reappeared, I had three boxes in my hands. As soon as I entered the private room, Kian’s utterly mocking voice reached me. “Sure enough, you’re still that shameless cling-on. Just give her a little sweet talk, and she comes running.” Many in the room burst into laughter at his description. Skylar, protected in the center by the three brothers, subtly curved her lips and playfully tugged at Landon’s suit. “Young Master Landon, I suddenly don’t want macarons anymore. I want cake from that bakery on the West Side.” “Did you hear that? Skylar wants cake. Go buy it for her, quickly.” I gave a cold, dry smile, holding the boxes, and said calmly, “I didn’t buy any macarons, and I certainly won’t be buying any cake.” The three brothers frowned in unison, and said at the same time: “You didn’t buy them? Then why are you here?” “To dump some trash.” With that, I placed the three boxes on the floor. Then I picked up the topmost box, walked over to Landon, and tossed it directly onto him. “Landon, you’ve been extremely interested in artificial intelligence these past few years. To understand you and have more in common, I collected a lot of related materials and bought many newly developed products. From now on, I will no longer pay attention to anything related to you!” Next, I picked up the middle box, walked over to Rowan, and did the same. “Rowan, you have trouble sleeping and often suffer from insomnia. To help you get a good night’s rest, I spent three months learning aromatherapy. These are all my failed experiments. Now, I’ve learned to make aromatherapy, and I’ve also given up on you.” Finally, I tossed the last remaining box to Kian. “Kian, since childhood, you’ve loved all kinds of extreme sports. For your safety, I ran to every temple in the city, asking for countless peace charms and prayer beads. But from now on, whether you are safe or not has nothing to do with me.” The three heavy boxes hit the brothers, leaving their minds completely blank. They struggled to react. After getting rid of these, I felt an incredible lightness. I smiled with relief, scanned everyone in the room, and declared emphatically: “Since everyone present today is a prominent figure in our circle, I ask you to bear witness: from this day forward, I will no longer chase after the three Sterling brothers, nor will I ever come looking for them again! From this moment on, I am done with these three!” Having done all this, I turned to leave. Landon, Rowan, and Kian finally reacted. They seized my arm, furious. “It was just a game! Aren’t you afraid we’ll flee the wedding tomorrow?!” They spoke with bluster, but if you listened closely, there was a faint tremble in their voices. I turned back calmly. “The groom isn’t any of you. You’re merely guests. Whether you come or not, I don’t care.” With that, I ignored their expressions and walked out. On the wedding day, the three Sterling brothers arrived at the wedding venue with Skylar and a few friends. The venue was adorned with countless flowers, and various expensive decorations were artfully arranged, making everything look exquisite. Even the place cards on the tables were meticulously designed, grand yet unique. One of their friends felt a bit uncertain, speaking with some doubt: “This wedding actually looks… legitimate? If she’s playing hard to get, she wouldn’t go this far, would she? Is it really true that her fiancé isn’t one of you three?” At this, Landon, Rowan, and Kian’s faces all changed. But they quickly regained their composure, denying it coldly. “Impossible. The Sterling and Harrison families are bound by marriage. Besides us three, who else could Aubrey marry?” “Exactly. Isn’t she doing all this today just to force us to marry her? Just wait and see her humiliation later!” “The grander the wedding, the bigger the laughingstock she’ll be later.” Though their words were harsh, Skylar sensed their underlying concern and panic for me, and her heart sank. It seemed that ever since I sent those three boxes yesterday, everything had changed. I couldn’t help but start to fear that my previous lie about saving them during the earthquake would be discovered. I forced a smile. “Ms. Harrison just likes to save face. I chased you for so long; how could I give up so easily? She’s probably just bluffing, trying to put on a brave front.” The three brothers nodded distractedly. To the strains of romantic piano music, the officiant announced: “Please welcome the bride and her parents!” The grand doors burst open, and I walked slowly, arm-in-arm with Mr. and Mrs. Harrison. My pure white wedding gown, with its cascading layers, made me look radiant and ethereal, perfectly accentuating my exquisite beauty. The moment I appeared, everyone felt their heartbeats slow. A flicker of astonishment passed through the eyes of the three Sterling brothers, but they quickly suppressed it. After the bride took the stage, the officiant immediately announced the groom. “Please welcome the groom!” One second, five seconds, ten seconds… I don’t know how long passed, but the groom still did not appear. The three brothers visibly exhaled a sigh of relief. Landon gave a sarcastic smile. “Aubrey, you’ve played this game long enough, haven’t you?” Rowan let out a cold laugh, then clapped his hands, calling for several bodyguards. “Aubrey, since you’re so headstrong, we no longer need to consider your feelings. Do you remember what I said before? If you insist on having a wedding, I’ll crash every single one!” Amidst the commotion, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling’s faces instantly darkened. They stood up and sharply questioned, “You three! Why aren’t you sitting quietly in the guest seats? What’s all this commotion? You dare to ruin a wedding? Don’t you know today is Aubrey and your Uncle…” Mid-sentence, Rowan cut them off directly. “Dad, Mom, it’s not that we don’t want to marry Aubrey. It’s just that we’ve said it a long time ago: an arranged marriage is fine, but it’s only a title, no wedding. Our hearts are only for Skylar. Since Aubrey insists on being headstrong, then you can’t blame us.” The three brothers spoke with cold indifference, simultaneously instructing the bodyguards behind them. “From now on, smash everything! Leave nothing behind!” Before their words had fully landed, the wedding venue doors burst open, and a clear, noble voice resonated through the hall. “Who dares?”
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