Chapter 2

My eyes burned with rage as I watched the video.

Lisa, pretending to be considerate, said softly, "James, you cut up the wedding gown for me. Won’t she be angry?"

"Don’t worry about it. As long as you’re happy, nothing else matters.”

The video cut off abruptly. I leaned against the door, numb and motionless.

I didn’t know how much time had passed when the door finally opened. James stood there, a cigarette between his lips, looking down at me with indifference.

"Ruby, I’ll buy you a new wedding gown," he said flatly.

I couldn’t suppress my fury any longer. With all my strength, I slapped him across the face.

"I don’t want anything from you!" I shouted.

"James, this is the end for us!"

I shoved past him, tears blurring my vision as I stared at the mess strewn across the floor. After packing everything, I ignored them both and walked straight out the door.

Behind me, Lisa’s shrill, mocking tone rang out.

"James, are you okay? Ruby was just acting out of impulse. Don’t be mad at her. Go and calm her down!"

"Calm her down? Let her throw her tantrum. She’ll come crawling back in a couple of days," he replied dismissively.

I didn’t stop or look back, walking away without hesitation.

The night was thick and heavy, the rain falling chaotically. With no one responding to my calls for a ride, I found shelter under an overhang to wait out the rain.

After what felt like an eternity, a sleek black car slowly pulled up and came to a stop in front of me.

James’ uncle, Steve Cook, was sitting in the driver’s seat.

He rolled down the window, motioned with his hand, and said in a deep, cold voice, "Get in."

I stood there, stunned. He continued, "What? Do you need me to come out and invite you in?"

Steve and I had hardly any interaction. Other than seeing him a few times with James, we barely spoke. My impression of him was always the same—a stern face that exuded an overpowering sense of authority.

It was said he had a strong background, a thriving career, and a reputation for being notoriously distant from women.

After a moment of hesitation, I finally got in the car.

The interior was unusually quiet. The sound of rain beating against the windshield seemed especially loud.

I forced a faint smile, trying to ease the awkwardness. "Sir, thank you for earlier."

He nodded slightly, raising an eyebrow as he replied with a small smile, "No need to be formal. We’re family, after all."

Lowering my gaze, I didn’t respond further.

Noticing this, Steve’s smile faded, and his tone turned serious.

"Did you have a fight with James?"

I nodded, then shook my head. "It’s not a fight… we broke up."

Steve remained silent for a long moment before pulling out his phone. Opening his contacts, he tapped on James’ number and dialed.

After a few rings, the call connected, and James’ respectful voice came through.

"Hey, Uncle Steve."

Steve raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone slow and deliberate.

"I call to ask about your wedding tomorrow.”

Unexpectedly, James let out a mocking laugh, his response careless.

"Ah, right. I didn’t get the chance to tell you—there’s no wedding tomorrow."

"Oh? And why’s that?"

"Lisa doesn’t want it," James replied nonchalantly.

Steve’s face remained calm, his voice low.

"Did you ask Ruby what she wants?"

Hearing this, I froze in surprise. A distant relative like Steve seemed to care more about my feelings than my own fiancé.

James’ tone was light and dismissive.

"Why bother about her?"

He continued lazily, "Honestly, the thought of marrying such a pushy woman makes me uneasy. Lisa’s sick, and I don’t dare cross her, but Ruby keeps pressing her luck."

He sneered.

"Running away from home to throw a tantrum? Let’s see how far she gets without me. Who else would want her?"

Hearing this, Steve frowned slightly but only responded with a faint "Hmm."

Steve impatiently ended the call.

Sitting beside him, I felt a heavy weight in my chest. After a long pause, Steve spoke unhurriedly.

"Breaking up is for the best."

His words surprised me.

"What?"

"He doesn’t deserve you."

The car gradually slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road. Steve turned to face me, his gaze steady, tinged with a hint of curiosity.

"With the wedding called off, have you thought about how you’re going to explain this to your family?"

His question struck a nerve. After all, my father still relied on James’ financial support. If I canceled the wedding now, I’d have no way to face my family.

I stayed silent, unsure of what to do, and instinctively turned to Steve for help. Hesitating, I asked cautiously, "Do you have any ideas?"

He let out a low chuckle, his voice dropping.

"Why not marry me instead? What do you think?"