Chapter 4
On the day of the investment conference, Lucas seemed distracted. I overheard him mentioning to his friends that Sophie had disappeared early that morning.
"You're about to propose to Vivian. Can't you let the poor lady find somewhere private to cry?"
Lucas kept checking his phone, with concern written all over his face.
"That's enough. Just focus on sealing the deal with the Cruise family. You can smooth things over with her later. Didn't you say she's the sweetest, most understanding woman?"
Lucas' expression hardened with determination.
"You're right. I'll do whatever it takes to make it up to her."
I quietly slipped out of the lounge and made my way to the center stage.
Dad took the microphone and announced to the entire room, "I'm getting old. After I retire, my wife and I are going to travel the world. From today forward, Cruise Group will be formally handed over to Vivian."
Thunderous applause filled the room.
Lucas, who had run after me, looked absolutely thrilled. He fumbled a ring from his pocket and rushed forward, dropping to one knee in front of me.
"Vee, thank you for five years of support and companionship. Through whatever storms lie ahead, let me walk beside you."
Every eye in the room was fixed on us.
Dad clicked his tongue.
"Lucas, I'm still not entirely sold on you, but my daughter likes you. What can I say? She's strong-willed, so be more accommodating. Just take care of each other. That's what a lifetime together is."
Lucas nodded eagerly.
I took the ring from him, but didn't slide it onto my finger. Instead, I turned and checked my phone.
Sophie didn't respond, and that silence gnawed at me. Our conversation had stopped at her last message.
"Will Lucas be upset that I show up like that? Your advice has always been good, but this time… I need to think about it."
I scanned the room, but there was no sign of her anywhere. Had she actually gotten cold feet?
"By the way, a key goal of this investment conference is to finalize several major contracts. For the tech R&D partnership, we'll start with a ten-year agreement with Vanguard Tech," Dad said, handing me a pen.
Lucas eagerly pulled out the contract from his bag and urged me, "Sign it. Let's cooperate and live together. Doesn't spending our whole lives bound to each other sound perfect?"
It did, and I had dreamed of a lifetime with him more times than I could count. But now, all I wanted was to expose every dirty, shameful thing about him in front of everyone.
I pulled out my phone and took pictures of the engagement ring, the agreement, and the festive atmosphere around us.
I sent each photo to Sophie, together with a text.
"If you don't come now, are you really going to hand Lucas over to someone else? Vivian's about to say yes. Once this contract is signed, nothing you do will matter.
"Lucas loves you. He'll only feel sorry for you going to such lengths to be with him, and he'll only thank you for saving him from his misery. How could he blame you?"
There was no response on the other end. The silence stretched on until the crowd around us started to chant.
"Say yes!"
"Marry him!"
Even Dad looked confused and nudged my arm.
"Didn't we agree that this contract would be part of your wedding gift? Why are you hesitating now?"
Lucas immediately turned to him, his tone becoming unctuously earnest as he pledged his loyalty.
"Mr. Cruise, I promise I'll do everything in my power to make Vee happy. If I ever step out of line, you can crush my small company like it's nothing."
Under the weight of everyone's stares, I raised the pen. The moment it touched paper, a shrill voice cut through the room.
"Don't sign it!"
Lucas' face went white.
Sophie practically flew onto the stage, grabbed the topmost glass from the champagne tower, and dumped it over my head.
"He loves me. What gives you the right to cling to him for the rest of his life?"
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