Chapter 3
Knowing Adrian was on his way, Aspen showed no fear. Instead, she doubled down with a smug provocation. "Go ahead. Let's have Ian tell everyone here who his real fiancée is!"
I couldn't help but silently mock my past self. How foolish had I been to let them play me so easily?
In my previous life, Aspen had revealed the truth to me only at the very end. "Your fiancé couldn't resist the temptation at all. I just wore your camisole to his room, and he couldn't hold back."
It turned out she had been seducing Adrian all along, ultimately becoming the perfect image of his ideal woman.
Because of my past of getting kidnapped as a child and enduring years of hardship, I had cherished Aspen as a sister. I had trusted her blindly, and she had used that trust to steal Adrian from me when I least expected it.
Meanwhile, Adrian had only agreed to our engagement for his own selfish reasons. Thinking of that now, I quietly composed and sent a text message.
Before long, Adrian arrived, breathless and clearly in a hurry. The moment he entered, he saw Aspen crying pitifully while I sat coldly on the couch, showing no emotion.
He strode over to me, his tone carrying a hint of reprimand. "Alice, just go home."
Rosalie let out an exaggerated sigh of relief and plastered on a fawning smile. "Mr. Ford, thank goodness you're here. If you hadn't come, Mrs. Ford might have been beaten to death by this vile woman! You have no idea how hard she hit her!"
Aspen was clutching the side of her swollen face as she whispered, "Ian…"
As I opened my mouth to speak, Aspen flung herself into Adrian's arms, sobbing even louder. "Ian, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have come to try on the wedding dress. I shouldn't have…"
Watching them embrace each other, I felt nothing but disgust. I let out a cold laugh, cutting through Aspen's pathetic performance. "You're right. You shouldn't have come. After all, you're just an imposter."
Adrian's face darkened instantly. He turned to Aspen, and his gaze was filled with tenderness and concern. He softly said, "Penny, stop crying. I'll handle this."
Aspen trembled slightly in his arms, then lifted her tear-streaked face to look at him as her voice was choked with emotion. "Ian, tell them, who's the actual imposter here?"
Without a moment's hesitation, Adrian's gaze shifted toward me, filled with disdain. His tone was icy as he ordered, "Alice, are you leaving or not? I'm here to take wedding photos with Penny today. This is no place for you."
I laughed at his response. In my past life, he had at least shown some hesitation. Now, just a few drops of Aspen's tears were enough to make him completely turn against me.
Feigning amusement, I tapped my fingers rhythmically on the leather couch. "Are you sure you want me to leave, Adrian? Don't forget the debt the Ford family owes the Lowe family."
Adrian faltered for a moment, then turned his gaze away. While tightening his hold on Aspen, he said coldly, "The Lowe family? The Ford Group doesn't need anyone's help anymore."
He added, "And since you're so persistent, let me make it clear once again. I have only one fiancée, and that's Penny."
His words made it painfully obvious to everyone that I was the imposter in this scenario. But was he really so willing to abandon the original reason he pursued me and agreed to this engagement?
Sensing no further resistance from me, Rosalie barked at the security guards, "What are you all waiting for? Get this woman out of here!"
The security guards rolled up their sleeves and began advancing toward me. I then glanced at my watch. It was today for sure, and factoring in the travel time from the airport, they should be here any moment.
Just as the security guards were about to lay a hand on me, a stern voice boomed from the doorway. "I'd like to see who dares touch a single hair on Alice's head!"
It was Adrian's father, James Ford. He had arrived.
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