"Let's put an end to this and spare ourselves further humiliation," Lacey managed to steady her trembling voice, turning away with determination.
The seven years of sweetness they had shared vanished in an instant, shattered by the betrayal of the man she had loved. But what she couldn't fathom was that the person he had betrayed her with turned out to be her own sister, Evelyn.
Perhaps she should have seen it coming, starting from his unusually deep concern for her sister. His betrayal had been meticulously planned from the beginning.
Lacey had been so utterly wrong about him...
Her phone rings
Lacey slowly opened her eyes, still dazed from the dream that felt so vivid.
Three years had passed, yet she still couldn't come to terms with the betrayal of the two people she held closest to her heart. When they announced their engagement at that party, it felt as if her entire world crumbled beneath her.
Three years ago, she had vowed never to return. She had been wandering aimlessly all this time. Only her mother's insistence that she come back for her grandfather's birthday had compelled her to set foot in this familiar yet haunting place once again.
She answered the phone. It was her sister, Evelyn. "Lacey, why didn't you let me know when you arrived? Liam and I have been waiting for you at home!"
Lacey tightly gripped her phone. "I just landed. I'm at the café near the airport."
"I'll send the driver to pick you up. Come home quickly. We have an important guest waiting for you."
"...Sure."
After hanging up, Lacey felt a mixture of confusion and uncertainty.
Three years had passed, yet her sister's demeanor remained unchanged, as if that devastating incident had never occurred.
But Lacey still couldn't accept that the man she had once loved had become her brother-in-law in the blink of an eye.
She paused for a moment, then stood up and walked out. However, as she turned around, she unexpectedly collided with a tall figure. The man had a lean physique, a well-built chest, and hot coffee spilled all over him.
She quickly stepped back, apologizing, "I'm sorry, it was an accident..."
As she raised her head and met the man's gaze, she was instantly captivated.
His exquisitely handsome face, with deep, enigmatic eyes that seemed to hold a universe within them. His presence was commanding, radiating an aura of power and authority.
Lacey was momentarily stunned, while the man furrowed his brows with apparent displeasure.
"Miss! Our boss has an important meeting to attend. What should we do?" The man, who seemed to be his assistant, spoke anxiously.
Lacey regained her composure. "I'm sorry! I can compensate you for the damages!" She couldn't help but notice the fabric of his clothes.
Clearly it was from a renowned luxury brand known for its exquisite handmade craftsmanship. It not only possessed immense value but also required significant resources to produce.
It was a symbol of status.
Although she could afford to pay for the clothes, it was evident that she had deeply offended this person, as he stared coldly at her with displeasure evident in his dark eyes.
"Do you really think this will resolve the matter?" The man impatiently shook his phone.
In that moment, Lacey noticed that not only had she stained his clothes with coffee, but his phone had also been affected and appeared to have completely shut down.
"Perhaps I can leave my contact information, and once you're finished with your work, you can reach out to me to resolve this matter?" Lacey suggested.
Realizing there was no pen available, she took out her lipstick from her bag and wrote her number on a napkin.
Capping her lipstick, she quickly handed it to Seth and turned around in a hurry. "I'm really sorry. Anyway, make sure to give me a call."
Before the assistant could stop Lacey, she had already vanished without a trace.
Seth's face darkened, reflecting his simmering anger. He tossed the note to his assistant and ordered, "Find this woman for me!"
Under normal circumstances, Seth would dismiss such trivial matters. However, today was the epitome of his frustration.
As the head of the Kaplan Group, he wielded immense power in the business world, yet he couldn't escape the familial pressure to marry within the family.
His grandfather's declining health had forced Seth to reconsider.
The family had relentlessly pressured him countless times, and today they had even threatened him by using his grandfather's condition against him.
Damn it!
The assistant, witnessing Seth's gloomy expression, silently prayed for the woman they had encountered. Unfortunately for her, she had crossed paths with Seth at the worst possible moment.
"I want all her information before evening!"
.............
Lacey left the café and immediately spotted her car. She hurriedly got in and leaned back against the rear seat, closing her eyes in an attempt to calm herself.
The car drove for a while, and after approximately half an hour, it came to a stop.
"Miss, we have arrived," Roy respectfully informed her.
Lacey slowly opened her eyes, glanced out the window, and suddenly froze.
Her heart tightened instantly, and her hands clenched uncontrollably on her lap.
Ramsey Mansion.
This place used to be somewhere she visited often. Back then, she and Liam had been childhood sweethearts, deeply in love. She had regarded this place as her second home, certain that she would eventually become the lady of the house.
But now...
This place had become Liam and her sister's home.
"Miss mentioned that she missed you very much, so instead of going back to your family home, she suggested you stay at Ramsey's home for now," Roy respectfully explained.
Lacey took a deep breath and stepped out of the car.
At the entrance to Ramsey Mansion, someone was already waiting. The sight of those two familiar figures made Lacey's breath catch in her throat.
It was her sister, Evelyn, and... Liam.