Chapter 3

Thinking back to that, my guilt toward them completely vanished.

I had been wondering how to kick them out of my life gracefully. Since Chloe had already seen everything, there was no point in hiding it.

I cleared my throat. "Since you all know, let's lay our cards on the table. Tristan, Harvey, Jasper—our arrangement is officially over. I will no longer fund your ventures with the expectation of marriage. You can keep the money I already gave you."

"From now on, you are free to date or marry whoever you want. It has nothing to do with me."

"I have already found a husband."

I expected them to celebrate, but instead, a heavy silence fell over the hallway.

Chloe couldn't hide the spark of joy in her eyes, though she quickly put on a worried face.

"Elena, are you really giving up? I thought you loved Tristan. Did they ignore you and make you sad?"

"But you can't just marry some random street guy just to win the company. You could catch something."

"Tristan, Harvey, Jasper, please talk to her. Don't let her ruin her life because of me."

She fluttered between the three men, her voice sweet and pleading.

Jasper let out a sharp laugh, then glared at me coldly.

"This is your game, isn't it? You want Chloe to push us away so we feel forced to marry you."

Harvey’s eyes lit up as if he had cracked a code.

"I knew you wouldn't give up on us so easily! You’re doing this on purpose to make us jealous, playing mind games with your own sister over us!"

Tristan sneered, shaking his head in disappointment. "Elena, I didn't think you could sink this low."

"You treat us like playtoys you can summon and discard at your whim. Because we refused to marry you on your timeline, you resort to these cheap tricks."

"Chloe is so sweet. She doesn't care about money, and even though we are her only support, she’s willing to hand us over just to make you happy."

"But look at you. You took her father, and now you want to steal her mother's inheritance. You think you can secure the Vance empire by selling yourself to some random guy? Dream on!"

"Compared to Chloe, you are absolutely pathetic!"

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my temper in check.

"I thought you guys hated me. I’m letting you go, letting you keep the money, and letting you be with your beloved Chloe. Shouldn't you be thanking me?"

Jasper sneered. "You’re too cunning, Elena. Who knows if you'll keep your word? You say we can keep the money now, but what if you sue us for a hundred times the amount later?"

Harvey chimed in, "Even if we marry Chloe and help her inherit the company, she’s no match for you. You’ll just find a way to steal it back!"

"You act generous, but the moment we commit to Chloe, you’ll use every dirty trick in the book to destroy her!"

Being attacked by all three of them made my blood boil.

Looking at Tristan's smug face, I swung my arm and slapped him hard.

*Smack!*

"Ah!"

"Elena! Even if Tristan doesn't want to marry you, you can't just hit him! Oh my god..."

Tristan didn't react in time, but Chloe was quick. She threw herself in front of him, taking the blow.

"Elena, please! I’ll let you have Tristan! I’ll make him marry you, just stop hurting people, okay?"

She collapsed to the floor, then turned to kneel before Tristan.

"Tristan, please marry Elena! I don't matter. As long as she’s happy, I’ll do anything!"