Chapter 3

To be completely honest, I wasn't entirely sure how Ethan would handle this.

Yet I trusted that the boy I raised with my own hands was smart enough not to let me down.

That evening, the elite dinner gathered industry titans, including Mr. Harrison. As the host, I naturally occupied the head of the table.

In the past, Fiona would have sat right beside me. Tonight, I said nothing. My close partners took the seats next to me, leaving Fiona with the worst seat in the room—right next to the bustling kitchen door.

Colleagues I hadn't seen in ages asked about my plans, and I casually mentioned that I was eyeing retirement and looking for a capable successor.

Sitting across from me, Fiona’s eyes practically glowed with raw greed.

Someone asked, "Vivian, who’s the young lady over there?"

Seeing Fiona sit up straighter, looking like she was ready to sprout wings and fly, I smiled faintly. "Oh, that’s just a former college classmate of my son's."

The triumphant smirk on Fiona’s face froze, then instantly crumbled.

Because I hadn't introduced her as my future daughter-in-law, she didn't dare say a word.

Another associate chimed in, "Ethan is such a brilliant kid, though he always avoided our business banquets.”

“I haven't seen him in ages! I still remember when you brought him along years ago—he cheered us on with glasses of apple juice!"

Hearing this, Fiona leaped to her feet, grabbing her glass.

"Sir, let me drink with you! Ethan’s tied up with work, so I’ll gladly take his place!"

She held up her glass, eager to impress. But the man across from her didn't even raise an eyebrow; he simply stared at her in utter silence.

An agonizing awkwardness settled over the table.

At her office, people gave her face only because they assumed she was my protegée.

Yet here, I had introduced her as nothing more than Ethan’s former classmate—not even a friend.

Everyone at this table was a ruthless shark in the business world. Seeing that she was completely out of my favor, nobody gave her the time of day.

Fiona turned to me desperately, but I merely sipped my wine with an unreadable smile.

If she couldn't even navigate a simple social snub, how could she ever handle high-stakes corporate clients?

Consider tonight her first real lesson.

The atmosphere turned icy until Mr. Harrison chuckled softly to break the tension. "Come now, don't be too hard on the kid."

Only then did the associate take a polite sip from his glass. Humiliated, Fiona choked down her wine and sank back into her chair.

I smiled, finally breaking my silence. "Gentlemen, don't bully the poor girl."

"Of course not! We were just testing her composure under pressure. Very poised!"

The associate offered a few meaningless pleasantries, and Fiona’s ego instantly inflated again.

She hopped around the table, pouring wine, refilling glasses, and buttering people up like a cheap party clown.

Once the drinks were flowing, it was time to talk real business. I pointed at Fiona, who was practically buzzing with false confidence.

"Fiona, run outside and order a few more entrees. The table is looking a bit bare."

Fiona blinked, glancing at the half-full plates, her face turning green. She had no choice but to step out.

The second the door closed, Mr. Harrison tapped my arm with a knowing grin. "Vivian, you did that on purpose."

"Did that little girl step on your toes?"

I didn't bother hiding it. "She's young, arrogant, and utterly ungrateful."

Everyone immediately understood. Fiona, trying to appear diligent, waited outside for nearly half an hour before slipping back in.

The dinner carried on. Business deals were sealed between laughs and clinking glasses.

Fiona tried multiple times to jump into the conversation, but every time she brought up her company's projects, people smoothly changed the subject.

By the end of the night, her mood had plummeted into the dirt.

As things wrapped up, she slipped into the restroom. Coincidentally, I had asked Ethan to pick me up.

The moment I stepped out into the lobby corridor, I heard Fiona screaming at my son:

"What the hell is wrong with your mother?! She humiliated me in front of all those executives tonight!"

"Ethan Vance, if you don't want me, just say so! Let's just call off this damn wedding right now!"

Ethan looked utterly stunned.

"What are you talking about? Hasn't my mom treated you like royalty?"

"We’re getting married, my family bought us a multi-million-dollar home, and we didn't ask your family for a single cent! When will you ever be satisfied?!"

"That condo? You have the nerve to bring up that pathetic condo?!" Fiona sneered hysterically.

"Your mom has tens of millions! She bought us a basic shoebox just to mock me for coming from a small town! Ethan, we need to take a break!"

Hearing her venomous words, my temper flared.

"There's no need to take a break," I said coldly, stepping into the light. "The wedding is officially canceled."