Chapter 2

The younger generation from the other families were already waiting outside the lounge.

They tacitly pushed Lucas forward to stand before me.

"Claire, you've followed Lucas around since childhood. You must be getting your wish now, right?"

"Tsk tsk, even for a rich heiress, isn't this a bit too forward?"

Lucas crossed his arms, his mocking gaze landing on me.

"You're determined to cling to me, aren't you?"

"Even though our elders made a verbal agreement, I'd advise you not to take it too seriously. If your family doesn't offer terms that satisfy me, I won't necessarily marry you."

His tone was cold and full of disgust.

This profit-first attitude was exactly the same as in my past life.

He'd never valued my love.

I looked at him, my tone indifferent. "Lucas, you're not the only son in the Montgomery family, are you? And you're not the only option among the other families either."

The moment those words left my mouth, his expression changed instantly.

The heirs standing behind him also began exchanging uncertain glances.

Our six families had been close for generations, with early intentions of business marriages.

All five families had subtly spread the word that whoever married me would gain significant leverage in future resource allocation within their family.

After a moment of silence, Lucas laughed lightly.

"Claire, you think I'll believe you're trying to provoke me with words like that?"

The other heirs snapped out of it and laughed as well.

"Lucas, when our families collaborate in the future with you at the helm, things will only get better. Just don't forget about us when that happens."

Lucas basked smugly in everyone's flattery.

After a while, he finally glanced at me lazily.

"You've chased me for ten years. Besides me, no one else would dare marry you."

"But I need to make something clear upfront."

He waved the others away before speaking up.

"To avoid trouble, I can marry you. But Melody is the only one in my heart. As long as you don't interfere with us, I can give you the dignity of being my wife."

Hearing this, I stared at him with wide, shocked eyes.

In my past life, he'd hidden it so well—he'd never said anything like this.

Could it be... had he been reborn too?

I was still hesitating whether to probe further when a figure slowly appeared before us.

"Claire, why are you standing here with Lucas like idiots?"

Melody called out to me, but her eyes were fixed straight on Lucas.

Lucas's eyes instantly reddened as he turned and pulled Melody into a tight embrace.

He spoke in a tender tone I'd never heard before.

"Melody, what are you doing here?"

Melody froze for a moment, then raised her hands to hold him even tighter.

Her provocative gaze landed on me, though her voice feigned panic.

"Lucas, you're Claire's fiancé. This isn't right."

Lucas sneered.

"There's nothing wrong with it. If she dares blame you, then she can forget about marrying me."

With that, he unhesitatingly took Melody's hand and turned to leave.

I rubbed my thumb over Sullivan's photo in my hand and laughed softly.

Lucas, I never intended to marry you in the first place.