Chapter 2

Yvette pretended to look innocent as she nestled into the man's embrace. "Liam, she's misunderstanding me again~"

Liam looked me up and down with disgust.

"Look at yourself right now—you look like a streetwalker. How could you possibly go?"

Yvette leaned against him, covering her mouth as she laughed softly: "Don't say that, Liam. I think Miss Laurel's current look really suits her personality."

I gripped the torn fabric tightly, forcing down the humiliation.

"Liam, you two can go, but at least give me something decent to wear."

"Why should I?" Liam sneered. "Do you even deserve nice clothes?"

He wrapped his arm tighter around Yvette's waist. "Look at Yvette—now that's the kind of figure that deserves haute couture. As for you..."

"You're nothing but a joke."

Yvette suddenly pulled something from her bag that looked like a filthy dishrag of an apron.

"Oh my, I happen to have this 'outfit' here. If Miss Laurel doesn't mind..."

She held it out with feigned thoughtfulness, malice glinting in her eyes. "It really matches your current look."

The grimy apron even had a few drops of foul-smelling yellow liquid on the hem.

Seeing me frown, Yvette's smile grew wider.

"What are you standing there for? Didn't you say you wanted clothes?"

I looked at Liam in disbelief, my heart sinking to the ocean floor.

Once upon a time, I had dulled my own edges as the Laurel family heiress for Liam's sake, learning to be the "gentle and refined" fiancée he claimed to want.

He said I was too shrewd, so I hid my business acumen and only smiled without speaking when accompanying him to events.

He said he liked docile women, so I became his subordinate, paving the way for his climb to success.

I thought he appreciated my compliance. I thought his feelings for me were real.

But it turned out that in his eyes, I was nothing more than a gullible fool!

I swallowed my rage and picked up the apron, barely covering myself with it.

"Don't forget, Liam—this project only succeeded because of me."

A flash of awkwardness crossed his face, but it instantly transformed into contempt. "Because of you?"

He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up, his eyes full of mockery. "Someone like you thinks you deserve credit?"

Yvette helpfully handed him a glass of ice water, which Liam took and poured directly over my head.

The ice water ran down my hair and into my collar. I couldn't control the shiver that ran through me.

"Who knows if you didn't just sleep with the client?"

He leaned close to my ear, but his voice was loud enough for the entire room to hear. "After all, with a body like yours..."

His fingers traced maliciously along my exposed waistline. "That's about all you're good for."

Yvette covered her mouth, laughing until she nearly doubled over. "Liam, you're so bad~"

"Though with her shameless appearance right now, it really is quite possible..."

I wiped the water from my face and suddenly laughed.

"Liam, since you think so little of me, let's break off our engagement."

He froze for a moment, then smiled as if he'd heard the funniest joke, his lips curling into a mocking arc.

"Fine. But don't you dare regret it."

He gave me a contemptuous glance. "Don't come crying back to me later."

Yvette immediately linked her arm through his, triumphantly tilting up her chin: "Miss Laurel, you'd better think carefully. A man like Liam isn't someone just anyone can aspire to."

I looked down, adjusting the remnants of fabric on my body, my voice calm: "Don't worry. I won't regret it."

Liam scoffed, pulling Yvette closer by the waist and turning toward the door.

"Good."

He tossed the words over his shoulder without looking back: "I'm taking Yvette to the celebration banquet. This project is extremely important. Someone as low-class as you would only embarrass yourself there."

The door slammed shut heavily. I stood there for a moment, then slowly pulled out my phone and called my father.

"Dad, I've broken off my engagement with Liam."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then my father's deep voice came through: "He initiated it?"

"No, I did." I smiled softly. "Though he agreed quite readily."

My father's voice turned cold: "Does he know about the contract?"

"He has no idea." I stroked the dress that had been cut to shreds, my eyes ice-cold.

"Good." My father's voice carried anger. "In that case, the partnership is void, effective immediately."