Chapter 1

That was the last time I brought up our engagement with Brook Rockefeller.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Then, upon seeing Brook’s impatient expression, everyone burst into laughter.

"What age is this? Who still takes their elders’ jokes seriously?"

"Miss Erica Marshall has always been so proud. Could it be that she’s feeling threatened now?"

I ignored the noisy laughter.

Instead, I just gazed at Brook, sitting on the couch.

His shirt collar was slightly open, and I could faintly see some marks on his neck and collarbone.

My heart felt like it was pricked by a fine needle.

The pain came later, a dull ache in my chest.

"At that time, I was young and naive. That's why I agreed to such a ridiculous thing."

Brook raised his eyes, the smile at the corner of his lips faint and sarcastic.

He glanced at me lazily. "Erica, we’re all grown up now."

"Let’s forget about childhood things."

I stared blankly at him, about to say something.

But just then, the door to the room was pushed open.

Janis, dressed in a waitress uniform, entered holding a tray.

She flinched when she saw me, and timidly whispered, "Sister... no, Miss Erica."

After saying that, she quickly stole a glance at Brook, her eyes filled with tears.

"Sorry, sorry, did I interrupt you?"

Janis trembled as she spoke and was about to put the tray down and leave.

But suddenly, Brook kicked over the coffee table in front of him.

The wine glasses shattered, and glass shards flew everywhere.

My arm was cut by the broken glass, blood oozing out, sharp pain shooting through me.

Yet Brook didn’t even glance at me.

His face darkened as he walked up to Janis.

He raised his hand and roughly ripped off the apron she was wearing, which had ruffled edges.

"Janis, didn’t I tell you not to come work here anymore?"

Janis quickly nodded obediently.

But with reddened eyes, she spoke timidly.

"I just didn’t want to keep taking money from you."

"You and my brother have already given me so much."

"I thought I could work and earn my own living expenses..."

"But I’ll feel heartbroken."

Brook tossed the apron aside.

"Now, you’re coming with me. If I see you working again, I’ll destroy every place you work at."

"I’ll send someone to smash it."

At this point, he suddenly turned and looked at me.

"And anyone who dares bully others should not blame me for being merciless."

I pressed my hand to my bleeding arm.

In the chaotic and noisy room, I stared at him blankly.

This club was part of the Marshall family’s business.

Brook thought that Janis working here was me deliberately bullying her.

But ironically,

Janis was already treated like a precious little princess by him and my brother.

She had all the money she could ever need.

Why would she choose to work and suffer?

But I knew very well.

Even if I spoke the truth or brought in the supervisor here as a witness,

Brook wouldn’t believe me.

In his eyes, I was just the wicked female antagonist.

Using my family’s status to oppress the poor, innocent girl.

"Erica."

Brook held Janis protectively in his arms.

"You, the so-called young lady, are not someone I can tolerate."

"As for the engagement, let’s forget about it."

When he said that, the room fell into dead silence again.

Janis’s face turned pale, trembling, and she curled up into Brook’s arms.

Several of his friends looked at me with wary expressions.

Suddenly, I found it a little amusing.

Indeed, ever since Janis’s mother became involved with my family, and Janis herself started interfering between Brook and me,

I had reacted impulsively, throwing tantrums.

After all, the affection that was once only for me had started shifting unconditionally toward Janis and her mother.

How could a spoiled young lady like me tolerate that?

But after all the tantrums and tears, the result was that I had only pushed everyone closer to Janis.

And now, I was already so tired, so exhausted.

Chapter 2

"Fine."

I nodded calmly, taking a few steps forward.

Brook instinctively moved to shield Janis behind him.

"Erica, if you want to do something, just come at me."

I slowly released my hand from my injured arm, revealing it.

The pale white of my palm was stained with dark, spreading blood.

Brook’s lips tightened, and the coldness in his eyes seemed to soften just a little.

But at that moment, Janis suddenly pulled away from his embrace.

"Miss Erica, please don't make things difficult for Senior."

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have appeared, shouldn't have interrupted you..."

As she spoke, tears began to fall from her eyes.

"I’ll leave right now."

"Janis, I’ve said it before, I’ll take care of everything."

Brook was instantly filled with pity.

He wiped her tears away while looking at me.

Any signs of softness were now completely gone, replaced by disdain.

"Erica, can you stop clinging to this?"

I interrupted him directly, "We can cancel the engagement, but give me back what’s mine."

Brook froze for a moment. "What do you mean?"

I raised my hand and untied the red string around my neck.

Hanging from it was a piece of jade.

It was the heirloom Brook’s mother had given me when our families first arranged the engagement.

What my mother gave to him was even more valuable.

It had been taken from the White House and verified by renowned professors.

"Give me back the jade, and I'll return your bracelet."

Brook’s expression slowly hardened.

His gaze fixed on the jade in my hand.

I had worn it since I was fifteen, never letting it out of my sight.

How much I treasured it was well-known in our circle.

"You think I’m like you, someone who lingers over worthless things?"

Brook snatched the jade away from me.

"What kind of junk is this that you can’t bear to take off?"

He gave me a cold glance. "I’ll give it back to you when I get home. After that, we’re square."

When I got home, my brother, Alex, was waiting for me in the living room.

"Erica, there’s something I need to tell you."

He handed me several thick stacks of documents.

"I plan to transfer the ownership of this office building to Janis so she can collect the rent."

"She’s been through so much. Now that she’s with our family, she deserves to have some comfort."

I glanced at the documents.

The building was my mother’s inheritance, a property she had brought with her from her family.

I picked up the documents without expression and tore them up.

"Erica!"

"What do you mean by this?"

Alex pushed his glasses up, looking at me disapprovingly.

"I already handled the incident where you pushed Janis down the stairs."

"She’s been wronged so much. Even if we give her a building, it’s nothing."

"Don’t you remember Mom’s last words?"

Alex fell silent in an instant.

Before she passed, our mother had held Alex’s hand tightly, unwilling to let go. She made him swear.

She made him swear to protect me for life, to care for me, to love me.

She swore that no one should ever make me suffer.

And no one should ever take what was mine.

"I haven’t forgotten."

"But Erica, since Janis is now my sister too..."

"Isn’t it reasonable that I divide my love for you and give half to her?"

"Erica, you’re too spoiled, too domineering."

Alex sighed lightly. "Why can’t you learn from Janis?"

I wanted to laugh, but tears overwhelmed me first.

"Alex."

"Nobody will take anything that belonged to Mom."

"If you want to give Janis something, fine. You can give her as much as you want from the Marshall family’s things."

"The Marshall family has nothing valuable..."

Alex suddenly fell silent.

Yes, the Marshall family had nothing of value.

From people to things, there wasn’t a single good thing.