Chapter 5: The Broken Engagement

Lucas finally came back to his senses. "Dad... why are you apologizing to them? They're the ones causing trouble!"

Harold turned around and slapped Lucas across the face with all his strength.

"Shut up!"

The crisp slap echoed throughout the boutique.

Lucas staggered backward, covering his burning cheek in disbelief.

"Dad... you hit me?"

"I should have done it sooner!" Harold roared. "Do you even know who you've offended today?"

Vivian forced a smile and stepped forward.

"Uncle Harold, this woman hit me first. Luc was only protecting me."

Harold glared at her with undisguised disgust.

"Who gave you permission to call me Uncle?"

Vivian's smile froze instantly.

"I've warned you before not to use my son's name to bully others. Today you've gone too far."

My mother calmly interrupted them.

"Mr. Goodwin, I didn't come here to hear excuses."

"Your son publicly admitted he never accepted the engagement arranged by our families. Since that's the case, there is nothing left to discuss."

I stepped forward and removed the engagement ring from my finger.

"Lucas Goodwin, from this moment onward, our engagement is officially canceled."

I placed the ring into Harold's palm.

"Your son doesn't deserve to marry into the Windsong family."

Harold's expression changed dramatically.

"Miss Lily, please don't act impulsively. We can still discuss this."

"There's nothing to discuss," I replied calmly.

"The moment he chose another woman over me and allowed me to be humiliated, this engagement became meaningless."

Lucas scoffed arrogantly.

"Fine by me. Do you really think I wanted to marry you?"

"Without the Goodwin family, you're nothing."

My mother laughed coldly.

"Nothing? Lucas, do you know who financed your father's first company twenty years ago?"

Lucas frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

"The person who invested in the Goodwin family when everyone else refused... was me."

The entire boutique fell silent once again.

Even Harold lowered his head in shame.

"She's telling the truth," Harold admitted quietly.

"Without Mrs. Windsong, there would never have been a Goodwin Group."

Lucas's face instantly lost all color.

"Impossible..."

"You've been enjoying everything built upon her generosity," Harold continued. "Yet today you repaid that kindness by humiliating her daughter."

Vivian stumbled backward in panic.

"No... this can't be true..."

I looked at both of them without the slightest emotion.

"You called me a nobody."

"Now tell me... who exactly is the nobody here?"