In my haze, I heard Mrs. Cross's soft whisper.

“Diana, don’t blame me. I just don’t want Vincent to stay with that woman anymore, so I can only wrong you! Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Vincent takes responsibility for you!”

She made a phone call, locked the door from the outside and left. When I woke up, my body was unbearably hot.

"Are you awake?"

Hearing a somewhat familiar voice, I remembered that it was Julian, the man who had once asked Vincent for me.

"Why are you here?"

Julian studied my face carefully, a casual smile playing on his lips as he said, “Didn't you hear it that day? Are you still expecting Vincent to come and spend a night of passion with you? He said he wouldn't let anyone touch his person, but didn't he let me come in the end?”

Julian’s tone was light, but his words cut deep.

He chuckled as he pulled out his phone and showed me his chat history with Vincent.

[Help me handle something. I’ll give a big reward once it’s done.]

Following that was the address and the room number.

I felt a pang in my chest as I turned on my own phone. Sure enough, there was a message from Vincent waiting for me.

[Diana, are you so eager to climb the social ladder? Don’t think that by winning over my mother, you can make me easily compromise. Playing hard to get won’t work on me!]

I’d always known that Vincent hated me, but I didn’t realize it had reached this extent.

All I did was refuse his advances once and he now treated me like a burden he couldn’t shake off, belittling me like this.

“Aren’t you Vincent’s good friend? What are you trying to gain by deliberately letting me hear the truth?”

The Parker Family was wealthy and powerful and Julian was the heir to the Parker Family. I couldn’t imagine what he could possibly lack.

"What am I doing this for? Didn't you hear it all that day?"

I was stunned.

"If not for you, who would want to be friends with him? There were a bunch of reporters waiting outside, all arranged by Mrs. Cross. She just wants to force you to marry Vincent, especially now that she knows you’re the Carter Family's heiress. Only by marrying Vincent can the Carter Family let go of the fact that their daughter was oppressed by her son for five years..."

As expected of Vincent's mother. Any kindness she showed me always came with an ulterior motive.

Facing my calm and composed expression, Julian continued to coax gently. "Have you thought about being with me?"