Chapter 2

"I'm breaking off my engagement with Bernard."

A simple statement, like a bomb dropped in the middle of a crowd.

Everyone stared with wide, disbelieving eyes.

Who didn't know how Eugenie had chased after Bernard for years before finally securing this engagement?

If there was ever to be a broken engagement, everyone assumed Bernard would be the one to end it.

But now, Eugenie stood on the stage, taking in everyone's shocked expressions. She glanced at Bernard's cold face, casually removed her engagement ring, and tossed it into the swimming pool.

As she stepped down and was about to leave, Bianca caught up with her, gritting her teeth and gripping Eugenie's wrist tightly.

"Eugenie, have you lost your mind? You're already engaged! What kind of show are you putting on? Get back up there right now and apologize to everyone. Tell them you misspoke, that you didn't mean to break the engagement!"

Eugenie shook off Bianca's hand with a blank expression. "I know exactly what I'm doing. If you're so eager for a marriage alliance with the Grayson family, why don't you marry him yourself?"

She walked away, ignoring Bianca's vicious glare.

Bianca was about to chase after her when she spotted Bernard approaching. She quickly spoke up.

"Mr. Grayson, Eugenie must have temporarily lost her senses. The Medici family has no intention of breaking this engagement. Please don't take her seriously."

Bernard's icy gaze remained fixed on Eugenie's retreating figure. "I despise women who use playing hard-to-get as a tactic. This is the first and last time."

Bianca was nearly sweating with anxiety. "Of course. I'll make sure she's properly disciplined when we get home."

Just then, Bernard's phone rang urgently in his pocket.

It was his assistant, Aiden Brown.

"Mr. Grayson, Ms. Bennett has arrived at the airport."

"Good."

Bernard turned and walked away without another word.

Meanwhile, Eugenie had arrived at the Grayson family home.

She didn't have many belongings there, just a few clothes. Just as she finished packing her suitcase, she looked up to see Rhea Jones, Bernard's mother, wearing a contemptuous expression.

"You used so many cheap tricks to finally get Bernard to agree to marry you. Happy now? Even if you do marry into this family, I will never accept you as my daughter-in-law."

Eugenie picked up her suitcase and replied calmly, "Whoever you want as your daughter-in-law, have Bernard marry her instead."

Rhea's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you talking to me? You dare speak to me in that tone?"

Her eyes instantly filled with mockery.

Rhea had always disliked her. During the years Eugenie had been with Bernard, she'd heard too many hurtful comments to count.

She had always held back for Bernard's sake, constantly compromising.

But now, if she was giving up Bernard, why would she care about Rhea?

"Is there anyone else here besides us?"

Rhea fumed, "You've truly lost your mind. Do you still want to be Mrs. Grayson? I'll call Bernard right now and have him cancel the engagement."

Eugenie replied flatly, "No need."

Rhea's face had just broken into a smug smile when Eugenie's next words wiped it away instantly.

"We've already called off our engagement. And one more thing you should know—Allegra is back in the country. Bernard is probably at the airport with her right now."

Rhea gasped in disbelief. "What did you say?"

That little tramp was back again.

"Let me deal with her first, then I'll settle things with you later."

After delivering her threat, Rhea hurried away.

Eugenie's face remained impassive.

The two people Rhea hated most in this world were Eugenie and Allegra.

She had no interest in watching the drama unfold—she'd seen enough of it in her previous life.

Besides, Bernard would always take Allegra's side.

And she had nothing.

Eugenie took a deep breath, pushing away these unnecessary thoughts, and recalled the timeline from her previous life.

Six months from now, her grandmother Xanthe Williams would pass away, and most of the Williams family assets—her mother Delta Williams' inheritance—would be seized.

The Grayson family's attitude toward her would grow cold, and they wouldn't help when she faced difficulties.

She needed to prepare, to protect the Williams family assets and Xanthe. Next week's land auction would be a critical turning point.

After organizing her thoughts, she returned to the Medici family home.

Bianca was nearly driven mad by what had happened at the engagement party, having already smashed several of her beloved cups in anger.

Seeing Eugenie, her rage found its target.

"You dare come back here? Go to the Grayson family immediately and apologize! Make them forgive you!"

"Let me tell you, offending the Grayson family doesn't just put the Medici family in danger—the Williams family won't escape either."

Eugenie replied coldly, "I've completely burned bridges with the Grayson family."

Asking her to apologize to Bernard?

Impossible.

The mere sight of Bernard's face reminded her of the suffocating agony and desperation she felt, drowning in the sea in her previous life.

"You're deliberately trying to kill me with anger!"

Bianca clutched her chest, gasping for air. "You chased after Bernard for so many years—wasn't it all for this day? Now that you're about to get married, you're backing out."

Eugenie acted as if she hadn't heard.

Looking back now, she found her past actions for Bernard's sake laughable.

Bianca struggled to calm herself down,"Bernard thinks you're just playing hard-to-get. Look, come with me to the Grayson family. We must get their forgiveness!"

Eugenie almost laughed out loud.

Even publicly breaking their engagement was interpreted as playing hard-to-get? How incredibly arrogant was Bernard to think she could never leave him?

Unfortunately for him.

The Eugenie who deeply loved Bernard was already dead, drowned in that sea.

Eugenie firmly stated, "I'm not going."

At that moment, Kenna Medici came downstairs and interjected, "Mom, what's the use of talking to her? She doesn't have the good fortune to marry Bernard. Even if she did go to the Grayson family to apologize, they would never forgive her."

Eugenie sized her up.

Kenna was her half-sister, sharing the same father.

She had always known about Kenna's little scheme to marry Bernard herself.

Sure enough, Kenna's next words confirmed it.

"Mom, why don't you discuss with the Grayson family about letting me marry him instead? That way, our families can still maintain their partnership."

Eugenie nodded in apparent agreement. "I think that's an excellent idea."

Hadn't Kenna always believed marrying into the Grayson family would give her a wonderful life? Let her experience firsthand what that "wonderful life" was really like.

Bianca frowned, "No."

Kenna immediately grew anxious. "Why is Eugenie acceptable but not me? Am I that much worse than her? We're both Medici daughters—what difference does it make which one of us marries him?"