Chapter 2
“My father may have raised you as potential husbands, but he’d never force it,” I explained. “If any of you had just said no, he would’ve handed you a fat check and wished you well abroad.“]
“At the end of the day, you’re all just afraid of losing your shot at the Montclair fortune.“]
Griffin Carver, always the hothead, clicked his tongue impatiently. “That sounds real nice, doesn’t it? As if we don’t know the truth–we’re living under your roof, nothing but Montclair charity cases. Your family’s trained dogs. Where exactly do you think we’d get the right to refuser
Jasper’s face darkened as he looked at me. “If you want to pick me, then pick me, Just promise you won’t make life difficult for these two afterward“]
Seeing the looks on Finn and Griffin’s faces–touched by Jasper’s self sacrifice–filled me with bitterness, Watching Jasper’s martyred expression felt like swallowing poison.]
Before I could respond, Doria Gallet suddenly appeared. The moment she saw me, she cowered behind Jasper as if terrified.[]
Jasper instinctively shielded her. “She hasn’t done anything, Just leave her alone today.“[]
I looked at them, confused, only to realize that all three men–who should have been protecting me–were standing in front of Doria, as if I were some monster they needed to guard her against.[]
Five years ago, when Doria first arrived at the Montclair estate, she’d given me a hair clip. I returned the gesture with a $1,000 bracelet as a welcome gift.
But when I opened the box of pastries she’d brought, Jasper snatched it away.[]
“Even her dead mother’s keepsake isn’t off–limits to you?” he’d snapped.[]
I looked at Doria in confusion, expecting her to explain that she’d given it to me voluntarily.
Instead, she suddenly dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face. “It wasn’t Miss Montclair who took it–I gave it to her willingly.“[]
“Miss Montclair has been so kind to me, even giving me this beautiful bracelet, I’m not upset, really.“]
She began knocking her head against the floor in dramatic prostration. The display brought tears to the three men’s eyes, reminding them of their own status as dependents.
They jumped to her defense:
“Even as the Montclair heiress, you have no right to pressure someone into giving up their mother’s memento,” Finn challenged.[]
“That hair clip might not be worth much, but its sentimental value is way beyond your thousand–dollar bracelet. Give it back to Doria now!” Griffin demanded.
“Classic Charlotte–selfish as always. Only thinking about what makes you happy regardless of who gets hurt,” Jasper added.[]
My expression changed instantly, but I thought there must be a misunderstanding that could be cleared up later.[]
Swallowing my anger, I handed the hair clip back to Doria, but she fumbled the catch.[]
The clip shattered on impact. Biting her lip until it bled, she shouted at me:[]
“If Miss Montclair would rather destroy it than return it, why put on this act?”
Jasper, always the champion of the underdog, immediately threatened me with a cold stare:[]
“Apologize to Doria right now, or I’ll break off the engagement!”
