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Chapter 1 Calling Off The Engagement Whitney Moore sent a message with a smile: [Honey, I just landed. See you at City Hall in half an hour.] Today was the day she and Carter Harris were finally getting their marriage licenses. From their college romance to their engagement, and now, getting their marriage licenses, it had been exactly five years. Whitney leaned back in the seat, the morning sunlight casting a warm glow on her radiant face, giving her an extra touch of gentleness. The driver caught her smile in the rearview mirror and joked, "Wow, you just landed, and you're already rushing straight to City Hall?" "Yeah, Valentine's Day. You know, I made the appointment two weeks ago," Whitney replied with a smile. The driver chuckled. "Young folks really know how to make things special. My daughter couldn't snag a spot for today, so she's getting hers tomorrow instead." "Congrats," Whitney said. "Same to you," the driver replied. But even after Whitney got out of the cab, she still hadn't heard back from Carter. Pouting, she dialed his number. The phone rang for ages before he finally picked up. Carter's voice was flat, giving nothing away. "Yeah? What's up?" Whitney's grip tightened on her phone as she asked, "Carter, where are you? I'm already at City Hall. We will—" Carter cut her off. "Whit, I can't come right now." She swallowed hard. "What happened? Didn't we agree to get our marriage license today?" "Yeah, something came up. Let's just do it another day, okay? Any day works. It's not a big deal," Carter said. Yet to Whitney, it was a big deal. She had made the appointment two weeks ago and had been expecting this very day ever since. A girl's voice rang out. "Carter, are you on the phone? Everyone's waiting downstairs for us to join them for breakfast." Whitney's heart dropped. That was Emily's voice. Emily Miller was the girl whom the Harris family adopted eighteen years ago. Whitney wondered, 'Is Emily back to the country?' Her fingers turned white as she gripped her phone, but before she could even ask anything, the call was abruptly hung up. ''He told me he was too tired and went to bed early last night, but was he actually spending the whole night with another woman?' Whitney thought bitterly. Not long after, a text message popped up on her phone. Emily: [Whitney, was that you on the phone with Carter just now? I just got back. Carter threw me a welcome party yesterday. I drank too much and didn't go home. Please don't get the wrong idea. Would you join us for breakfast?] It felt like a heavy weight was crushing Whitney's chest, and she could barely breathe. She replied: [Just send me the address. I'm coming over now.] ***** Standing outside the private room at Sunrise Bites, Whitney could hear the chatter of familiar voices drifting out. "Carter, isn't today the big day you and Whitney are supposed to get your marriage license?" someone teased. "Yeah, I heard Whitney snagged an appointment half a month ago just so she could lock down Carter today," another person said. Someone piped up, "Wait, what's so special about today anyway?" "You forgot? Valentine's Day," someone replied. "Tsk, Carter doesn't even love her. Everyone knows the only one in his heart is Emily," someone sneered. Emily ducked her head, putting on a bashful act. "Come on, don't say that. Carter is just my brother." Whitney stood frozen outside the door, her face pale as a sheet. She was desperate to hear how the man she cared about most would respond. The door to the private room was cracked open just a little. She stayed silent, peeking through that tiny gap. Inside, Carter was sprawled lazily in his chair, his arm resting across the back of Emily's seat. From behind, it looked just like he was holding the girl he cared about most. Carter's voice rang out. "Emily, do you really only see me as your brother?" "Carter," Emily said, her voice wavering, "are you really not going to get the marriage license with Whitney?" "No, I already told her," Carter said, sounding indifferent. Carter just noticed Emily's shoulders trembling from all the teasing going on. He whispered, "Emily, no one is more important to me than you." As soon as he finished, everyone in the room started teasing and making a fuss. But Whitney, standing alone outside the door, felt a sharp pain in her heart. She never thought that no matter what she did, she could never thaw the ice around his heart. She was always the second in his heart. No matter how hard she tried, she could never be his one and only. Whitney thought that she was pathetic. Someone coming back from the restroom stopped short when they saw Whitney standing by the door. "Uh, Whitney, you're here too? Aren't you coming in?" the person asked, sounding a bit hesitant. The door to the private room suddenly swung open, and everyone inside turned to look at the woman standing there, her face drained of all color. After a brief, awkward pause, someone tried to smooth things over. "Oh, Whitney, you're here. Have you eaten yet? Come on, grab a seat and eat with us." Carter pulled his arm back from behind Emily's chair, his brows furrowing. "Whit, what brought you here?" Whitney took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Am I not welcome here?" Emily quickly got up to offer her seat. "Whitney, come here. The seat is for you." "Emily, don't leave." Carter put a hand on her shoulder. Whitney felt another stab in her heart when she saw Carter's gesture. "It's fine. You can sit there. I'm not here for breakfast," Whitney said. Carter's voice dropped, sounding a bit annoyed. "Whitney, what are you doing here? Didn't we agree to get our marriage license another day?" Whitney replied with a mocking smile, "Forget it. I'm calling it off." "Huh? What did you say?" Carter frowned, not quite catching her words. Whitney took a deep breath, flashed a calm smile, and said, "I'm calling it off. "You said Emily is the most important to you. Let's call off the engagement. You can be with whoever you want." Carter froze for a moment, completely caught off guard. His eyes narrowed as he demanded, "What did you just say?" "Since she's the one you care about, why don't you take my appointment and get the marriage license with her? Consider it my gift to you guys," Whitney said in an icy tone. As soon as she finished, Whitney flung the tightly gripped paper onto the floor. "Whitney," Carter warned, his voice low and tense. "Emily just got back. Can't we talk about this in private?" Someone scoffed, "No way she's really calling it off. Everyone knows she's crazy about Carter. If Carter's grandpa hadn't objected, she wouldn't even get a chance to show off here." Emily felt smug, but she put on a flustered face. "Whitney, don't listen to their nonsense. Carter is just my brother!" Whitney had heard that excuse more times than she could count. ''Seriously, what kind of brother gives up getting his marriage license just for his sister's welcome party?' Whitney thought bitterly. Whitney let out a scornful laugh. "Wow, that's so sweet. Are you sure he's just your brother, not your secret lover?" Carter's face darkened with anger. "Enough. Whitney, apologize to Emily now." Whitney raised her fist, her voice icy and firm. "I swear I'll never marry Carter Harris. If I ever go back on this, may Carter be cursed to never have kids." Chapter 2 Pay My Appearance Fee After Whitney said that, she turned and walked out, leaving everyone in the private room exchanging confused glances. Someone let out an awkward laugh. "Whitney is so humorous, isn't she?" "Carter, don't be mad. Just sweet-talk her a bit. She'll come around," someone else chimed in. Another guy scoffed, "Why bother? Carter, don't spoil women. If you do, they'll just walk all over you." "Shut up." Carter's face was icy cold. He was sick of their endless chatter. Emily's heart skipped a beat. She thought, 'When did Carter start defending Whitney? Has she already taken my place while I was gone?' Emily bit her lip, speaking in a gentle voice, "Carter, are you worried Whitney will be mad? I can say sorry to her, okay?" She poked his waist with her finger, her voice sweet and a little whiny. "Don't be mad, Carter. See? You scared everyone." When they were little, Emily loved poking Carter under the table. He could never stay mad at her when she did that. Just like always, Carter's cold look softened. "I'm not mad. Milly, I could never be mad at you because of anyone else." Emily lowered her gaze, her cheeks flushing. "Me neither." Everyone started joking around and making light of the situation, and the tense air Whitney had left behind quickly disappeared. ***** Whitney headed straight for Carter's home. It was the house Carter's grandfather, James Harris, had sent them as a wedding gift. "Ma'am, you're back." Linda Torres, the maid, looked a bit surprised. ''Weren't they supposed to get their marriage license today? Why did Madam come back alone?' Linda wondered. Whitney went straight upstairs. She hadn't brought much stuff with her. A single suitcase was enough to hold everything. As she passed Carter's study, she noticed his tablet sitting on the desk. When Whitney once came and tried to binge-watch some shows on Carter's tablet, he suddenly blew up at her for no reason. She'd always thought he just hated people touching his stuff, but today, she saw Emily fiddling with Carter's phone. Whitney walked into the study. She tapped the screen to wake it up, yet it required a password. She took a deep breath and entered Carter's birthday first. It was the wrong password. Then she entered her own birthday. Still, it was wrong. On her third attempt, Whitney recalled that Emily was born on Labor Day. She quickly Googled it and saw that Labor Day that year was on September 2nd. With slightly trembling fingers, Whitney entered 0902. This time, the password was correct. She swallowed hard, feeling the bitterness filling her mouth. The tablet was wiped clean without a single app. Trusting her instincts, Whitney tapped into the photo album. Her heart skipped a beat upon seeing the 3,344 photos, all of which were memories of Emily and Carter. Some were solo shots of Emily, while others showed the two of them together. However, Carter always avoided taking pictures with Whitney together. The only photo they took together was the wedding portrait hanging in their bedroom. Carter once claimed that he hated taking pictures, but in these 3,344 photos, he looked genuinely happier than when he was with Whitney. Whitney shut off the tablet, leaving no trace she'd ever been there. Linda couldn't help but be curious as she watched Whitney drag her suitcase downstairs. She asked, "Ma'am, you just got back. Are you already leaving for another trip?" Knowing that Whitney was a lawyer and always traveling for work, Linda just figured she'd be on a business trip again. Whitney paused, muttered a "yeah", and left without a trace of emotion on her face. ***** Carter didn't come back to the place he shared with Whitney until the next day. He hadn't received a single text from her in over 24 hours. ''She's got some nerve now, huh?' Carter thought, a little irritated. "Did Whitney come back yesterday?" Carter asked. Linda shook her head. "Sir, I think Madam went on a business trip. She didn't say when she'd be back." ''Is she really on a business trip, or is she just trying to avoid me?' Carter thought. Carter didn't really care. He knew that she'd come back on her own after she calmed down. Besides, they were already engaged and had their wedding photos done, so making it official was just a matter of time. As for her talk about calling off their marriage yesterday, Carter didn't give it a second thought. 'No way she'd actually refuse,' Carter thought with a sneer. "Alright, I got it," Carter said, then headed straight upstairs. The master bedroom was still empty. They were planning to move in after the wedding. Carter and Whitney had each been staying in their own guest rooms, so he had no idea the wedding portrait on the wall in the master bedroom had disappeared. As soon as Carter sat down, his phone rang. It was from James. "Carter, did you and Whitney get your marriage license yet? I haven't seen any updates in the group chat," James asked. Carter paused for a second and replied, "Grandpa, I had something come up that day, so we didn't get it done. I forgot to tell you. We'll do it after your birthday party." "Get it done soon. Don't keep me worrying," James said. He added, "By the way, I heard Emily's back?" Carter knew all too well that five years ago, Emily had left because James wanted her to marry someone she didn't like. Carter had no clue what Emily and James talked about that night, but after James dropped the matchmaking idea, she packed up and left without looking back. She didn't even tell Carter she was leaving. That year, Carter's relationship with his family hit rock bottom. It wasn't until he got engaged to Whitney that things finally started to thaw. "Yeah, I guess she's back." Carter shrugged, acting like he didn't care. His laid-back attitude made James relax, and he replied, "Alright. I'll have your dad call her. She should come home. "Carter, doesn't matter who else is back. I want you and Whitney to get your marriage license soon. You get that?" Carter's gaze grew serious. "Yeah, I know." After hanging up, Carter rubbed his temples. James's birthday party was tomorrow, and when Carter checked his chat with Whitney, it was still stuck on the day he bailed on her. He sent another message: [Grandpa's birthday party is tomorrow. Are you back from your trip yet?] He waited a whole hour, and all she sent back was a single question mark. Carter's annoyance was written all over his face. He replied: [Whitney, enough with the attitude. Don't you get how big a deal Grandpa's birthday party is?] Whitney had just finished her shower when she saw Carter's message. She didn't get angry. Instead, she let out a cold laugh. She replied: [We've broken up. I won't be at your grandpa's birthday party tomorrow. Take whoever you want.] Carter was losing his patience. [Still playing those push-pull games? Who said we broke up? I'm picking you up at seven tomorrow. Whitney, you know how much Grandpa cares about you. Do you want him to be disappointed on his birthday?] His message was half threat, half warning. Whitney let out a cold scoff. [I can go with you, but you need to pay my appearance fee right now.] She sent over her bank account and added. [Just mark it as service fee in the memo.] Carter's expression was tinged with irritation. He honestly had no clue what kind of stunt Whitney was pulling this time. But he couldn't be bothered to argue with her, so he just wired 300 thousand dollars over without a second thought. Whitney checked the record in seconds, then replied: [Thanks, boss!] She couldn't be bothered to type even one more word. Anything extra just felt like a waste of energy. Chapter 3 I'm Done With Him Whitney arrived at the villa right on time, dressed in a purple bodycon dress. Her slightly wavy hair was casually tied back with a white ribbon. Her skin was fair and smooth, her eyes sparkled, and her smile was dazzling. Even with her radiant features, she gave off a cool and distant vibe. The purple dress softened the sharp lines of her face, giving her a gentler vibe. As Carter opened the car door, he caught sight of Whitney walking into the courtyard. It was the first time he'd ever seen her in such a dress. The fitted cut hugged every curve of her body, and for a moment, Carter couldn't take his eyes off her. She was beautiful, but there was a dangerous allure about her that made his blood run hot. Carter's brows drew together, his voice cold. "Go and change into another dress." Whitney let out a soft scoff, retorting, "Why should I?" Carter replied, "It's Grandpa's birthday party. You can't dress like that. You're drawing way too much attention." Whitney gracefully opened the back door. "That's exactly what I want. Maybe at your funeral, I'll wear something plain." "Whitney," Carter growled through clenched teeth. Whitney didn't even spare him a glance. She just settled herself in the back seat. Carter slid into the driver's seat and ordered, "Get in the front. I'm not your driver." Whitney glanced at the pearl earrings tossed on the front seat, her eyes turning cold. "I'd better not. It's a mess. I'd rather not ruin my dress." Carter wondered if Whitney was on her period or something since she suddenly threw a fit for no reason. But he then remembered that she usually got her period at the end of the month. Time was almost up, and Carter really couldn't afford to stall any longer. As James's eldest grandson, he couldn't show up late. ***** As soon as he parked, Carter held out his arm, waiting for Whitney to take it. Whitney shot him a look of pure disdain, but then, she remembered it was James's birthday. As Carter said, James was the one who'd always been on their side about the engagement. Whitney couldn't embarrass James today. She pulled a silk scarf from her purse, wrapped it around her palm, then looked up at him. "Alright, let's go." Just that little gesture made the veins in Carter's temple throb. "Whitney, don't get too far. Are you really that put off by me?" Carter snapped. Whitney put on a faint smile and shrugged. "Is it that obvious? I'll try to control myself later." ***** As soon as they stepped into the party hall, all eyes were on them. Carter was blessed with killer looks, and just standing there was enough to make him the center of attention. Those star-bright eyes, razor-sharp brows, and chiseled features made him look almost unreal. There was a faint smile on his lips, but it carried a touch of chill that kept people at arm's length. As the eldest son of the Harris family, the most powerful clan in Ravorport, everyone was dying to cozy up to him. His warm hand patted Whitney's hand through the silk scarf. "I'll say hi to a client. Enjoy yourself." Whitney gave a faint, dismissive smile and quickly slipped her hand free. Her palm had been wrapped up in that scarf for a while, and as expected, it was sweaty now. Carter was clearly annoyed, but he had bigger things to handle. Face still cold, he turned and walked away. As soon as Carter walked away, a bunch of pesky busybodies swarmed over. "Well, look who it is. Carter's fiancée he just can't seem to shake off," one of the women snarked. "Didn't someone swear just a few days ago she'd never cling to Carter?" Whitney shot the woman a cold look. "What, is Carter suddenly unable to have kids or something?" The woman just wanted to make Whitney angry. She'd never dare insult Carter for real. "What nonsense are you spouting?" the woman shot back. Whitney's eyes sparkled with sarcasm. "Yeah, I did swear. If he really can't have kids, doesn't that mean I broke my promise? Who knows if he's still capable? Why don't you test it for me?" "You!" The woman shot Whitney a death glare, her voice sharp with anger. The girls standing with her all gawked at Whitney, their eyes practically popping out of their heads. ''Has Whitney totally lost her mind?' they thought. 'Did she seriously just tell someone to seduce her own fiancé?' "Enjoy it while you can. Once Emily walks in, you'll be feeling like a nobody," the woman snarked. Whitney almost forgot about Emily. As the Harris family's golden girl, she surely wouldn't skip out on such an important event. Just then, another woman's voice rang out. "Whit, Mom and I have been calling you nonstop for days. Why are you ghosting us?" Whitney turned back, catching sight of Tina Moore, her half-sister, storming over, clearly pissed off. Whitney's eyes flicked to the well-dressed lady next to Tina—her stepmother, Laura Moore. Laura flashed a smile and said, "Whit, didn't you say you and Carter were getting your marriage license on Valentine's Day? Funny, I haven't seen you post anything about it in our family group chat." Whitney looked away, pulled out her phone, and said, "Oh, sorry, must've hit 'leave group' by accident. Looks like you three are doing just fine without me. It doesn't really matter if I'm in or not, huh?" Whitney's father, Samuel Moore, wasn't here today. Ever since Whitney's mother died when she was three, and her father remarried just three months later, it felt like she'd lost her real father too. "Whitney, what's that supposed to mean? Can you not be so rude to my mom?" Tina snapped, glaring at Whitney. Before Whitney could say anything, Tina's eyes lit up. "Emily's here. Mom, I gotta say hi to her." Laura gave a small smile. "Watch your step. Don't fall." "Don't take it to heart, Whit. Emily is always hot-headed. She and Emily are super close, and it's been five years since they last saw each other. You can understand why she's so hyped, huh?" Laura said. "By the way, does Carter know his sister is back?" Laura asked. Everyone in their circle knew just how much Carter doted on his adopted sister, Emily. He spoiled her so much that people couldn't help but wonder if Emily hadn't been adopted by the Harris family, maybe Carter would be engaged to her instead. But nobody would ever dare say that out loud in front of the Harrises. Years ago, James had already made it clear to shut down all the rumors that Emily was and always would be the Harris family's daughter. Whitney didn't say a word and just kept her mouth shut. Laura, as always, tried to rile Whitney up with those little digs. But Whitney wasn't that weak girl anymore. Laura just smiled, and when she spotted Carter striding quickly toward them from the other side of the party hall, her smile turned even more smug. "Whit, who would've thought after five years, Carter still spoils his sister just as much," Laura said. Whitney felt another crack in her heart. "Yeah, sure. But Laura, do you think Carter even knows that Emily's bestie has a thing for him too?" Laura's face fell instantly. "Oh, Whit, you really do love to joke. Tina would never go after your man." Whitney flashed a carefree smile. "No worries. I'm done with him." Laura looked at her, stunned. "Whit, you..." She glanced at Whitney, then at the man standing behind her. "Whitney, who exactly are you done with?" Carter's voice cut through the air. Chapter 4 Klein Harris Laura gave a gentle smile. "Carter, Whit is just joking." Emily stood beside Carter. She wore a flowy white dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders, giving her a graceful and pure vibe. She moved closer to Whitney and said in a gentle voice, "Whitney, are you still upset with Carter about what happened the other day?" Tina let out a mocking laugh. "Whit, how can you even be upset with Carter?" But none of that was what Carter cared about. He lowered his gaze, his eyes dark and probing, his voice low and deliberate as he repeated, "Who exactly are you done with?" Whitney gave a mocking smile. "Are you deaf, Carter? I said I'm done with you." Laura arched her brows, a hint of surprise flickering in her eyes. She thought, 'Guess I really underestimated Whitney.' Carter's temper flared. He yanked Whitney into his arms, growling, "You think you can call the shots? "Knock it off. It's Grandpa's birthday. Come on, let's go greet Grandpa." Carter wrapped his arm around Whitney and walked right past Emily, heading straight for James at the main table. Tina watched the way Carter and Whitney were acting, stomping her foot. "Emily, has Carter lost his mind or what?" Emily's lashes fluttered as she shot Tina a teasing smile. "Tina, don't tell me you've got a thing for Carter too?" Tina was caught off guard. "I-I'm not." She sounded guilty, her voice growing quieter. "How could I have a thing for him? He's about to marry my sister." She practically choked on the words, like she couldn't stand it. Emily's expression went cold. She didn't even look at Tina anymore, her eyes fixed straight ahead. "Let's go, Tina. Come with me to see Grandpa." After five long years, Emily was ready to reclaim everything that was rightfully hers. ***** Whitney didn't argue with Carter anymore. After all, she got paid for this event, so she had to play along with Carter until the show was over. "James, this is my gift for you. Wishing you endless happiness and a healthy life," Whitney said with a polite smile. James grinned as he accepted the gift. "Whit, thank you. You and Carter's wedding is just a month away. You guys should get your marriage license." Everyone watching knew exactly what James was hinting at. He couldn't be happier with Whitney as Carter's wife. Carter felt a jolt of anxiety, worried that Whitney, who was clearly not thrilled about being here, might blurt out something outrageous and stir up trouble. He quickly jumped in and said, "Grandpa, we'll get it in a few days." James gave Carter a long, warning look. "Which day?" Carter pressed his lips together. "I'm flying to Riverpool for work tomorrow and coming back the day after. Once I'm back, we'll go get it." Whitney thought with a bitter smile, 'The day after tomorrow? I won't get that stupid license.' With a clear date set, James's mood visibly improved. He said, "Whit, go take a seat. I'm pretty busy today. You gotta help yourself." Whitney flashed a gentle smile. James was such a good guy, so Whitney wouldn't make things awkward for him. "It's alright, Grandpa. Go ahead and do your thing. Don't worry about me." Carter just gestured at a table. "You and Laura can sit here." He glanced back and spotted Emily deep in conversation with James. Carter didn't waste a second and rushed over to join them. "Whit, you see that? I knew it. Emily's always been the one Carter really cares about," Tina grumbled. Whitney didn't even spare her bratty stepsister a glance. Instead, she flashed a sweet smile at Laura. "Laura, when did you give Tina a brother? Dad's been dying for a son. Did you break the news to him?" Tina's face turned red with anger. "Whitney, when did my mom ever give me a brother?" Whitney smirked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "You keep talking about how Carter cares about Emily. I just figured you wanted a brother so badly. Maybe Laura will grant your little wish someday." Laura gave a strained smile. "Whit, that's a funny one." ''Is she really taking a jab at me for not being able to have a son?' Laura thought, feeling a little bitter. "Excuse me, Ms. Whitney Moore, Mr. Harris would like you to join him at the main table," a servant said to Whitney. Whitney was momentarily taken aback, then stood up with a smile. "Sure, thank you." Tina's face contorted in frustration as she could only watch Whitney walk away. She complained, "Mom, did you see that?" Laura gave her a warning glare. "Enough. Keep it together. Remember why we're here." Tina's nerves instantly calmed. She was not here to butt heads with Whitney today. "Did you hear? Klein is coming later," someone whispered. "Wait, you mean Klein Harris? He's back in the country?" another person asked. "Yeah, Klein's pretty much got the Harris family's overseas business all sorted out, so of course he's coming back," the first speaker replied. Everyone knew the real head of the Harris family was Klein Harris, James's youngest, mysterious, and low-key son. "I heard Klein's still single. Now that he's back, all the socialites and heiresses in Ravorport are going to be scheming to get his attention," someone teased. ***** "Whit, sit next to Carter. Honestly, Carter, grow up. Of course your wife should be at the main table with you," James said. Both Carter's parents smiled. "That's right, Whit. I really can't wait for you to marry Carter," Sabrina, Carter's mother, said warmly. She then turned to Emily. "Emily, you've been abroad for five years, so you might not know Whitney is about to marry Carter. You two probably met before." Emily's smile faltered for a moment, then she replied, "Yeah, I know her. Whitney and I went to the same high school." Carter couldn't bear to see Emily looking so uneasy, so he gently placed a peeled shrimp in her plate. "Here, Emily, have some. Shrimp's your favorite, isn't it?" James's eyes narrowed just a touch. Though he was a bit displeased, he kept it to himself in front of the crowd. "Why don't you let Carter peel one for you too, Whit?" James suggested with a smile. Carter had already peeled a second shrimp and was just about to drop it into Whitney's plate when she cut in, her tone icy. "Thanks, Grandpa, but I'm allergic to seafood." Whitney met Carter's eyes, her words loaded with meaning. "Thanks, but let Emily have it instead." James let out a chuckle, shooting Carter another subtle glare. "Klein said traffic is a nightmare. He told us not to wait for him." "Grandpa, is Uncle Klein sticking around for good this time?" Carter asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice. George, Carter's father, had always been running the show for Harris Group's domestic business, while Klein was calling the shots overseas. Everyone said James had two amazing sons, but there were always folks in the background egging them on to go head-to-head just for the drama. Too bad James had already mapped out their futures ages ago. George was the reliable, old-school type. He was the safe bet for keeping the family legacy intact. But Klein was ruthless and decisive, and he was James's favorite successor. Due to Klein's moves, the Harris family could stand at the very top of Ravorport's high society. Everyone thought he was a wild card, but every risky decision he made turned out to be absolutely right. Five years ago, James stepped back from the company for good and put Klein in charge. But Klein was never one for the spotlight. He handed off the domestic business and headed overseas to build his own empire. James shot Carter a look and asked, "What, are you worried Klein will keep you in line now that he's back?" Klein was 33—not old by any means, but he was seriously old-fashioned. Back when Carter was 17, he once snuck out with Emily for a joyride in the family car. Klein almost got him in serious trouble with the law for it. So Carter was always a bit afraid of Klein. Carter rubbed his nose, trying to play it cool. "No way, why would I be?" He gave an awkward laugh, but when he caught Whitney's icy glare, a few sparks of anger flared up inside him. He leaned in close to her ear, his voice thick with annoyance. "What's so funny?" Whitney picked up a piece of fish and popped it into her mouth. "Nothing. I just think you're pretty amusing." A deep, magnetic voice came from overhead. "What's so funny? Mind sharing the joke with everyone?" Whitney's heart skipped a beat. A man walked over, his tall figure gradually coming into view. He wore a charcoal gray suit, his black shirt buttoned up to the collar. His eyes were sharp and piercing, his brows drawn, his expression impossible to read. "Dad, sorry I'm late." The speaker was none other than Klein Harris. Chapter 5 Don't Call Me Mrs. Harris Whitney was caught off guard by Klein's sudden question. She'd just been making fun of Carter, but now, she couldn't even force a smile. It wasn't just that Carter was afraid of Klein. Whitney wanted nothing more than to avoid seeing her Klein. When Whitney was 16, she spent a whole month practicing her confession in her mind before finally gathering the courage to tell Carter how she felt while the adults of the Harris family were away. She stood outside Carter's bedroom door, head down, nervously staring at her shoes. Gathering all her courage, she finally knocked. The door slowly opened, but Whitney kept her head lowered, too nervous to look at the boy she liked. Her cheeks turned bright red as she managed to say, "Carter, I like you." She wished she could erase that memory forever. But then, she heard a man's slightly apologetic voice next to her ear. "Whitney, Carter's room is downstairs." Whitney looked up in shock, only to find that it wasn't Carter in front of her—it was Klein. He stood there with nothing but a towel around his waist, smelling faintly of body wash. His eyes had a playful curve, mixed with a hint of confusion. Whitney couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze. She mumbled a quick sorry and dashed downstairs without a second glance. After that, Whitney avoided coming to Harris Manor for months. ***** "Hey, wake up." Carter nudged her, and Whitney snapped out of it. She immediately lowered her head and mumbled, "Hi, Uncle Klein." ''She was just giving me attitude a second ago, but as soon as Uncle Klein shows up, she goes so quiet,' Carter thought, a little amused. "Uncle Klein, we were just talking about you. It's been forever since you came back. We've all missed you," Carter said. Klein grabbed the seat beside James, slung his jacket over the chair, and casually rolled up his sleeves. "Oh, really? Funny, I remember you were the one laughing the hardest when I left, Carter." Carter looked a bit awkward. "That was forever ago, Uncle Klein. Let's not bring it up now." "Dad, sorry I'm late. I propose a toast," Klein said. James's eyes crinkled with laughter. It was no secret that Klein was his favorite son. "No worries, Klein. You just got off the plane. No drinking for you," James said. Klein just smiled faintly, didn't say a word, and downed his drink in one go. Then his calm eyes scanned the room before settling on the person to his left. "Carter, have you two gotten your marriage license yet? I came back just for your wedding," Klein said. Emily's glass crashed to the floor, shards scattering everywhere. She bent down to apologize. "Sorry, I lost my grip." Without missing a beat, she knelt down to pick up the shards of glass scattered on the floor. Suddenly, Emily sucked in a sharp breath, hissing in pain. "Careful," Carter called out. Seeing blood start to drip from her finger, Carter darted over and gently cradled her hand, his tone a mix of concern and teasing. "Why do you always get yourself hurt like this?" He then said to James, "Grandpa, I'm taking Emily to get her hand bandaged." Without even glancing at the sour looks around the table, Carter gently wrapped his arm around Emily's trembling shoulders and led her away. ''He should hurry up to get her bandaged up,' Whitney thought, rolling her eyes. 'If he doesn't hurry, that tiny cut will be healed by the time he gets back.' Not just James, but Sabrina and George turned grim in an instant. Nobody was fooled by Carter's little act. Sabrina gave a gentle smile and patted Whitney's hand. "Whit, Emily's always been frail since she was little, so Carter naturally looks out for her." Klein, with a faint, unreadable smile, turned the plate of fish toward Whitney. "Try some fish, Whitney. I remember you loved it when you were little," Klein said. His tone was offhand, but the way he acted like a proper elder made Whitney squirm. She dreaded hearing him talk about her childhood the most. She kept her head down and replied, "Thanks, Uncle Klein." ***** Even after the dinner ended, Carter and Emily never showed up again. Whitney stood up and nodded respectfully. "Grandpa, it's getting late. I have a case in court tomorrow, so I'll leave now." James couldn't help but curse Carter in his head. He finally replied, "Alright, work comes first." He looked around, then added, "Wait, you didn't drive, did you? Why don't you have Klein take you home?" Whitney immediately declined. "No thanks, Grandpa. Uncle Klein's been drinking." ''No way. If he gets busted for a DUI right after coming back to the country, I'd never live it down,' Whitney thought. Klein chuckled. "It's fine. I've got an international meeting tonight, so I'm leaving anyway. The driver can drop you off on the way." And just like that, Whitney had no choice but to get into Klein's car. She tried to get in the front seat, but the driver actually locked the door on her. With an awkward smile, she slid into the back seat. "Thanks, Uncle Klein." Klein smirked. "No problem." "Where to? The place you and Carter share?" Klein asked. His voice was low, with a trace of alcohol on his breath. Whitney almost shook her head, but then she remembered the Harrises didn't know about their breakup yet. "Skyline Garden," she nodded and said. Klein's face turned cold as he ordered the driver, "Skyline Garden. Go." Whitney angled herself toward the window, trying not to even catch a glimpse of Klein. But even in the silence, the tension in the car was so thick that Whitney felt suffocated by Klein's presence. "Enjoying the view out there?" Klein asked. "It's nothing special," Whitney replied. It was only after she spoke that Whitney realized she'd actually answered Klein. Klein let out a low chuckle. "Why are you so absorbed in it?" "So you'd rather stare out the window than look at me, just because you're scared?" he teased. Whitney flinched, whispering, "No, it's not that." After that, she leaned against the window and dozed off. When she woke up, she found a blanket draped over her. Rubbing her eyes, still half-asleep, she asked, "Oh, we arrived? Uncle Klein, why didn't you wake me up?" When she turned her head, she saw Klein working intently on his laptop, with his headphones on. ''So he really was in a meeting,' Whitney thought. She quietly unbuckled her seatbelt, set the blanket aside, mouthed a silent thank you to Klein, and slipped out of the car. "Mr. Harris, did you just hear something?" someone in the meeting asked. Klein gave a faint frown. "Yeah, that was my nephew's wife. Let's get back to it." ***** Whitney finally stepped out of the car. After returning home, she sank into the couch, her nerves still rattled from the ride. After five years away, Klein was more of a mystery than ever. Whitney just couldn't figure him out anymore. "Madam, do you want anything to eat tonight?" Linda asked. Whitney glanced at the clock, and it was already nine. "Nope, thanks," she replied. She waited another ten minutes. Her case files were still at her own apartment. Of course she couldn't show up in court tomorrow in the dress she was wearing now. Whitney grabbed her purse and headed out the door. Linda looked surprised. "Mrs. Harris, are you heading out now?" Whitney gave a faint smile. "Don't call me Mrs. Harris." Soon enough, Carter would be out of her life for good. Chapter 6 Selective Hearing Whitney stood at the villa gate, waiting for the Uber driver to accept the order. The villa was way out of the city center, so she had to wait 10 minutes before her ride finally showed up. She didn't notice the Maybach lurking in the darkness. Klein glanced at his watch, muttering, "Just got home, and she's heading out again?" *****Stretched out in her own 120-square-yard apartment, Whitney finally felt alive again. She checked her bank balance. She just needed a little more, and she could pay off the apartment in full. After college, Whitney mostly lived alone, always renting her own place. Samuel always paid her tuition, but from the moment she turned 18, she was determined to leave home for good. Now, the Moore family felt more like strangers to her. And to Samuel, Whitney was just a pawn he could use whenever he needed. If she really wanted to call off the engagement with Carter for good, she'd have to fall out with her father—no turning back. Thinking about all this, Whitney soon drifted off into a deep sleep. ***** At 5 PM the next day, Whitney walked out of the courthouse in a sharp black suit. She'd just said goodbye to her client when she received a call from her father. "Whit, bring Carter over for dinner tonight. April cooked all your favorites. Don't be late," Samuel said. Whitney hung up and snorted under her breath. No way she was reaching out to Carter. She thought she might as well just go back and tell them the truth face-to-face. "Ms. Whitney Moore, you're back," April greeted her. She had been the Moore family's housekeeper for years. She was the only one who'd talk to Whitney so respectfully. Every time April talked to Whitney like this, Tina would always roll her eyes at April. "April, I brought you some strawberry cake. Thought you'd like it," Whitney said. "Thank you, Ms. Whitney Moore. You're always so sweet. I really wish your mother were still around," April replied. Whitney smiled and patted her shoulder. "Don't say that. If they hear you, they'll just make things hard for you." Whitney stepped into the foyer still dressed in her business suit, and Samuel's expression soured upon seeing her. "Couldn't you at least change out of those work clothes before coming home?" He never liked Whitney's career. To him, a woman spending her days debating with people was hardly what he considered ladylike. "Didn't you tell me to get here early?" Whitney retorted. "Go wash your hands. Carter's already here," Samuel said. Whitney frowned when she spotted Carter lounging on the couch. "Why are you here?" she asked. She hadn't called Carter, and she didn't think he would just show up for no reason. "I called Carter," Samuel said, shooting Whitney a look before quickly putting on a friendly smile. "Carter, don't take it to heart. She just blurts out whatever crosses her mind. You know her, huh?" Carter put on a faint smile. "Samuel, I actually like Whit just the way she is." "Gross," Whitney muttered, genuinely feeling a wave of nausea. Samuel's face darkened. "Do you have any manners at all?" Whitney just shrugged, her tone dry. "You guys enjoy your dinner. I'm still full from breakfast, so I'll skip dinner." And just like that, Whitney disappeared into her room. The moment she opened the door, boxes came crashing down from behind it. Her eyes grew cold as she took a quick look around. There were all sorts of packages piled up everywhere, some ripped open, some still taped shut. Her bedroom in this house had pretty much become their dumping ground. "Oh, Whit, you just walk right into my room without even getting my permit?" Tina whined, pretending to be shocked. Whitney narrowed her eyes. "Your room?" "Tina, you've got five minutes to explain why my room is stuffed with all your crap," Whitney said coldly. Tina tilted her chin up, smirking. "Look, your room's way bigger than mine. You never even stay here anymore, so why can't I use it for my stuff? "Come on, Whit, you're not actually mad about this, are you?" Whitney might not stay here anymore, but she wouldn't allow her space to get buried under other people's crap. She just smirked, didn't even care if the boxes were dirty, grabbed a handful off the floor, and started chucking them right into Tina's room. "Whit, what are you doing? Are you nuts?" Tina yelled. Whitney just grinned, "I wasn't before, but I'm about to lose it now." The commotion upstairs finally made Samuel sigh. He said, "Laura, go check what's going on upstairs. What are the two girls fighting about?" Laura stood up, forcing a smile. "Yeah, sure. Seriously, Whit just can't help but start something with Tina every time she walks in the door." Carter hardly ever dropped by the place. Even though he and Whitney had been together for five years, he hadn't set foot in their house over five times. "Samuel, maybe I should go check on them." Carter offered. "No need. Just sit down. They are always bickering. It's nothing new," Samuel replied. When Laura got upstairs, she saw Whitney chucking boxes left and right into Tina's room. "Whitney, what are you doing?" Laura snapped. Whitney shot her a cold look. "Tina's graduating this year, right? She's not a kid anymore. Laura, you really ought to teach her how to act. Otherwise, once she's out in the real world, people are just gonna call her out for being." "You..." Tina choked on her words. "Come on, Tina's still young and immature. Didn't expect you to blow up just because she put some stuff in your room. Next year, I'll talk to Samue. Maybe we'll just renovate the whole villa," Laura said. Whitney's eyes instantly turned icy. This villa was the only piece of her childhood left, the last memory she had of her mom. And now, Laura wanted to destroy even that. "Forget the renovation. Why not just have Dad buy Tina a new house? Grandma probably wouldn't agree with it," Whitney snapped. Laura's face stiffened. She gave Whitney a long, cold look and replied, "We'll see about that when the time comes." ''She can only bring up that old guy to put me in my place,' Laura thought bitterly. The place was a total dust pit, so Whitney asked April to give it a good scrub. She planned to change the lock on her bedroom. She'd give April a spare key, and she'd keep the rest for herself. When Whitney came downstairs, Carter had just finished chatting with Samuel. "Alright, it's getting late. Carter just got back from a business trip and came straight here after landing. Whit, make sure Carter gets some rest when you get home," Samuel said. Whitney snorted, "Don't worry. He's got plenty of people to look after him." Carter didn't seem bothered at all. "Whit, let's go. We've got to get our marriage license tomorrow, remember?" Tina had just come downstairs when she heard that, and something nasty flickered in her eyes. ''Seriously, is Carter really going to marry that crazy woman?' Tina thought. Samuel burst out laughing, nodding eagerly. "Tomorrow is a great day. Getting the marriage license is perfect." "Whit, I need to talk to you for a minute. Carter, can you wait in the car for a bit?" Samuel said. Carter gave Whitney and Samuel a long look, then gave a small smile. "Sure, I'll wait in the car." As soon as Carter left, Samuel shut the door and put on a long face. "Whit, you need to watch your tone with Carter. What kind of wife talks to her husband like that?" Samuel said sharply. Whitney just shrugged. "Not happy with my attitude? Well, I'm not marrying him anyway." "What did you just say?" Samuel's voice shot up. Pointing at her, he demanded, "Repeat yourself." ''Well, another one with selective hearing,' Whitney thought. "I said, I'm not marrying him. Clear now?" Whitney snapped. Chapter 7 None Of Your Business Samuel's hand came down hard across Whitney's cheek with a loud smack. "How dare you!" he snapped. Whitney's head was whipped to the side, her cheek burning with pain. She lifted her gaze, locking eyes with Samuel. "Why wouldn't I dare? What is there for me to be afraid of? "He doesn't love me, so I don't want to marry him. Can't I just say no?" Samuel's chest rose and fell with anger. "Love? What's that worth? Do you even realize Dad's company is hanging by a thread? If you just marry into the Harris family, we can have a way out. "If you don't, then we might as well just wait to go bankrupt." Fate never gave Samuel a son. Both his wives bore him daughters. His younger daughter, Tina, would sweet-talk him and always knew how to lift his mood. But Whitney? She was stubborn as a mule. Whitney chuckled. "Then let it go bankrupt." To Whitney, the company was already running on fumes. Bankruptcy was not a bad thing at all. "Once it's bankrupt, I can support you myself with my salary. You won't need anyone else," Whitney said. Samuel was so furious that it felt like his insides were twisting. He retorted, "Save it. Your paycheck wouldn't even last me a day. "Whitney, you'd better think twice. If it weren't for the engagement between our families, you really think the Harris family would ever accept you?" Whitney smirked. "Well, why not just give the engagement over to Tina?" Tina's eyes instantly went wide. "Seriously? You sure you won't regret it?" Whitney clicked her tongue, not bothering to say another word. She grabbed her bag and strode out. ***** When she stepped outside, Carter was leaning against his car, with a cigarette in hand. As soon as he saw her, he stubbed out his cigarette and tossed it into the trash can nearby. As Whitney got closer, Carter finally noticed the red mark standing out against her fair skin. "Did Samuel hit you?" Carter asked, his brows knitting together. He reached out, wanting to get a better look at her face, but Whitney swatted his hand away. "None of your business," she said coldly. Carter's eyes darkened. He thought, 'Just like her dad said, she's stubborn as a mule.' "Get in the car. We'll get our marriage license tomorrow. I missed Valentine's Day, but I'll make it special tomorrow," Carter said. ''Now he cares about making it special?' Whitney thought. 'Too bad. It's way too late for that.' Whitney's voice was calm and even. "Carter, we don't need to do this. I told you we're over." Carter had just been worried about her, yet now, he had fire in his eyes. "Whitney, enough. Emily is my sister. No one could replace you. How many times do I have to spell it out for you?" "But you know she's not your birth sister. You're not even family by blood. Can you swear you'll never see her again?" Whitney asked. Whitney caught the way Carter looked away, and she knew exactly what that meant. "See? You can't do it, and neither can I. Just thinking about what's between you two makes my skin crawl," Whitney shot back. Carter's breath grew heavy, and suddenly, he steered her into the passenger seat. "Feel however you want, but breaking up? It's never happening," Carter snapped. He hit the gas, and the car sped off into the night. Whitney cast Carter a cold, sideways glance. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his bad mood written all over his face. But she couldn't help but find it amusing. She grumbled inwardly, 'What right does he have to be angry?' "I'm not looking to die tonight. Slow down, or I'll call the cops," Whitney snapped, shooting Carter a glare. Carter caught sight of her bloodless lips out of the corner of his eye. Remembering she'd complained about her stomach earlier, he let up on the gas, and the car slowed down. When they got out, Whitney slammed the car door hard and marched straight up to the guest room on the second floor, her expression icy. Carter trailed after her, hesitating outside her door for a moment before heading off to his own room. Neither of them bothered with the master bedroom. Whitney rubbed her stomach, forcing herself to reply to her clients's messages. She checked her calendar, sorted out her cases for next week, and finally shut her laptop. She was logged into her alt X account, and the only person she followed was Emily. Last time, she checked out Emily's page, and she forgot to switch back to her main account. Whitney noticed a red dot on her following list and couldn't help but click. Emily had just posted a new tweet five minutes ago. Emily: [My brother got me the Heart of Angel as a welcome-back gift. What do you guys think? Isn't it gorgeous?] ''So it was Carter who dropped 15 million dollars at Crownstone Auction House for the Heart of Angel,' Whitney thought. Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Whitney dragged herself to open it. Carter was standing there, one hand in his pocket, the other holding out a gift box. He said, "Saw this at the mall while I was away. Figured you'd like it, so I got it for you." If Whitney hadn't just seen Emily's post, she might've actually thought Carter was finally trying to make amends. But now, staring at the jewelry box that felt almost like a joke, she wasn't angry. Instead, she gave a small smile. "Wow, what a surprise. Hope it didn't break the bank." Carter frowned, picking up on the snark in her voice. "Hundreds of thousands won't break the bank." Whitney took the box and tried to shut the door, but Carter stepped into the doorway, stopping her. She raised an eyebrow, asking, "Got another gift for me?" Carter raised his eyebrow. "Nope. "Just a reminder. We're getting our marriage license tomorrow." Whitney glanced at her phone, nonchalantly reading the new message that popped up. [Whit, are you with Carter right now? With a call from Emily, he'll ditch you in a second. Wanna try it?] The message was quickly deleted. Carter looked annoyed. "Hey, I'm talking to you." Whitney gave him a half-smile, her eyes locked on his. "Sorry, what did you say?" Carter repeated, clearly impatient, "We're getting our marriage license tomorrow. Don't sleep in..." Before he could finish, his phone started ringing in his pocket. "Hey, Milly," Carter answered, his face instantly changing. "Where are you? I'm coming right now. Just wait for me." He didn't even spare Whitney a glance as he rushed downstairs. A moment later, she heard the car speeding off into the night. ''Marriage license? What a joke,' Whitney scoffed to herself. Whitney didn't waste a second. She sent the jewelry straight off to a high-end consignment store. This time, she packed up the sheets, comforter set, scented candles, bath products—every single thing she'd picked out for their home—and shoved it all into boxes. Next, she made her way to Carter's room. She opened his closet and grabbed every shirt and tie she'd ever bought for him, stuffing them into her suitcase too. Whitney hauled another suitcase downstairs. Linda was a little stunned. "M-Madam, are you going on another business trip?" Whitney gave a faint smile. "No, I'm moving out. I probably won't be coming back." Linda watched Whitney walk away, her eyes wide with shock. 'Is she just joking, or is she really not coming back?' Linda wondered. ***** "Milly, why are you always so careless? You know your health isn't great. Why don't you just stay with Mom and Dad?" Carter said, worry etched in his voice. Emily's tears landed on Carter's hand, wet and sudden. Seeing her tears fall like pearls, Carter felt a sharp pain in his heart. "Milly, I wasn't trying to be harsh with you..." Emily wiped her tears away with her hand. "I know, Carter. I know I'm not very helpful. But what can I do?" Her voice faded to a whisper. "You're the only one who cares about me in this house." Carter set down the cotton swab and carefully pulled her into his arms. "Come on, don't cry. I was too harsh earlier. It's alright. I've got your back, always."

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