Chapter 2
His shout drew everyone’s attention.
“Is that really Cassidy Pierce?”
“How is this possible? Shouldn’t she look like some pathetic country girl by now?”
I heard all their whispers and understood why they were so shocked.
After all, in their imagination, being dumped in the countryside for three years would have transformed me into some haggard, dirt–poor country bumpkin.
Not what they were seeing now–me in an elegant maxi dress paired with a lightweight cardigan, a camera hanging around my neck. My hair and complexion were impeccably maintained, and I even sported a tasteful nude
manicure.
Not a hint of “country bumpkin” about me.
Julian’s gaze slowly traveled over me, surprise evident in his expression.
“Cassidy Pierce.”
He said my name with cold detachment. The difference between his tone with me versus Eliza was night and day.
I remembered how this used to upset me. How I used to cry and throw tantrums over it.
But now? Not a freaking chance.
“Mr. Hart,” I replied politely, shifting my produce basket to my other hand.
Hearing my response, Julian frowned slightly.
“Just three years and you’re acting like we’re strangers? Is that necessary?”
“I’m your fiancé. Is this how you speak to me? Clearly your time here wasn’t long enough–you haven’t learned your
lesson.”
“Keep this up, and I really will break off our engagement.”
I gave him a quick, dismissive glance.
What made him think that after three years, I would still have feelings for him?
When I was ten, I became an orphan.
Old Mr. Hart took me in and immediately announced my engagement to Julian.
From that moment, I knew Julian would be my husband.
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Chapter 2
So I allowed myself to fall in love with him, bit by bit, basking in his kindness.
At the height of our romance, he told me he loved me. He’d promised that as soon as I turned eighteen, we’d get
married.
Until Eliza arrived at the Hart estate, everything changed.
I watched as the affection that once belonged to me was gradually stolen away. I witnessed his unconditional
favoritism toward her.
I cried, raged, and even deliberately picked fights with Eliza.
Without exception, I was met with accusations and anger.
Later, Eliza’s necklace went missing.
Julian immediately came to me, demanding answers.
Though I disliked Eliza, I wasn’t low enough to steal from others.
Besides, my cat of eight years–a birthday gift from Julian–had fallen ill and was hospitalized.
I’d rented an apartment near the pet clinic to care for him and hadn’t been to the Hart estate in weeks.
I held my head high as I confronted Julian.
But somehow, her necklace was found in a jacket I hadn’t worn in months.
For that, Julian slapped me across the face and smashed the only keepsake I had left from my parents.
Looking at the bracelet shattered into pieces on the floor, I lunged at Julian like a madwoman.
During the chaos, Eliza fell down the stairs.
After that, Julian sent me to the countryside.
And my cat didn’t survive that summer.
Seeing that I remained silent, Julian’s expression grew impatient.
Just as he was about to lash out, I raised my hand, flashing the ring on my finger.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Hart. I’m already married.”
When Julian heard this, his frown deepened.
Eliza stepped forward, taking Julian’s arm, and looked at me with the condescending expression of someone dealing with a tantruming child.
“Cassidy, you shouldn’t tell lies.”
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Chapter 2
“Julian mentioned he cut off your bank cards, so these clothes… You’re young, don’t let yourself be taken advantage of by unsavory characters.”
Probably remembering how he’d cut off all my financial resources, at her words, Julian shifted his attention to my outfit, his gaze growing increasingly cold.
In their eyes, without the Hart family’s money, I didn’t deserve to wear nice clothes.
His friends looked at me with mockery.
One of them spoke up: “Cassidy, don’t tell me you’ve become someone’s sugar baby?”
“Out here in the middle of nowhere, it must be some desperate old man who couldn’t find a wife!”
Julian’s face instantly darkened with rage as he glared at me.
“Cassidy Pierce, have you no shame?!”
“It’s nothing if you want to disgrace yourself, but don’t you dare bring shame to our family.”
Judging by his expression, he clearly believed I had degraded myself, becoming someone’s mistress.
But Julian, we’ve known each other for how many years? Even if you dislike me, you should know what kind of
person I am. Did you really think I was the type to sell myself for money?
I looked around the group coldly.
“I should be asking if any of YOU have any shame. Did you all come all this way just to act like lunatics?”
“I’m not like you worthless people. I don’t need a man, and I don’t need the Hart family. I’m doing perfectly fine on
my own.”
Julian seemed startled by my retort, freezing momentarily.
Then he laughed coldly. “On your own? You?”
“Cassidy Pierce, don’t overestimate yourself! I know exactly what you’re trying to do–just desperate for my
attention as always.”
Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. This man really didn’t understand human language.
Desperate for his attention?
As if he deserved it!
I grabbed an egg from my basket and hurled it at him.
Caught off guard, Julian got a face full of raw egg.
“Ah, Julian!”
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Chapter 2
Upon seeing this, Eliza cried out in alarm.
Julian closed his eyes briefly, wiping away the egg with his hand, then raised his arm toward me.
I quickly stepped back, sneering, “What now, Mr. Hart? Going to hit me again?”
Julian froze mid–motion, taking a deep breath.
“Cassidy Pierce, you’ve really outdone yourself! Since that’s how you want it, stay here for the rest of your life.”
With that, he stormed off.
With the main character gone, the rest of the entourage quickly followed.
And Eliza was the last to leave.
As she passed me, she whispered, “Thank you, Cassidy. If not for you, Julian would never have seen how good I am to him.”
I didn’t respond.
That thing you’re bragging about? It’s just junk I already dumped.
If you like picking up garbage, then go ahead and take it.
