Chapter 2

Even now, Brandon still thought he could manipulate me with his fake love. What he didn’t know was that I no longer love him.

I walked past him without a word, but he grabbed my arm.

“Alright, stop sulking. Haven’t you always wanted to go to France? The scenery there is beautiful. I’ll take you on a trip soon to clear your mind,” he offered perfunctorily.

I had dreamed of going to France for so long, but Brandon never had the time to go with me. Instead, he frequently used business trips as an excuse to visit that romantic paradise with Karina.

“No need. You’re busy with work,” I replied calmly.

Soon, I would visit France with my new husband for our honeymoon—not waste my life waiting endlessly for Brandon’s empty promises.

Apparently, my indifference annoyed him, and his patience wore thin.

“Serena, let me remind you—no one else will ever accept your past. A woman as tainted as you has no right to throw a tantrum at me!” he snapped.

Karina laughed mockingly. “Can a woman who has lost her purity even call herself a woman? If I were her, I’d just smash my head into a wall and end it. Living like this—useless and living off men—is pathetic.”

Brandon snorted in disdain. “Did you hear that? You should learn from Karina’s ability to handle things. Tonight, accompany me to an event. The host is one of your mother’s friends—figure out a way to secure their cooperation for me.”

Without giving me a chance to refuse, he left with Karina.

I glanced at the used condom near the couch and let out a bitter laugh.

Brandon used my past to control me, degrade me, humiliate me, and exploit me. But he conveniently forgot one thing—what happened back then wasn’t my fault.

I sacrificed everything for him because I loved him. But now that love is gone, and so was his hold over me.

Later, Brandon had someone deliver a gown for me to wear to the event.

The dress had a stain on the bodice—clearly a secondhand piece Karina had worn.

It reminded me of the countless “luxury” gifts Brandon had given me over the years.

People who didn’t know better praised him as a loving and generous partner, never realizing those gifts were just hand-me-downs from his mistress.

I packed up the dress, along with all the other things he’d ever given me, and threw them away. Yet as I looked around the home I’d lived in for seven years, tears started to fall.

The sting of tears against my healing wound brought me back to my senses.

I wiped them away, composed myself, and headed to the event.

When I arrived, Brandon didn’t notice I had changed into a different dress.

He just kept reminding me, “Make a good impression tonight. If you secure this deal, I’ll give you the grandest wedding ever!”

He had barely finished speaking when Karina, in a revealing low-cut dress, sauntered past us.

Without hesitation, he shoved me toward Uncle Kinsley and chased after her.

In the past, I would have done everything in my power to help him.

I’d lost count of how many times I drank until I suffered from stomach ulcers just to close a deal for him.

But this time, I said nothing about Brandon.

Instead, I handed Uncle Kinsley an invitation to my wedding with Wesley.

Looking at the invitation card, Uncle Kinsley was surprised, so I got no choice but to tell him everything.

After hearing the full story, his face darkened with anger. “It’s about time you ended things. Over the years, you’ve done so much for him, yet he still refused to marry you. To be honest, Brandon doesn’t deserve you.”

Before I could respond, another voice chimed in confidently. “Mr. Kinsley, it’s not about who deserves who. I won’t let Serena’s past define her. I love her, and I’m willing to accept everything about her.”

Brandon's hand rested on my shoulder, trying to show how good he was to me in front of Mr. Kinsley.