“If you love Barbara so deeply, why didn’t you marry her?”
Margaret forced herself to stand upright, drawing her last ounce of strength. “Had you not been lazy and greedy, had you actually supported the Rivera family, perhaps she could’ve become Victor’s mother. But now? I regret it. This family–I’m leaving it to you both.”
Like a solemn vow, the air seemed to solidify around them.
Charles’s face darkened, staring daggers at Margaret. Did she even comprehend her own words?
Margaret, don’t forget you’re the one who begged my father.” His voice turned icy. “You’re just a marriage alliance partner, nothing more.”
He crossed his arms and scoffed, “Now you expect affection? Don’t be greedy.”
“Too bad you’re unworthy.”
Those words drained Margaret’s strength.
How foolish. A marriage alliance shouldn’t breed such hopes. She’d mistaken years of secret longing for true love, forgetting this was always transactional.
Seeking affection now felt pretentious.
She nodded. He should’ve remembered sooner.
“Charles, the child’s here…”
Barbara grasped Charles‘ hand, her eyes filled with concern as she glanced at Mu Jin.
Charles deeply looked at Margaret, protected the child in his arms, and slammed the door shut with a thud.
Margaret stood frozen outside, the door rebounded and hit her face, yet she showed no reaction.
She truly knew she was wrong; the internet says all that bullshit about marrying someone you love.
This lifetime, she must love herself properly.
Even so, Margaret did not make things difficult for the Rivera family because of Charles.
The cooperation between the two families proceeded as usual, but she never expected Charles to brazenly bring Bar- bara to the summit appreciation banquet of the Lewis and Rivera families.
At the banquet, the crystal chandelier sliced the vaulted ceiling into countless prisms; refracted shards of light danced
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Chapter 10
along the rims of champagne glasses, like liquid stars falling to earth.
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Charles, as the eldest son of the Rivera family and master of the Lewis household, naturally became the center of at- tention at the banquet.
Margaret stood on the second floor, watching Charles hold Barbara’s hand as she moved through the crowd of busi- ness elites like the hostess.
Whenever someone looked puzzled, Charles would appear with a wine glass at just the right moment. When he looked at her, his eyes couldn’t hide the tenderness and adoration.
As for what kind of relationship it was? Some things are better left unsaid.
“Even after years of marriage, the eldest son of the Rivera family still can’t forget his first love. How devoted.”
“Even that little thing, I’ve never seen him so affectionate with you.”
Her best friend walked over to Margaret with a wine glass, unable to hold back her indignation seeing her friend like this.
Hearing the chatter by the staircase, her expression darkened instantly.
“Back in college, he was already entangled with this Barbara. Rumor has it she came from poverty, but their love seemed genuine. No one knows how he suddenly got rich enough to study abroad.”
“I remember that too. Their romance made half the campus dream of marrying into wealth.”
A beauty in canary yellow strapless gown lowered her voice: “Who does she think she is? Pure luck for Barbara.”
“So that’s how it was.”
The woman beside her had an epiphany: “No wonder I had more suitors that year. But what good is being someone’s first love? Only Margaret would be foolish enough to support them.”
“Idiot.” Someone shot Margaret a contemptuous glance: “Wealthy and attractive, yet she volunteers to be their cash cow. Countless men would marry her, but she’s clearly love–struck. She’ll throw her life away on that loser, you
know.”
Margaret listened quietly, unable to suppress a cold chuckle.
Indeed, what man couldn’t Margaret have? Yet she’d been such a Love–struck Fool, waiting all these years for Charles.
She took a deep breath, drained her glass, and walked out of the venue.
As if Fate sensed her despair, rain poured outside, the downpour nearly reaching her ankles.
Unconsciously, she wandered into the alley in Clarence town. Tools in the science classroom lay dilapidated, but this was where she’d first met Charles.
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