My brother leaned back in his chair and said casually: “Anyone else, maybe. But Garrett is different for her.“[]


    “Tiana’s in love with Garrett. She’s always wanted to marry him.“[]


    “But she’s had messy rtionships with every guy in their little group, plus she’s been pretty wild outside it too.“]


    “Hell, she even has a bastard kid she dumped on the father.“<b>] </b>


    “I didn’t notice all this at first because she was always hanging around Leo. I figured they were the actual couple.“[]


    “Any man with half a brain wouldn’t want to marry a woman like that.“]


    “But get this–she goes around calling herself a ‘modern woman,‘ always screaming about gender equality.“[]


    I stammered: “What kind of twisted logic makes her think that way?“]]


    My brother waved his hand dismissively: “Sutton, let’s talk business first. The ckwell marriage is definitely off, but I’m in a tight spot here.”


    He pulled out his phone and sent me a photo.[]


    “The Lambert heir–good–looking guy, grew up in Chicago. Take a look at his photo first?<b>“</b>[]


    “If you think there’s potential, maybe try getting to know him?“]


    There was something careful in my brother’s tone, and he sighed after speaking.


    “I used to be so arrogant, thinking my sister could marry for love instead of status. I didn’t want you having to deal with inws looking down on you.“]]


    “Never thought I’d end up having you reach above your station anyway.“]


    I stared at the photo on my phone for a long time, then asked in surprise: <b>“</b>Isn’t his name Ethan Williams? How is he a Lambert heir?”


    “He’s the Lambert family’s child they’ve been keeping under wraps. He went without the family name for years.“]]


    “Wait!… You know him??”


    I nodded: “I was an exchange student at Harvard during college–spent two years there. That’s when I met him.“[]


    My brother immediately sent me his number.]


    I tried searching and adding him, surprised to discover he’d never changed his username.[]


    And he’d been sitting quietly in my friends list this whole time.[]


    <b>“</b>Connor<b>, </b>business stuff is over my head–you take care of it,” I said with a smile. “We knew each other a bit in college. When I


    graduated and returned to Chicago, something happened with his family and we just drifted apart.“<b>[</b><b>] </b>


    “But looking back now, I guess it’s fate.“[]


    “Ok.” My brother stood up to leave.[]


    But at the door, he stopped and turned back: “Sutton, if it doesn’t feel right<b>, </b>forget it. Worst case, I’ll give up the American


    market.”


    I smiled and told him not to worry.


    But I could see he was still anxious.]


    What I didn’t expect was that even though Garrett and I hadpletely torn things apart, while I’d blocked his number, I hadn’t blocked his social media yet.[]


    He sent me message on IG:[]


    [Sutton, now that you know the whole story, you should understand my position. I didn’t have a choice.]]]


    [We’ve been together three years. If you’re going to marry me, you should consider my situation. What’s the big deal about swallowing some pride?]]]


    [Your brother Connor is restructuring assets and desperately needs to break into the American market.]]]


    [If you break off our engagement now, he’ll lose big. Think about it–if he loses the entire American market, what will happen to the Marshall family?]]


    The message sounded like a peace offering.]


    But every line dripped with threats.


    Just like how Mrs. ckwell had threatened me about having no connections in America.]]


    I didn’t reply–just blocked him immediately.[]


    The second I blocked Garrett, Ethan sent me a message.]]


    A long string of goofy emojis.[]


    “Sutton, is that really you?“[]


    “My dad’s forcing me into blind dates and I’m pissed as hell, but then I find out my date is you?“]


    <b>“</b><b>I </b>heard you’re a total badass fighter now? You gotta have my back from now on. I can’t fight–I can only eat.“[]


    He made meugh. I sent back a smiley face.[]


    Looks like my bar brawl had made me “famous.“]


    [Want to hang out? I’ll drive over and pick you up.] Ethan continued to send message.]]


    Pure artenstup<b>? </b>Then why the Baby This? Enjoy Your Cells, Soumates!


    <b>72.3</b><b>% </b>


    [My cousin’s in town too. Thanksgiving’sing up, so how about we bankrupt the Bet family tomorrow as my Thanksgiving gift to my future brother–inw?]]


    Bet family? Leo Bet?]


    The greasy asshole who’d threatened to rape me?]]


    To speed up his bankruptcy, I replied quickly:[]


    [Deal. Come get me, I’ll go change clothes.]]]


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