The Bride He Took For Granted
"She's boring and will never be as good as you."
Before the wedding, I listened to my fiancé confess his love to another young girl.
For years, I poured my soul into his company.
In return, he cheated on me.
No tears, I just exposed his affair on the massive screen at the wedding and walked away.
My ex assumed I would eventually crawl back.
But he was wrong…
A girl suddenly appeared in the upper-class circles of Los Angeles.
She was petite and delicate, came from a poor family, yet carried an unmistakable pride deep in her bones.
Like a wild kitten that had accidentally wandered into a glittering jungle, she possessed an untamed stubbornness and nervousness that stirred a powerful urge among the wealthy young heirs, who were accustomed to obedient girls, to tease and provoke her.
Among them was Elise White's fiancé, Landon Carter.
At a nightclub, the girl was being harassed by several rich young men and looked utterly miserable.
It was Landon who pushed through the crowd and took her away.
When Elise first heard about it, she did not think much of it. She even generously defended her fiancé:
"He did the right thing... He couldn't just stand by and do nothing... That's exactly what makes him so charming."
She thought it had merely been a simple act of kindness.
She never expected it would become the beginning of Landon's endless concern and attention toward that girl...
Elise knew Landon was currently at a private club with his friends.
So she brought the sample wedding photos and went to find him so they could choose a style together.
She passed through decorative screens and elegant pavilions shrouded in soft lighting and mist.
At the corner of the bar, she unexpectedly heard Landon's voice first.
"Why are you working another part-time job again?"
Elise stopped walking.
Only then did she notice two people standing beneath a landscaped pine tree not far away.
The man was tall, wearing a white T-shirt, with a dress shirt hanging from one hand.
His eyes were lowered as he looked at the girl.
The irritation hidden in the corners of his eyes was restrained yet sharp.
The girl was about five foot three, dressed in a fitted black employee uniform.
Her limbs were slender and fair.
Her lips were pale, her eyes moist as though she were holding back tears, yet she lifted her chin and met his gaze.
"What's wrong with earning my own money and supporting myself? Who are you to me, Mr. Carter? Don't you think you're overstepping?"
The girl turned to leave, but Landon grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
"Who am I to you? If you want to make money, come work at my company tomorrow. I'll pay you a hundred thousand a month."
"I don't need your pity."
"Don't forget you already have a fiancée. She's the perfect example of a refined young lady in Los Angeles. She loves you enough to risk her life for you."
"Joan Reed!"
Very few people dared to challenge Landon.
He was not a broad-minded, calm, or reserved man.
His emotions were written plainly across his face.
Anyone who irritated him could expect a brutal verbal lashing without warning.
Even Elise was no exception.
But at this moment, Elise clearly saw Landon looking at the girl, his expression softening.
For a moment, her thoughts came to a halt.
The calm mask on her face instantly cracked.
Joan?
Wasn't she the college student Landon had taken away from the nightclub last month?
They were still in contact?
"You always compare yourself to Elise. Why?"
"I don't. And I can't compare to her. She comes from a prestigious family, speaks four languages, handles your social engagements and business negotiations effortlessly, and she's so beautiful..."
Landon suddenly smiled and lightly flicked Joan's forehead.
"You silly girl. So you're feeling insecure?"
He paused before continuing.
"She's not that amazing. She's rational to the point of being boring. But when you're unreasonable, you're unbelievably adorable."
It felt as though the sky had collapsed over Elise's head.
She stared at the two of them in shock, a crushing sense of betrayal rising within her.
Just last month, while writing their wedding invitations, Landon had looked at her affectionately and said:
"Baby, you're so adorable I want to lock you away and have you smile only for me every day..."
It felt like something was lodged in her throat.
For the first time, Elise's faith in Landon's love was shaken to its core.
She tightened her grip on the wedding photo samples and walked toward them.
The moment Landon saw Elise, he froze.
Almost instinctively, he released Joan's wrist and frowned.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to see you," Elise replied.
When Joan saw Elise, the smile vanished from her face.
Her fingernails dug deeply into her server's uniform.
She didn't recognize the brand of clothing Elise was wearing, but its understated elegance and luxurious texture spoke for themselves.
Elise's features were flawless.
There was a cool calmness on her beautiful face.
Her phoenix-shaped eyes rested on Joan without anger or embarrassment.
Standing before Elise's effortless grace and dignity, Joan felt like a clown in a circus.
Unable to bear the silent humiliation, Joan bit her lip.
After glancing at Landon, she turned and ran away.
Landon instinctively moved to chase after her, but Elise stopped him.
"Landon, can we talk somewhere?"
Landon turned back.
Dark clouds gathered across his handsome face.
"Couldn't you have called before coming?"
"Why didn't you walk away when you saw me talking to someone?"
"And then you deliberately walked over to Joan. Were you trying to embarrass her and show off your superiority as the daughter of the White family?"
The blood in Elise's veins seemed to freeze instantly.
She stared blankly at Landon, as if trying to determine whether those words had really come from him.
So in his eyes, she wasn't just boring.
She was that awful.
Elise found herself unable to ask another question.
Slowly, she turned around and walked out of the private club.
Two of Landon's friends had witnessed everything from the entrance.
They immediately tried to persuade him.
"Go after Elise. In this world, she loves you even more than your mother does."
Landon knew Elise loved him.
Everyone in their circle knew it.
Ever since Elise had been brought back by her biological parents at the age of ten, she had been raised according to the standards of his future wife.
And he had loved her too.
He had fallen in love with the passionate and resilient Elise when she risked her life to travel alone to find him in Iceland.
Later, they became engaged.
Elise grew even more obedient, rational, and perfect.
So perfect that she seemed lifeless.
And his love gradually became dull and stagnant.
Then Joan appeared.
She made his heart race again.
He knew what he was doing was wrong.
Yet hopelessly, he had fallen in love with Joan.
But he still intended to marry Elise.
To him, those two things did not conflict.
"Landon, Joan is just a temporary fascination. Elise is the perfect match for you. Don't lose sight of what's important."
"Exactly. The wedding invitations have already been sent out. Are you planning to replace the bride at the wedding?"
"Go bring Elise back. If you lose her, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
Landon stared in the direction Elise had left and said irritably,
"I'm not going after her."
"Everyone knows her parents raised her specifically to be my wife."
"She's something that belongs only to me."
"Why would I need to chase her?"
That night, Elise asked her best friend overseas over the phone,
"Do you think I'm boring?"
Chloe Bennett immediately denied it.
"Absolutely not, sweetheart. You've been raised under strict discipline by your parents all these years. Of course you wouldn't have some silly, childish personality."
Whenever Chloe thought about Elise's personality, she couldn't help cursing inwardly.
Did those two people from the White family even deserve to be called parents?
When Elise was born, the doctor mistakenly declared her stillborn.
She was taken out of the hospital and abandoned.
Then suddenly, at age ten, she was found and brought home, only to become Landon's custom-made future wife.
She had to be beautiful.
She had to be elegant and virtuous.
She had to remain emotionally stable.
She had to be broad-minded.
No matter how much injustice she suffered, she had to endure it.
Otherwise, she would be physically punished.
And even during punishment, she wasn't allowed to be left with scars.
Every time Chloe thought about Elise's parents, she wanted to beg the Grim Reaper for a favor.
Please take those two lunatics away as soon as possible.
After venting silently, Chloe comforted Elise again.
"Besides, Landon thinks you're adorable too. He said so at your engagement party."
Elise's hand gripping the phone turned cold.
Her voice trembled slightly, restrained yet gentle.
"That was four years ago..."
"Chloe, today I finally realized..."
"He changed."
Knock. Knock.
A knock sounded at the bedroom door.
The housekeeper spoke from outside.
"Miss White, Mr. Carter is here."
Chapter 2
Landon had not planned on taking the initiative to reconcile with Elise.
Because he knew Elise loved him, and her parents would never allow her to leave him.
But then he learned that at the banquet the day after tomorrow, Harold Nash, the founder of Firefly Glow, would be attending.
Harold had a peculiar personality and was famous for his sharp tongue.
In fewer than five sentences, he could make people genuinely dislike him.
Landon had dealt with him once before and had not been impressed.
Unfortunately, the new game software he was developing needed access to Firefly Glow's open platform.
Elise worked at his company as his assistant, translator, and chief planner.
She had an excellent image, a pleasant personality, and taking her along would greatly increase their chances of success.
So he bought a huge bouquet of roses and decided to lower himself first.
Elise's mother, Sharon White, personally escorted Landon upstairs.
Pushing open the door, she said to Elise, "You're getting married soon. Stop throwing childish tantrums."
Elise said nothing.
She had just finished showering.
When she heard from the servant that Landon had arrived, she quickly changed out of her satin nightgown.
Even though they had been engaged for four years, they had never lived together.
She had never appeared before Landon in her sleepwear.
Landon was extremely respectful toward Elise when it came to relationships between men and women.
His father, Victor Carter, had explicitly warned him:
"Elise is a good girl. You must give her the utmost respect before marriage."
At this moment, Elise appeared to have just stepped out of the shower.
The loose strands of hair by her cheek were still slightly damp.
Yet instead of pajamas, she was wearing a conservative silk dress.
She followed the rules at all times.
She was always perfect.
What he did not realize was that perfection itself was a sin.
Elise never made mistakes.
She never lost composure.
She was like a program he had designed in one of his games.
No, actually, she was worse than a program.
Programs developed bugs.
Elise never did.
His father had once said that any man who married Elise would be blessed.
He agreed.
That was why he would give her the position of Mrs. Carter.
But he could not live with Elise for too long.
Otherwise, his life would become empty, dull, and utterly joyless.
"Do you need something?" There was no smile on Elise's face.
Landon immediately recognized that she was angry.
When Elise was angry, she did not smile.
But as long as someone spoke to her, she would still respond gently as always.
Then, as the conversation continued, she would smile again as if nothing had happened.
That was why he had never worried about her being angry.
Landon handed her the roses.
Unexpectedly, Elise did not take them.
Instead, she looked at him calmly and said, "Take them away. I don't like roses anymore."
Landon thought she must have been bothered by his comment about her being rationally boring.
Perhaps she was learning from Joan and deliberately opposing him to attract his attention.
He admitted that he enjoyed seeing women jealous over him.
But Joan's charm could never be imitated.
When Elise threw a tantrum, it felt like a poor imitation.
A natural smile curled across Landon's lips as he forcibly stuffed the roses into her arms.
Elise immediately turned and placed them on a nearby cabinet.
Landon froze for a moment.
Then he reached out to hug her.
Elise stepped aside and avoided him.
"Are you disgusted by me?" Landon asked in disbelief.
Disgusted?
The question left Elise confused.
She had returned to the White family at the age of ten and lived a suffocating, oppressive life.
Several times when she was scolded and punished, it had been Landon who pleaded on her behalf.
He had even taken her to the swings afterward.
She knew he was the man she was destined to marry when she grew up.
So before she even understood love, she had already learned how to love unconditionally and tolerate endlessly.
But she could not tolerate Landon having another woman.
She lifted her eyes and looked at him.
"How far have things progressed between you and Joan?"
"I..."
Landon paused before forcing a smile.
"Are you interrogating me?"
"I'm your husband."
"You should trust me completely."
"My wife will only ever be you."
"Alright, baby. I came here today for something important."
"Harold, the founder of Firefly Glow, will be attending the banquet the day after tomorrow. We need to meet him beforehand."
"Before that, you should familiarize yourself with the game Echoes of Will again. I've already sent the core materials to your email."
"I'm tired today. I'm heading home to sleep."
He made all the decisions himself.
As though in his world, she wasn't a partner.
She was merely a shadow whose agreement was taken for granted.
A bitter smile tugged at Elise's lips.
Amid her sadness, she also realized something.
Landon had avoided answering her question.
Was it because he had a guilty conscience?
Elise gazed at his retreating figure.
A trace of sorrow slowly surfaced in her eyes.
Her lips parted, and she spoke in a slightly hoarse voice.
"Landon."
"This is the first time."
Landon stopped in place.
After a moment, realization dawned on him.
At their engagement banquet, his father had criticized him for being immature.
For acting impulsively and pursuing only immediate satisfaction.
As a result, Victor had asked Elise for a promise:
She would forgive Landon up to three times, no matter what.
Four years had passed since then.
Even when Elise had been so angry that she trembled, she had never used one of those chances.
Landon turned around with a smile.
Looking at her indifferently, he simply assumed she was throwing a little tantrum to gain his attention.
After all, Elise loved him.
And marrying him was the entire hope of her future.
Landon felt completely certain he had guessed correctly.
On the day of the banquet, Elise put on exquisite makeup and obediently got into his car as she always did.
The guests invited to this high-end wine tasting banquet were all influential figures in Los Angeles.
Elise wore a blue one-shoulder evening gown and silver high heels.
The moment she entered, she captured most of the attention in the room.
"Look, Mr. Carter and his fiancée are here."
Someone nodded toward Elise.
"You have to admit, the White family's eldest daughter is absolutely flawless in both looks and figure."
"No matter how beautiful she is, she's still just an accessory to Mr. Carter."
"She's practically like a child bride. Everyone labeled her as Landon's long ago."
"Being able to marry Landon is worth a lifetime. His father is a powerful government official, his mother is incredibly wealthy, and Landon built a software company worth billions without relying on either of them. He has money and influence. Who could compare to him?"
"Actually, there is someone."
The women immediately thought of the eldest son of the Nash family.
Unfortunately, that man almost never appeared in public.
No one had heard of him socializing privately either.
He was so mysterious he seemed like a legend.
Two wealthy young women unconsciously scanned the room.
Their gazes eventually settled on a man personally being welcomed by the brand executives.
At the same time, under Landon's guidance, Elise also spotted Harold.
He was nothing like she had imagined.
Completely different.
He did not look harsh or mean.
Instead, he was handsome and commanding.
His nose was high and straight, his short hair neat and sharp, and his facial features were striking and well-defined.
Standing beneath the brilliant lights, he radiated a cold arrogance that discouraged others from approaching.
Beside him stood an energetic elderly woman.
She nudged him with her elbow.
Then the two of them looked in Elise's direction simultaneously.
Elise's heart skipped a beat.
She calmly looked away.
The elderly Mrs. Nash lowered her voice and said to her eldest grandson,
"The reason I dragged you here today was so you could see the White family's eldest daughter."
"Look at her in person."
"Doesn't she look just like a little angel?"
Through the moving crowd, Harold's cool gaze swept over the woman in a quick assessment.
Chapter 3
She really was beautiful.
The kind of beauty that was almost excessive.
For no reason at all, she reminded Harold of the white plum blossom tree in the courtyard of the Nash estate during winter.
Pure.
Flawless.
Yet without the drifting fragrance of flowers.
The smile in her eyes was cool and bright, as though she had practiced it hundreds of times in advance.
So polished that it left no desire for discovery.
"Not an angel."
Harold withdrew his gaze.
His handsome face remained indifferent.
"More like a princess from a fairy tale."
"The person stepped out of the storybook, but her soul is still trapped inside it."
Was he saying the White family's daughter was lifeless?
Mrs. Nash stopped smiling and glared at Harold.
"You really don't know how to talk."
"No wonder you'll never get a wife."
Landon and Elise approached with champagne glasses in hand.
Since they were seeking cooperation, the young Mr. Carter deliberately lowered his usual arrogance.
He introduced himself first and handed Harold a business card.
Elise nodded politely and offered a courteous smile.
Just as she was about to speak, she saw slender fingers push Landon's business card back toward him.
"On a personal level, I don't know Mr. Carter. We have nothing to discuss."
"On a professional level, please register at Firefly Glow's front desk and make an appointment."
"Before that, prepare your company's background information, proposal letter, your personal résumé, and your major achievements."
"The front desk will pass everything to my executive secretary for review before it reaches me."
"If you don't receive a call from my secretary within a week, you've been rejected."
"That is the proper business process."
Both Elise and Landon were stunned.
Elise thought to herself, Why does meeting him seem harder than meeting a king?
Landon let out a laugh.
The sound came through his nose, filled with pride and disdain.
Harold slightly raised his chin.
His calm gaze swept past Landon, paused briefly on Elise's face, then moved away without warmth.
Mrs. Nash's attention remained entirely on Elise.
How could this girl be so beautiful?
Sharon had been a beauty when she was young.
And the daughter she gave birth to was an absolute stunner.
Her skin was clear and luminous.
Her demeanor was elegant and graceful.
She would bring honor wherever she went.
Mrs. Nash genuinely liked Elise.
As young people would put it, she was a fan of Elise's face.
Just as the atmosphere became awkward, two sharp female voices suddenly rang out from the tasting area.
"Ah! I'm so sorry!"
"Are you blind?"
Elise turned toward the sound and froze.
Joan, dressed in a server's uniform, had just been splashed in the face with red wine by an arrogant woman.
Instinctively, Elise looked at Landon.
Landon had already thrown down his champagne glass and rushed toward Joan.
Fury radiated from him.
The moment he saw Joan swallowing her humiliation, he said nothing.
He grabbed a snake-shaped wine decanter, lifted it high, and smashed it violently at the feet of the woman in the red evening gown.
Elise's eyes widened.
She knew Landon's impulsive nature.
He was like a lit fuse, ready to explode at the slightest spark.
But because of Victor's strict discipline, he rarely got into physical confrontations.
They had known each other for fourteen years.
Today was the first time she had ever seen him hurt someone without saying a word.
Because of Joan.
It was impossible for Elise not to feel angry.
But in a situation like this, she had to think of the bigger picture.
She could not join Landon in causing a scene.
When Mrs. Nash saw Elise heading toward the tasting area, she immediately dragged Harold along.
"Come on. Let's take a look."
When Elise reached Landon, she first exchanged a brief glance with Joan.
The loose strands of hair on Joan's forehead and her eyelashes were soaked.
Wine droplets slid down her pale cheeks.
She looked heartbreakingly fragile.
Suppressing her emotions, Elise spoke quietly to Landon.
"Are you protecting her without even considering the occasion anymore?"
"Even being reckless should have limits."
Landon had been holding in frustration after Harold's rejection.
Joan's situation had simply become an outlet for his anger.
After Elise's reminder, some of his sense of restraint returned.
His relationship with Joan could not be exposed.
It would damage his father's reputation.
Thinking of this, he loosened his tightly clenched fists.
But the woman he had injured, Mrs. Hale, had a fiery temper.
She didn't care who had hurt her.
All she wanted was immediate revenge.
Grabbing a decanter herself, she hurled it straight at Landon.
The surrounding crowd practically stopped breathing.
At the critical moment, Elise reached out and grabbed Landon's arm, trying to pull him toward her.
A force suddenly knocked her hand aside.
"Mr. Carter, be careful!"
Joan rushed forward.
Turning around, she wrapped her arms tightly around Landon.
The decanter shattered against Joan's back.
After a sharp scream, blood immediately seeped through her clothing.
Her body went limp in Landon's arms.
"Joan!"
Landon was utterly shocked.
He immediately picked her up.
The gasps around him.
The eyes of the crowd.
His father's reputation.
He no longer cared about any of it.
Joan kept insisting she didn't like him.
Yet at this moment, she had thrown herself in front of danger without hesitation.
This love felt even deeper than Elise's.
"Landon."
Elise's voice remained calm and steady.
"You can have someone take her to the hospital."
"You can't leave like this."
"It hurts..."
"It hurts so much."
Joan clutched the collar of Landon's shirt, as though she were enduring unbearable pain.
Landon's heart ached for her.
When his gaze shifted to Elise, the lines of his face immediately tightened.
"She's injured. Can't you see that?"
"Do you think everyone is like you?"
"A puppet that only cares about appearances, with no soul and no emotions."
With one swing of his arm, Landon shoved Elise aside.
Broken glass sliced through her high heel.
And at the same time, it sliced through the heart she had struggled so hard to keep calm.
Yes.
She cared about appearances.
Fourteen years of strict upbringing had taught her exactly that.
"What is going on?"
"Isn't Mr. Carter supposed to be marrying the White family's daughter?"
"It's obvious. Mr. Carter has another woman."
"Oh my, looks like there'll be a new Mrs. Carter soon."
Listening to the mocking comments around her, Elise's gaze remained calm and undisturbed.
As long as she was Leonard White and Sharon's daughter, she could not lose her composure in public.
The smile returned to her face.
She nodded apologetically to the brand executives.
"What happened today was an accident. I'm truly sorry."
"Mr. Carter will personally apologize another day."
"As for personal matters, I won't take up everyone's time any longer."
"I hope this unfortunate incident hasn't ruined the evening for anyone."
Then she turned to Mrs. Hale with her usual gentle warmth.
"Your gown was stained because of this."
"I'll have a new one custom-made for you."
"Can we let this matter end here?"
By now, Mrs. Hale had regained her ability to think rationally.
In terms of family background and influence, neither her own family nor her husband's family could compare with the Carters.
Besides, she had struck back at Landon as well.
Elise's actions had given her plenty of dignity.
So she accepted gracefully.
Finally, Elise said,
"There are matters waiting for me at home."
"Please excuse me."
A warm elderly voice suddenly called out to her.
"Young lady, wait."
Elise turned around.
Mrs. Nash was using her own handkerchief to wipe the red wine from Elise's dress.
In a low voice, she said,
"There isn't only one man left in the world."
"If he makes you sad, then find someone more handsome and better."
"I can introduce one to you."
A trace of warmth flowed into Elise's bitter, aching heart.
In her current state, she could only treat the old woman's words as a form of comfort.
"Thank you."
"I'm fine."
"Thank you..."
Elise's cool fingers gently squeezed Mrs. Nash's hand.
Then she let go and quickened her pace toward the exit.
Chapter 4
Harold cast a cool glance in the direction Elise had left and strode over to support his grandmother.
The old lady kept muttering, "That waitress clearly has no morals. But the White family's daughter never embarrassed her in public, never complained when Landon defended her, and did everything she could to preserve everyone's dignity."
"A girl who sees the bigger picture, stays calm under pressure, and carries herself with such grace. Why isn't she my granddaughter-in-law?!"
The old lady sighed dramatically in regret.
Harold pressed his lips together, expression unreadable, and said nothing.
He truly could not understand how his grandmother, who had impossibly high standards and such an interesting personality, could be so fond of a woman who seemed beautiful on the outside yet rigid and dull within.
Harold had an attendant escort his grandmother back to the family estate.
Taking his car keys from the valet, he prepared to return to the company.
Before he could leave the hotel grounds, he noticed the woman in the blue gown standing straight outside the entrance.
Holding her clutch and phone, she stared fixedly at his car while her waist-length black hair fluttered in the wind.
Elise had arrived in Landon's car.
Since Landon had left early, she had asked the event organizers to arrange transportation for her.
When she saw the black Maybach, she raised a hand and stepped forward.
Harold glanced outside.
Was she... trying to ride in his car?
The next second, Elise heard the doors unlock.
She got in, checked the location of Landon's vehicle on her phone, and said to the "driver,"
"Please take me to Aurora Private Medical Center."
The entire ride was silent.
Elise simply stared out the window at the city lights drifting backward.
Earlier at the event, she had wanted to stop Landon again and tell him:
This is the third time.
The second chance had already been used yesterday.
And once again, it was because of Joan.
Joan had happened to appear outside the restaurant where they were dining.
Trying to rescue an abandoned poodle, she had nearly been hit by a car.
The moment Landon saw it, he rushed out in panic.
And never came back.
Elise waited alone in the restaurant for two hours.
Later, she learned that Landon had spent the entire time accompanying Joan, bathing the dog, trimming its fur, and taking it for vaccinations.
That truth shattered her once more.
Because last year, she had wanted to adopt a retired military dog whose ear had been injured.
Out of more than three hundred applicants, the dog had chosen her.
Excited beyond words, she had told Landon about it.
Landon had rubbed her hair and said without hesitation:
"You can't. I'm allergic to dog fur. We're getting married and living together soon. You can't only think about your own happiness, right?"
Heartbroken, she had given up the adoption.
As she left, she kept turning back.
The military dog, named Thunder, had watched her the entire time.
Its eyes followed her retreating figure.
Reluctant.
Uneasy.
Helpless.
Even now, the memory still made her chest ache.
But what hurt even more was Landon's deception.
He showed no allergic reaction whatsoever.
He had held Joan's poodle in his arms for an entire afternoon.
Before she realized it, the car had arrived at the main entrance of Aurora Private Medical Center.
After calming herself, Elise thanked the "driver" and got out.
The Maybach drove away.
Not long afterward, it reversed back.
For days, Harold's grandmother had been constantly talking about Elise.
As a result, Harold's obsessive curiosity had been triggered.
Once his curiosity was awakened, he had to follow it through.
Otherwise, it felt like his heart was hanging from a hook.
After asking a nurse for directions, Elise headed straight toward Joan's luxury hospital room.
The scene before her was even more intimate than she had imagined.
Joan was lying face down on the hospital bed, her upper body uncovered.
Landon bent down and kissed her bandaged back.
As Elise's heart ached even more, her mind became startlingly clear.
She took out her phone.
Her cold fingers tapped the screen twice before the recording function finally opened.
"You silly girl. I give you money, yet you refuse to spend it and work ten jobs a day. And now you've risked your safety because of me. What would I do if something happened to you? Baby, I love you."
Joan immediately responded in a spoiled tone.
"I just didn't want you to think I liked you because of your status or wealth."
"I want you to know that I'm different from Elise. She loves you because of your family background. I don't."
Landon believed her.
His gaze was full of tenderness and affection as he looked at Joan.
The two kissed passionately.
Hearing the wet sounds of their kiss, Elise suddenly felt sick.
A wave of nausea surged through her.
She hurriedly saved the recording.
With her phone and purse in one hand and the other covering her mouth, she rushed toward the restroom.
In her haste, she bumped into someone.
Without even seeing who it was, she gave a quick apologetic nod and ran inside.
When she came out, Joan was waiting for her in the hallway outside the restroom.
Without wasting words, Joan got straight to the point.
"In terms of family background, upbringing, and status, I can't compare to you. But if you take off those custom-made designer gowns, what do you have left to make Landon love you?"
"Elise, I declare war on you. I'm not stealing him. I'm proving that love isn't about who came first. Love can cross social classes."
For the first time that night, Elise genuinely smiled.
"Did he give you promises and hope he never should have given you? Is that why you're confident enough to come challenge me?"
"To be honest, a man who can be taken away so easily is basically trash."
"If you like him, you can have him."
Elise's magnanimous response made Joan feel utterly looked down upon.
Her emotions flared.
"Elise, you should be grateful I'm an honest person. If I were one of those scheming women from TV dramas and pretended you pushed me and worsened my injury, do you think Landon would believe you're vicious?"
Elise remained calm.
"And if he did, what difference would it make?"
"But the way you say that makes it sound like you disdain such tactics, while secretly wishing he'd spoil you even more."
"How about I help you out?"
Joan frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Before she could react, Elise suddenly shoved her hard.
Joan's back slammed into the wall.
Pain twisted her face, leaving her unable to breathe properly.
"Satisfied now, Cinderella?"
At the far end of the hallway, a flicker of interest suddenly crossed Harold's usually calm eyes.
He looked at Elise again.
"Now she finally looks human."
Elise shot Joan a cold glance and turned to leave.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a tall figure disappearing around the corridor.
Moments later, Landon appeared from the opposite direction.
When he saw Elise, a flash of guilt crossed his face.
But the moment he noticed blood seeping from Joan's back again, he immediately lost all restraint.
"Elise, was this your doing?"
"I always thought the word vicious had nothing to do with you. But look at yourself now. Selfish. Narrow-minded. Cruel. I hardly recognize you anymore. You—"
"Landon."
Tears filled Elise's eyes.
"This really is the last time."
Three chances.
Precious.
Pathetic.
They had never been about how many times she could forgive Landon.
If that were the case, even three hundred chances would have been used up long ago.
Those three chances had always been something she reserved for herself.
A final way to find the courage to leave him.
Her throat tightened repeatedly as she spoke through her tears.
"Let's break up."