Get Lost, Ex-Fiancé! Marry His Worst Rival

My arm had a four-inch gash, blood dripping from my fingertips.

Yet, the first thing my fianc said when he woke up, the man I had just risked my life to save, was to ask if Hailey Sterling, who was cowering outside the door, was alright.

Inside the top-floor conference room of the Cole Group, Julian Carter sat with a bandage on his forehead. He claimed he had "amnesia" from the hit and said he only remembered Hailey.

His mother awkwardly told me to be patient and wait for him.

Suddenly, my late grandmother's voice exploded in my mind.

"He is faking it. He played this exact same trick on you in your past life, bleeding the Cole family dry while keeping Hailey perfectly safe."

My grandfather slammed three marriage alliance proposals onto the mahogany table.

Julian finally looked at me, his voice dismissive. He said he would still go through with our wedding, but demanded I stop making life difficult for Hailey.

Without a single second of hesitation, I bypassed the Carter family's contract and picked up the very last folder.

"Grandpa, I choose Greyson Vance."

Amelia's POV

My arm was sliced open, a four-inch gash oozing blood that dripped steadily onto the floor.

But the fianc I had nearly died saving didn't care. The moment he opened his eyes, his only concern was whether Hailey Sterling was scared.

Inside the VIP conference room of the Cole building, the silence was suffocating.

Last night, a massive display shelf in the exhibition hall had collapsed. I had shoved Julian out of the way, but my own arm was ripped open by a jagged, rusty metal bracket.

Now, Julian walked in with a small bandage on his forehead. He walked right past me, bleeding and pale, and wrapped his arms around Hailey, who was sobbing softly.

"Don't cry, Hailey. I remember you."

Hailey clung to his chest, her voice trembling. "Julian, I thought you forgot about me."

Julian's mother smiled nervously at me. "Amelia, sweetie, Julian bumped his head last night. His memory is just a bit scrambled. You two grew up together, so I'm sure you'll wait for him to recover, right?"

I stared at the hugging couple. My wound felt freezing cold, matching the ice in my chest.

Right then, a familiar, furious voice echoed in my head.

"That pathetic jerk is faking amnesia! In your last life, he used this exact trick to manipulate you. He drained our family's fortune to climb to the top while keeping Hailey safe. You died alone in a hospital bed because of them! I am still so angry!"

My pupils shrunk. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.

It was my Grandma Martha's voice. She had died seven years ago! This was a wake-up call. Julian was faking amnesia just to back out of our engagement without looking like the bad guy.

My grandfather, Arthur Cole, tapped his cane heavily against the floor. He signaled his assistant to lay out the marriage contracts.

"Amelia, whoever you choose will get the Cole Group's ten-billion-dollar project. I'm only asking you once. Have you made up your mind?"

The Carter family's proposal sat right in the middle. The very last one belonged to Greyson Vance.

He was the sole heir of the Vance Group. We had been rivals since childhood, arguing every single time we met.

Grandma's voice screamed in my head. "Pick Greyson! In your past life, after the Carters threw you out, he was the only one who searched for you in the pouring rain and took you in. He has a sarcastic mouth, but his heart is pure gold! Amelia, trust me!"

Julian finally deigned to look at me. "I will still marry you, Amelia. But Hailey is fragile. I love her now, so you have to promise not to bully her."

Hailey peeked from behind his back. "Amelia, I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to be the only one Julian remembers."

In the past, if Julian even frowned, I would blame myself.

But now, looking at his lying, smug face, I just felt sick.

I didn't hesitate. I reached past the Carter family's folder and grabbed the last proposal.

"Grandpa, I choose Greyson Vance."

"I'll marry him."

The room erupted into chaos.

The calm mask on Julian's face shattered. He stared at me in pure disbelief. "Amelia, are you insane? You're throwing away our future and choosing an enemy just to throw a tantrum?!"

I didn't even look at him.

In front of everyone, I ripped off the promise bracelet I had worn for ten years and threw it onto the Carter family's folder like trash.

"It's not a tantrum. You simply don't deserve me."

In my head, Grandma cheered. "Yes! That's my girl! If a man is trash, throw him in the dumpster!"

As soon as the meeting ended, Julian and his friends blocked my path in the hallway.

His friend, Tyler Brooks, sneered immediately. "Amelia, are you serious about Greyson? Come on, everyone knows you've been obsessed with Julian for years. He just has temporary memory loss, he's not dead. Who are you trying to put a show for?"

Hearing this, Julian's expression softened, his ego returning.

He looked down at me. "I know you're just angry. I'll still marry you. But Hailey just got back to the country. Don't go around bothering her."

Grandma spat in my mind. "The nerve of this guy! Who does he think he is?"

I scoffed. "And how exactly did I bother her?"

Before the words fully left my mouth, Hailey pushed a heavy metal cart loaded with files right toward me. She acted like she didn't see me, ramming it straight into my injured arm.

My wound tore open again. Fresh blood soaked through my bandage instantly.

Yet, Hailey cried louder than me. "Amelia! I'm so sorry! I didn't see you! Please don't hate me!" She sobbed, shrinking behind Julian.

Julian didn't even look at my bleeding arm. He shielded Hailey protectively. "Amelia! It was an accident! She apologized, what more do you want?!"

Hailey raised her hand. "Maybe I should slap myself... if that makes Amelia feel better..."

Julian grabbed her wrist, glaring at me. "Are you happy now? Do you have to use your status as the Cole heiress to bully people?"

If this were the past, I would have desperately explained that I didn't do anything.

But today, I realized trying to reason with an idiot was pointless. It was better to just hit them.

I stepped forward, raising my uninjured right hand.

Smack!

A loud, solid slap landed squarely on Hailey's face.

The hallway went dead silent. Hailey touched her swelling cheek, her eyes wide with shock.

"That," I said coldly, "is what using my status to bully someone actually looks like."

Julian lost his mind. "Amelia! How dare you!"

Smack!

I swung back and slapped Julian right across his face.

"And that is what bullying looks like. Got it?" I shook my numb hand, looking at them like they were bugs.

Julian had been pampered his entire life. This slap completely shattered his pride.

Rage burned in his eyes. "Amelia! If you walk away today, I swear, even if you beg me on your knees, I will never look at you again!"

"Then you better sew your eyes shut."

I pressed the elevator button. As the doors slid open, I left him with one last line: "Because no one is going to wait for you by the trash can."

As the doors closed, Grandma laughed hysterically in my head. "Incredible! That's how you teach them a lesson! Don't be afraid, Amelia, I've got your back!"

Amelia's POV

I walked toward the break room and heard Hailey's muffled giggles coming through the gap in the door.

"Julian, Amelia slapped you in public. Are you really not mad?"

Julian's voice was arrogant and cold. "She's just throwing a fit. She's been clinging to me like a desperate dog for years. She can't live without me. I bet you within three days, she'll come crawling back, begging for my forgiveness."

Standing outside, my blood turned to ice.

The amnesia was indeed a lie. The manipulation and contempt were real. He viewed me as a toy he could discard and retrieve whenever he pleased.

"See? He's a parasite!" Grandma was shaking with rage. "If a dog bites you, don't try to talk to it. Let's go!"

I turned to leave, but a sudden commotion happened at the end of the hallway.

A waiter slipped, and a tray of boiling hot coffee and shattered ceramic cups came flying right toward me.

The break room door flew open. Julian saw the hot liquid flying toward my face.

He instinctively took a step toward me, but Hailey shrieked and grabbed his arm. "Julian, I'm scared!"

That split second of hesitation was all it took. Julian turned and hugged Hailey instead.

I closed my eyes, bracing for the pain.

But right before the boiling coffee could scald my face, a pair of strong arms pulled me hard into a broad chest.

A man used his expensive designer jacket to shield me, blocking every drop of hot coffee and flying shard.

A clean, cedarwood scent wrapped around me, and a deep voice grumbled over my head.

"Amelia, are you stupid? Why didn't you dodge?!"

I looked up in shock.

Greyson Vance was frowning, his dark eyes filled with suppressed anger. He stood before me like a wall, keeping me safe from the danger.

Grandma let out a huge sigh of relief in my head. "That's him! That's the same protective back from your past life! He might have a smart mouth, but he actually shows up when it matters!"

Julian's face turned green when he saw who it was. He marched over and ordered, "Amelia, get over here!"

I didn't move.

Greyson sneered, keeping his hand firmly on my shoulder. He glared at Julian like a wolf guarding his territory. "Her arm is literally bleeding, and you want her to go over to you so she can be your shield again?"

Julian's face flushed with anger. "This is between her and me!"

"Not anymore."

Greyson smirked. "Amelia's grandfather called me to pick up my fiance. She chose me. Mr. Carter, don't tell me you don't know you've been dumped yet?"

The word "fiance" hit Julian like a sledgehammer.

Hailey stopped crying out of sheer shock.

Julian stared at me as if I were a stranger. "Are you crazy? You're marrying this jerk just to get back at me?"

This time, my heart didn't ache. I only felt an incredible rush of freedom.

"Julian, don't flatter yourself. Greyson is ten thousand times better than you."

Greyson raised an eyebrow, looking down at me. "Can you walk, fiance?"

I nodded.

He didn't overstep by carrying me, but he offered his arm. "Let's go get you patched up."

At the hospital.

The doctor cut open my bloody sleeve. As the disinfectant hit the wound, I turned pale and bit my lip, refusing to make a sound.

Greyson leaned against the doorframe, watching me coldly. "In the past, you'd cry for hours if Julian so much as sighed. Now your arm is practically ripped open, and you're acting tough?"

I glared at him. "No one will think you're mute if you keep your mouth shut."

Greyson chuckled. "What? You were pretty quick to use me as a shield earlier."

I stayed quiet for a moment, then whispered, "Greyson, I didn't choose you because I like you."

"Obviously. If you suddenly liked me, I'd have the doctor check your head too." Greyson stopped smiling and looked at me with intense seriousness. "Amelia, you can use me to escape. But remember this: once you're engaged to me, Julian has no right to touch you. Don't you dare run back to him the moment you feel a little lonely."

"I would rather die than go back to him," I said firmly.

Greyson stared at me for three seconds, a faint smile touching his lips. "Good."

When we walked out of the clinic, Julian and Hailey were waiting by the exit.

Seeing us walk out side-by-side, Julian's face was incredibly dark. "Amelia, I'm taking you home. Stop making a scene in public."

He really believed I was just playing hard to get.

Greyson casually switched the medicine bag to his left hand, and naturally wrapped his right arm around my waist, pulling me close.

"No need to worry, Mr. Carter. The only one looking pathetic here is the one who got thrown out."

Julian's eyes turned red as he stared at Greyson's hand on my waist. "Take your hands off her!"

Greyson didn't back down. He leaned in close to my ear, speaking loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Fiance, there's a dog blocking our path. Shall we go?"

I leaned into his chest and nodded. "Yes, let's go."

At the curb, Greyson opened the car door for me, naturally placing his hand over the frame to protect my head.

As he got into the driver's seat, I asked softly, "Why did you show up so fast?"

Greyson started the engine. "Your grandfather called and said two stray dogs were barking at you."

"So you just came?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Greyson stepped on the gas, the sports car roaring as we left Julian in the dust. "Did you want me to leave you there to watch their cheap drama?"

I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

In my mind, Grandma clicked her tongue in satisfaction.

"See? That's a real man! Let the trash have the trash. Your good life is just starting!"

Amelia's POV

The Cole family's banquet to announce the new marriage alliance was scheduled for two days later.

During those two days, Julian called me over a dozen times. I blocked every single number.

Finally, he sent a text message filled with his usual arrogance:

Don't take this joke too far.

Our families' alliance is not a toy for you to use to make me bow to you.

Hailey has been crying for two days because of your slap. I expect an apology from you at the banquet tonight.

I stared at the screen, scoffed, and handed the phone directly to my grandfather.

My grandfather's face darkened with rage after reading it. "Amelia, I really misjudged that boy."

I sat in the study, looking at my bandaged arm calmly. "Grandpa, I did too. This time, I want to choose someone who won't hesitate to stand by me."

Grandma clapped happily in my head. "Exactly! A man who doesn't respect himself is like rotten cabbage! Tonight, let's show the Carters what it means to be out of their league!"

That evening, the Cole estate was brightly lit.

Everyone assumed the stars of the night would be Julian and me.

Julian's mother was wearing a designer gown, boasting to the guests. "Oh, Amelia is practically my own daughter. Julian marrying her is our family's blessing."

She was already acting like she owned the place.

Julian stood in the center of the crowd holding a glass of champagne, looking extremely confident.

Hailey stood beside him in a simple white dress. When people asked about her identity, she looked down. "I'm just Julian's friend. I don't want to get in the way of his engagement with Amelia..."

Her victim act made me look like some villainous, jealous woman.

I watched from the entrance with absolute indifference.

The grand doors opened, and I walked in, holding my grandfather's arm.

Julian's eyes lit up the moment he saw me. He took a step forward, but the crowd suddenly parted.

Greyson had arrived.

He wore a custom black suit that highlighted his broad shoulders and tall frame. His expression was cold and sharp.

He ignored the guests trying to greet him and walked straight to me. In front of everyone, he ignored Julian entirely and asked softly, "Does your arm still hurt?"

I blinked, touched by his concern. "Much better."

Greyson checked my bandage to make sure there was no blood, then turned to my grandfather, his cold demeanor softening. "Mr. Cole, apologies for being late."

My grandfather laughed heartily. "Just in time!"

Not far away, Julian's face turned pale.

He stared at Greyson and me standing together.

Hailey leaned against him weakly. "Julian, Amelia looks so beautiful tonight. She must be standing with Mr. Vance just to make you jealous. Don't be mad, I'll go talk to her later..."

"Shut up," Julian snapped, his eyes glued to me.

I felt his gaze, but I felt absolutely nothing.

My grandfather stepped onto the stage, and the ballroom fell silent.

Julian's mother was still daydreaming, nudging Julian to get ready to walk up.

But Julian's feet felt like they were glued to the floor as he watched Greyson stand mere inches from me.

My grandfather raised the microphone, his strong voice echoing through the hall.

"Thank you all for coming. Tonight, I want you to witness my granddaughter Amelia's engagement. The Cole family and the Vance family have finalized our alliance. Amelia is now officially engaged to Greyson Vance!"

The room erupted into shocked whispers!

The smile on Julian's mother's face froze. She pushed through the crowd, outraged. "Mr. Cole! There must be a mistake! Amelia and Julian grew up together! Isn't the alliance with the Carters?!"

My grandfather looked down at her with a cold sneer. "Grew up together? Does that give your son the right to treat my granddaughter like garbage?"

Julian's mother turned pale.

Julian pushed through the crowd, staring at me, his voice shaking. "Amelia, are you serious? You're playing with your own marriage just to hurt me?"

My voice was crystal clear. "I told you, I choose Greyson. I never play games."

Seeing this, Hailey rushed forward with teary eyes. "Amelia! Is this because of me? If you're angry, I'll leave right now! Don't ruin your life over a tantrum. Julian loves you!"

The guests' looks turned suspicious.

Before I could speak, Greyson let out a cold laugh.

"Miss Sterling, if you donated your brain, I doubt anyone would want it."

Greyson's eyes were like ice as he exposed her in front of everyone. "You claim you care about Amelia, yet you're clinging to her ex-fianc like glue? This isn't a soap opera. Julian is just trash that the Cole family threw out. There's no need to play the tragic martyr here."

Someone in the crowd laughed out loud.

Hailey's face flushed bright red, tears stuck on her lashes.

Julian stepped in front of her, furious. "Greyson! Watch your mouth!"

Greyson calmly dusted off his sleeve, looking at him with utter disdain. "Did you watch yours when you treated Amelia like trash? Oh, does it hurt now? Deal with it."

Julian was shaking with rage.

I watched silently.

In the past, I would have desperately explained myself to avoid Julian's misunderstanding. But now, Greyson stood by my side, slapping every lie back into their faces.

In my mind, Grandma laughed happily. "Amazing! I love this guy! You have to scald trash with boiling water!"

Amelia's POV

As the banquet drew to a close, Julian cornered me in a quiet hallway like a desperate dog.

His eyes were bloodshot. "Amelia, you win! You got your revenge, and you dragged my family's name through the mud! If you call off this fake engagement right now, I will take you to get our marriage license tomorrow!"

Even now, he still thought I was playing hard to get.

I looked at his face, a face I used to love, and found it pathetic.

"Julian, do you have trouble understanding English?"

I looked at him coldly.

"I didn't do this to win."

"I did this because you genuinely disgust me."

I shoved past his shoulder and walked away.

At the end of the hallway, I let out a long breath.

Greyson handed me a glass of warm water, smirking. "You looked so tough back there, but now your legs are shaking?"

I took the glass and glared at him. "Would you die if you stopped teasing me for one second?"

"Probably." Greyson looked at me, a rare warmth in his dark eyes. "But honestly, Amelia, you did great tonight."

My eyes welled up with tears.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out near the restroom.

Hailey was sitting on the wet floor, her dress ruined, clutching a broken bracelet, sobbing. She claimed she only wanted to look at my engagement bracelet, but I pushed her.

By the time I arrived, Julian had already helped her up.

His first words to me were a demand. "Why did you push her?"

I looked at the broken bracelet in Hailey's hand.

It wasn't my engagement bracelet. Mine was still securely on my wrist. The fake one Hailey held was cheap and dull. But because she was crying so hard, the onlookers were already whispering about my "terrible temper."

Grandma cursed in my head.

"Again with this trick! In your past life, she broke your jewelry and cried, making you look like the bad guy! Don't let her get away with it!"

I didn't rush to defend myself. I walked up to Hailey, kneeled down, and asked calmly, "You say I pushed you?"

Hailey flinched, shrinking into Julian's arms. "Amelia, I don't blame you. You're just stressed today. I know you didn't mean it."

"So you're saying I did."

I nodded, grabbed Hailey's wrist, and took the broken bracelet from her hand.

Hailey shrieked, "What are you doing?!"

I held the broken bracelet up to the light for everyone to see. "The diamonds on my bracelet are custom-cut, and there is a Cole family crest engraved on the inner band. Many people here have seen it. This cheap plastic piece in your hand doesn't have the crest."

Julian's face changed.

Hailey stopped crying for a second, then quickly stammered, "I... I don't know about jewelry. I just saw yours and wanted to look..."

Greyson walked through the crowd, his voice chilling. "You don't know about jewelry, but you certainly know how to pick a restroom with no cameras to stage a fall."

Hailey looked at him with teary eyes. "Mr. Vance, why do you keep targeting me?"

"Because your acting is terrible." Greyson turned to the staff. "Check who entered the restroom. There are too many eyes at this party. Crying loud doesn't make you right."

A young waitress stepped forward, hesitating. "I... I saw this lady squatting by the door by herself. She was holding something the whole time. Miss Cole only walked in after she was already on the floor."

Hailey's face drained of color.

Julian tried to find an excuse. "Maybe she was just confused because she was scared."

I looked at him, the last trace of warmth in my heart freezing over.

"Julian, you will always find an excuse for her."

Julian opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Hailey sobbed, shaking her head. "No, Amelia, I really didn't mean to hurt you. I was just afraid you hated me..."

I tossed the fake bracelet into the trash can.

"What you're afraid of is none of my business. Next time you want to put on a show, use something cheap. You are not worthy of touching anything related to my family."

I turned and walked away.

Greyson followed me, draping his jacket over my shoulders.

"Thank you," I murmured.

"For what?" Greyson's tone was still teasing. "If you had started explaining yourself back there, I would have really lost respect for you."

I glared at him.

Grandma laughed in my head. "Good glare. In a marriage, you can't let the man always have the upper hand."

My ears turned red.

We weren't even married yet, and Grandma was already calling it a marriage.

Greyson noticed my red ears. "Are you cursing at me in your head?"

"What?" I gasped.

"Whenever you curse at me, your face gives it away."

Feeling guilty, I snapped, "You think too much."

Greyson didn't push. He adjusted the jacket around my shoulders. "Let's go. Your grandfather is looking for you. You did great tonight, don't ruin it by catching a cold."

Hearing him say "fiance" made my heart skip a beat.

When Julian said it, it felt like a chore. But when Greyson said it, it felt safe.

Grandma whispered, "Amelia, is your heart fluttering?"

I replied internally, "No."

Grandma smirked. "Sure, honey. I'm not blind."

Greyson drove me back to the Cole estate.

As I reached for the door handle, he stopped me. "Are you free tomorrow?"

I looked at him warily. "Why?"

"My grandmother wants to meet you," he said. "If you don't want to go, I'll tell her no."

I blinked in surprise.

I thought he would just demand I go, but he actually asked for my consent first.

Grandma murmured, "He has manners."

I thought about it. "I'll go. Since we are engaged, it's only right to meet your family."

Greyson nodded, adding, "My grandmother's name is Evelyn. She's very direct. If she says something you don't like, just argue back. No one in the Vance family will make you swallow your pride."

I couldn't help but smile. "Is that how your family teaches you to treat guests?"

"Our family doesn't teach people to take insult."

Amelia's POV

His words were quiet, but they made my heart swell.

When I visited the Carters in the past, everyone praised me for being "obedient." Obedient meant waiting for Julian when he was busy, yielding to Hailey when she arrived, and letting Julian's mother walk all over me.

The next day, I prepared myself for a difficult meeting with his grandmother.

Mrs. Evelyn Vance sat in the garden. Despite her white hair, her eyes were sharp. She looked me up and down. "I heard you used to be obsessed with the Carter heir?"

Greyson frowned. "Grandmother."

Evelyn waved her hand dismissively. "I'm asking her, not you."

I didn't dodge the question. "I was."

"And now?"

"Not anymore."

Evelyn stared at me for a few seconds, then smiled. "Good. Loving the wrong person isn't embarrassing. Knowing they are trash and still jumping back into the dumpster is."

Grandma Martha nodded vigorously in my head. "I like this old lady! She speaks the truth!"

Greyson drank his tea, hiding a smile.

For the first time, I felt like this alliance wasn't as cold as I thought.

In the afternoon, Evelyn showed me an old photo album. There were pictures of Greyson as a boy, looking grumpy in the yard, while a younger me made faces at him in the background.

I was stunned. "I don't remember this."

Evelyn chuckled. "You had just argued with him, promising you'd never talk to him again. Then you turned around and stole his birthday cake."

Greyson cleared his throat. "Grandmother, that's enough."

I stared at the photo. It turned out Greyson and I weren't always enemies. In the years I had ignored, he was always there, standing just a little out of my sight.

As we prepared to leave, Evelyn held my hand. "If you ever feel wronged, come to me. Don't be afraid of Greyson. He looks mean, but his heart is soft."

Greyson coughed behind us.

I smiled. "I will. Thank you."

Next, I decided to go to the Carter estate to pack up my belongings.

This wasn't a sudden decision. Growing up with Julian meant I had left too many things at his house. Books, photos, gifts, a scarf I spent weeks knitting, and a necklace Julian claimed he was "keeping safe" for me.

Grandma said a clean break required action.

"Take everything back. Leave nothing behind. Let them know you aren't playing games; you are truly gone."

I agreed.

I didn't sneak in. I had the Cole family driver park right at their front door and brought two movers with me. Julian's mother came out, her smile stiff.

"Amelia? Julian isn't home. Why don't you come in and wait?"

"No need," I said. "I'm just here to take my things. I'll leave once I'm done."

Her smile vanished.

Several Carter relatives were in the living room, whispering. In the past, I would bring them gifts and help host. Today, I didn't even take off my shoes.

Julian's mother whispered, "Amelia, let's talk when Julian gets back. You two have years of history. Making a scene like this is embarrassing."

I replied calmly, "I didn't start this."

The movers went upstairs and quickly brought down several boxes. The first was full of my books, the second was old gifts, and the third had albums and the hand-knitted scarf. I touched the dark grey scarf, my fingers pausing.

I had stayed up late learning how to knit because Julian said he was cold in the winter. But after Hailey returned, he never wore it once, claiming it didn't match his style.

I pulled the scarf out and threw it into the trash can in front of everyone.

Julian's mother gasped. "Amelia!"

I picked up the photo album. It was filled with photos of Julian and me. I didn't tear them; I simply took out my solo photos and left the rest on the table.

"These belong to the Carters' memories, not mine."

Suddenly, the sound of screeching tires echoed outside.

Julian rushed in, his face dark as he saw the boxes. "Amelia, what the hell are you doing?"

"Moving out."

"Do you have to make a joke out of us?"

I looked at him. "Julian, I kept my things here because I thought I was welcome. Now I know I'm not. What's so funny about that?"

Julian grabbed my wrist. "Have you had enough of this tantrum?"

He squeezed hard, aggravating my injured arm. I gasped in pain.

In the next second, Greyson's voice boomed from the door. "Let go of her."

He had arrived with his own driver. When Julian didn't let go, Greyson marched over, grabbed Julian's wrist, and forced him back.

"She said she's leaving. Are you deaf?"

Julian grit his teeth. "This is between her and me."

"She's my fiance now." Greyson's eyes were freezing. "Before you touch her, remember your place."

I grabbed the last necklace from the table and put it in my bag.

I turned to Julian's mother. "You don't need to save a room for me anymore."

I walked out of the house.

The sun was bright outside. The boxes were loaded into the trunk.

Grandma whispered gently, "This is how you leave, Amelia."

I sat in the car, never looking back. I knew Julian was watching, and I knew if I looked back even once, he would think he still had a chance.

Greyson sat next to me, unusually quiet. After a long time, he asked, "Does it hurt?"

I touched my bruised wrist. "A little."

"I wasn't asking about your wrist."

I froze.

The Carter estate grew smaller in the rearview mirror. I whispered, "It hurts. But I can bear it."

Greyson kept his eyes on the road. "You don't have to keep bearing it. From now on, if it hurts, say so. If you want to scream, do it. You didn't leave the Carters just to learn how to be quiet."

My eyes stung, and I gave a quiet nod.