Chapter 5: Breaking the Engagement

The whole banquet hall went dead silent, the only sound was the police flipping through records in the video.

Alexander moved fast, stepping up to unplug the projector. The rustling disappeared.

The guests, both openly and secretly, eyed the Spencer Family members with deep disgust and disbelief.

"They actually sold their own daughter."

"How could they do something so outrageous?"

"And the younger sister stole her older sister's fiancé? That man must be trash too."

"If I were Zoey, I'd run away and never come back."

Public opinion turned completely against them, leaving Arthur and Caroline utterly humiliated, while Catherine completely unresponsive.

Only Alexander seemed a bit better, but he didn't look too well either.

Zoey discreetly gave Claire a thumbs-up. Claire raised an eyebrow at her, proudly pushing the projector out of the room.

"Dad, everyone's waiting for your explanation. Aren't you going to keep up your good father act?"

Arthur snapped back to reality, his lips turned purple, and his fingers trembled as he pointed at Zoey. "You ungrateful daughter! Do you have to push us to the edge to be satisfied?"

Zoey smiled faintly, her eyes icy. "What are you talking about? Wasn’t it you who was determined to push me to the edge?"

At this point, the engagement party was obviously off.

Zoey had cleared up the rumors and didn't want to stay in this filthy and oppressive place any longer. And those engagement photos were just plain ironic.

She walked up to Alexander, looking down at his familiar yet strangely distant face.

After three years, he seemed different.

His face had once made her heart race, but now seemed ordinary.

"Alexander, I'll personally bring the agreement to annul the engagement to your house tomorrow afternoon. You wouldn’t want the reputation of being a bad man involved with a cheap woman, would you?"

After saying that, Zoey turned around, the fishtail hem of her dress swayed like waves as she walked away.

Her back was like that of a goddess, unattainable.

Alexander stared blankly at her retreating figure. She was nothing like the Zoey he remembered, the one who had once seemed like a servant. A faint sense of unease rose in his chest.

Catherine, feeling wronged and seeking comfort, looked up only to find Alexander staring longingly at Zoey's back. Overcome with jealousy, she grabbed his face, forced him to look at her. "What are you looking at!"

Alexander's gaze landed on Catherine's face, and a few words instantly flashed through his mind: she was vulgar and unattractive.

His expression turned sour as he pushed Catherine's hand away and coldly said, "Go calm the guests."

Catherine stared at her empty hand in disbelief, hatred flashing in her eyes. 'Zoey, I want you dead!'

Just as Zoey got into the car, she suddenly sneezed. Claire quickly grabbed a cashmere scarf and draped it over her, her hand brushing against the diamonds. "Your production team has some good investors, even providing such luxurious dresses."

Earlier, when Zoey had gone to change, she discovered that her original dress was damaged. As she grew anxious, Claire received a call from someone claiming to be from the Chase Corporation's secretary's office, asking whetherthe production team needed any help.

Claire casually mentioned the dress issue. Before they knew it, this multi-million-dollar outfit was delivered to them.

Zoey touched the ruby around her neck, feeling an indescribable sensation.

Meanwhile, at the Chase Corporation headquarters.

Henry watched the confident woman on his tablet, with a smile he hadn't noticed himself.

"This outfit was a good choice. Your bonus will double."

John smiled and thanked him, thinking, 'There's only one set like this in the world. If this isn't good enough, I'd have to get a top designer to custom-make one for Zoey.'

Henry manually rewound the video to the moment Zoey walked in. His gaze slowly slid over her body; his usually cold eyes filled with tenderness, as if he were looking at his most perfect treasure.

John shivered and couldn't help but say, "Mr. Windsor, if you like her, why don't you just go after her? Is there any woman in the world who would refuse you?"

Henry locked the tablet, his gaze turning icy. "Who said I like her?"

John was left speechless..

Then he heard Henry instruct, "Postpone tomorrow afternoon's meeting. I want to see what my grandnephew is up to."

It was obvious Henry was just using that as an excuse to see Zoey, yet he still refused to admit that he liked her.

John, a bit frustrated, obediently went to make the arrangements.

The next afternoon at three, Zoey arrived at the Brown mansion on time.

As she walked into the hall, she realized Alexander was not alone..

Zoey smirked playfully. "Alexander, for something as important as annulling the engagement, you didn't even bring your parents. you invited my dad and stepmother?"

Caroline immediately shot back, "Alexander is the husband I chose for my daughter, equivalent to my son. You're the outsider here!"

Even before marriage, they were already on the same side.

Zoey looked at Alexander mockingly, speechless.

Under her gaze, Alexander felt a strange sensation, pursed his lips, and said, "My parents are attending a conference abroad and couldn't couldn’t make it back." 

Zoey did not care about his explanation. She directly took out the agreement and pushed it in front of Alexander. "Sign it if there are no issues."

Caroline sneered. "What right do you have to call the shots here? It should be Alexander who who decides!"

Zoey smiled faintly. "I’m just trying to save myself another trip. I don’t want to come back to that filthy home again."

Caroline and Arthur’s faces twitched with anger.

The bolded title on the document, "Agreement to Initiate the Annulment of the Engagement," was glaringly obvious. Yesterday, Caroline had been at a disadvantage and had no chance to retaliate. Now she finally seized the opportunity.

"You should be begging Alexander to agree to annul the engagement," Caroline mocked. "If I were you, after ruining his engagement, I’d be apologizing and coaxing him!"

Zoey glanced at her disdainfully and took out another agreement, speaking slowly, " This one is for you"

Zoey leisurely added, "My mom left quite a bit for the Spencer Family. Since you don't think I am a member of the Spencer Family now, I don't want to stay in it either. Let's settle it clearly."

Caroline cursed, "Don't even think about it!"

Arthur flipped through the agreement with a cold face.

Alexander had already finished reading his, his expression displeased, frowning as he asked, "Why should I compensate you two million dollars? Annulment of the engagement is mutual consent!"

Zoey replied calmly, "You were unfaithful during the engagement period, having sex with my sister. This is rightful emotional compensation."

Arthur slammed the agreement on the table, startling Zoey.

Even though she had distanced herself from the Spencer Family, the memories of being hurt were still etched in her mind.

Arthur's hands trembled with anger. He had been holding back his anger since last night, and now he couldn't contain it any longer. "You ungrateful daughter! What do you mean by returning fifty percent of the Spencer Group's shares? Your mother gave them willingly!"

Mentioning her mother, Zoey instantly became furious, confronting him. "What do you mean? Wasn't it because you betrayed the marriage and deceived my mom with this mistress?"

"You!" Arthur raised his hand to slap her.

A strong arm suddenly reached out from beside Zoey's ear, grabbing Arthur's wrist.

Someone questioned with a deep voice, "What are you doing?"