Chapter 3

"Nancy, whether you're doing this on a whim today or have some other motive, I'm taking it seriously. You can't take it back now."

Before he finished speaking, he actually pulled out a small velvet box from his suit pocket.

My eyes widened in surprise as I watched him take out an extremely simple plain gold ring from the box. It had no fancy gems or decorations, yet it had a solid, steady glow.

He solemnly took my left hand and, without giving me a chance to object, slipped the ring onto my ring finger.

The size was absolutely perfect.

"Now that you're wearing my ring," he held my hand with the ring on it and lowered his head to kiss the back of my hand, his expression almost reverent, his tone both domineering and focused, "from now on, you're officially my fiancée, you're mine. Got it?"

Hearing him repeat the words I had just said, my feelings were all mixed up. The flutter I felt when he protected me before I died in my past life came back, but now with a touch of sweetness.

I looked down carefully at the plain, simple ring on my finger, slightly puzzled.

This didn't match Michael's status as the heir of the Johnson family at all. With his wealth, what kind of rare diamond couldn't he buy? Why would it be such a simple band?

I couldn't help but look up at his expression carefully. I noticed what seemed like a hint of nervousness hidden deep in his eyes, and a bold guess came to mind.

"This ring..." I asked softly, my fingertip gently touching the smooth band, "you didn't make it yourself, did you?"

Michael's ears immediately turned a faint shade of red. He looked away unnaturally and nodded slightly. "Yeah, I engraved our initials inside the band."

I quickly took off the ring and held it up to the sunlight from the terrace. Sure enough, inside the band were two letters intertwined together.

N&M

An indescribable warmth instantly hit my heart, a mix of bitterness and emotion spreading through me. So, during all that time I didn't know about, he had cherished this engagement so much.

I put the ring back on and took the initiative to hold his hand. My eyes were slightly teary, but I smiled brightly. "Michael, tomorrow, let's go on a date."

Michael was obviously stunned for a moment. The redness on his ears that hadn't completely faded seemed to deepen. He cleared his throat lightly, his eyes looking away unnaturally. "Okay. I'll arrange it."

Seeing this rare awkward side of him, I felt the urge to tease him more. Just as I was about to say something else, I heard a deliberately loud cough from behind.

Both Michael and I jumped and turned around to see my mother standing at the entrance to the terrace, with a half-smiling expression on her face. Her gaze lingered for a moment on our clasped hands.

Michael pulled his hand back as if burned and nodded slightly at Lucy. "Mrs. Smith."

A flash of embarrassment crossed his face. He didn't dare look Lucy in the eye and said, trying to stay composed, "I'll go see if my parents need any help."

With that, he left with a calm stride, though his retreating figure looked somewhat like he was fleeing.

Lucy watched him leave, then walked over to me and looked me up and down suspiciously. "Nancy, tell me the truth. What's going on with you? A few days ago you were ready to die rather than get married, and today you're like a different person?"

I took Lucy's arm and gently rested my head on her shoulder. Her familiar fragrance filled my nose, and my eyes immediately welled up with tears.

"Mom, I just suddenly figured it out." My voice was a bit choked. "And also, I really missed you."

This sentence contained too much regret and longing from both my past and present life. 

In this world, my mother was my closest person. I grew up without a father, and she raised me through hardship. I was almost her entire life.

In my past life, when she learned of my tragic death on the snowy mountain, how heartbroken she must have been.

Lucy's body stiffened slightly, then softened. She gently patted the back of my hand, her tone scolding but full of affection. "Silly child, what silly things are you saying? Didn't we just see each other this morning? You're all grown up now, about to get married, and still acting spoiled with me."

She paused, then her tone became serious again. She held my hand and looked directly into my eyes. "Nancy, tell me honestly, have you really thought this through? You want to marry Michael? I don't want you to compromise for the company or for me. If you don't want to, I'll definitely find a way..."

"Mom, I mean it." I interrupted her without any hesitation. "I like Michael, I want to marry him. And,"

I gripped her hand tightly, my tone more determined than ever. "I've grown up. From now on, let me protect you and the company."

I silently vowed in my heart, 'In this life, I absolutely won't let the company's management rights be eaten away by John's schemes like in my past life, and I must make John and Susan pay the price they deserve for their betrayal and cruelty!'

Lucy stared at me for a moment, as if trying to find any trace of reluctance in my eyes. Finally, she smiled with relief, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes smoothing out, and gently pulled me into her arms. "Good, Nancy, you've really grown up."

The engagement party finally ended with everyone having different thoughts. After seeing off most of the guests, I was about to leave when I was cornered by John, who had been waiting by the pillars outside the hotel's side entrance.

"Nancy!" He grabbed my wrist, his tone anxious. "Are you really going to marry Michael? You clearly promised to be with me before. Don't you know how much I love you!"

Watching his passionate performance, my mind instantly flashed back to his and Susan's cruel words from my past life, and the image of them leaving together.

Bone-deep hatred surged up like a tide. I wanted nothing more than to strangle this disgusting man right now.

But my reason quickly returned. The Brown Group was still an important partner of the Smith Group, with deeply entangled relationships. Breaking things off now would only alert them and be bad for the Smith Group. Revenge had to be taken slowly.

I suppressed my surging emotions, coldly shook off his hand, my tone distant. "John, I already made it clear enough at the party. You and I are just ordinary friends. Please respect yourself and stop pestering me."

"I don't believe it!" John suddenly became agitated, his eyes full of red veins. "You must be being forced by your family! You love me!"

As he spoke, he suddenly leaned down, trying to force a kiss on me.

I felt disgusted and didn't hesitate to raise my hand and slap him hard across the face.

John's head turned from the impact, and clear finger marks instantly appeared on his face.

He stared at me in disbelief, his expression changing from shock to humiliation. "You hit me?"

"That's right, I hit you!" My tone was cold as ice as I took out my phone. "Harassment and attempted assault - I can totally call the cops."

Seeing that I was actually going to call the police, John became angry from embarrassment. He stepped forward and snatched my phone, throwing it hard on the ground! "Nancy, are you really this heartless?"

I stumbled, my foot in high heels twisted, and I almost fell.

The next moment, a pair of strong hands caught me firmly, and an extremely cold voice, as if frozen in ice, came from behind me. "When did it become your turn to lay hands on my fiancée?"