Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Garrett Mercer didn't forget our agreement.

Early the next morning, he invited me to a private bistro for brunch.

When I saw him, I almost didn't recognize him.

His hair was dyed back to a sleek black, and his edgy piercings and spiked accessories were gone.

Instead, he wore a simple white button-down shirt and classic jeans.

I instinctively glanced at his eyebrow.

Guessing my confusion, he explained with a smirk, "It was a sticker. Just for fun. What, you don't recognize me?"

I smiled. "To be honest, barely."

Everything went smoothly, and we settled on the most exclusive venue and a top-tier banquet.

As for the venue decorations and outfits, I left it entirely to Garrett's taste, splitting the bill fifty-fifty.

He rested his chin in his hand, his cheek bulging with a bite of a French pastry, looking somewhat like a mischievous chipmunk.

"Everything according to my taste? It's your wedding too. Aren't you excited?"

I shrugged nonchalantly. "People say listening to your husband brings good fortune. I'm just getting an early start so we can stay wealthy longer."

My comment made Garrett burst into laughter.

That was when I noticed how bright his eyes were, with charming dimples framing his smile.

He looked nothing like the reckless playboy the tabloids made him out to be.

Once we finalized the plans, Garrett left early to take care of some family matters.

I gathered my things to head back to the office, but bumped into Lucas and Savannah the moment I stepped out of the private room.

Both of them froze when they saw me.

Lucas was the first to react.

"Farrah? What are you doing here?"

He looked at me, then glanced into the empty private room behind me, a look of smug realization dawning on his face.

"Oh, you followed us here, didn't you? Someone who usually sticks to salad and quick lunches would never come to a high-end place like this."

"I knew everything you said yesterday was a lie. Seeing Savannah and me together hurts, doesn't it?"

He wore a triumphant grin, while Savannah put on a faux-sympathetic act beside him.

"Lucas, drop it," Savannah murmured softly. "Farrah is already heartbroken about missing out on marrying you. It really is my fault..."

As Savannah spoke, she casually twirled a luxury car key around her finger, making sure it caught my eye.

It was the key to a limited-edition supercar released this year.

Given the Cole family's shaky finances, they could never afford it, which meant Lucas bought it for her.

She was completely decked out from head to toe in brand-new luxury designer labels.

It seemed Lucas had spent a fortune pampering her.

I suddenly remembered that during my time with Lucas, I never even received a simple silk scarf, let alone a supercar.

Instead, I frequently wired him money to cover his lavish entertainment expenses whenever he cried poor.

Back then, I thought couples shouldn't keep score on who gave more.

Looking back, he had simply treated me like an ATM all along.

Savannah noticed that I saw the key, and a flash of smug pride gleamed in her eyes.

Before I could speak, Lucas stepped in front of her protectively.

"Why are you apologizing to her? She is the one clinging to me. She should be begging us!"

He crossed his arms and lifted his chin arrogantly.

"Let me tell you, Farrah. If you regret your words and want to get back with me, I might consider it. But my terms have changed."

"You said so many nasty things last night. To make up for my emotional distress, you will give Savannah and me an allowance of a million dollars each per month."

"On top of that, every season's new designer clothes and bags must be offered to Savannah first. You are never allowed to interrupt when Savannah and I are together, and the formal wedding will only be for Savannah."

"If you can't even handle these basic conditions, getting back together is off the table!"

He rattled off his absurd list of demands like a machine gun.

All the jokes I had heard in my twenty-five years couldn't match the sheer audacity coming out of his mouth.

The ridiculous part was that he genuinely believed granting me a spot in his life was some grand act of charity.

I cast a cold glance over the two of them and spoke calmly.

"Would you like the Shaw Group to start a charity drive for your mental health? I recently met a world-class neurosurgeon from abroad and can gladly make an introduction."

Lucas froze. When he realized what I meant, his face turned bright red.

"What is that supposed to mean?!"

I shrugged. "Exactly what it sounds like. I'm saying you both need professional help."

I turned and walked away, leaving Lucas's furious roars echoing behind me.

I drove straight back to the company without looking back once.

Emotional energy is precious, and I refuse to waste it on worthless people.