---- Chapter 3 I nodded in response and saw Jayden's parents to the door. Just as it clicked shut behind them, I heard their voices echoing down the stairwell- Jayden's father scolding Jayden's mother. "What were you thinking just now? Sure, our family's doing better these days, but we're not at the top yet. We still need her family's help to rise in the business world. If we break things off now, what does that make us look like?" Jayden's mother seemed to realize something and kept repeating, "You're right, you're right." I gave a soft, mirthless laugh in my heart. Just then, my father called. "Leah, I've found you a potential fiancé. The two of you should meet, get to know each other a bit. Come home tonight for dinner." I said yes without hesitation and threw on something simple. When I got home, though, I was so shocked I ---- nearly dropped my purse. "Nick? What are you doing here?!" Nick Parker was sitting on the living room couch, wearing a well-cut suit, posture straight and composed. When he saw the surprise on my face, he stood up, raising an eyebrow slightly, a trace of amusement playing at his lips. "What, am I not good enough for you?" I stared at the Parker heir, frozen for a long moment. It was true that our families had a number of business ties, but Nick had never gotten along with Jayden. Not even a little. He and I had studied abroad together, and we were friends, in a way. But when I came back and officially started dating Jayden, Nick's attitude toward him turned openly hostile. He picked fights, made digs, said we weren't even from the same world. At first, I tried to smooth things over. Tried to be ---- polite. But the more I tried, the more aggressively he targeted Jayden. In the end, I started to lose patience with him, too. And now, here he was, not only willing to marry me, but willing to take Jayden's place-even after the wedding date had already been set. It would be a proper family alliance. It was unbelievable. In my memory, Nick had always thought I was too sentimental. Too easily fooled. I couldn't help laughing softly, more in resignation than anything, nodding my head." Good enough, for sure. But weren't you the one who..." "Didn't you hate me the most?! were the words I wanted to say, but didn't. He clearly caught my drift and looked a little awkward. "I-I never really hated you. You were just always chasing after Jayden. I mean, I'm willing to marry