Chapter 2 Chapter 2 The office door slammed open. Gregory stormed in with murderous intensity, Ashley trailing nervously behind him. I glanced at him, tone icy. "What do you want?" He flung a document onto the desk with a sharp smack. "Let's call off the engagement." Pulling Ashley down beside him, he declared, "We should part with dignity." A cold laugh escaped me. "How dare you say that, Gregory?" "Where was your dignity yesterday when you humiliated the Perezes at our engagement?" Rising. I pressed my fingertips against the conference table, staring him down. "You didn't just ruin an engagement party." "You destroyed three years of strategic partnership between our families." "Orlando's entire business landscape for the next five years-don't pretend you don't know!" His lips curled into a sneer as he lounged arrogantly against the sofa. "Of course I know." "All you ever see are profits! Even our engagement was just another calculation!" Ashley tugged his sleeve, her voice barely above a whisper. "Ms. Perez, please don't blame Gregory. It's all my fault." "I couldn't control my feelings-" "Shut up!" I cut him off sharply: "You don't get to speak here!" Ashley turned deathly pale and immediately fell silent. This scene infuriated Gregory. He sprang to his feet and pointed at me; "Maria, that's enough!" 0.0 % 11 288 Vouchers 12:31 Chapter 2 "Don't think helping me once gives you lifelong control!" "Every day with you suffocates me! Your deals with the Jackson group, those drinking sessions-all to build your empire!" "And I'm just your obedient pawn!" Each word stabbed my heart like knives. I drew a deep breath, meeting his gaze: "So in your eyes, I've been using you since buying the ancestral mansion?" "Arranging private jets and top specialists for your mother-was that acting too?" "Gregory, do you have a heart?" Her eyes flickered with momentary panic. I laughed, though bloodshot veins surfaced in my eyes. "Gregory, one last question." "Did you-" "I did!" He answered first, face hardened with angry resolve. "Satisfied?" "Must you hear such corny answers?" Defiantly clutching Ashley's hand, he rested his other palm on her belly. "Things are different now." "Ashley's carrying my child. I gotta take care of both of them." The truth hit me like a sledgehammer. Turns out, I was just a pawn in their illicit lovers' game. 56.7 % 11 288 (Vouchers 12:31