I wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes. I then smiled and raised my wine glass to everyone. "Ladies and gentlemen, as you all know, today isn't just my birthday party, but also my engagement party."

A cold, handsome face was projected onto the huge screen, and everyone gasped. "Isn't this Felix Hamilton from Jorvale's Hamilton family?"

Dad had just wrapped up a deal worth hundreds of millions and stepped in just in time. He smiled and replied, "That's right. Only the very best is worthy of my daughter!

"I only adopted those three out of pity for their orphaned circumstances. It's absolutely ridiculous to say that I only did that to get a husband for my daughter!"

Despite Dad's words, the guests were all in disbelief. Several of his close friends started persuading him otherwise.

"Although Felix Hamilton is exceptional, that car accident from years ago…"

"That's right! E

Aggrieved, Cecelia said, "It's my fault for being an eyesore to Ms. Guthrine. I shouldn't have barged in and ruined her birthday party, even if she hired people to try to taint me. What if she tattles to Mr. Guthrine and cuts off your living expenses? I don't want to drag you all down with me."

Nathan, Shawn, and Samuel's expressions all darkened at her words. They couldn't stand being reminded that they were living under someone's roof.

Samuel replied coldly, "I'm able-bodied. I'll be fine even if they cut off my living expenses."

Nathan ruffled Cecelia's hair reassuringly. "Don't worry, Sherry can't possibly handle a company as big as the Guthrine Corporation. She'll end up begging us to come back and run it for her.

"You're not dragging us down. Sherry's the real problem here. If she hadn't tried to hurt you out of spite, the three of us wouldn't have humiliated and abandoned her.

However, Gwen kept shaking her head, insisting that she had nothing to do with this—that they were the ones who showed up uninvited.

I sighed helplessly, ready to pretend I hadn't seen anything. 

The guests were more enthusiastic than I was as they happily greeted Nathan, Shawn, and Samuel.

"You're truly a remarkable young man, Mr. Sawyer. Didn't the project you landed last month bring in millions? No wonder Ms. Guthrine only likes you."

I was the one who landed the deal, while Nathan only went to get the papers signed.

"While Mr. Locke has a fiery temper, he has a strong sense of justice. Ms. Guthrine would never be wrong with him by her side."

I let out a cold sneer. Samuel was the one who despised and bullied me the most.

"Mr. Carlton is equally handsome and talented too. Ms. Guthrine would be lucky to choose you too. In any case, hope you'll all look out for us in the future."

The three of them basked in the spotlight, as if they were the hosts of my birthday party.

Frowning, I was contemplating how to put an end to this farce when they looked down and pulled out their phones at the same time.

Samuel's expression was the first to darken. He strode over in a hurry and gave me a harsh slap. I almost fell to the ground from the dizziness caused by the impact.

Everyone was shocked by what happened. They quickly stepped back, not wanting to get caught in trouble.

Nathan clenched his fists. He grabbed Samuel, who was about to strike me again, and turned to look at me with gritted teeth. "We've already been paraded here like merchandise for you to choose from. What more do you want? Must you push Cecelia to the edge?"

Shawn grew even more displeased upon seeing how puzzled I looked. "I can't believe you hired people to abduct Cecelia when we're not with her! Let me tell you—you won't succeed!"

As soon as I heard his words, I immediately realized that Cecelia was up to her old tricks.

The guests present were either Dad's close friends or business partners, yet none of them stood up for me when I got slapped in front of them.

My heart grew cold. They must have assumed that I would never be put in charge of Guthrine Corporation, so they dared not offend the three of them.

I cupped my cheek and coldly glared at Samuel. "Apologize to me, now!"

He glanced at my reddening eyes and mocked me, "Cecelia almost got raped. What are you so upset about when you just got a slap? "

Just then, Cecelia ran in crying. Her dress was tattered. She looked as if something had just happened to her.

Nathan quickly removed his suit jacket and draped it around her. He turned around and shot me a disgusted look. "You're truly as calculative as ever! I'll never marry someone like you!"

Shawn, who was usually quiet, stepped in front of Cecelia with an icy expression. "Your mom couldn't give birth to a son to inherit your family business, so she brought in the three of us to be used as tools. 

"We've already accepted our fates, but clearly that's still not enough for you. If that's the case, there's no need to keep up with this peaceful facade anymore."

He turned and left, completely disregarding the Guthrine family's reputation.

Before Nathan left, he haughtily said, "I'll marry you, but from now on, you're just for show. You'd better behave if you want me to protect the Guthrine family business."

I laughed. They seemed to have forgotten that the Guthrines would never have adopted them if it weren't for me.

Upon seeing that the three of them were about to leave, someone was about to stop them when I yelled, "Let them leave!"

Cecelia cast a provocative sideways glance at me, looking smug as if she had won it all.

I stood there without uttering a word. Then Gwen anxiously asked, "What should we do now? The three of them have left. Who are you picking then?"

The other guests started frowning. "A woman is bound to get married sooner or later. If even the three adopted men who know her inside out didn't want her, who else would she get married to?"

I wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes. I then smiled and raised my wine glass to everyone. "Ladies and gentlemen, as you all know, today isn't just my birthday party, but also my engagement party."

A cold, handsome face was projected onto the huge screen, and everyone gasped. "Isn't this Felix Hamilton from Jorvale's Hamilton family?"

Dad had just wrapped up a deal worth hundreds of millions and stepped in just in time. He smiled and replied, "That's right. Only the very best is worthy of my daughter!

"I only adopted those three out of pity for their orphaned circumstances. It's absolutely ridiculous to say that I only did that to get a husband for my daughter!"

Despite Dad's words, the guests were all in disbelief. Several of his close friends started persuading him otherwise.

"Although Felix Hamilton is exceptional, that car accident from years ago…"

"That's right! Everyone knows he's paralyzed. You're letting your daughter marry a man who can't even have children.

Chapter 5