Heart Dead, Ready to Leave, Cold-War Boyfriend Says Marry

I really wanted to crack open Alden's skull and see just how badly his brain had shriveled.

As calmly as I could manage, I said to Alden, "Are you sure that was walnut milk you drank and not straight-up battery acid?"

Alden's face broke into a delighted, smug smile.

"So you do still care about me. You even remember I love walnut milk, and you went out of your way to remind me not to buy a knockoff!"

"Since that's the case, it works out perfectly. I've turned the engagement dinner into a family get-together today, and Evie's here too. You can apologize to her in a bit. Given that your family's gone bankrupt, we'll skip the gift, and I'll help smooth things over when the time comes. You two can shake hands and make up!"

Watching Alden wear that face of pure entitlement, my appetite vanished completely.

Any interest I had in this meal was gone. I turned to leave.

A figure stepped into my path.

"Sis, you just got here and you're already leaving! Is it because of me?"

Evelyn wore a pink tweed skirt suit. Gone was the washed-out school uniform, and now she looked every bit the wealthy young heiress.

Her eyes were faintly red. She sniffled pitifully and went on.

"Sis, are you upset about the ring? You and Alden haven't seen each other in three years, and he bought it overseas. You know how he is, he was too embarrassed to ask for your ring size, so he used mine..."

"Don't blame Alden. Guys like him just don't think about these things. Whatever's between us is one-sided, only on my end. Alden's never once returned my feelings. He loves you. As long as I get to watch him be happy, that's enough for me!"

As she spoke, the tears spilled like beads off a snapped string, until she was gasping for breath.

"Don't cry, Evie."

Alden pulled Evelyn tight against him, his heart clearly aching for her. After murmuring a few soothing words, he fixed a frown on me.

"Letitia, I thought three years would've given you time to reflect, that you'd at least have reined in that temper. I never imagined you'd still be this domineering!"

"What exactly did I say?"

A smile stayed on my face as I met Alden's gaze, but my eyes were pure ice.

Alden froze, probably realizing I truly hadn't said anything, and only then did he soften.

"Letty, you grew up in comfort. Evie isn't like you. Her parents favored sons over daughters, and her family was poor, which left her insecure and sensitive on the inside. You may not have said anything, but your attitude wounded her all the same."

"Just apologize to Evie. Prove you don't hold anything against her. After all, once you marry me, you'll be her sister-in-law, and you should look after her like the little sister she is."

I let out a cold laugh.

"Who's her sister-in-law? My husband isn't you, so quit dreaming up relationships that don't exist, would you?"

"And her parents favoring sons over daughters is her parents' problem. Go take it up with them. Why drag me into it? And as for her family being poor..."

"Shut up!" Disappointment crossed Alden's face. "Letitia, if you still want to marry me, then pack away that arrogant, overbearing temper of yours!"

"Alden, I will not allow Letitia to set foot in our family! That temper is too much, more than the Masons can afford! You were so upset by her back then that you ran off overseas for three years. If it weren't for Evie by your side, your father and I would've been worried sick!"

"That's right, Alden, listen to your mother just this once! Everyone's seen how good Evie's been to you. She waited for you all these years. In our hearts, we've already settled on her as the Mason family's daughter-in-law."

"Letitia, stop pestering my son! If I were you, I'd be too ashamed to show my face here. You were the one who abandoned my son back then, and now you come crawling back to seduce him and ruin what he has with Evie. It's disgusting!"