He Begged Too Late After I Married His Rival

Chapter 2 The Day He Proposed to Another Woman

"You really don't like Adrian anymore?"

"No. I don't. Not anymore."

Hearing that her daughter had finally stopped clinging to Adrian, Selene's mother, Evelyn Whitemoore, was overjoyed. "Good, good! The Cross family has been waiting for this. I'll contact them right away!"

She had never liked Adrian. To her, he was a perfectly fine young man who insisted on playing the part of some so-called ascetic heir, which she found utterly ridiculous.

While her mother went to make arrangements, Selene drove back home. The moment she stepped inside, she noticed something strange. Every servant was looking at her cautiously, as if afraid to say anything.

Selene glanced at herself in the mirror. Aside from her swollen, reddened eyes, nothing seemed out of place. Frowning, she stopped Butler Harris.

The old man looked at her with gentle concern. He said nothing, only handing her a video. Selene watched it and understood everything instantly.

Adrian had proposed the night before, and the woman by his side had not been her.

Under a breathtaking display of blue fireworks, Adrian knelt on one knee, as if in devotion before something sacred. The ring in his hand was enormous, glittering with extravagant brilliance.

When Vivian slowly extended her hand, the entire world seemed to erupt in celebration. Online, the moment had already taken over every trending page.

A: [Oh my God, this is unbelievably romantic. The once untouchable heir has fallen from his pedestal and is now kneeling for the woman he loves.]

B: [Miss Snow has always been known as the pure white jasmine of Northridge City, and the two of them make a perfect match. I wouldn't be surprised if that shameless Vale girl is throwing a fit at home right now.]

C: [Don't ruin such a happy occasion by mentioning her.]

They had expected Selene to throw a tantrum. Instead, she quietly sorted through everything she had ever given Adrian, cups, rings, blankets, all of it.

He had never accepted any of them. Back then, she believed that as long as he had glanced at them once, it was enough, so she kept collecting them, piece by piece.

Now she sat on the floor, staring at the small pile of discarded things, a dull headache creeping in.

Her phone rang. The moment she answered, Evelyn's excited voice burst through.

"Seli! That heir of the Cross family, Julian, agreed immediately! And guess what? He happens to be in Northridge City on business right now. You can even hold the wedding here! Oh, and I heard he's a bit cold by nature. But that's normal for someone who fights his way through the business world. I'll send you his contact later. Make sure you make a good impression…"

Selene had heard of Julian Cross. People like Adrian were heirs, living freely under the protection of their families. But Julian had carved his own path in the business world, rising step by step. Even Adrian's parents treated him with caution.

Selene didn't let Evelyn continue. She agreed to everything and hung up.

"Make a good impression on who?"

Selene looked up. Adrian stood there, watching her with suspicion. In his hand was a mug.

"This is the one you gave me before. What are you doing? Throwing it away?"

Selene snatched it from him. "It's mine now."

Adrian froze for a brief second. The prayer beads in his hand stopped turning. His expression darkened as he studied her.

He had expected that after seeing the proposal, she would cry, flood his phone with messages, maybe even cause a scene.

But he had checked his phone several times last night. There was not a single message from Selene. The silence unsettled him.

Worried she might come looking for trouble, he had come to the Vale Estate himself. The air around him grew colder.

Selene sensed the shift immediately. She softened her tone. After all, Adrian could be unpredictable. She couldn't let him ruin her upcoming wedding.