He Called Me Overreacting, I Married a Billionaire

Every single time Lillian Page showed up, my proposal got ruined. One time, she accidentally knocked over a cream cake. Another time, she accidentally shoved me into the pool. And every single time, Samuel Black would jump to defend his girl buddy, saying she didn't do it on purpose. Then came this time. Lillian took a ballpoint pen and wrote all over my face while I was asleep. When I woke up, I found the word "LOSER" in big capital letters right across my forehead. I grabbed her wrist, furious. "Was that an accident too?" Samuel burst in and pulled her behind him, voice dripping with impatience. "She was just trying to lighten the mood. You gonna throw a fit over that?" He still had this rock-solid confidence that I'd forgive him, because this was his fifth proposal. I didn't answer Samuel. I just pointed at the glaring red mark on his collarbone. My mind went blank. My throat went dry. "Samuel, explain that." He followed my gaze, and his mouth opened like he was about to say something. But Lillian wrapped herself around his arm, practically hanging off him. "Oh, that? That was me. I asked Samuel to help me with my zipper in the back, and we kinda fell over together. Guess we bumped into each other." The lounge went dead quiet. I could hear my own breathing. Samuel was a workaholic. He never had time to go shopping with me. And yet somehow, he'd found time to go with his girl buddy to try on clothes at the mall. The sting hit me out of nowhere, and I bit my lip. From outside the door, I could hear our friends chatting. "Samuel went all out this time. Had a hot air balloon with Charlotte's name on it floating over Crestwood City all day." "I bet this proposal's gonna go smooth. Charlotte can't be that unlucky forever." "I can't wait to pop that champagne at their wedding!" Their laughter died the second they saw my face. I'd put on pearl earrings, curled my hair, done my makeup real nice. But all of it was ruined by those humiliating letters stamped across my forehead. The room got dead quiet. Then Lillian let out a laugh, totally out of place, like she'd just won a trophy. Samuel frowned. He was finally realizing how bad this looked. He said, "Sorry, Charlotte. Lillian was just trying to cheer you up." Every proposal went the same way. Lillian pulled some stunt, Samuel apologized for her. Last time, he got down on one knee at a sky-high restaurant in the city. Roses on the table, a pianist playing. I thought nothing could go wrong. Then Lillian burst in yelling "Surprise!" and spilled red wine all over me. She was laughing so hard she could barely hold the glass. Samuel didn't stop grinning until he saw my eyes go red. Later, he put his arm around my shoulder and promised me. "Charlotte, I swear. Next time, no more surprises. I'm gonna give you the perfect proposal." So when I got that message inviting me to the estate, I was over the moon. I put on that red satin dress he loved, sprayed on perfume. And I was even prepared to come clean to my mafia father. "You know today's my birthday, right?" "Of course I know. How could I forget?" Samuel knew it was my birthday. But he still let Lillian ruin the proposal I'd been looking forward to the most. I pulled the ring off my finger—the one I'd worn for five years—and dropped it on the floor. It hit the marble with a sharp clink. "Samuel, I think we're done." His eyes started showing that familiar impatience. "Charlotte, don't throw a fit. It's just a few words on your face. No big deal. She broke your favorite vase last time, and you didn't even get mad." Lillian put her hands up, looking all wounded and innocent. "I honestly didn't mean it. Name it, apology or compensation, I'm good for both." Even our friends started speaking up for her. "Charlotte, you're a lady. You shouldn't be so pushy." "Lillian already said sorry. All you gotta do is forgive her." In this social circle, Lillian was the one who ran the show. If Lillian cried at night, everybody rushed to comfort her. If Lillian humiliated me, everybody said I was being too harsh. The first time Samuel threw a party for me, Lillian suggested Truth or Dare. Everyone else got dumb little dares or silly questions that made you laugh. When it got to me, she told me to kiss some random guy next to me. I said no on the spot. When she ran out crying, every single guy chased after her. Including Samuel. I sat by the pool alone till sunrise. And now, Samuel was using that same stern tone on me again. "Charlotte, apologize to Lillian, now." In the past, I would've lied to myself that Samuel had feelings for me, he just couldn't say it. And I would've been the one to break the tension between me and Lillian. Not this time. I picked up my bag and said, "Samuel, you're just as stupid as she is." As I turned to leave, Lillian's soft voice came from behind. "Aren't you gonna go after your girlfriend? Looks like she's for real this time." Samuel let out a dismissive laugh. "Go after her? One sweet talk and she'll come crawling back, just you wait."