Humiliated by His Fiancée, He Begged Me to Stay

Chapter 3

Adrian advanced on me step by step. I pressed myself into the corner and lifted my chin in defiance.

I was born and raised in Riverton. Why couldn't I come back?

The Graves family had already destroyed my life. What right did they have to keep me from even coming home?

My heart ached, but I still forced a smile onto my face. "You flatter me, Mr. Graves. Your company sent someone all the way to Germland to sign me and offered me a salary I couldn't refuse. Of course I came back."

"Iris, you're still the same money-grubber you always were."

He stared at me hard, then suddenly grabbed my chin and kissed me.

I bit down hard on his lip.

The taste of blood filled my mouth and nose, spreading an instant wave of discomfort.

"Whatever you say, Mr. Graves," I said, remembering the crippling penalty clause in that lucrative contract. After my small act of defiance, I swallowed my pride and lowered myself.

When he leaned in to kiss me again, Chloe's pretty face flashed through my mind. I turned away.

Adrian let out a cold laugh. "Iris, quite an act you're putting on. You used to love it when I had my way with you."

He let me go with obvious disgust, but his hand still gripped my waist, his fingers digging in.

The difference in strength between a man and a woman forced me closer to him.

Flustered, I shoved at him lightly. "Mr. Adrian, we’re only superior and subordinate. Please behave yourself."

Adrian's face darkened instantly. "So you only came back for work?"

I struggled, but he only tightened his grip. The pain in my waist made me give up. "Answer me," he demanded coldly.

"Men die for wealth, birds die for food. Someone as blessed as you, Mr. Graves, would never understand people like me." My voice was flat. I didn't want to explain myself. If anything, I wanted to poke at his sore spots.

After all, I knew all too well.

Five years together meant we had shared so much.

I could even find echoes of everything he did with Chloe in what we once had, including in bed.

No, that wasn't quite right. At least back then, he wasn't as skilled. He didn't shield me the way he protected Chloe now. When the Graves family made things difficult for me, the younger Adrian just clenched his fists, looking like a lovesick fool ready to fight the world, without ever saying a single word in my defense.

"Adrian." Chloe's voice came from behind.

Adrian jerked away as if caught red-handed and hurried toward her.

I fumbled in my bag for a tissue and pressed it to my swollen lips.

A moment later, Chloe appeared before me.

"Iris, you're here too." Her smile was as bright and lovely as ever.

"Ms. Bennett." I nodded and smiled at her.

Chloe leaned in, still smiling. "Iris, did you know? When Vanessa first recommended you, Adrian thought your salary was too high and didn't want to hire you."

Her voice rose slightly, a hint of pride creeping in. "I'm the one who convinced him. I suggested adding several clauses to that performance agreement, and Vanessa bumped up the amount before they finally signed you."

Chloe added those clauses?

On top of ensuring the company's profitability and market reputation, I had to hit a five-hundred-million KPI.

With my few million followers, terms like that basically meant I'd be working like a mule for the Graves Corporation for the rest of my life.

Irritation and resentment simmered inside me.

I even felt like a fool for how things turned out.

After Adrian took over the Graves Corporation, I always thought his position was precarious. Even when my family's business struggled, I never asked him for help. Who would have thought that while I planted the tree, someone else would enjoy the shade? Every promise he broke to me, he fulfilled for Chloe.

Childhood sweethearts really were different. Adrian was willing to spoil her, to give her everything.

Profitable, multimillion-dollar projects came one after another, lifting the destitute Bennett family out of poverty and into a whole new class.

So what was I to him?

A plaything? Something to trample on when she wasn't around?

Years ago, the Graves family backed me into a corner with no way out.

Years later, he had me selling myself to the Graves Corporation all over again.

I stared at Adrian. He knew perfectly well.

Those clauses, as binding as an indenture contract, would be the death of me.