I Rejected My Barren Husband

Chapter 2

The Bennett family had interests in nearly every industry, and Adrian was the eldest grandson and undisputed heir.

Every gaze in the room settled on me. Some held pity, some gloating, and others cool appraisal.

I stood in the middle of the room and nodded with quiet dignity.

Adrian frowned slightly, apparently surprised.

His grandmother might have been stubborn, but she was not entirely unreasonable. With a grim expression, she asked me what I wanted in return.

"First, once word of the broken engagement gets out, my reputation will inevitably suffer. When I marry, Mr. Bennett will provide twice the usual marriage dowry so that I have security in my future husband's family."

At the words "when I marry," Adrian's head snapped around, and his eyes locked on my face.

I continued, "Second..."

I met his turbulent gaze and let my voice trail off.

Then, in a flash, I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.

The c***k rang through the room. The force made him stagger, and every trace of color vanished from his face as disbelief flooded his features.

His lips moved as though he wanted to speak.

I stepped forward and backhanded him a second time, then a third.

My palm burned. I turned to his grandmother and all the elderly present, holding my head high.

"Those three slaps are my second condition. We were engaged for 3 years, one slap for each year. Now we're even, and I, Evelyn Parker, hold no grudge against him."

"That girl has nerve," someone murmured.

The Bennetts looked furious, but they were the ones at fault.

His grandmother gave a heavy snort and immediately ordered someone to visit the Parker family and formally dissolve the engagement.

She was unwilling to wait another minute.

I turned to leave.

Someone seized my wrist. Adrian's voice trembled behind me.

"Evelyn, if you don't marry me, are you sure you won't regret it?"

I sneered, wrenched my hand free, and raised my voice.

"What could I possibly regret? Adrian Bennett was born sterile. Marrying him would be my real regret!"

In our first life, Adrian had cared about nothing more than carrying on his bloodline. In this life, it had become an obsession.

My words shattered every complicated emotion in his eyes, leaving only humiliation and rage.

"We're only ending an engagement," he demanded. "Do you have to curse me so viciously?"

The room erupted. Only his mother remained silent, clutching her skirt so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

After all, Adrian was not the Bennett family's only possible heir.

I shook my head, took a step back, and smiled at him.

"Whether it's a curse or the truth, you'll find out soon enough, Mr. Bennett."

Without another glance at his hateful face, I walked out of the Bennett estate.

He had humiliated me before everyone, so I exposed the secret he most wanted to be hidden.

What the more calculating people in that room chose to do with it was anyone's guess.

In our first life, I had gone to great lengths to cover for him. I told the world that I was the one who could not have children and let him bask in a reputation for devotion.

Without my protection this time, I was curious to see whether he could still become CEO of the Bennett Group as smoothly as he had before.

I walked away in a wonderful mood.

It felt good to be young. I had all the time in the world to savor my hatred.

When I reached home, Bennett employees were carrying our gifts out box by box.

My parents sat anxiously in the living room. The moment I entered, they hurried over.

"Evelyn, what on earth happened?"

I explained everything and told them not to worry.

I had come out ahead and gotten to slap Adrian for good measure.

Only my mother kept staring at my smile as her eyes slowly reddened.

Her voice trembled. "My poor girl. You must have suffered terribly."

My smile froze as every bitter thing I had swallowed in my first life flashed through my mind.

Then I smiled again and shook my head.

"Mom, I'm not hurt..."

My father sighed. "Then what will you do now?"

I was already 22. Most women my age in our social circle were engaged.

I answered carelessly, "If Adrian doesn't do, I'll marry Julian Carter."

The living room went dead silent.