The Bride Who Said No: Escaping the Shadows of Yesterday

Kieran's gaze was icy as he looked at Freya, his voice laced with frost as if he was moments away from tearing her apart.

"Kieran! Stop it. You've got the wrong idea about Ms. Dawson. It was my own choice to... to do this..."

"Ellie, you're too kind, and that's why people take advantage of you! I've told you that you don't need to see her."

Watching Kieran defend Eloise was something Freya had anticipated. Eloise always seemed to end up hurt whenever Kieran was around.

From the moment Eloise metaphorically knelt, Freya had sensed something was off. But she was happy to play along in Eloise's game. After all, as long as she could make Kieran despise her, the wedding would be called off regardless. "Freya, I knew you could be two-faced, but this level of malice is something else! Ellie's always been delicate. If anything happens to her, I won't forgive you!" With that, Kieran took Eloise by the hand and left.

Eloise had plenty of opportunities to explain herself, but she chose silence, even casting an apologetic glance Freya's way.

Freya didn't miss the smug look hidden in Eloise's eyes. It was as if she was saying, 'See? You might be engaged to him, but his heart is still with me.'

Seeing that, Freya picked up the card from the ground and called out to the departing pair, "Ms. Harwood, you dropped your card."

Eloise turned around, and Kieran noticed the bank card in Freya's hand.

Kieran frowned. "Ellie, you gave her money?"

Eloise bit her lip, saying, "I just... didn't want you two breaking up over me."

Before Kieran could respond, Freya said, "Ms. Harwood, I'm calling off the engagement. I doubt Mr. Sutton would want to stick with someone as shady and nasty as me. So, I have no use for this money."

While saying so, Freya handed Eloise's card back to her. She wasn't foolish. Eloise had intentionally left the card, knowing if Freya accepted it under these circumstances, it would only lead to bigger issues with Kieran later. "Ellie, let's go." Kieran didn't engage further but led Eloise away.

Back at the Dawson family, Johanna was anxiously waiting. "Where did Freya go off to this early in the morning?"

"Mom, if Freya doesn't get married, doesn't it mean all of the Dawson family's assets will end up in her hands alone? You said Dad left that money for me!"

Leland was panicking. He had boasted to his friends about inheriting the Freya family's fortune. It would be unacceptable if he would live on the few million from his stepdad.From NôvelDrama.Org.

Leland swore inwardly, 'No! That can't happen!'

Hearing her son's concerns, a sinister look crossed Johanna's face. "Don't worry. I have ways to make sure Freya gets married off! If she can't climb the social ladder to the Sutton family in Echo City, can't she marry someone else?"

Freya's looks and figure were top-tier in Echo City. Before any ties to the Sutton family were made, many wealthy young men and entrepreneurs had their eyes on Freya. If the Sutton family rejected Freya, Johanna was determined to marry her off regardless. That way, Freya wouldn't have the time to manage the Dawson Group, and eventually, the company would fall into her and her son's hands.

As Johanna and Leland plotted, Freya walked through the door. Seeing her return, Johanna immediately approached with questions, "Reya, did Mr. Sutton ask to meet you? Did you two make up?"

Johanna was eager for Freya to reconcile with Kieran.