Gilbert was left alone in the café. Furious, he slammed his fist onto the glass table with such force that it shattered. In a low voice, he muttered, "You will regret this."
After paying the bill, including the cost of the broken table, he left without caring about the shocked stares around him.
Rita hurried out of the café and quickly hailed a taxi. Once inside, she tried to calm herself, hitting her forehead lightly with her hand.
"What the hell was I thinking? He's such a jerk. He said he wasted his time with me! People like him have no manners. Such an idiot. I should have given him a proper answer. Ahh, it's so frustrating! I really don't want to marry that jerk."
When she reached home, she walked toward the gate. As soon as she entered, she saw her mother and aunt selecting dresses for the seventy-fifth anniversary celebration of the Helianthus Group, an event she had no interest in at all. Hoping to avoid everyone, she quietly made her way toward her room, but her aunt called out to her.
"Come here and help us choose a dress for tomorrow's event."
"Sorry, but I'm busy. You can choose whatever you like; I'll wear it," Rita replied.
Her mother immediately interjected, "What's your problem? Why are you acting like this? It's your wedding. Why aren't you taking any interest in it?"
Rita sighed. "It's not like the wedding is tomorrow. The date hasn't even been decided yet. And who knows? It might even get canceled."
Her aunt, who had been silently observing her, finally put the dress aside and said, "I know the wedding isn't tomorrow, but tomorrow we all have to go to your father's company, and the Marchantia family will be there too. So, wear this."
Rita looked thoroughly uninterested and far too tired to argue. "Fine, but please, not the glittery one."
She went to her room and threw her handbag onto the bed.
"I seriously hate him. I went there to mess with him, but it looks like he ended up messing with my mind instead."
Rita lay down on her bed, wondering what she would do the next day.
"Why do I have to see him tomorrow? Should I provoke him into doing something so Dad cancels the wedding himself? Ahh, what am I even thinking? Dad loves his reputation more than me. And if he finds out I had anything to do with it, I'll be dead."
The next day, she woke up early and got ready to attend the Helianthus Group's anniversary celebration. Rita's father was a renowned industrialist who had built a powerful name in the IT sector over the past twenty-five years.
As she entered the grand venue, she saw her father speaking with several business associates, including Gilbert's father. The event was lavishly organized; anyone could tell from the magnificent decorations.
Since her family was busy entertaining guests, Rita wandered around on her own. While examining the wine selection, she noticed Gilbert approaching from across the hall.
"It would have been better if God had made him a better person to match those good looks," she thought.
Gilbert looked like the lead actor from a popular romance drama. Everyone in the hall seemed mesmerized by his appearance, admiring his striking looks. But in Rita's eyes, he was nothing more than an insufferable bully.
Gilbert noticed her staring and walked over.
"So, your wish finally came true."
Before he could finish, Rita cut him off. "Do you think the world revolves around you? That everyone spends all their time thinking about you? Get a life."
Gilbert smirked. "Then why were you looking at me just now? You're like every other girl in this room who wants to be with me. You must be thinking that if I walk away from this proposal, no one else will ever marry you."
Rita, struggling to control her temper, thought, Is he seriously trying to use my own strategy against me?
She smiled politely. "Trust me, the day people discover you're nothing but a bully, no one will want to associate with you. Everyone here knows your family needs my family's name."
They were glaring at each other when an announcement interrupted them. Their names had been called to the stage.
They walked up together as Rita's father delivered a speech. Then, without warning, he announced their engagement.
The sudden announcement left both of them stunned.
Gilbert clenched his injured hand—the same hand he had hurt when he shattered the glass table the day before—and fresh blood began to seep through his bandage.
Rita felt as though her soul had left her body.
Suddenly, she felt someone gently supporting her from behind. Turning around, she saw her mother, who was guiding her hand toward Gilbert's. At the same time, Gilbert's mother did the same.
With no chance to protest, Gilbert slipped the engagement ring onto Rita's finger.
And before either of them could recover from the shock, Rita's father made another announcement.
He had already set their wedding date.