Gertrude scoffed at the young man. "Rescue? Force? Has prison rotted your brain, punk?"
"Who asked you to come back, huh? We don't want your stink in our mansion! We don't want you anywhere near our daughter! Get lost!"
Tyler was about to protest when three Rolls-Royce limousines cruised into the compound. Sharply dressed butlers and bodyguards shuffled out and stood in attention.
The middle limo's chauffeur opened the passenger door, and a young man in an Armani wedding suit stepped out gracefully. It was none other than the billionaire scion Trent Cooper.
"Oh, Mr. Cooper is here with limousines!" Gertrude called out to the servants. "Everyone! Let's get ready quickly to move to the wedding venue—Marian Hotel!"
As the Sinclair servants ran helter-skelter in a hurry, Trent came face to face with Tyler. "Who are you?" he asked with condescension.
"If you are a beggar, we will distribute alms outside the wedding reception. Homeless guys can have leftover food. Now, get out of my way!"
Tyler clenched his jaw. "You know very well who I am, Trent. You put me in prison and ruined my family!"
The young billionaire raised an eyebrow. Then he let out a taunting chuckle. "Oh, it's you, loser! They finally let you go scot-free. I couldn't recognize you under the homeless man's clothes."
"It seems prison time didn't wash away your arrogance," he added with a smirk. "Have you come back for more punishment? Or are you here to fall at my feet and apologize?"
Tyler pursed his lips to control his fury. He could kill Trent with one blow, and his revenge would be complete. However, it wouldn't be satisfactory. Moreover, his girlfriend would disapprove of violence.
"I am here to rescue Erica. You've forced this wedding against her will. You brought my family's life in shambles in my absence, but I won't let you ruin my girlfriend's life!"
Trent raised his arms in mockery and began guffawing. His friends and butlers also joined him in the laughter.
"Did you just say that Erica's life will be ruined if she becomes my wife? That she is your girlfriend? Are you drunk or delusional?"
Just then, sounds of a pair of heels clicking came down the corridor and stopped by the entrance.
"Never mind that," the billionaire heir jibed, pointing towards the doorway. "Why don't you ask Erica directly what she thinks?"
Tyler turned around to see a beautiful woman in a dazzling white wedding dress. Erica looked as stunning as ever.
It had been three years since he laid eyes on her. The young man's heart fluttered to see the love of his life again.
"Tyler…" she murmured with furrowed brows. It was the expression he least expected.
"Erica… I'm back! I know you've been waiting for me all these years. You couldn't come to visit me in prison because the Coopers threatened you, right?"
"But you have nothing to worry about anymore. Neither do you have to marry Trent. I will protect you."
Erica didn't appear as pleased to see her returned ex-lover as he anticipated. She paused for a few moments before answering.
"I am glad that you are free from prison, Tyler. But I don't understand why you have come here. You weren't invited to my wedding."
"What are you saying…?"
Erica went on mercilessly, ignoring his shocked expression.
"Just to be clear, Trent is not forcing me to marry him. I love Trent and am getting hitched to him of my own will. It's time for you to leave and not come back again."
Tyler felt as if daggers had pierced his heart.
"What are you talking about? You love Trent? I don't get it! You promised to wait for me!"
The beauty rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Wait for you? Who do you think you are? Nothing more than a peasant with a rap sheet!"
"Do you think you measure up to Trent? He is a goddamn billionaire! The Cooper family owns the city! Trent is playing chess while you're eating the pieces."
"Isn't it enough that you and I could be together?" the young man made a last appeal to Erica's sentiments.
"Gah! I don't care! You're just a nobody, Tyler. Still, I'll give you a chance. Let me see—have you come back from prison with loads of wealth to sweep me off my feet?"
Tyler eyed Erica blankly, his expression unreadable. The air was suddenly tense.
"What if I tell you I have? That I have returned with unparalleled wealth and power."
"Will you regret your decision later?"
"You freaking what?" Erica's eyes widened, and then she burst out laughing, "Prison has indeed driven you nuts!"
The entire Sinclair household and the Cooper entourage joined in the laughter, mocking Tyler.
Erica pointed at him with condescension.
"Look at you! You are worse off than ever! Your family is bankrupt if you don't know already! Do you want me to live in your moldy haunted house?"
Tyler gritted his teeth and took a step forward.
"Trent put me in prison for defending you! He stole my father's business! Doesn't that bother you? Didn't you think twice before betraying your lover?"
Erica's face twisted in disdain. "Lover? Don't make me sick."
As she spoke, Erica leaned in close to Tyler, a wicked smile curling at her lips.
Then, in a whisper only he could hear, she continued,
"And besides… Do you want to know why Trent was able to steal your father's business? Because I gave him every secret your family ever had."
"He usurped your father's business. All it took was a phone call. He sent the Hux gang to harass your parents every week. They tortured your bitch mother so much, she became crippled!"
"What are you going to do about it, huh? Stray dogs like you can only bark loudly and will ultimately bow down to true power! For your insolence, he'll send the Hux gang to poke out your parents' eyes tomorrow!"
Tyler snapped his head sharply, and his aura transformed. His piercing eyes were ablaze with a fury.
On encountering the young man's blistering gaze, Erica paused mid-sentence as a chill ran down her spine.
What madness did he bring back with him from prison?
"What did you just say?" Tyler growled through clenched teeth, glaring at the woman he once loved.
During the three years in prison, Tyler regretted leaving her behind at Trent's mercy. Now that he realized it was a delusion, he felt as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
Trent didn't notice the way Erica flinched. He strolled forward and wrapped a possessive arm around her wrap.
"Did you hear Erica?! Look at this ten-thousand-dollar diamond necklace on her! Do you know where we are getting married? The luxurious Marian Hotel!"
"Why would she throw away someone powerful and wealthy like me for a useless piece of trash like you? A loser like you couldn't even get a decent woman, let alone Erica!"
Tyler's eyes darkened, rage boiling in his skull. He took a step forward—but before he could do anything, the roar of an engine cut through the tension.
A sleek Lamborghini pulled up by the curb. The door swung open, and out stepped a breathtaking woman, making both Trent and Erica widen their eyes in disbelief.
Tyler, however, simply frowned. The woman getting out of the car was none other than Natalie Anderson.
"Tyler Grant. I'm here for you," she said coldly, her tone dripping with reluctant respect.
She spoke each word through gritted teeth, clearly forced into it by her father's orders. But neither Trent or Erica could see that.
All they could see was—Right in front of them, this magnificent woman gave Tyler a shallow but respectful bow.
"What a joke!" Trent barked out a loud laugh, loud enough to draw attention. "What's next—did you rent a Lambo and bring a hooker to my wedding just to show off? Who the hell are you trying to impress?"
Before he could finish his sentence, a crisp smack echoed across the street.
A slap. Hard and fast, right across his smug face.
"Open your damn eyes and take a good look at who you're talking to," Natalie said coldly, her voice sharp as a blade. "Who gave you the guts to speak to me like that?"
Trent was stunned into silence. A second ago, his eyes had been glued to her flawless figure, admiring her like just another party girl.
But now, as he turned his attention to her flawless face, he recognized her.
It made him practically tremble, his legs weak beneath him as the realization hit him like a freight train.
It was Natalie Anderson! The only daughter of the Anderson family. The wealthiest, most powerful family in all of Sapphire City!
Which made Natalie the most powerful woman in the city.
And... She just bowed to Tyler?