Chapter 10

He turned to Laura and questioned, "What's going on? You're just a stepdaughter? Why didn't you tell me before? I thought you were the only daughter of the Hamlin family!"

"So you're just a fake?"

Laura was furious and threw a glass of wine at him. "Who do you think you are? Even if I'm a stepdaughter, it's your luck that I noticed you. Now you dare to look down on my status?"

"Get lost, you opportunist."

I had drunk a bit too much and walked outside.

Jasper followed me out.

"Bella!" he called after me, his eyes full of emotion.

"Are you okay? It's so cold outside, and you've had too much to drink." He took off his jacket to put it on me.

I "accidentally" threw up on his jacket.

Jasper was stunned for a moment but quickly regained his enthusiasm.

"Bella, why didn't you tell me your dad is Mr. Hamlin!" he said as he tried to support me. "No, our dad!"

"I've always had feelings for you. How could two years of our relationship end just like that?"

"I only married Laura so we could have a better future together."

"I'm regretting it now, Bella. Let's get back together!" He seemed deeply moved, tears streaming down his face as he declared his undying love for me. "I'm willing to spend the rest of my life making it up to you!"

What a lunatic. Even a gold miner couldn't find nerves this pure.

"Stop bothering her," Kenneth said as he took over supporting me and patted my back gently.

"Get lost, and don't show up in front of me and my boyfriend again," I said as I held onto Kenneth.

I hadn't dared to say anything earlier, fearing what Jasper might do to me.

Now I slapped him across the face, kicked him, and punched him for good measure.

Disgusting jerk.

Jasper was furious but didn't dare fight back.

I quickly pulled Kenneth away with me.

Kenneth seemed very happy, laughing as he held my hand.

"You said I'm your boyfriend?" He steadied my shoulders, his bright eyes fixed on mine.

I smiled and looked away deliberately. "I just wanted Jasper to give up."

Kenneth's head drooped in disappointment.

"But do I still have a chance?"

"I've liked you since we were kids! After we lost touch, I couldn't find you or your contact information all these years."

"When I heard you were getting married recently, my heart skipped a beat. I took a flight back overnight, thinking if I couldn't stop the wedding, at least I could congratulate you in person."

"But luckily, it was a false alarm."

He smiled mischievously.

I thought seriously for a moment.

"Alright, I'll give you a chance!" I extended my hand to him.

After we returned, Jasper was fired without me having to lift a finger.

Laura also had someone beat him up badly enough to break his arms and legs.

Laura spread rumors about his disgraceful behavior, ensuring he wouldn't be hired in the industry again.

Laura still wanted to be the Hamlin family's heiress, but her mother was caught transferring family assets without permission and both mother and daughter were kicked out of the house by my dad.

To make up for the harm he caused to my mom and me when he was young, my dad gave me half of his shares.

Kenneth and I naturally got engaged and then married.

The next time I heard about Jasper, he had been sentenced to five years in prison for fraud.

I didn't hear much about Laura; they both gradually faded from my life.

My life and career got back on track.