Part 2My Fiancé Stole My Deal for Mistress

"What is it? Take your time."

Vanessa bit her lip, her voice laced with remorse and a hint of self-pity.

"You know I just put down the payment on my apartment last week? I thought I had enough for renovations, but the budget just exploded. The contractors are ready to start, and I'm completely broke."

"I've asked everyone. No one can lend me anything. I'm so desperate, that's why I came to you. Could you-"

"Yes." Brandon didn't let her finish.

He then dialed a number, his tone devoid of hesitation.

"List that wedding house downtown for me, right now. No matter the price, it has to be sold today."

"Yes, I don't care how much of a loss we take. I need the money urgently, the sooner the better."

Vanessa dabbed at her eyes, feigning distress, her voice choked.

"How can you? Brandon!"

"That house is in such a good location; it has huge potential for appreciation. It would be such a waste to sell it now."

"Besides, that's the house you planned to get married in! Scarlett won't agree."

After speaking, she timidly glanced at me.

Seeing this, Brandon blurted out.

"So what if she doesn't agree? It's not her house anyway."

He stood in front of Vanessa, his dark eyes glaring at me.

"Scarlett, be more generous. It's not easy for Vanessa to make a living alone in this city; we should be understanding."

"Besides, it's not like we can't rent a place for our wedding. I'm willing to marry you; what more could you possibly want?"

I stood rooted to the spot, my blood freezing in an instant.

In his eyes, I was desperate to marry him.

His willingness to marry me was his greatest gift.

But he never stopped to think that he was the one who pleaded with me to be his girlfriend.

Even more ridiculous, he was selling our wedding house for Vanessa.

I remembered when my father was in the ICU, and the doctor held a critical condition notice, asking me to sign it, saying they'd have to stop his medication if we didn't pay.

I cried hysterically, begging Brandon to lend me a hundred thousand dollars, offering to sign an IOU, even promising to work myself to the bone for him later.

But what did he say then?

He said, "That house is still appreciating; it'd be too much of a loss to sell it now. Besides, it's our wedding house; selling it before we're married would be bad luck."

Now, Vanessa just needed some renovation money, and he was selling the house without a second thought, not even a flinch, saying, "I don't care how much of a loss we take."

It seemed that in his heart, my mother's life wasn't even worth as much as Vanessa's new apartment renovations.

I looked straight ahead, expressionless.

"Sell it if you want. I don't care."

A flicker of unnoticed panic crossed Brandon's eyes. He started to say something but swallowed his words.

I turned and walked a few steps, then my wrist was suddenly caught by a warm grip.

Brandon's Adam's apple bobbed several times before he spoke, his voice strained.

"I...I'll clear out my projects these next few days. I'll make time this week, definitely, to go see your father."

"His greatest wish was to see us get married. We can discuss wedding details then."

I looked at his earnest face, remembering that during my mother's hospitalization, he never visited once.

Even when my mother briefly regained consciousness and wanted to see him.

He was either busy helping Vanessa move or taking Vanessa's dog to the vet.

In the end, my mother died without ever seeing him again.

Now he was acting as if he were bestowing a favor by offering to visit. It felt like swallowing a handful of broken glass, my throat aching with the shards.

"No need."

I looked at him calmly.

"It's not necessary anymore."

With that, I walked away quickly, no longer looking at him.

Back in my empty rental apartment, Aunt Clara called, saying a company in another city was interested in me, willing to offer three times my current salary to poach me. She asked if I was interested.

I accepted without a second thought.

There was nothing left in this city for me to cling to.

The next day, I went to the company to submit my resignation.

It happened to be the day the CEO invited everyone out for a dinner.

During the meal, someone suggested playing "Truth or Dare."