Knowing Her Heart

Blaire Presley goes to the Carter residence, battered and bruised after being tormented by the three Carter brothers for three days. "Mr. and Mrs. Carter Senior, I've decided to marry Matthew Carter." Olivia Barrymore is surprised. "Are you sure you have the right guy, Blaire? Matt is those three brats' uncle!" Blaire isn't sure, but she has no other choice. Chapter 1 After being toyed with by the brothers of the Carter family for three days, Blaire Presley arrived at the Carter residence wounded and exhausted. "Mr. and Mrs. Carter Senior, I've made up my mind. I choose to marry Matthew Carter," she said. Olivia Barrymore was surprised and exclaimed, "Blaire, did you make a mistake? Matt is the uncle of those three brothers." Blaire wasn't entirely sure herself, but she had no other choice. While cenching the hem of her clothes, she forced a smile and mustered up her courage to explain. "Mrs. Carter Senior, the union between the Carter and Presley families doesn't necessarily have to be made with one of the three brothers—Anthony Carter, Brandon Carter, or Cameron Carter. Am I right? "They don't like me, and I don't want to pressure them further. Mrs. Carter Senior, I'm begging you. Could you please ask Mr. Matthew Carter if he is willing to marry me?" As she spoke, her eyes were filled with a pleading look. Olivia noticed her expression and let out a deep sigh. After exchanging a glance with William, Olivia slowly said, "Matt is currently on a business trip abroad. I'll call him to ask. Don't worry, my dear." Blaire was feeling anxious. As she listened to the phone dial, her heart seemed to have leaped into her throat. "Mom?" Once the call got through, Matthew's distant and deep voice came through. Olivia briefly explained the situation, and then there was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. During the few seconds of waiting, Blaire was tormented with anxiety. Her mind went blank, and she was barely able to hear what Matthew said. After a long while, Olivia smiled gently and nodded. "Matt agrees to this marriage. In that case, we both families will quickly set the wedding date so that you both can get married soon." Blaire felt a jolt of shock, and then a smile spread across her face as she nodded hard. Even on her way back, her heart continued to race. She felt an immense sense of relief after the heavy burden on her chest was suddenly removed. After taking a few deep breaths and calming herself down, she called her parents. "Dad, Mom, I've decided to marry Matthew Carter instead." Blaire's parents, on the other end of the phone, were somewhat surprised, but they then quickly regained their composure and replied coldly, "It's not a bad choice either. "Matthew holds a higher position and has more influence than the three brothers. Let us know the time once the wedding date is set, and we'll return to attend the ceremony." The phone call ended with two beeps, leaving Blaire alone in the cold, empty house. Her parents had never cared much about her. They prioritized the company's interests and were often away on business trips. She had grown used to their impersonal tone. The Carter and Presley families had been close for generations, and they were currently the two most prominent families in this metropolis. The contract marriage was decided by their ancestors to form a strong alliance. Blaire couldn't oppose it. As the only young woman in the Presley family, she could only accept it. She grew up alongside Anthony, Brandon, and Cameron. From a young age, her parents always told her she would eventually marry one of them. Thus, she did everything she could to get closer to them, be kind, and try her best to make them like her a little more. She had even risked her life to save them during the earthquake that made national headlines five years ago. Meanwhile, she herself was severely injured and almost lost her life. Yet, they still treated her with indifference. It was because they liked Tammy Gray, the daughter of the Carter family's housemaid. As a result, none of them were willing to marry her and grew even more disgusted with the contract marriage that bound them. Ironically, they claimed that they liked Tammy because she had saved them during the earthquake. But in fact, Blaire was the one who had saved them. Blaire was about to turn 24, and it was almost time for her to honor the contract marriage. She had told them the truth more than once. Not only did they not believe her, but they also hated her more due to Tammy's manipulation. Just when Blaire was feeling hopeless, Anthony sent her a message. "Since the contract marriage is inevitable, I'll take the responsibility to marry you. See you at the city hall." She was overjoyed. She stood outside the city hall with her identity card and foolishly waited in the rain for the entire day, but he never showed up. She had a high fever for a whole day and night, and she received a call from Brandon the next day. "Blaire, I heard you waited for Anthony for the entire day yesterday. Are you that eager to get married? Here's the deal—if you find the pair of rings I buried in the garden, I'll marry you." Blaire believed him again. She searched for the entire day and turned the garden upside down. She even broke her nails, only to realize he had been lying to her as well. On the third day, Cameron invited her to watch the meteor shower on a mountain. But just as she reached the top, he made an excuse about having something to do and left her alone at the peak. He even took away all the means of transportation. Bruised and battered, she walked back and went to confront them, only to overhear them saying, "We were just messing with her. There's no way we would actually marry her. "That day, she purposely made Tammy get caught in the rain and fall, causing Tammy to be injured. We did those things to avenge Tammy." Upon hearing that, Blaire was completely disheartened. She walked home in the rain and spent the whole night reflecting. Eventually, she figured it out. While the contract marriage couldn't be avoided, the marriage partner could still be changed. At last, she no longer had to compromise for them. As soon as she got home, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door. Anthony barged in with a dark expression. "Blaire, I've told you many times that I don't want to marry you. Why do you keep pushing it? You even came to our house to talk about the wedding. Are you that desperate to get married?" Brandon followed right behind. His cold gaze were filled with annoyance, and his tone was detached and heartless. "I believe I've also told you many times that the person I like is Tammy. You're really shameless." Cameron furrowed his brows as irritation etched across his rebellious face. "Who did you choose among the three of us?" Blaire stared at the three faces before her, which were similar in appearance but completely different in charisma. She coldly answered, "I choose none of you." Cameron asked with a frown, "What do you mean? Only the three of us are of the right age among the same generation of the Carter family. Who else can you choose if you don't choose us?" Brandon responded curtly. "You've been following us around since we were young, looking desperate to get married. Now, you're saying you choose no one. What are you up to again?" "Blaire, no matter what you do, we'll never like you." Anthony pinched the bridge of his nose, looking very annoyed. Blaire took a deep breath and replied, "Who says the marriage partner has to be someone from the same generation? The one I've chosen is…" Before she could finish her words, a bodyguard rushed in, panic evident on his face. "Sirs, something bad happened. Tammy found out that you're about to get married, and she… she…. committed suicide." Upon hearing that, the three men's expressions changed instantly, and they quickly headed out. Anthony suddenly remembered something and turned around with a look of disgust. "Blaire, look what you've done. If you choose me, I'll definitely run away on the wedding day and make you the laughingstock of the entire city." Brandon's eyes also gleamed with coldness, and his voice was extremely icy. "If you dare to choose me, I'll have a dog wear the groom's suit and exchange vows with you on the wedding day." Cameron also angrily added, "You better not choose me, or I'll ruin the wedding scene that day. I'll smash it every time it's held. We only like Tammy. Even if you force us to marry you, we'll never acknowledge you as our bride." With that, the three of them rushed out one after another. Blaire watched their hurried departures and felt utterly ridiculous. Her marriage partner had already been decided. From now on, she would only have one role—the one they had to bow to whenever they saw her. Chapter 2 The next day, Blaire turned on her phone and saw that Tammy, who had threatened to take her own life the night before, had posted a status on social media. "What's it like to be spoiled by three brothers of the Carter family?" She attached three photos. The first one showed the indifferent Anthony holding her in his arms and feeding her broth. The second one showed the unamiable Brandon sitting by her bed and holding her hand with their fingers interlaced. The third one showed the arrogant Cameron half-kneeling in front of her, his eyes filled with deep concern as he applied medicine to her wounds. The pretty young woman in the photo smiled shyly and sweetly, looking like the happiest princess in the world. Many people in the comment sections were envious and posted sarcastic remarks. "The three brothers of the Carter family all like Tammy. She is surely blessed." "Exactly. It's not one, but three. How did Tammy manage to do that?" In addition to those envious people, some people wanted to see how Blaire would make a fool of herself. Blaire casually glanced at a few comments. "I wonder what Ms. Presley would think when she sees these." "What opinion could a flatterer have? She used to constantly pursue the three brothers; she must be insanely jealous when she sees this. "She'll definitely rush to look for the three brothers again. How many minutes do you bet she'll be there?" "I bet ten minutes." "I bet five minutes." "I bet three minutes. I'm betting with my newly bought sports car." … Many people started placing bets with great interest, and the stakes kept getting higher. Blaire just smiled it off—she would no longer blindly pursue them like before. Then, she quickly typed a few words on her phone. "I bet forever." Upon seeing her comment, many people messaged her to ask if she was joking. She simply turned off her phone and stopped checking the messages. At this moment, there was a knock on the door. The housekeeper of the Carter family was standing outside. "Ms. Presley, Mrs. Carter Senior has chosen the date for the wedding. It'll be on the 5th of next month, which is a good day for marriage. "The Carter family will handle all the wedding arrangements. You only need to choose your favorite wedding dress and wedding ring and make the final decisions. "Mr. Carter asked me to pass you the house he gifted you. These are the keys, and you may decorate the house according to your preferences." With that, the housekeeper took out a property transfer agreement and a set of keys, respectfully placing them in front of Blaire. "By the way, Mr. Carter is still on a business trip abroad, handling some important matters. He will return before the wedding, so please don't worry." After explaining everything, the housekeeper turned and left. The 5th of next month was just half a month away. It was just around the corner. As she held the house keys, Blaire felt more at ease as the cold, hard keys gradually absorbed the warmth from her hand. She had bought many decorations and ornaments for the house and had gotten some maids to decorate the house together. Once the decoration was done, the tension of getting married instantly kicked in. The simple, modern design was slowly adorned with her favorite decorations, and it started to feel like home. As she looked at the house that was nearly finished being decorated, she suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of nervousness. Matthew was from a different generation than her. Since she was young, she had only ever felt reverent toward him. Now, she was about to marry a man like him. After returning home, a maid handed her an auction invitation card along with an auction catalog. With no interest in going, she just flipped through the catalog until the very end. Just then, a men's watch caught her eye. The watch was named "Eternal Love", symbolizing unwavering love until death. It was custom-made by a princess, Anna Spencer, for her lover in the last century. It was elegant and exquisite, and there was only one in the world. With just a glance, Blaire felt that the watch perfectly suited Matthew. She should get him a gift on their wedding day, so she went to the auction the following day. She was determined to acquire the watch. Chapter 3 Blaire entered the auction hall and walked toward her seat. Just as she was about to sit down, the chair behind her was suddenly pulled away. She didn't react in time and fell to the ground with a thud. The sharp pain in her tailbone made her face turn pale. When she was about to get up, a glass of red wine was poured over her head. Her meticulously prepared dress and makeup were ruined in an instant, and the once-quiet auction hall erupted in laughter. She looked up and saw the three brothers of the Carter family standing condescendingly before her. Anthony's gaze was intense as he slightly narrowed his eyes. "Didn't you say you'd never come to us again? Why are you here? Can't you hold back anymore?" Brandon smirked. "I thought you were really going to give up, but we were immediately informed that our family will be holding a wedding in half a month. Who exactly among us did you choose?" Cameron's expression darkened as he gritted his teeth and said, "No matter who you chose, I'm telling you that today is just a small warning. If you really marry any of us, your life after the wedding will be miserable—far worse than today." Their words made everyone present sigh a lot. "How miserable! The daughter of a prominent family is so embarrassing." "After all these years, none of the three brothers of the Carter family have ever liked her. If it were me, I would have long stopped pursuing them." "Exactly. She is already so miserable even before getting married. If she does get married, it's hard to imagine how much more challenging her future might be." They commented gloatingly, but there was also a hint of sympathy mixed in. Blaire took a deep breath and pulled out some wet wipes from her bag to clean the sticky red wine off her face and body. Then, she rose with the support of the chair and sat down. "I'll say it one last time—I'm getting married in two weeks, but none of you are the groom." Anthony asked with a frown, "Aren't you getting married to someone from the Carter family?" "I am," Blaire replied calmly. Brandon sneered. "You keep contradicting yourself. Aside from the three of us, who else in the Carter family could marry you? What kind of mind game are you playing now?" Cameron added impatiently. "You don't really think this will make us change our minds, do you? We don't like you. We only like Tammy. No matter what tricks you're playing, you should give up now." Just as Blaire was about to speak, the auction began. "The charity auction starts now, and I'll introduce the first item for bidding…" Tammy quickly pulled the hands of the three brothers and gently advised. "Anthony, Brandon, Cameron, Ms. Presley has a marriage contract with the Carter family after all. "She will rightfully become Mrs. Carter in the end, so please don't treat her this way." "Tammy, you're the one we love. Even if we marry her, she'll just have the title. She can never compare to the special place you hold in our hearts." The three brothers all expressed their loyalty in unison. They even competed to bid on several items she had her eye on. Blaire ignored them and quietly waited for the final item to be brought out. Finally, the watch was presented. After the auctioneer announced the starting bid, Blaire raised her paddle without hesitation. As she kept raising her paddle to increase the bid, the three brothers looked over. Blaire had probably bid on the watch named "Eternal Love" for them. How laughable. They had made it clear that they didn't like her, yet she still tried hard to win their favor. In the end, she successfully won the bid for the watch. While holding the sophisticated and exquisite watch, she couldn't help but imagine how it would look on Matthew. The auction was nearing its end, and Blaire had already secured the item she wanted. Just as she was about to leave, she heard Tammy speak with a pale face. "Anthony, Brandon, Cameron, my stomach suddenly hurts. It might be my period. Can you please help me buy… that?" Hearing this, the three brothers looked solemn and tense. After a quick exchange of glances, they immediately assigned tasks to each other. One went to get sanitary products, one headed to the nearest pharmacy, and another one called the private doctor. Chapter 4 Once the three brothers had left, the originally weak Tammy instantly put on a different expression. She quickly stepped forward to block Blaire's path. "Ms. Presley, this watch is so beautiful. May I take a look at it? Since it's for the three brothers, I can help you see who it would suit best." Blaire looked at her coldly and firmly refused. "It's not for them." Tammy's expression stiffened for a moment before she sneered. "Ms. Presley, don't you know that it's really pathetic to play hard to get? "Well, I can understand you. You have put in so much effort, but they still don't love you. Of course, you can only resort to desperate measures." With that, Tammy took advantage of Blaire's momentary distraction, grabbed the watch from Blaire, and smashed it onto the floor. In an instant, the watch worth a hundred million dollars shattered into pieces. Blaire watched it happen in disbelief. Her anger surged up, and she raised her hand to slap Tammy across the face. The sound of a crisp slap echoed, and Tammy instinctively covered her swollen face in a daze. However, Blaire felt it wasn't enough to vent her anger. When she wanted to slap Tammy again, her wrist was suddenly gripped tightly. "Stop!" The three brothers suddenly rushed over and stared at Blaire coldly. Seeing that her backers had arrived, Tammy immediately teared up. "Anthony, Brandon, Cameron, please let Ms. Presley hit me. It's my fault that I broke the watch she planned to give you. She has the right to be angry." Brandon immediately felt bad for her. While wiping away her tears with his fingertips, he comforted her gently. "Don't cry, Tammy. The watch is for us, after all. It doesn't matter if it's broken." Cameron's face turned extremely cold as he looked at Blaire with disgust. "It's just a watch, and yet you hit Tammy because of it. Blaire, you're really out of control. "When you bid the watch for us, did you ever consider that we didn't even want it?" Anthony's face was even darker, and he immediately called several bodyguards over. "Throw her into the pool. This is her punishment for hitting Tammy." The bodyguards heard the order and immediately went over to throw Blaire, who was still in a daze, into the pool. With a loud splash, Blaire was completely submerged and instantly became a drenched mess. What made it even more hopeless was that she couldn't swim at all. "Help… Help…" She frantically flailed, but it only caused more water to rush into her nose and fill her lungs. She gradually lost her strength, and her movements became weaker. Her body felt heavier, the air in her lungs grew scarce, and everything in front of her blurred. Just before losing consciousness, she heard the conversation of a few people by the pool. "Anthony, Brandon, Cameron, it seems like Ms. Presley can't swim. Is she going to be okay?" "She'll be fine. She's always been good at pretending. Now she's pretending that she can't swim, probably just to get us to look at her more." "Tammy, you're too kind. She hurt you, but you still spoke up for her. She brought this upon herself." "Yes, it's better if she dies. That way, we won't have to marry her." Blaire was overwhelmed with despair. The darkness slowly consumed her, and her body continued to sink as she lost consciousness entirely. When she regained consciousness, the sharp smell of disinfectant filled her nose. She struggled to sit up. The doctor, who had been taking care of her for years, looked at her with deep concern and persuaded her. "Ms. Presley, you can't keep neglecting your health like this. "Last time, you broke two ribs while trying to save the three brothers of the Carter family during the earthquake. Your body isn't as good as it used to be. How could you stay in the pool for so long?" Just then, the door of the ward was suddenly pushed open. Anthony, Brandon, and Cameron rushed in and asked in unison, "Who did you just say saved us during the earthquake?" Chapter 5 Blaire was stunned for a moment, and then she looked at them calmly and uttered, "I think I already mentioned it before. I was the one who saved you during the earthquake." She was about to marry Matthew, so she hadn't thought of using this matter to win their favor. She was merely stating the facts, yet the three brothers immediately exploded with anger. "Now you're even getting an accomplice to help you put on a show to deceive us." "Do you think we would believe your nonsense by doing this? We know very well who saved us." "Blaire, no matter how well you pretend or try to win us over, we'll never marry you." Blaire was not surprised when she heard these words, as if she had expected it. They wouldn't believe it. Even if the evidence was right in front of them, they still wouldn't believe it. Thus, this would be the last time. She would never say a word about it again in the future. She shut her eyes and wanted to drive them away, but Brandon suddenly spoke. "We've long known about the earthquake, but Tammy's face is still swollen from your slap. You must kneel and apologize to her." Blaire could hardly believe what she was hearing. It was just a slap; how could it still not have healed by now? Moreover, it was Tammy who had broken her stuff. They had already thrown her into the pool to humiliate her, and now they wanted to force her to kneel and apologize? "She broke my thing. Why should I apologize to her?" When he saw her refusal, Anthony's eyes instantly turned cold. With an imposing demeanor, he said in a deep voice, "You have to go today." He then ordered his bodyguards. "Bring her over and make her kneel before Tammy. She can only leave when Tammy forgives her." Not only Blaire, but even the doctor found it completely outrageous. He wanted to defend her but was restrained by the bodyguards. A burly bodyguard forcibly removed the IV needle from Blaire's hand, and another bodyguard dragged her off the hospital bed. She was utterly weak and barely recovered, having no strength to resist at all. The moment she was pushed out the door, she braced her body firmly against it, upholding her dignity as the daughter of the Presley family. She hadn't done anything wrong. There was no way she would apologize, especially not to the housemaid's daughter who had slandered her. Her fingertips turned white from the force, and tears fell in large drops as she cried out, "If you dare force me to apologize, I'll end myself today." The defiance and stubbornness in her eyes struck the three brothers deeply. It was the first time they had seen her cry after all this time. Seeing her so emotional, they were a little surprised and inexplicably panicked. After a long silence, Anthony's expression grew uneasy as he coldly warned. "We'll let it slide this time. If you dare to bully Tammy again, we won't let you off so easily next time." Brandon's and Cameron's expressions also softened, and they were no longer as firm as before. "Let her go." After being released, Blaire leaned tightly against the wall. It wasn't until the three brothers had left that her tears began to fall uncontrollably. She stayed in the hospital for a full three days. She was only discharged after her body had recovered. The first thing she did after being discharged from the hospital was not to go home, but to buy a few bouquets of flowers and hurried to the house Matthew gave her. She planned to complete the final touches. But when she opened the door of the house, she could hardly believe what she saw. The meticulously decorated house was now in a complete mess. All the wedding decorations were removed and replaced with pink and white decorations and balloons, featuring the words, "Happy 23rd Birthday, Tammy!" The cute, cozy, and festive ornaments were all covered in cream and colorful ribbons. The music was deafening, and everyone was immersed in the joyful atmosphere of the birthday celebration. The noisy crowd was fooling around in the villa, and the five-layer giant cake had almost become a weapon in their cake fight. Blaire felt as if her heart had stopped. She fought to keep her composure as she walked over to unplug the speaker, cutting the music off abruptly. Chapter 6 The three brothers of the Carter family all had displeasure written on their faces as they turned to look at Blaire. Blaire forcibly suppressed her anger and asked in disbelief, "Why are you holding a party in this house?" Anthony frowned and replied casually, "This house belongs to our family. Is there any problem if we hold a birthday party for Tammy here?" Brandon's eyes were filled with indifference. "Blaire, this house will never be used in the future anyway. No matter who you choose to marry, we won't be coming home. It's better to make use of it now." Cameron let out a sneer. "It's actually an honor for this house that we hold Tammy's birthday party here. Why are you feeling wronged?" Tammy even walked up to Blaire holding a pile of gifts. "Look, Ms. Presley. This is the custom-made dress Anthony gave me. There's only one in this world. Isn't it beautiful? "This is the cruise ship Brandon gave me. And this is the manor that Cameron gave me. How about we go visit it sometime?" She proudly showed them off, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "They've been so good to me. Not only did they give me so many gifts, but they also let me throw a party in this house. Since you're here, let's have fun together." Blaire was so angry that she could barely keep her composure and shouted, "I've told you many times that I'm not going to marry any of you, and this is not the house for our wedding! You have no right to come in." "Blaire, you're at it again. It's enough to put on a show once. Can you stop acting?" "Only three of us in the Carter family are of marriageable age. If it's not one of us, who else could you marry?" "Since you say it's not us, then call your marriage partner now. Let us see who it is." While faced with the ridicule of the crowd, the veins on Blaire's forehead throbbed. Just then, her phone rang, and the caller was Matthew. Her heart skipped a beat, and she spoke with reddened eyes. "Alright! You all want to know who my marriage partner is, right? He is calling now, and I'll tell you who he is." With that, she turned her phone over and showed the screen to everyone. In an instant, nearly everyone in the villa gathered around her. But three seconds later, everyone burst out laughing. "Ms. Presley, aren't you going to show us your marriage partner? Why is your phone screen black?" "Hahaha, it looks like you can't keep up the act and have messed it up." Blaire was taken aback and quickly flipped the phone back. She pressed the buttons repeatedly, but it wouldn't turn on. The phone was out of battery. She hurriedly went to charge her phone, but Anthony blocked her way at this moment. "Enough! Do you still want to embarrass yourself more?" "I didn't…" Before she could finish speaking, Brandon coldly interrupted. "Smash this house." Upon receiving the order, several bodyguards in black stepped forward. Their expressions were cold as they began smashing the furniture and ornaments. After a series of loud crashes, some onlooking scions became excited and wanted to join in. "What are you doing? What right do you have to touch this place? Anthony, Brandon, Cameron, stop!" Blaire screamed and rushed over to stop them, but she was held back by bodyguards on both sides. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she watched everything she had meticulously prepared being ruined in an instant. She was both furious and enraged, consumed by an overwhelming sense of despair. Cameron scoffed. He wasn't flustered like before when he gazed at her teary, red eyes. "You don't actually think that we'll let you off again this time just because you cry, do you? "This is the punishment for your lies. Be smart and stop playing hard to get." Blaire felt extremely despondent as she watched the elegantly and warmly decorated villa being smashed into ruins. The group of people came and departed just as noisily, leaving her alone in the wrecked villa. She didn't know how much time had passed when she finally returned home like a wandering soul. After charging her phone and turning it on, she realized that Matthew had called her several times. Once she regained her composure, she quickly called him back. In the few seconds of waiting for the call to connect, she was extremely nervous. Matthew and she were from different generations. Although he was only five years older than she was, his status had created an invisible distance and a sense of reverence between them. They rarely interacted before, so she only had a vague image of him. The call never went through, and her nervousness gradually eased. But soon, he sent some messages to her. "I'm in a meeting. It's not convenient to talk." "I called you earlier to let you know I'm returning tomorrow. The Carter family will hold a banquet for me, and I'll announce our marriage at the banquet." Chapter 7 For some reason, Blaire still felt nervous even though it was just a text message, and she hadn't heard his voice yet. Fearing that he might get impatient waiting, she quickly responded. "Okay, Uncle Matthew. No, I mean Mr. Carter." "There's one more thing I need to tell you—the house you gifted me for our wedding… has been smashed." After a long silence, he finally replied with a single message. "Did my three nephews do it?" Blaire fell silent for a moment before sending a simple message. "Yes." His short reply instantly put her at ease. "I'll be there for you in the future." Blaire's eyes slightly reddened as she stared at those words. Yes, he would be there for the rest of her life. The next day, a banquet was held at the Carter residence. Just as Blaire stepped inside, she saw the three brothers gathered around Tammy. "Don't be afraid, Tammy. Uncle Matthew may seem cold, but he won't bite. There's no need to be so nervous." Tammy lowered her gaze slightly, and her forehead was covered in sweat from anxiety. "But… I'm scared. This is my first time meeting Uncle Matthew. Do you think… he'll like me?" "Of course, he will. You're so kind—anyone who meets you will definitely like you." "Don't worry, we're here for you. You don't have to be afraid when meeting elders. Just hide behind us if anything happens." With the comfort of the three brothers, Tammy finally took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll make sure to leave a good impression on Uncle Matthew." While looking at Tammy's pretentious demeanor, Blaire sneered. She found her seat and sat down. Anthony's expression instantly turned cold when he saw Blaire. "You sure come often. Knowing that you'll be marrying into the Carter family in a few days, are you trying to curry favor with Uncle Matthew?" Brandon gave a mocking smile. "Too bad. No matter how hard you try to please us, no matter which one of us you marry, you won't have a good life after marriage. Stop pushing it." Blaire remained calm and said indifferently, "I've said it many times—I'm not marrying any of you." Cameron lost his patience and cut her off. "How many times have you said that? And you're still saying it now? Are you out of tricks to play? Wasn't the last lesson enough for you?" Blaire didn't refute. She was utterly calm inside while gazing toward the doorway. No matter how she explained, they wouldn't believe her anyway. In that case, she might as well let their esteemed uncle announce it to them himself. She no longer wanted to interact with them, but Tammy approached her with a pot of soup. "Blaire, I remember that you like this pumpkin soup. You can't reach it, so let me help you." Tammy scooped the steaming hot soup into a bowl, but she deliberately let it slip when she handed it to Blaire. The next second, the scalding soup spilled entirely onto Blaire. Blaire's exposed skin that came into contact with the soup instantly turned red from the burn. "Tammy, what are you doing?" Anthony immediately pulled Tammy into his arms, protecting her. "Why are you yelling? Tammy didn't do it on purpose. Why must you make such a big deal out of it?" "Tammy was just being kind to serve you soup. So what if it spilled? It wasn't that hot. Why did you scold her? Can't you see she's already crying?" Brandon anxiously wiped away Tammy's tears. Cameron reprimanded Blaire even more harshly. "Blaire, you scared Tammy. Apologize to her." Was he asking Blaire to apologize to Tammy? He was asking the victim to apologize to the perpetrator? Blaire's mind was buzzing. Just as she was about to retort, the main door suddenly swung open. The light streamed in, and a man in a suit walked in under everyone's gaze. But it wasn't Matthew. It was his personal assistant. "Apologies for keeping you all waiting. Mr. Carter has urgent matters to attend to, so his return trip has to be postponed by a few days. I'd like to ask for your understanding." Matthew was the head of the Carter family, so no one could question his itinerary. Everyone quickly expressed their understanding. Meanwhile, the personal assistant scanned the crowd before striding straight toward Blaire. The moment he faced her, his aloof attitude softened instantly. "Ms. Presley, please come with me. Mr. Carter has something important to discuss with you in private." Chapter 8 As soon as Blaire went over, the personal assistant magically took out an exquisite gift box. Upon opening it, a dazzling diamond necklace was revealed. "Ms. Presley, this is a gift from Mr. Carter as an apology. In order to rush back for the wedding, he finished all the jobs in a week without rest. However, he fell sick as soon as he boarded the plane. "Out of concern for his health, we finally convinced him to rest for a few more days so that he could be at his best for the wedding. We hope you won't blame him." Blaire certainly wouldn't blame him, and she shook her head repeatedly. This wedding had come about because she suddenly chose him as her marriage partner. She was already overjoyed to know that he was willing to marry her. Not to mention, she had learned that he had overworked himself and fallen sick just to make it back for the wedding. Rather than worrying about whether he could make it back, she was now more concerned about his health. After knowing that he was fine and just needed a few days of rest, she was finally relieved. Since Matthew was absent, there was no need for her to attend the banquet either. After saying goodbye to the personal assistant, she turned to leave but was suddenly stopped by the three brothers. "What did you say to Uncle Matthew's personal assistant just now?" Anthony narrowed his eyes slightly as he scrutinized her. Noticing the gift box in her hand, Brandon instantly figured it out. "You really never change. You can't please Uncle Matthew, so you turn to curry favor with his personal assistant." "You still haven't apologized to Tammy. Come back with us," Cameron said and tried to grab Blaire's hand, but she swiftly dodged him. She had no desire to argue further, so she turned around and hurried off in another direction. … She was sleeping soundly in the middle of the night when her phone suddenly rang. As soon as she'd hung up one call, another call came in. Annoyed, she checked her phone and realized that they were the friends of the three brothers. Once she answered the call, the person on the other end snapped. "Blaire, are you still sleeping? Don't you know that Anthony, Brandon, and Cameron crashed during the race and were sent to the hospital? "How can you still sleep instead of visiting them?" This afternoon, she had indeed heard that the three brothers had participated in a dangerous race to win Tammy a necklace she wanted. In the end, they crashed and got injured. But what does this have to do with her? "I'm not going." She coldly hung up the phone and blocked the numbers of their group of friends, giving them no chance to respond. In the next few days, she stayed at home, peacefully preparing for her wedding—trying on wedding dresses, trying on wedding rings, and visiting the wedding venue. When the news reached the three brothers who had just been discharged from the hospital, Anthony immediately texted Blaire. "Blaire, it seems you don't take our words seriously. I told you that we can marry you and give you the title, but we won't attend the wedding regardless of who you choose. "Yet, you're still making such a big scene. Aren't you afraid of becoming the laughingstock of the entire city? "I'll give you one last chance. Go to Northend and buy Tammy's favorite chocolate doughnuts from Sweet Haven. If you can deliver them within 20 minutes, we might consider attending the wedding." Blaire was at a loss for words when she read the snobbish messages. That bakery's chocolate doughnut required hours of waiting in line. She had no intention of buying them at all. However, she did have something to talk to the three brothers about. She returned to her room for a moment, and then she came out with three boxes in her hands. … As Blaire stepped into the private room, Cameron immediately mocked her. "Just as expected, you're still that shameless flatterer who would rush over because of a little sweet talk." Many people present were amused by his description and burst into laughter. Tammy was surrounded by the three brothers in the middle. With a slight smile, she tugged coquettishly at Anthony's suit. "Anthony, I suddenly don't feel like eating chocolate doughnuts anymore. I want to eat the cake from that shop in Westend." "Did you hear her? Tammy wants to eat the cake. Hurry up and go get it." Blaire calmly replied while holding the boxes, "I didn't buy the chocolate doughnuts, and I definitely won't get the cake either." The three brothers frowned and asked in unison, "You didn't buy them? Then why are you here?" "I came to dispose of the rubbish." With that, she placed the three boxes on the ground. Then, she picked up the topmost box, walked up to Anthony, and threw it directly at him. "Anthony, you've been very interested in artificial intelligence in recent years. "In order to understand you better and have more common topics with you, I've gathered a lot of related materials and bought many of the latest developed products. "From now on, I won't pay attention to anything related to you anymore." Immediately after, she picked up the middle box, walked up to Brandon, and did the same. "Brandon, you have trouble sleeping and often suffer from insomnia. "In order to help you get a good night's sleep, I spent three months learning how to make aromatherapy products. All the things in this box are the products of my failed experiments. "Now, I've mastered the craft of making aromatherapy products, and I've also given up on you." Lastly, she threw the last remaining box to Cameron. "Cameron, you've loved all kinds of extreme sports since you were a child. Out of concern for your safety, I went everywhere to collect countless lucky charms for you. But from now on, your safety is no longer my concern." The three heavy boxes landed on each of them. Their minds went blank, and they were unable to process what had just happened. Chapter 9 After getting rid of those things, Blaire felt utterly relaxed. With a relieved smile, she glanced around at everyone present and declared firmly. "Since everyone here today is a prominent figure in the circle, you all can be my witnesses. I will no longer pursue the three brothers of the Carter family, nor will I approach them again in the future. "From now on, I have no further ties with these three people." After doing all this, she turned to leave. Only then did Anthony, Brandon, and Cameron come to their senses. One of them grabbed her tightly and scolded her angrily. "Blaire, enough with the games. Aren't you afraid we'll run away from the wedding tomorrow?" They spoke harshly, but there was actually a hint of trembling in their voices upon closer listening. Blaire calmly turned around and said, "The groom is none of you. You're just guests. I don't care whether you come or not." After saying that, she paid no attention to their expressions and walked away. On the day of the wedding, the three brothers of the Carter family went to the wedding venue with Tammy and a few friends. The venue was adorned with countless flowers, and various expensive ornaments were casually placed, making everything look stunningly beautiful. Even the name cards on the tables were specially designed, combining elegance with a touch of uniqueness. One of their friends was a bit unsure and asked with some doubt, "Why does this wedding seem so well-organized? She shouldn't have gone this far to play hard to get. "Could it be that the one marrying Blaire really isn't one of you?" Upon hearing those words, the expressions of the three brothers all changed. But soon, they denied it coldly. "It's impossible. There is a contract marriage between the Carter family and the Presley family. Who else could she marry other than one of us three?" "That's right. She pulled this stunt today just to force us into marrying her. Just wait and see her embarrass herself later." "The more extravagant it is, the more she'll become the laughingstock of the entire city later." Although their words were harsh, Tammy could still notice their concern and panic for Blaire. She felt her heart sink further and further. It seemed like everything had changed since Blaire had disposed of the three boxes yesterday. She began to worry that her previous act of falsely taking credit for Blaire's contributions during the earthquake would be discovered. She forced a smile and said, "Ms. Presley is just vain. She has pursued you guys for so long, so how could she give up just like that? She's probably just putting on a show and holding on now." The three brothers nodded absentmindedly. As the melodious and romantic piano music played, the host announced. "Please welcome the bride and her parents to the stage." The doors swung open, and Blaire slowly walked in while holding her parents' arms on each side. The pure white wedding dress cascaded in layers, accentuating her ethereal presence and perfectly showcasing her stunning beauty. The moment she appeared, everyone felt as if their heartbeats had skipped a beat. The three brothers were momentarily struck with awe, but they quickly suppressed it. After the bride went on stage, the host immediately announced the groom's arrival. "Please welcome the groom to the stage." The time was ticking, but the groom still hadn't shown up after some time. The three brothers were visibly relieved. Anthony let out a sarcastic smile. "Blaire, you should stop acting now." Brandon even sneered and clapped his hands, calling over a few bodyguards. "Blaire, since you're so stubborn, we no longer need to save your reputation. "Do you remember what I said before? If you insist on holding a wedding, I'll smash every wedding that you hold." In the midst of the commotion, the parents of the three brothers instantly wore a scowl and stood up to scold them sternly. "You three should sit properly in the guest seats. Why are you making a scene here? How dare you ruin the wedding? Do you know today is the wedding between Blaire and…" Halfway through their speech, Brandon directly interrupted them. "Dad, Mom, it's not that we don't want to marry her. We said it a long time ago. "We can marry her, but we'll only give her the title, not the wedding ceremony. Our hearts only belong to Tammy. Since she insists on carrying it out, then she can't blame us." The three brothers coldly instructed the bodyguards behind them in unison. "Start smashing now. Smash it completely and leave nothing behind." Just then, the doors of the wedding venue swung open, and a cold yet noble voice rang out. "Don't you dare."