Chapter 3 Breaking Off The Engagement

The unexpected slap left Maren's three brothers and Nadia in a state of utter disbelief.

Was Maren serious done with Wilbur? But she had been deeply infatuated with him all these years. And yet, she had just openly slapped him.

"Have you lost your senses, Maren?" Wilbur was equally taken aback. The idea that Maren dared to hit him seemed beyond belief.

He stood among his peers as the esteemed young heir of the Thorpe family. Never before had he experienced physical confrontation. Maren, who had once adored him, would slap him in front of an audience was unthinkable.

"You should be pleading for my forgiveness, or else don't hold me accountable for forgetting everything we shared!" Wilbur seethed with anger.

If she preferred to dramatize for attention, he would let her see the failure of her charade. All she was achieving was his growing disdain. He was resolute that forgiveness was out of the question. When she finally realized her isolation, she would find herself without any allies.

Wilbur was still convinced that Maren's actions were just another act; he found it hard to believe that someone could change so drastically in such a short time.

However, Maren was done playing games with him. Her previous affection for him had turned to revulsion upon witnessing his true nature.

She said coldly, "That slap was nothing less than you deserved, Wilbur. Let's be clear today. Consider that slap a gentle reprimand for your disrespect. You're fortunate that's all it was. Also, consider our engagement over. I am ending it. I want the 10% shares returned, the ones I transferred to the Thorpe family as an engagement gift. From this point forward, we have nothing to do with each other."

With that declaration, Maren turned to leave. Now that her memories were restored, she had far more significant issues to address. It was time to confront the traitors.

"What?" Wilbur's reaction was one of complete shock.

He had never envisioned that Maren would actually end their engagement. And he was utterly unprepared for her demand to reclaim the 10% shares she had once gifted his family. How dare she!

Originally, the shares in question were part of a legacy left by Maren's grandfather. Before passing away, Maren's mother bequeathed 50% of the shares of her family business-now transformed to Morgan Group-to Maren, set to be hers when she came of age.

During a financial downturn faced by the Thorpe family, Maren had advanced 10% of these shares as an engagement gift, aiding them through their financial strife. Wilbur had agreed to the engagement more out of financial necessity than affection, as his preferences lay with Nadia.

Maren's father currently controlled the remaining 40% of the shares.

Now, Maren was reversing her decision and seeking to retrieve those shares. Could she be aiming to push the Thorpe family towards financial collapse? Wilbur was determined to prevent such a catastrophe, as were the rest of the Morgan family.

"Maren, this is too much! Dad and the rest of us have poured our sweat into the family just like you. Those shares you gave to the Thorpe family, along with everything else, were never solely yours to claim!" one of her brothers shouted vehemently.

"Really, Maren, how can you be so cold and greedy? We are your family, after all," Nadia added, her voice tight with anger.

The loss of the 10% shares would spell serious financial woes for the Thorpe family, jeopardizing her aspirations to marry into and ascend within the Thorpe family.

Nonetheless, Maren departed with firm resolve, disregarding their pleas and not once glancing back.

This caused a wave of panic to wash over everyone present.

"Hold on, Maren! What's this about calling off the engagement and taking back the shares? Give us a clear explanation before you go!"

Wilbur suddenly realized that Maren meant business today, and he was taken aback.

He moved quickly, trying to grasp Maren's shoulder to detain her.

However, just as he was inches from making contact, Maren detected the impending threat.

As the reigning force in the underworld, her sharp instincts kicked in, and she quickly dodged Wilbur's hand without missing a beat. At the same time, she instinctively countered, striking Wilbur's hand sharply.

"Ah!" Wilbur exclaimed in pain as his arm went numb, and he stumbled backward, struggling to keep his footing.

The room fell silent, shocked by the unexpected outcome.

Wilbur was no ordinary opponent; he was recognized as a formidable combat master, personally mentored by Beau Francis, a legendary fighter from the Royal Military Academy in Baimsa.

Yet here he was, bested with little effort by Maren, who had always been underestimated as frail and ineffective. How could this be?