After a pause, Vernon said, âWhy donât you call off the engagement for now?â
Stunned, Avery said, âWhat did you say, Dad?â
âAfter what happened last time, Tyler could still help you out by making a public statement, but youâll
only be the target of condemnation if he does it again this time. He might look like a loyal man by doing
so, but what about you?â
âIâm not afraid of that!â Avery refused to call off the engagement. âThey can say whatever they want to
say. I can just head back to Molivia! No one in Molivia will dare to say anything about me!â
Vernon sneered. âYou can say that you were framed the first time, but can you still claim that itâs a
coincidence if the same thing happens twice? I know that you arenât afraid of what people might say
about you, but everyone sees you as a woman who lost her virtue. Because of that, our companyâs
stock is dropping. The masses are mocking our family! If Tyler doesnât marry you, no one will ever
marry you.â
After the release of the video, people all around the world saw her in a compromising position. On top
of that, no one would dare to marry a woman who seemed to draw trouble wherever she went.
It was fair to say that Averyâs reputation was ruined.
âAnnounce that you and Tyler Hart have dissolved your engagement, and explain to the public that this
so-called lover of yours threatened you into meeting him with those photos. Itâd make it easier for the
public to accept,â Vernon suggested.
Averyâs voice rose in frustration. âWhy should I care whether they accept it or not? Iâm marrying Tyler,
not them! As long as heâs willing to marry me, thatâs enough. I donât want to break off the engagement!â
âHeâs willing to marry you now, but have you considered he might change his mind once youâre back
with him? A man whoâs constantly ridiculed and mocked might have a
change of heart eventually. Avery, do you think marriage is the end of the story?â Vernon questioned.
Averyâs breath caught, leaving her speechless as she knew that marriage was not an end but a
beginning.
âIf you announce the break-up now, you salvage some reputation for yourself and save Tyler from the
humiliation. Once the storm subsides, you can hold the wedding again. Doesnât that solve both
problems?â
Averyâs confidence wavered. âBut what if Tyler doesnât want to marry me anymore after we break off
the engagement?â
âIf he doesnât want to marry you, an engagement wonât change that,â Vernon replied.
âButâ¦â
âAvery,â Vernonâs tone became increasingly stern. âDo you remember the three projects Tyler
presented to our family?â Avery clenched her fists.â⦠I remember.â
âYou did well in handling that situation,â Vernon said slowly.â Having those three projects under our
control is enough to control the Hart family and Tyler Hart. He wonât dare to refuse to marry you. I
wouldnât have proposed this if we didnât have control over those projects. Now that we do, Tyler has to
do as we say, so why are you so worried?â
Once the call ended, a young woman who had been standing beside Vernon spoke up, âDad, what did
Avery say?â
âAvery agreed,â Vernon turned to Averyâs half-sister. âBrielle, thank you for your suggestion this time.
Otherwise, our familyâs reputation would have been tarnished by this shameless girl!â
Brielle smiled. âWeâre a family, Dad. You donât have to thank me for this.â
âIf I hand this family over to Avery, she might squander it all. â Vernon looked at his daughter with a
gentle expression.â That wicked girl is only interested in love and romance all day. I fear she wonât
amount to much in the future.â
Vernon lightly patted Brielleâs hand. âIâm glad youâre here. The future of our entire family relies on you.â
An obedient smile appeared on Brielleâs face. âRest assured, Dad. I wonât fail you.â