When my father asked me who I wanted to marry 1

A week after the engagement was finalized, I boarded the most luxurious private yacht in Chicago.

As I reached the entrance of the banquet hall, I happened to see Leonardo sitting on a sofa with a voluptuous woman in his arms. He was fastening an emerald necklace around her neck.

“This is too expensive. Can I really accept it?”

“My sweetheart, I bought this just for you. My woman should wear only the best,” Leonardo Vittorio said indulgently as the woman snuggled against him coquettishly.

“I’ll change into a dress that matches this beautiful necklace,” she said.

Just then, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Leonardo’s friends exchanged a knowing look before bursting into laughter.

“Leonardo, your shadow is here!”

“She’s like a guard dog, watching you every second!”

“The engagement is already set, and she’s still keeping such a close eye on you? It’s just a friends’ gathering, and she had to show up?”

Leonardo held his wine glass and frowned at their words, the impatience in his eyes barely concealed.

“Madeline, you just couldn’t wait, could you?” His tone was laid-back, but it was as cold as ice.

“You had our families finalize the engagement without my consent. Now, everyone in Chicago knows you’re marrying into the Vittorio family. Well played.”

I felt a sharp pain in my heart.

In my past life, though he had been indifferent, at least he had maintained the facade of a dutiful husband in public. Now, he couldn’t even be bothered to pretend.

I spoke calmly. “Your consent was never needed because I’m not marrying you.”

For a brief moment, silence filled the room. Then, the banquet hall erupted into laughter.

Leonardo’s friends laughed so hard they could barely stand straight. They looked at him with mock surprise.

“Leonardo, your fiancée is mad! You’d better coax her, or she might start threatening to kill herself again!”

“Madeline, so now you’re playing hard to get?”

Leonardo stepped closer to me. His presence was suffocating.