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Fantasy reading

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PERSON_PROFILE

Timothy Yeager is the sole successor of Caelumis, the most powerful force of Efral. He has billions of dollars in inheritance and countless subordinates!

On this day, he returns to civilization with the marriage contracts his mentor has set for him so he can keep his promise and protect his fiancées. However, as soon as he gets home, most of his fiancées call off their engagements to him.

"Do you think you're worthy of marrying someone from the Barton family when you're so useless?"

"How can the daughter of the Lynde family marry a peasant like you? It's a humiliation to her!"

"Today, we're gathered here to annul the marriage contracts with a loser like you!"

"You're dreaming if you think a peasant like you is worthy of marrying any of our daughters!"

Amidst the insults and mockery, an icy voice rings out. "Since all five of you are annuling your marriage contracts with him, I, Mavis Jefferson, shall accept it."

Timothy looks in her direction, and his heart clenches. It's her!

Chapter 1

The bed was comfortable. It felt much better than the shabby wooden bed in the mountain. The pillow cushioned the head snugly, and the bolster was incredibly soft.

Seriously, it was just like a woman's body…

Timothy Yeager sighed contentedly with his eyes closed and squeezed the bolster. Suddenly, his heart dropped to his stomach! Something was wrong—the sensation felt off to him.

The next moment, he heard a woman's soft moan.

Timothy's drowsy eyes snapped open, and he sat up abruptly. When he saw the scene in front of him, he froze.

On the big bed in the five-star hotel suite, a woman with a curvy figure was lying right next to him. Her body was stunningly beautiful. Her gorgeous side profile could make one wonder if she were a perfect specimen that the creator personally crafted.

She was facing away from Timothy, completely naked. Her skin was flawless and smooth.

Timothy winced as he looked at the woman in bewilderment. What was going on? How did a woman end up in his bed?

The alcohol from last night made his head throb. He massaged his temples and slapped his forehead, recalling what had happened.

He was back in Lormford City—his hometown!

The day before, he had bid farewell to his mentor, Remy Franklin, and returned alone. He had arrived in Lormford City at night and decided to book a hotel suite near the airport to spend the night, intending to go home the next day.

Timothy felt bored at night, so he went to a bar for a drink. After that, he got heavily intoxicated. The last thing he remembered was a stunningly beautiful woman coming to his booth drunkenly and toasting him.

The haze in his mind cleared instantly. He looked again at the beautiful woman lying beside him with a complicated expression.

She was the woman from last night. Timothy cursed and felt like slapping himself silly.

He had descended the mountain to get married. Remy had six candidates lined up for him, and he had to choose one of the six to be his wife.

Timothy returned with great anticipation and joy. He hadn't foreseen that something like this would happen.

A thought crossed his mind, and Timothy quickly lifted the blanket and looked at the bedsheet.

On the pristinely white sheets, there was a glaring dark crimson spot. Timothy's hand froze, and his heart sank further. This was the last thing he wanted.

Timothy felt overwhelmed and smiled bitterly. What should he do now?

While he wallowed in distress, the woman turned over. Upon getting a clear view of her face, Timothy couldn't help but hold his breath.

She was so beautiful that she could make any man submit to her!

Timothy had seen his fair share of women, but none had ever made him think they were the epitome of beauty. This woman was the first.

She frowned slightly in her sleep, seemingly having an unpleasant dream. Perhaps feeling insecure, she hugged herself. In doing so, her perfect bosom was strategically pressed together for Timothy's eyes to feast on.

He gulped hard at this breathtaking sight. The sound of his swallowing could be heard clearly in the extremely quiet room.

Mavis Jefferson stirred upon sensing the slight movements next to her. She opened her beautiful doe eyes with a hint of confusion.

The first thing she saw was the white and plain ceiling. Then, she saw a somewhat roguish yet handsome face.

Timothy and Mavis locked eyes.

The atmosphere in the room became palpable. After three seconds of silence, Timothy looked at Mavis with a lopsided grin and said, "Hey, pretty lady. You have great knockers."

"Ah!"

A loud scream disrupted the silence in the room.

Mavis sat up right away, wrapping the blanket around her. She shrank into the corner of the bed and stared at Timothy in horror. "Who are you? How did you get here?"

"I should be the one asking those questions. This is my room," Timothy shot back.

Mavis was stunned to hear that. Subsequently, a look of confusion appeared on her pretty face. She glanced around, and her face fell slightly—this wasn't her room.

Her heart sank. She wondered if she had entered the wrong room in a drunk stupor last night.

Almost instinctively, Mavis lifted the blanket and looked underneath it. When she saw that she was stark naked and noticed the trace of blood on the bedsheet, she froze.

She looked at Timothy with teary, reddened eyes. In a trembling voice, she asked, "You… Did we have sleep?"

Timothy lit a cigarette and smiled. "Are you questioning my ability or your own looks? You climbed into my bed. And when a man and woman are alone in a room, on a bed… You know what happens. I wouldn't be a man if I didn't sleep with you."

With tears brimming in her eyes, Mavis threw a pillow at Timothy in despair. "You beast!"

"Hey, why are you cursing me? You were the one who got drunk and entered the wrong room. It's not like I forced you—"

"Shut up!" Mavis' voice sharply rose by an octave.

Her tears fell, sliding down her beautiful face. She felt wronged, angry, and sad. More than anything, she regretted her impulsive actions.

She had been too obsessed with finding the genius doctor who could cure her grandfather, Arlo Jefferson, to no avail. If she hadn't been incredibly upset about her fruitless search, she wouldn't have gotten so wasted.

And if she hadn't gotten wasted, she wouldn't have been tainted by such a man.

Mavis bit her lip as her tears continued to stream down her cheeks. She was the kind of young woman who had everything—good looks and an elite family background. Everyone in Lormford City knew who she was.

Many young and talented men admired and pursued her. If they all lined up, the line would stretch for miles. Even so, she didn't fancy any of them. She was waiting for that man.

Mavis had held on to her virginity for over 20 years, but this carefree man popped her cherry so thoughtlessly. The more she thought about it, the more upset she became. Her tears just wouldn't stop.

She looked at Timothy again. Upon seeing his unshaven face and his cheap, wrinkled clothes, she fell into despair. She scolded herself for letting a lowly man like him have her first time.

Timothy exhaled a puff of smoke and said languidly, "Alright, don't be too sad. I'm set to marry someone, but I can still take responsibility for you."

"Take responsibility?" Mavis wiped her tears and said coolly, "What makes you think you can take responsibility for me? How are you capable of that?"

Timothy stared at her and said seriously, "I have money and power. I have everything you'd ever want."

"Not only are you a ruffian who dresses poorly, but you're also one who likes to talk big. You're the type of man that I hate the most!" Mavis retorted mockingly as if she'd heard the biggest joke. Her eyes were full of scorn.

"I'm serious—"

"Enough! I don't want to hear any more nonsense from you!"

Mavis took out three bundles of cash from her bag on the bedside table and threw them at Timothy coldly. "Now, we're even. Please don't bother me anymore."

Timothy looked at the three bundles of cash and grimaced. "What do you mean by this?"

"Nothing. Consider it as payment."

"Do I look like someone who would need three thousand dollars?"

Mavis glanced at the cheap clothes Timothy was wearing. "Yes."

Without another word, she got up and got dressed. After she was done, she stood by the bed and glared at Timothy silently. Her eyes were filled with hatred that was mixed with a hint of sadness.

After a while, she took a deep breath and turned toward the door without looking back.

As she reached the door, Timothy spoke up. "I can really take responsibility for last night."

Mavis paused and stood still.

Chapter 2

However, Mavis only paused for a second before she continued walking out. She said coldly, "There's no need. We're not from the same world."

As her words fell, she was gone. Silence quickly enveloped the room.

Timothy narrowed his eyes at the three bundles of cash in front of him. After taking the last puff of his cigarette, he couldn't help but laugh. He found it absurd that Mavis had looked down on him.

As the sole successor of Caelumis, the most powerful force in Efral, he had thousands of soldiers under his command.

Furthermore, he possessed insane medical skills that most people would find unbelievable. Even the Spectral Healer, who was revered throughout Efral, was the least capable of his twelve apprentices.

As for his wealth, he wasn't sure how much money he had. His assets across Efral probably totaled up to trillions of dollars.

Countless women pursued him. A few days ago, even Efral's Four Greatest Families wanted him to take their granddaughters as his lovers.

However, despite his wealth, power, medical skills, and influence, a woman looked down on him and underestimated his worth that day. Not only that, she threw three thousand dollars at him disdainfully.

Timothy touched the tip of his nose, feeling amused. Mavis' cold and contemptuous look replayed in his mind again.

The next moment, he decided to let it go and not dwell on it. Relationships come and go. There was no point feeling troubled about it unnecessarily. Besides, he still had six potential marriage candidates to meet.

Just as he was thinking this, his phone rang. He answered it and heard a respectful voice from a middle-aged man coming through the other end.

"Chief, I'm waiting at the entrance of the hotel you're staying in. If you need anything, just say the word."

Timothy scratched his head. "Are you from the Sechydra Chamber of Commerce?"

"Yes, I am Zack Larson, the president of the Lormford City branch of the Sechydra Chamber of Commerce. I heard from Mr. Franklin that you returned to Lormford City last night, so I came over to wait for you," Zack answered.

Timothy said listlessly, "Got it. I'll be down soon."

"Alright!"

Downstairs, at the entrance to the hotel lobby, a middle-aged man in black hung up the phone. He was Zack Larson, the richest man in Lormford City and the president of the Lormford Chamber of Commerce.

The moment he hung up, everyone from the 30 Rolls-Royce cars behind him got out and lined up respectfully.

Despite being one of the most influential people in Lormford City, Zack didn't put on airs. Instead, he appeared respectful and nervous.

It was because the person he was about to greet was like a god to him.

Just then, Mavis walked out of the hotel carrying a messenger bag. Her stunning beauty wasn't the least bit diminished, even though she looked pale and tired.

Upon seeing the scene in front of the hotel, she was shocked. She did a double take as she recognized Zack.

Of course, with her current status, she wasn't acquainted with him. Nevertheless, she knew who he was since he was the richest man in Lormford City.

Mavis was astonished to see Zack standing at the entrance with so many men and cars, seemingly waiting for someone. Who could that person be?

A bodyguard wearing a black suit approached her and said, "Please leave. We're clearing out Sterling Hotel for today."

Mavis was stunned and asked curiously, "Are you waiting for someone?"

"Yes."

"Who are you waiting for?"

"We cannot disclose this information. Please leave quickly," said the bodyguard sternly.

Mavis bit her lip and glanced at the hotel entrance. She wanted to stay and see, but the bodyguard's steely gaze effectively chased her away. Ever so perceptive, she knew that people of this status were not someone she could see just because she wanted to.

Left with no choice, she walked toward the parking lot. As she got into her car, her phone rang. Mavis answered and heard her father's panicked voice.

"Mavis, why didn't you come home last night? Where are you now?" Patrick Jefferson asked.

Mavis bit her lip and fell silent for a moment. She then composed herself and said, "I had to take care of some matters at the company, so I didn't come back."

"Hurry home. We received news that the man you're engaged to has returned to Lormford City today," Patrick said.

Mavis was startled by the news. "He's back?"

"Yes, come back and get yourself freshened up. We're going to meet him. Also, have you managed to find any information about Dr. Luther's whereabouts?"

Mavis was crestfallen by the question. "No, Dad. Dr. Luther is said to be an apprentice of the Spectral Healer. A person of his caliber is hard to find. How about we find someone else to treat Grandpa?"

Patrick sighed. "I understand. Just come home first."

"Okay." Mavis hung up, feeling ambivalent.

She had signed a marriage agreement, which stipulated her consent to marry that man years ago. But on the night before his return, she had a one-night stand with another man. This was the most ridiculous turn of events!

Mavis sighed and looked into the rearview mirror, hoping to see the man Zack had held in such high regard.

Just then, Timothy walked out of the hotel wearing cheap, wrinkled clothes and looking unkempt.

Mavis' face darkened at the sight of him. Why did he have to appear right at that moment?

"What rotten luck!" she spat and glared at Timothy in the rearview mirror. She instantly lost interest and no longer felt like staying, so she started her car and left.

With that, Mavis missed the jaw-dropping scene that unfolded next. If she had stayed a second longer, she would have witnessed something unbelievable.

Zack and his entourage knelt on one knee before Timothy!

With his tone full of reverence, Zack said loudly, "Greetings, Chief!"

Timothy looked at them, and a smile gradually formed on his face. "Alright, there's no need for such formality. Get up."

"Yes, Chief!" Zack and his men stood up respectfully. "Please get in the car."

Timothy nodded and got into the Rolls-Royce in the center. Zack also got in, acting as the driver for the day. He was the richest man in Lormford City, but he was only fit to be a driver for this man.

In the car, Timothy crossed his legs and said smilingly, "Who told you I was back? Was it that old man?"

Zack broke into a cold sweat and replied nervously, "Chief, it was… it was Mr. Franklin who informed us. He told us to protect you. You're not angry, are you?"

"Protect? Would I need his protection?" Timothy sneered, looking like he couldn't care less.

But in his heart, he felt a surge of warmth at Remy's gesture. Although Remy always played tricks on him back on the mountain, he still cared about him.

Timothy turned to look out the window at the bustling city. He felt a wave of nostalgia followed by a pensive emotion.

The car soon arrived at the suburbs on the western side of the city. Timothy's home was located in an old neighborhood here.

The convoy of Rolls-Royces immediately attracted the attention of the locals. The scene was spectacular and caused a stir.

Soon, the convoy stopped at an intersection. Timothy's home was further inside, but the cars couldn't go through the narrow alley.

Timothy got out and looked around. He then said to Zack, "There's no place to park here. You should go back. I'll contact you if I need anything."

Zack nodded respectfully and handed over a new phone. "Chief, this is your private phone. It has my contact information. Feel free to give me any orders."

Timothy took the phone and said, "Good job. I'll keep it."

Zack was overjoyed and responded excitedly, "Thank you, Chief!"

Timothy smiled and walked toward the intersection. With that, Zack and his convoy left.

As Timothy walked along the familiar path, a sense of familiarity overwhelmed him.

Three years had passed since he last came home. How were his parents? How was his younger sister? He had left home without a word back then. They must have been worried sick.

When he spotted his home's small courtyard from a distance, he couldn't help but quicken his pace.

Chapter 3

When Timothy finally arrived at the gate, his heart skipped a beat as he looked inside.

With just one glance, his expression faltered. The once quaint courtyard had become incredibly dilapidated.

It was filled with piles of junk that made it look uninhabitable. As a gust of wind blew past, it added to the desolation.

Timothy rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing. How could this have happened? Was this really his home?

Just then, he heard the sounds of footsteps nearby. Upon turning his head, he saw an elderly couple picking up trash.

Both of them were emaciated. They had white hair and faces full of wrinkles. Their clothes were dirty and tattered, covered in patches.

The weight of the bag of junk on their backs bent their frail bodies. With every step, they had to stop and rest.

Timothy looked at the elderly couple and felt a deep sense of pity. They were so old and still had to pick up trash for a living—it was truly pitiful. He walked up to them, intending to help.

As he got closer and saw their faces clearly, he froze on the spot, feeling thunderstruck. At that moment, an indescribable emotion surged within him. His eyes welled up with tears.

Unable to hold back, he said in a trembling voice, "Dad, Mom… No way. How could this be?"

The elderly couple stopped and slowly lifted their heads to look at Timothy. Upon seeing him, they were so startled that they dropped the trash bags they were carrying on their backs. "T-Timothy?"

"Dad, Mom, it's me! Your son!" Tears filled Timothy's eyes as he hugged his parents tightly.

The two elders cried as well. They were indeed Timothy's parents—Joseph Yeager and Cora Lambert.

Cora clung to Timothy, crying uncontrollably. "My son, you finally came back. I've been looking for you all these years!"

Timothy let his tears fall freely. Seeing his parents in such a state filled him with sorrow. "Mom, why are you two picking up trash? I remember you both had jobs."

After a while, Timothy let go of them and wiped the tears on their faces. He couldn't understand how his parents ended up in this miserable state.

Joseph and Cora exchanged a look full of complicated feelings.

Cora's eyes were reddened as she smiled and said, "Let's not talk about this now. Come, let's go home. You must be hungry. I'll cook for you."

Timothy's heart couldn't take it, and he almost cried again.

As he followed his parents into the small house, his confusion grew. When he left, their house was in good condition, and his parents had stable jobs. Why had everything become so bleak?

He had also noticed faint scars on Joseph's body. What on earth had happened?

After they got seated at the table, Timothy couldn't hold back anymore. He asked, "Dad, Mom, what happened these years? Why has our family come to such a sorry state?"

Joseph's weathered face was full of deep wrinkles. After a moment of silence, he sighed and said,
"Timothy, it was all Helen Swift's doing."

Timothy was stunned. "Aunt Helen? How is that possible?"

Joseph smiled bitterly. "Timothy, you should remember that a few years ago, your Uncle Greg and Aunt Helen came to borrow money to start a business."

Timothy nodded. "I remember. You gave them all our savings. I think it was… 20 thousand dollars. Did they ever pay it back?"

Joseph shook his head and sighed deeply. "If I had known what kind of person Helen would turn out to be, I wouldn't have lent them a cent."

Timothy was puzzled.

Joseph explained, "After they became successful, not only did they not repay the money, but they also tried to force us to sell our home to them.

"They had heard rumors that this area would be redeveloped and could fetch a large sum of relocation compensation. Your mother and I refused, leading to a fallout with her. To retaliate, Helen made us lose our jobs."

At this point, Timothy finally learned the truth behind his family's misfortune. He clenched his fists, his eyes becoming cold. "Aunt Helen is shameless! I've misjudged her."

Cora said with a sigh, "Timothy, Helen is now a successful businesswoman. Don't cause trouble with her. We won't be able to compete with her."

Timothy felt awfully bitter upon seeing his parents in such dire straits. He had to confront Helen!

However, he didn't want his parents to worry, so he nodded and said, "I understand, Mom and Dad. Don't worry. I have a plan."

Joseph and Cora looked relieved as they smiled warmly at him.

Cora then asked, "Where have you been all these years? When you left without a word, your father and I were worried sick and couldn't sleep all day and night."

Her eyes reddened again. They had even thought Timothy was dead. When they finally saw him again after so many years, they couldn't help but feel emotional.

Timothy looked at his parents with a deep sense of guilt. "Dad, Mom, I left suddenly back then and didn't have time to tell you anything. I've spent those years on the mountain learning from my mentor. Now that I've finished my training, I'm more than capable of giving you a good life."

Joseph smiled. "It's good that you're back. We don't need much. A peaceful life together is more than anything I can ever ask for."

Cora added, "That's right, Timothy. You're in your 20s now. The most important thing is to find a good job and get married so that we can have grandchildren."

Timothy laughed. "Mom, work can wait. The important thing now is to introduce you to your daughter-in-law."

Joseph and Cora were taken aback.

Cora asked in surprise, "Do you have a girlfriend?"

Timothy shook his head. "No, but my mentor helped me set up a few marriage agreements with a few young women. I need to choose one of them to be my wife. They might visit soon."

His parents exchanged a shocked look to learn that Timothy had not one but several marriage prospects. They felt incredibly happy. At their age, their biggest wish was to see their son get married and set up his own family.

Cora hurriedly told Joseph, "Dear, hurry and clean up the courtyard. If the young ladies see all this trash, it'll give them a bad impression."

Joseph immediately got up to clean the courtyard.

However, Timothy held his arm to stop him. He said with a laugh, "Dad, there's no need to clean. They're eager to marry me. They won't mind."

Joseph frowned and said seriously, "Timothy, we must be down to earth. Given our situation, why would anyone want to marry you? Let's clean up a bit. We may not be rich, but we can at least show some sincerity."

Timothy laughed helplessly, aware that Joseph thought he was boasting. He smiled and said no more.

Joseph tidied up the courtyard to the best of his abilities. However, it still looked shabby, especially with the pile of trash in the corner.

Cora thought for a moment and said, "Dear, let's change into cleaner clothes. We don't want the young ladies to make any snide comments."

Joseph agreed, and they went inside to change. When they emerged, Timothy felt a lump in his throat. The clothes they changed into were wrinkled and worn, albeit cleaner than the previous ones. They were faded and had small holes in the collars and cuffs.

Upon noticing his gaze, Cora pulled back her sleeves a little to hide the frayed edges of the cuffs. Her face flushed slightly, and she had an awkward expression on her face. She was worried they might embarrass Timothy.

But then, these were the best set of clothes she and Joseph had.

She looked at Timothy and said cautiously, "We haven't bought any new clothes over the years. These are the best outfits we have. Is… Is this okay?"

Timothy took in all the changes in Cora's expressions. She was his mother, yet she spoke to him with such inferiority. He felt a tingle in his nose, and his eyes stung a little. Timothy was heartbroken.

Of course, he understood Cora's concern. She was worried that Timothy would think that they were a disgrace to him.

Timothy looked up to force back his tears. He took a deep breath and said with a smile, "Dad, Mom, these clothes are fine. You look great."

Joseph and Cora were relieved by his response, and their faces lit up with joyful smiles. They were happy as long as Timothy didn't despise them.

The three of them sat in the courtyard and waited. Timothy remained calm, but his parents were nervous.

Soon, his ears picked up the sounds of footsteps outside the courtyard.

Finally, someone was coming.

Chapter 4

At the gate of the small courtyard, several people came into view. Timothy looked over and saw that the person in front was a woman. A few men followed her closely.

The woman was tall and slender, with delicate features and an outstanding bearing. She would be a standout beauty in any crowd. However, she wore an exceptionally cold expression on her pretty face.

Timothy smiled lightly. It seemed Remy hadn't tricked him. She was indeed a top-notch beauty.

Upon entering the courtyard, the woman stood in the center and surveyed her surroundings. Her gaze lingered on the pile of trash in the corner, and she frowned.

Joseph and Cora were stunned at the sight of her. They had never expected their daughter-in-law to be so beautiful and elegant.

Overjoyed and tongue-tied, Cora exclaimed, "Timothy, is this the young lady you're engaged to? She's so gorgeous! I can't believe my daughter-in-law is so stunning."

Joseph was equally pleased. He added, "Good job! You've really brought honor to our family. Finding yourself such an outstanding wife is truly a blessing."

Timothy laughed and said, "Dad, Mom, what did I say? I can have any pick when it comes to finding a wife."

The tensed wrinkles on Cora's face smoothed out as she beamed with joy. She whispered to Joseph,
"Dear, let's get a chair for her to sit on. I'll get her some water."

Joseph slapped his forehead while exclaiming, "I almost forgot!"

He hurried to fetch a chair while Cora set it down and handed the woman a cup of water, smiling warmly. "You must be tired from standing. Have a seat and drink some water."

The woman glanced at Cora with a frigid expression and said nothing.

Cora realized the young woman was reluctant to sit on the old wooden chair. She quickly bent down and meticulously wiped it with her sleeve.

With a slightly embarrassed smile, she said, "I've cleaned the chair, young lady. You can sit down now."

The woman looked down at the chair and then at Cora judgmentally. She then said, "I won't sit on it. It's dirty. And did you call me your daughter-in-law just now? Look at yourself. Are you even worthy?"

With that, she slapped the mug from Cora's hand. It fell to the ground and smashed into pieces, spilling water everywhere.

With a look of disgust, she said, "Get away from me. You're filthy!"

Cora's smile froze as she stared at the broken mug on the ground.

The woman then turned her icy gaze to Timothy, her voice devoid of warmth, "Are you Timothy Yeager?"

Timothy's smile slowly faded. He looked at the woman and narrowed his eyes. "Yes, what about it?"

The woman tossed an annulment request paper at him and said coldly, "Nothing much. I'm here to inform you that our engagement is nullified. The marriage contract is void. I, Isabelle Barton, hereby cancel our engagement."

The courtyard fell into dead silence as Isabelle's words echoed in the air.

Then, her icy voice broke the silence again. "I can give you five million dollars as compensation. You can collect it from my family. My only demand is that you sign this annulment paper and never mention our engagement to anyone. It's a disgrace to me!"

She glanced at Timothy with disdain. She was the eldest young miss of the Barton family, one of the Six Great Families in Lomford City. Meanwhile, he was the son of an elderly couple who picked up trash for a living.

They were from two different worlds. How could she be his fiancée and even marry him? That was simply impossible.

The annulment paper lay at Timothy's feet. He looked down at the dirtied paper and frowned.

An annulment paper? And did she say she was canceling their engagement?

Timothy felt a deep sense of irony. This morning, he had been scorned by one woman. Now, one of his fiancées was here to break off their engagement. He felt like a clown at that moment.

Joseph and Cora were completely taken aback by this development. They had eagerly awaited their daughter-in-law's first visit, but she came to annul the engagement.

After a moment of silence, Cora put on a forced, subservient smile and pleaded, "Young lady, we can talk this over. There's no need to cancel the engagement. I know you come from a wealthy family that is much better than ours, but my son is honest, hardworking—"

"Honest? Hardworking?" Isabelle scoffed and cut her off. "That means nothing to me. I don't care about that. What I care about is your family's worth!

"Look at your house! Look at yourselves! How dare a trash-picking family dream of marrying someone from the Barton family?"

With that, Isabelle rolled her eyes and glanced at Cora with a mocking smile. "How shameless! And how dare you call me your daughter-in-law! Take a look at yourselves. Disgusting!"

Isabelle waved her hand in front of her nose as if repelled by a foul odor. Then, she looked at Cora with disdain. "Stay away from me. You reek all over. Your whole family are filthy beggars."

Cora's face became flushed for a moment before blanching. Isabelle's words stabbed into her heart like knives. Yet, Cora didn't retaliate. Instead, she continued to smile obsequiously.

She said, "You're right, young lady. I am a beggar… but… but my son Timothy is not. He's a good man who's very outstanding… Please give him a chance. Please don't annul the engagement…"

As she spoke, her eyes reddened.

Isabelle was beautiful and exceptional, but she looked down on them. They were holding their son back. Cora felt a deep pain as tears brimmed in her eyes. She was sad, ashamed, and aggrieved.

Cora hoped Isabelle would stay and not abandon Timothy because of their poverty. No matter how much she was humiliated, it was all worth it as long as Isabelle didn't annul her engagement with Timothy.

Upon seeing Cora beg without a shred of dignity, Timothy felt a pang in his heart. This was his mother! For his sake, she humbled herself so much.

His gaze turned icy as he looked at Isabelle. "Who are you calling beggars?"

Isabelle crossed her arms, her face full of disdain. "So what if I call you filthy beggars? Not only you, but your parents too. You're nothing but a family of filthy beggars!"

Instantly, a terrifying, icy air burst forth from Timothy.

What were the words to describe the exact feeling he gave off? Bloody, gloomy, cold, hollow, dark, sinful…

Timothy's eyes reflected the depths of hell at that moment. "Insult my parents, and you'll pay with your life!"

A fierce, sinister light flashed in Timothy's eyes as he surged forward menacingly, ready to strike!

Chapter 5

Cora was terrified. She hurriedly grabbed Timothy, who was about to lash out with tears in her eyes.

"Timothy, listen to me," she said. "Let's talk this out. We can't resort to violence. Exceptional young ladies like her do not come by easily. Please, we can talk this out. I'm begging you…"

Timothy looked at his weeping mother, and his heart began to ache. He forcibly stopped himself.

"Mom…" His voice was hoarse, filled with a torrent of emotions.

He felt as if a knife was stabbed into his heart when he saw Cora behaving so pitifully. It was unbearable!

Meanwhile, Isabelle felt a shiver run down her spine, and a deep-seated fear rose within her. The air Timothy had just given off had scared her. The feeling he gave off and his gaze were both beyond words.

At that moment, she felt like she was a measly ant before a dragon. She had no doubt that from his gaze just now, he meant to kill her.

Isabelle instinctively took two steps back. Her bodyguards immediately stepped in front of her.
They all stared at Timothy icily.

The courtyard was suddenly filled with a murderous tension.

With her bodyguards shielding her, Isabelle regained some courage and looked at Timothy with disdain as if he were an insect.

She jeered, "Hmph! How dare you filthy beggar from a trash-picking family make a move against me? Do you know what the Barton family represents in Lormford City?

"I can make it so that your whole family won't survive in this city. Go ahead and try coming at me again, you worthless piece of trash!"

Timothy closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. This time, his gaze was devoid of any restraint, filled only with overwhelming rage.

He looked at Isabelle and said in a cold, hoarse voice, "Years ago, my mentor made the marriage agreements on my behalf for two reasons.

"Firstly, it was to undo the destined misfortune as seen from my astrological house. Secondly, it was because your families were sincere back then. So, my mentor thought I could protect your family from harm upon my return.

"But now, the situation has changed. You've shown your true colors as a member of the Barton family, and you're nothing but despicable!

"I gave you a chance and showed you leniency, but you not only insulted me but also my parents. You deserve death for all that you've said and done!"

Isabelle smirked derisively. "So what if I insulted you? Who do you think you are to protect my family? We are one of the Six Great Families in Lormford City, and you're just a filthy beggar. I could crush you in an instant, and there's nothing you could do!"

Timothy had a sinister look in his eyes. "You're hilariously clueless, aren't you? The Barton family is nothing to me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Timothy moved like a gust of wind. Everyone only saw an afterimage before realizing he had somehow left the spot he was standing at a moment ago and was now right in front of the bodyguards.

The bodyguards were all thrown back with a loud crash. They landed on the ground with broken limbs and coughed up blood.

Isabelle screamed, shocked by Timothy's terrifying fighting skills. Her face turned pale as she stared at Timothy in horror, like she was seeing a ghost.

Timothy didn't stop. He stretched his neck to loosen his muscles as he walked toward her.

Isabelle stumbled back, her body shivering violently, and fell to the ground. She backed away, supporting herself with her hands. The look on her face showed how terrified she was.

"Y-You… Don't come any closer! If you dare touch me, the Barton family won't let you off!" she yelled fearfully.

Timothy seemed not to hear her as he took steady steps toward her with a faint smile. "The Barton family? What of the Barton family?"

"You—" Before she could finish, Timothy had reached her.

An overwhelming sense of fear and helplessness engulfed her, and before she could react, Timothy gripped her throat and lifted her off the ground! As Isabelle stared into Timothy's bloodthirsty eyes, she was so terrified that she lost control and wet herself.

Timothy slapped her hard across the face.

Isabelle screamed in agony, her hair becoming disheveled, and blood trickled from her mouth. A bright red handprint appeared on one side of her face.

"How dare you hit me…"

"So what if I hit you?"

Timothy gave her another slap. She was slapped so hard that her face seemed to become lopsided. This time, blood streamed from her nose. Her once beautiful face was now unrecognizable.

Just then, Timothy smiled. However, his smile was bone-chilling and glacial. Isabelle closed her eyes in despair, genuinely terrified. Timothy shook his head and delivered one last slap.

With that, Isabelle was sent flying and crashing to the ground.

Cora and Joseph stood where they were, utterly stunned by the scene before them. Their faces became drained of color as realization set in.

Everyone knew the Barton family in Lormford City. Yet, their son had just beaten up the young lady of this prestigious family.

They shook like leaves and were at a loss for words, feeling utterly despaired at the situation.

Timothy looked coldly at Isabelle, who was on the ground. "This engagement can be annulled, but not by you or your family.

"It is I, Timothy Yeager, who canceled the engagement! Your family isn't worthy enough to turn down the marriage. I'm the one who called an end to this. Now, scram!"

His words, filled with unparalleled arrogance, shook everyone to the core.

Isabelle was still on the ground with her hair in disarray. She covered her swollen face and looked at Timothy in terror. "You dare hit me?"

"As I said earlier, so what if I hit you?" Timothy replied coolly.

Isabelle's heart sank as she stared at Timothy's calm expression. She felt an overwhelming wave of disbelief.

What made him so confident? He had dared to hit her. Didn't he know what the Barton family represented in Lormford City?

Upon looking into Timothy's eyes, Isabelle felt a shiver deep in her soul. He looked at her as if she were truly nothing but an ant to him. This was the first time she had felt such terror in her 20 or so years of being alive.

Isabelle cradled her face and wanted to curse at him but ultimately swallowed her words. She stepped back and forced out a chilling statement through gritted teeth.

"So what if you hit me? The engagement will still be canceled! No one will agree to marry you today. Just wait and see!" she spat.

Timothy glanced at Isabelle with a frown. Suddenly, footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard.

Several women entered, their voices cold and resolute as they stated their intentions.

"The Thornton family annuls the engagement with this useless man today!"

"The Shaw family also annuls the engagement!"

"The Reed family annuls the engagement!"

"The Lynde family annuls the engagement today!"

Four annulment requests were thrown at Timothy simultaneously. They fluttered down and fell before his feet.

The courtyard fell into a deathly silence.

Cora and Joseph were so shocked that they sat on the ground, feeling weak.

Timothy was stunned for a moment as he looked at the newcomers. So, they were all here to annul their engagements with him.

His gaze turned icy and terrifying, and there was a chilling coldness in his eyes. They had all come on the same day at the same time to annul their engagements.

Upon seeing the others arrive, Isabelle regained her courage and laughed arrogantly. "See, Timothy? This is how pathetic and insignificant you are! Did you really think I was the only one who thought you were unworthy?

"Think about it, who would want to marry a man like you? With a family background like yours, you're just a joke compared to our families."

Isabelle's laughter echoed in the courtyard. "Timothy, you're nothing but a clown. No one will marry you!"

As her words faded, a voice suddenly came from the courtyard entrance. The voice was calm and noble, carrying a hint of pride. Everyone fell silent instantly.

"Why are you so sure no one will marry him when I haven't shown up yet? Your families are thriving now. But if it weren't for Mr. Franklin's help, you wouldn't enjoy the success you have right now. You're repaying his kindness with betrayal. Aren't you ashamed?

"Even though he may seem lowly, the Jefferson family is not heartless. Since the engagement was made, and if no one else will marry him… Then I, Mavis Jefferson, will marry him!"

The crowd was shocked, and all eyes turned to the woman at the entrance.

Timothy turned to look at her as well. His heart pounded when he laid eyes on her.

Fantasy reading

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