The Ex-Con Who Conquered the World novel Chapter 39

"No, I don't believe it. You must be lying to me."

Margery kept shaking her head, stunned as if struck by lightning. Her body swayed unsteadily, legs threatening to give way.

Nanette, quick to react, rushed forward to steady her, preventing a fall.

"See, Margery? Didn't I tell you?" Fidel seized the moment, stepping closer. His priority was to crush any lingering hope she had for Stefan. "Stefan grew tired of you. He found someone new, this Stewart family heiress, and tossed you aside."

His gaze locked onto Stefan, who held Sara with casual possessiveness, an arm wrapped around her slender waist. A surge of bitter envy, sharp enough to border on hatred, twisted inside Fidel.

He saw no reason why Stefan deserved such a prize—a stunning beauty from wealth and pedigree.

A cool, dismissive laugh escaped Sara.

She cast a glance at Fidel, her tone dripping with disdain. "Your presumptuous act is utterly pathetic. If you want to bark, take it elsewhere. Don't waste my time."

Stefan couldn't help but chuckle quietly, mentally applauding Sara's direct hit. She had a knack for cutting to the core, instantly naming Fidel's jealous resentment for what it was.

Fidel's face flushed, then paled. Swallowing his anger, he redirected his venom toward Stefan. "Stefan, you're a disgrace. Trading up for money and status—what kind of man does that?"

"Stefan, is it true?" Margery's voice trembled, tears welling in her eyes as she stared at him, desperate for a denial she knew wouldn't come. "Did you leave me for her?"

Stefan met her gaze, his own devoid of warmth. He was past explanations.

"Don't project your own pettiness onto others. For the record, I'd never met Stefan before his release. While he was ending things with you—right after you chose your precious lover's birthday over him—he came to my family. Our engagement was arranged afterward," Sara interjected, her words laced with scorn.

A memory sparked in Fidel's mind, his expression shifting to one of stunned realization. "Wait... I heard a rumor from a friend... about the Stewart heiress in River City being engaged to some ex-convict. That was you two?"

"What?" Margery whispered, her mind reeling.

She'd shut herself away since Stefan left, oblivious to the gossip circulating in their social circle.

Now, the truth settled heavily. Stefan had truly meant to cut her off.

An engagement isn't a marriage. There is still time.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify