Cisco Gustin was taken aback. "What? What did you just say? Piper Gates, I'm not joking with you!"
Usually, when Piper heard the words "break off the engagement," she would burst into tears, looking all pitiful and clinging to him, which made him extremely impatient. But despite her timid personality, she never backed down when it came to Cisco.
On top of that, their mothers had been close friends for years, and Madam Gustin was determined not to let go of the engagement, dragging things out without any resolution for so long.
Finally, Píper gave him a direct look. "Are you deaf? Which part of what I said was a joke? Or is Cisco too busy this afternoon? Tomorrow works too; I'm flexible. You choose."
Michelle Gates was utterly stunned. Píper actually just told Cisco he was deaf? Was this really Piper? Or had the man she arranged for her last night driven her crazy? Did she not care anymore?
Cisco felt like this was the first time Píper had ever hit him with such a blow. This woman... was she really not going to cling to him anymore?
"Píper Gates, do you even know what you're saying?" Cisco asked.
Píper Gates nodded casually, "I know, the engagement is off. Marriage is a matter between two people, and it doesn't concern us anymore."
"As long as the engagement is off, you won't have any reason to cling to me anymore!" Cisco Gustin reminded her in a low voice.
He couldn't believe that this woman really wanted to break off the engagement!
Píper responded with a nonchalant "Oh," adding, "I couldn't ask for more."
Cisco felt a tightness in his chest. Píper… she was different now, no longer the little girl who used to follow him around.
Piper didn't care what he was thinking. After climbing through the window last night and dealing with the aftermath, she was exhausted and just wanted to change her clothes and get some sleep.
As she lifted her foot to head upstairs, Cisco called out to her again, adopting a disappointed yet earnest expression. "Piper, the most important thing for a girl is to love herself. Even though you can't be with me, you should still have some self-respect..."
Piper crossed her arms and scoffed, "Thanks for your concern, but sorry, my man is taller than you, better looking, more skilled, and stronger. I'm more than happy to take care of myself!"
"Right now, I'm tired and want to sleep. Oh, and I suggest you two take your affection to your room. If you keep hugging and groping in the living room, Grandpa might just have a heart attack."
Piper Gates finished her rapid-fire speech and turned to head upstairs, slamming the door behind her with a loud bang.
Michelle Gates stood there stunned for a moment, then turned to Cisco Gustin, biting her lip as she asked, "Cisco, why did she say that? About you being strong and all... Didn't you tell me you've never been with her?"
Cisco quickly wrapped his arms around Michelle, eager to reassure her. "Michelle, of course I've never been with her! How could I? The one I love is you!"
Michelle nodded through her tears, saying, "I believe you, but today... It's all my fault. My sister is like this because of me..."
Cisco felt a pang of heartache; his Michelle had always been so kind and understanding.
On the top floor of Hongfeng Apartment, Jasper Hart sat behind a large wooden desk, tapping the surface as he asked, "Where is she?"
Ray Dunlop shrugged. "She ran off. When the nurse went in for the morning check, the bed was empty."
Jasper shot Ray a disdainful glance. "You couldn't keep an eye on a patient?"
Ray Dunlop hadn't even had a chance to defend himself when Jasper Hart's phone rang. He answered it, and his father's steady voice came through. "There's a dinner at the Gates Family tonight. We owe them a favor, so you'll need to go in my place."
Jasper leaned back in his black leather chair and casually asked, "What about Mom?"
"Watch how you speak about your mother!" Ronald Hart reprimanded him.
"Mom locked me in the hotel last night," Jasper bluntly reported. "It's because a fortune teller told her I was going to have romantic troubles."
Ronald Hart: "...I'll handle it. Just remember to attend the dinner."
"Got it." Jasper hung up the phone.
Ray Dunlop clicked his tongue. "The president of the Hart Family is actually snitching on his own mom?"
Jasper stood up to grab his suit from the living room. "Our family motto is that a man must be able to handle the women in his life."
"Why are you changing clothes?" Ray asked, following him.
Once Jasper had changed and tied his tie, he replied, "I'm heading to the office. For tonight's dinner, you're coming with me. We'll just say hello to the Gates Family and leave to avoid any unnecessary socializing."
Ray Dunlop leaned silently against the wall, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses. The tall man adopted a look that suggested he had something to say but was holding back. He watched Jasper Hart tie his necktie and asked, "Jasper, are you inviting me to be your date?"
Jasper Hart glanced at him without missing a beat. "You can wear a qipao tonight. I'll have Michael Stones drop one off for you."
Ray Dunlop: "…"
When it came to sharp comebacks, he had never managed to outsmart Jasper Hart!
---
Gates Family.
Piper Gates finally found some peace and was enjoying a good nap when a noise startled her awake. Instinctively, she rolled over and grabbed the intruder by the throat, her eyes flashing dangerously in the dim room. "Who's there?"
"Um… Miss…" The servant froze, taken aback by Piper's fierce reaction.
The title snapped Piper back to reality. She remembered she was no longer an assassin. Releasing her grip, she awkwardly shook her head. "I've watched too many action movies… What do you need?"
The servant turned on the light and said, "Miss, your mother is looking for you!"
Piper Gates paused for a moment, "You're looking for me, Ma'am?"
It took her a while to realize that "Ma'am" referred to her stepmother, Daisy, the smiling tiger of the Gates family. On the surface, Daisy treated Piper with utmost care to maintain a good reputation, but deep down, she couldn't wait for Piper to be kicked out of the house to avoid sharing the family fortune.
After freshening up, Piper changed into a suitable outfit and headed downstairs. The living room was lined with rows of elegant dresses, and Michelle Gates was pacing back and forth among them, seemingly trying to pick out something unique to shine tonight.
As soon as Piper appeared, Daisy Ethan waved her over enthusiastically, "Piper, come here! The stylist just dropped off the dresses. Pick one for tonight!"
Piper forced a smile and nodded, "Sure, thank you, Daisy."
She walked around the dresses a couple of times before picking up a light purple gown, holding it up to herself. Daisy Ethan praised, "This one really suits your skin tone, but it does make the scar on your face stand out a bit..."
Piper then grabbed a blue dress, and Davina nodded, saying, "This one is nice too, but it might not hide your blemishes..."
Piper Gates couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Wasn't Daisy Ethan just out to hit her again and again? Always reminding her of the gruesome scar on her face.
On top of that, the cold indifference from Cisco Gustin, along with Michelle Gates' mockery and schemes, had finally pushed Piper into the depths of despair.
Michelle chuckled, "Sister, just pick whatever you like. Do you really expect a dress to cover that scar on your face?"
"Michelle, don't speak to your sister like that," Daisy Ethan said with a feigned smile, trying to defend Piper. But her eyes couldn't even be bothered to glance in Piper's direction.