Stanley paused for a moment, feeling a flicker of guilt. He hadn''te to be a


    victim of a public disy of affection.


    Horace had reunited with his wife. Meanwhile, Stanley had been separated from


    Wendy for three years and hadn''t managed to get her into bed.


    "I came to talk to you about something important," Stanley said, his tone serious.


    "What is it?" Brittany asked.


    Just then, Jessica appeared She had been inside her room, but when she heard


    Stanley''s voice, she rushed out immediately.


    "Stanley, you came at the perfect time! Now that my mom''s back, let''s talk about


    our wedding. When are you going to marry me? "Jessica smiled brightly, looping


    her arm through Stanley''s.


    Brittany looked at Stanley thoughtfully. "You and Jessica were engaged since you


    were young. You''re not getting any younger, and it''s time to settle down.


    Tomorrow, your mother and I will pick a date for you two to get married."


    Horace watched Stanley quietly, saying nothing.


    Stanley''s cold gazended on Jessica''s face. "Let go."


    The words caught Jessica off guard.


    Stanley pulled his arm free and warned sharply, "Don''t touch me again."


    Jessica was speechless.


    Brittany, unaware of the tangled feelings between the younger generation, looked


    at Stanley in confusion. "Why are you treating Jessica like this?"


    "I''m here to officially call off the engagement," Stanley said firmly.


    Call off the engagement?


    Brittany''s eyes widened. "You want to break off your engagement with Jessica?"


    Jessica''s face drained of color. She had known this day woulde, and it had


    arrived sooner than she expected.


    Stanley was formally ending their engagement!


    She began to plead. "This engagement between our families has been around


    since we were kids. Everyone in the Capital knows about this marriage alliance!


    You should cut it out, and just go through with the wedding..."


    "Are you deaf? I''m not marrying you. I''m breaking off the engagement!"


    Horace''s expression instantly hardened. After all, Jessica was his daughter.


    "You''d better think carefully, Stanley. This is a serious matter. Are you really calling


    off the engagement with my daughter?"


    Stanley nodded resolutely. "Yes, I am. I''m sure of it."


    "No!" Jessica shook her head desperately. "I don''t want to call it off! Mom, Dad,


    please help me! I want to marry Stanley!"


    She clung to Brittany, tears streaming down her face.


    "Mom, everyone in the Capital knows I''m supposed to marry him! the calls off the


    engagement, how can I go on with my life? I might as well just die!"


    Jessica suddenly turned and mmed her forehead against the wall


    Brittany''s eyes snapped wide open, and she grabbed Jessica''s arm firmly. "What


    are you doing? Don''t be stupid!"


    "Please, you have to help me!" Jessica sobbed.


    Brittany was stunned. "I...''


    Horace looked at Stanley with cold intensity. "Jessica''s our only daughter. Look


    what you''ve turned her into. Do you really want to call it off?"


    However, Stanley met Horace''s gaze without flinching.


    "Marriage should be based on mutual consent. I don''t love Ms. Larson, so


    naturally, I won''t marry her."


    Jessica broke downpletely, crying, "Dad, you need to do something!


    Stanley''s dead set against me!"


    Horace''s eyes darkened as he addressed Stanley, "If you truly call off this


    engagement today, you won''t have another chance to change your mind. And I


    swear, I will never let you marry my daughter."


    Stanley''s voice was firm and unwavering.


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Larson. There will never be a day when I want to marry your


    daughter."