Rewriting My Heart's Fate

Why was lan, the retired founder of the Grayson Group and grandfather of Ethan, here alongside him?

This banquet was supposedly hosted by the Wiley family, but given their decline, the attendees were nothing more than superficial elites.

So why would they invite the head of the Grayson family, a figure so powerful that even his slightest move could shake Yardville?

I stood there frowning as I watched them. Ethan stared at me with a cold and disdainful expression, whereas lan looked at me with a mix of authority and contempt in his eyes, which were all too familiar to me from the past. Jack called my name again twice, but I still didn't respond. His face darkened, and Ivy, who stood beside him, quickly walked over and dragged me forward by the arm.

In my previous life, I had only met lan three times. Each time, it began with him making things difficult for me and ended with him humiliating me.

Leah was the granddaughter of lan's war buddy, and the two old friends had long arranged a marriage between their children. Unfortunately, I intervened, indirectly forcing Leah to leave the country, which made lan hate me deeply. Even though I personally took care of him after his stroke, tending to his every need, he never showed me a shred of appreciation.

But this time around, I wanted nothing to do with Ethan, and I certainly wouldn't try to please anyone from the Grayson family.

"Mr. Grayson, this is my daughter, Evelyn," Jack fawned over the Grayson family, his sycophantic behavior on full display.

"On the 15th of last month, Evelyn got into Mr. Ethan's car and didn't come home the entire night. The next day, she came back wearing his clothes."

I stared at Jack in disbelief. What was he trying to do? Was he implying to lan that I spent the night with Ethan? How absurd!

I thought he was merely trying to curry favor with lan by leveraging our connection as former classmates, but I never expected he'd go as far as to slander my reputation for the sake of wealth and status. What kind of father did that? Anger and disappointment welled up inside me, making my eyes sting. Unintentionally, I met Ethan's gaze, which held only mockery, as if he was saying, "Evelyn, you really have no shame."

He was right. Jack's intentions were clear, and even I found this disgraceful. I tried to suppress my emotions and speak calmly, but lan beat me to it.

asked, "Ethan, is what her

sarcasm, "Grandpa, no matter what I say, it seems

Ethan still seemed etched into my very being. Though I could rationally distance myself from him

grew at my silence. He pressed his hand down on my shoulder, smiling on

don't you? Mr. Grayson is right here. If

could be so easily swayed by a fabricated story, let alone accept an alliance with a crumbling family like ours? There were many other families who tried to get close to them all

off Jack's hand, stepped back, and turned to face lan and Ethan before saying calmly, "It was raining heavily on the 15th of last month. Mr. Ethan saw that I had no ride,

Lyla. Mr. Grayson, Dad, if you don't believe me, I can call

I ignored them, nodded at lan with dignity, and said, "Mr. Grayson, I apologize. Mr. Ethan's kindness was misunderstood, and I'm sorry for causing you trouble. I promise it won't happen again." "And..." I straightened up and looked at Ethan, taking in the face I would recognize even if it were ashes, and said slowly and deliberately, "Previously, I was out of line and forgot the boundaries between men and women, leading everyone to think I liked him. "He's an excellent student with great character. He's someone I admire. He's a

anymore. I said it to myself. My words were a roundabout way of

he was laughing and frowned at him, only to see a dark cloud of emotion in his eyes. But at least lan seemed pleased with my response and even went so far as to

me to a secluded corner of

you defy me?" He threw me to the ground and raised his foot to kick me.

I was about to fight back, a familiar

I just witness Mr. Wiley about to assault

turned my head and saw

another admirer of Leah and Ethan's archenemy. If Leah was the shadow that darkened my life in my past, Liam was

while stabbing me in the back countless times, which was why I ended up with no

my previous life, I didn't meet him until the