After dinner, Tiffany diligently massaged her father's shoulders, the picture of a filial daughter. Charlie, however, was skeptical. He burst into laughter and asked, "Alright, spill it, kiddo. What are you cooking up this time?" In Charlie's mind, Tiffany's excessive sweetness always signaled she wanted something. His daughter was clever and cunning, except in matters of the heart, where her intelligence seemed to vanish, replaced by blind, stubborn infatuation.

Tiffany rubbed her nose sheepishly. Her father's intuition was correct; she did have something to say. "Dad, can we visit the Harpers tomorrow?" she asked tentatively.

Charlie's mood soured immediately. "What for? You're so eager to run off to their place. You'll end up there soon enough when you marry into their family. Why the rush?" The thought of his daughter being swept away by an undeserving boy was hard for him to stomach, especially since Kenneth seemed unappreciative, constantly scowling at Tiffany. Which father wouldn't be unhappy seeing his daughter treated with such indifference?

Realizing her father's misunderstanding, Tiffany quickly explained, "No, that's not it. I want to go there to… break off the engagement."

This wasn't news to Thalia, who had discussed it with Tiffany earlier. She chimed in, trying to sway her husband, "If that's what our daughter wants, we should support her. I don't think that Harper boy is a good match for her anyway."

"Are you sure about this? You won't regret it?" Charlie asked, his tone serious and concerned. "Tiffany, honey, whether your mother and I like him is beside the point. What matters most is how you feel. Don't break off the engagement just for our sake, only to end up crying into your pillow later."

"Absolutely not," Tiffany declared with unwavering resolve, finally convincing her parents.

Believing swift action was necessary, the Kelleys decided to visit the Harpers the very next day, taking advantage of the weekend. The Harpers were a prominent family in Lovell City, known for their wealth and influence. Standing before their imposing gates, Tiffany's emotions were a tangled mess. Long ago, she had naively imagined herself as the future mistress of the Harper family, only to be confronted by a cruel reality. Now, her greatest desire, aside from revenge, was to call off the engagement. She wanted nothing more than for her and Kenneth to lead separate lives, never crossing paths again. Five years in prison had taught her enough. She even wished for Kenneth to experience her suffering.

With a flicker of resentment in her eyes, Tiffany took her mother's arm and followed the butler into the Harper estate. The estate was a masterpiece of meticulous landscaping, with every plant perfectly trimmed. Mrs. Harper had a passion for flowers, and the grounds were a vibrant tapestry of diverse blooms. Tiffany recalled how, the previous year, she had gone to extraordinary lengths to acquire rare flowers from abroad as a birthday gift for Mrs. Harper, only to have them wilt due to her inexperience, turning a thoughtful gesture into an embarrassing fiasco. And not a single Harper had come to her defense. Recalling this, Tiffany grew bitter.

The butler, leading the way, turned and casually asked, "Mr. Kelley, Mrs. Kelley, are you here today to discuss the wedding date?" When the engagement was first arranged, it was decided Tiffany and Kenneth would marry once they came of age. It seemed today's visit was about setting those plans in motion. The butler's tone carried a hint of disdain; the Kelley family initiating the discussion made it seem as if Tiffany was desperate to attach herself to the Harpers.

Charlie chuckled ambiguously and replied, "Something like that." After all, breaking off the engagement was still discussing the marriage.

When they arrived, Mrs. Harper was arranging flowers. Seeing them, she immediately stood up with a welcoming smile. "Oh, our future in-laws are here! Wonderful, wonderful, please sit!" She instructed the staff to prepare coffee and beckoned Tiffany over. "Tiffany, dear, it's been so long! Come, sit with me."

In the past, Tiffany would have eagerly sought Mrs. Harper's favor. Today, however, she merely offered a polite but detached smile. "Hello, it's nice to see you." She sat beside her mother.

Thalia gently patted her daughter's hand and began, "To be honest, Mrs. Harper, my husband and I came with our daughter today because we have something important to discuss."

"Ah, it's about Kenneth and Tiffany's wedding, isn't it? Oh, my memory! I completely forgot about that. Butler, bring me the calendar so we can pick a good date." Mrs. Harper smiled apologetically. As the matriarch, she handled such matters with ease and elegance, yet beneath her calm demeanor, there was a lack of genuine concern.

Tiffany watched with amusement. Those caught up in a situation often couldn't see clearly, while outsiders had a clearer view. Tiffany had once been so swept up in Mrs. Harper's seemingly kind demeanor that she failed to realize she was never truly valued. Thalia, however, saw through it all.

Without mincing words, she declared, "Mrs. Harper, there's been a misunderstanding. We're here to call off the engagement. In hindsight, this arrangement was made far too hastily, without ever considering what the children truly wanted. They're incompatible—it's clear that forcing this union would be a mistake. It's time to put an end to it."

As Thalia finished, the Kelley family's driver stepped forward, returning a portion of the engagement gifts, placing them on the coffee table. Among them was the heirloom diamond bracelet. "This is…" (The text cuts off here. The remainder is unusable.)