Seeing that Carrie dared to retort, Zoe was so infuriated that her manicured nails dug into the flesh of her palm.


    If it were not for all the people around, she would have pped Carrie.


    Zoe took a deep breath, her crimson lips curling into a wicked smile as she leaned close to Carrie''s ear and whispered mockingly, "That''s right. You''re not a fool. You''re just mentally ill." Mentally ill.


    Carrie''s mind rang with a deafening buzz, a cold sweat soaking through her pristine white cotton dress.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Meanwhile, the piano on stage began to y.


    The melodious music filled her ears. However, it only intensified her mental anguish.


    "Carrie, you desperately want to be my brother''s wife and the Young Madam of the Hoffman family. But do you think you''re worthy of being his wife? You know what your illness is like. Do you think you can bear a healthy child for my brother?"


    Zoe struck Carrie''s most vulnerable spot with each word.


    She lowered her head, her eyes moist and red. Her dress was wrinkled by her tightly clenched fingers, mirroring her heart''s turmoil.


    "My brother isn''t just your lover. He''s also the heir to the entire Hoffman Group. He''ll also be the future head of the family."


    Zoe maintained aposed and dignified demeanor, her voice icy. "My father''s final wish before he passed was for the Hoffman family to be prestigious for generations. If you aspire to be the wife of the heir, you must be able to bear children to continue the family line. How confident are you that you can give my brother a healthy child? What if your child inherits your illness? Do you want the Hoffman bloodline to end with my brother? Do you want him to be theughingstock of Savrow?"


    Carrie shut her eyes tightly, sweat forming on her forehead.


    "Even if my brother pampers you and decides not to have children, does that mean he should forsake thepany too?"


    Zoe continued to prey on Carrie''s vulnerable mind. "My father dedicated his entire life to the Hoffman Group. How can our father rest in peace if my brother cannot inherit thepany? Do you think our grandfather would ept a woman like you as the future wife of the family''s heir? If my brother insists on marrying you, he will only drift further away from bing the heir. My grandfather might even decide to let my uncle take over. If that happens, it will be your fault for ruining his life."


    Each of Zoe''s words shed through Carrie''s tender heart like a de dipped in ice.


    "Since you said you''re not dumb, you must understand what I told you, right? If you truly love my brother, you should consider letting him go."


    Having said that, Zoe began to rise from her seat.


    "I won''t leave Ryan," Carrie said, her head lowered.


    However, her words were clear and determined.


    Zoe''s pupils contracted sharply. "What did you just say?"


    "I love Ryan... Very, very much."


    Carrie slowly raised her head, mustering all her courage to meet Zoe''s cold gaze. "I''ve been a coward all my life. I''ve never fought for. anything, nor have I ever longed for anything. But now, I just want to be with Ryan."


    Zoe gritted her teeth. "You...!"


    "It doesn''t matter if Grandpa Hoffman doesn''t like me or the Hoffman family doesn''t ept me. I don''t need the status. As long as can be with Ryan, I''m fine. As long as he doesn''t kick me out, I won''t leave him."


    When Carrie spoke, her eyes were so bright and captivating that they outshone the stars.


    ''What a shameless, clinging wretch!'' Zoe clenched her teeth so hard they creaked. As she stormed away, her high heels clicked sharply, drawing annoyed nces from onlookers.


    Yasmin patiently sat in the hallway, waiting until the anniversary event ended.


    Finally, the doors opened. The students emerged with a burst ofughter, filling the hallway with their cheerful chatter.


    Yasmin hurried to the entrance.


    However, even after all the students had left, Carrie was nowhere to be seen.


    Yasmin''s heart clenched, and she rushed inside.


    In the vast, empty hall, only Carrie''s delicate figure sat alone, motionless, with her back facing Yasmin.


    "Young Madam!"


    Yasmin called out anxiously as she rushed to Carrie''s side, only to suddenly halt in shock.


    Before her, Carrie looked like her soul had been drained. Tears were streaming down her face.


    "Young Madam, what happened?!" Yasmin quickly sat beside Carrie, fumbling for tissues to wipe her tears.


    "Yasmin..."


    Carrie could not stop crying. Her voice choked. "I''ve caused a lot of trouble for Ryan, right? Wouldn''t he be better off without me?" "Young Madam, please don''t think that way!"


    Yasmin did not know what had


    happened but immediately hugged Carrie,forting her with patience and warmth. “Mr. Hoffman loves you more than life itself. He couldn''t even live without you! Young


    eline


    Madam, promise me you won''t have such thoughts anymore. The happiest moments in his life are when he is with you. He would give up the entire Hoffman Group before giving you up!"