Page 3 of The Rancher's Unloved Wife

I've never seen 'ornate' done so tastefully!

The way they've woven red silk in every room is impressive!

And those Oriental lanterns, oh my!

To the whole of San Antonio, their penthouse apartment was a visual celebration of their Chinese-American heritage.

But to Summerine, it was nothing but her gilded prison.

And the only way to escape it...wasthat.

Everyone in the living room tensed at the sound of their front door opening and their butler showing their visitor in.

George suddenly gestured to Summerine. "Is it new?" he asked his wife under his breath.

"It's for an upcoming season. It hasn't even been released."

"Won't make a difference if he doesn't know that."

"Oh, he'll know," his wife said with confidence. "Once their engagement photos are released, the press won't be able to stop talking about it. This dress cost us many,manyfavors."

Summerine was used to her parents discussing her as if she wasn't there, mostly over their disappointment with the way she looked or didn't look. The way she talked or didn't talk.Et cetera, et cetera.

But what she wasn't used to at all was howbusiness-likethey sounded. It was as if all she was to them was an asset to sell to the highest bidder, and maybe...

Maybe that was the only reason they even had a child in the first place?

Their butler walked in, and Summerine's heart started pounding.

"Mr. Ryu Harcourt, sir."

She cast her gaze down without knowing why, and her world threatened to spiral as she listened to her parents welcome their visitor like he was a member of royalty.

What do I do?

It was one thing to disobey her parents for the first time in her life. But to do so in front of a stranger?

"And may I present to you our lovely daughter?"

Countless fears invaded her mind upon hearing George introduce her. She could only think oftwotypes of men who would see nothing wrong with buying himself a bride.

A dirtyoldman with more money than morals.

Or—-

A dirtyyoungerman,also with more money than morals.

"Summerine?"

She tried to lift her gaze, but the thought of spending the rest of her life had Summerine's throat closing up.

It almost...it almost seemed...as if she was about...to...faint.

Now or Never, Pt. 2.

I MEAN IT THIS TIME,Summerine swore as she made eye contact with her reflection. She was dressed in a bridal gown that its designer intended to launch in the upcomingFashion Weekin Paris. It was an intricate creation of silk and lace flowers, and it was just so wonderfully made that it even created a magnificent illusion of Summerine possessing a lovely semblance of cleavage.

But even so.

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