I'll Stand Tall While Your Clan Falls

Jerry's POV

The next instant, Lily struck me hard across the face.

"Jerry, what exactly are you trying to do? Are you really going to kick up a fuss over something so trivial? Have I been too lenient with you? If anything happens to Cecil, I'm going to make you pay!"

I looked at the undisguised reproach in her eyes and suddenly felt a tightness in my throat. All my years of devotion meant less to her than a single tantrum from Cecil.

Watching her leave, I picked up my phone and made a call.

"Send word down—terminate all cooperation with the Compton family, effectively immediately!"

No sooner had I arrived home than I saw Lily and her father, Hugh Compton, sitting in the living room.

"Jerry, what's this I hear about our cooperation being canceled?"

Expressionless, I took out the engagement token and placed it on the coffee table.

"It's not just the cooperation. Since you're both here, we might as well call off the engagement while we're at it."

Mr. Compton's vision went dark, and he nearly collapsed to the floor.

"T-the engagement is just days away. You can't make a rash decision at a time like this!"

I looked at Lily and let out a scornful snort.

"You've already got a handpicked son-in-law you've been grooming for her, so what do you need my family's business for?"

Mr. Compton's face stiffened. He turned to Lily and asked, "What is this about?"

Lily remained silent, and I let out a laugh.

"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? Then, allow me to say it. It's just that a certain someone has no sense of shame and got involved with her own uncle. Since they grew up together, why not just make him your son-in-law? You'd still all be family anyway."

Lily's face was the picture of indifference as she replied nonchalantly, "Jerry, what gives you the right to interfere in my life?"

Three years ago, she had begged me to help her retrieve her mother, Rosa Hudson's, keepsake. Lily, who had always been so proud, submitted for the very first time.

"Jerry, if you agree to help me, I'm willing to be with you."

Back then, her gaze was unyielding. When she looked at me, there wasn't the slightest trace of affection in them. Even after receiving my financial support, she still refused to get close to me.

"Jerry, what we have between us is only a business transaction. There are no feelings involved," she told me stiffly.

What an idiot I was. I actually believed that if I just put in enough effort, I could win her over.

In just three short years, Lily used my resources to turn her company—once on the verge of bankruptcy and liquidation—into a publicly listed corporation now worth tens of billions of dollars.

I finally understood now that feelings were just like the stock market—wishful thinking alone would never yield results.

After everything I'd given, there still wasn't even the smallest place for me in her heart.

"It's my failure as a father to have raised such a daughter! For the sake of all the years our family has served you, could you please give Lily just one more chance?"

As he spoke, Mr. Compton looked ready to drop to his knees before me.

"That's enough, Dad. I'll talk to him myself."

After she saw Mr. Compton out, she looked at me like I was her worst enemy.

"Jerry, did you really have to threaten my dad with the business partnership over something so trivial?"

"Threaten?" I laughed. She certainly had a talent for twisting the truth. "I must have been too lenient to you over the years. Have you forgotten the price of betraying me?"

She stumbled back a few steps, and just then her phone rang.

"Cecil, where are you?" Whatever was said on the other end made her shoot me a resentful glare. She ground her teeth and said, "Don't worry, I'd rather die than marry him! Just calm down first!"

After hanging up, she pulled out my family's engagement token and hurled it to the floor.

"Jerry, Cecil is about to drive his car off a cliff right now because of our engagement! If you still have any decency left, you'll get off our backs."