My Boyfriend of Six Years Gave My Dowry to Another Girl Chapter 03

My Boyfriend of Six Years Gave My Dowry to Another Girl Chapter 03

Harlan was Crownshore’s most notorious playboy and a regular on Auremont’s members-only third floor.

As soon as I entered the lobby, a man in a black suit approached me.

“Ms. Wrenford.”

I nodded, and he stepped aside.

“Mr. Westcott asked me to escort you upstairs.”

I followed him upstairs. Auremont was loud and crowded, full of clinking glasses and groups pressed close together.

The private lounge upstairs was even livelier.

Harlan sat in the center with a drink in his hand, surrounded by several beautiful young women. One massaged his shoulders while another topped off his glass.

When he saw me, he raised a hand.

“You made it?”

One of the women beside him pouted.

“Harlan, how many more women are you bringing in here tonight?”

Harlan paused, then laughed.

“Careful. That came out wrong. They had no idea, so don’t be mad at them.”

He pointed at me.

“This is my fiancée.”

The entire lounge fell silent.

The women immediately sat up straight. The one closest to him hurriedly scooted away.

Harlan chuckled.

“Where are you all going? Relax.”

The smile vanished from the woman’s face.

“Harlan…”

They looked at me and started apologizing all at once.

I waved them off.

“Relax. This engagement is about a minute old.”

Harlan checked the time.

“That’s true.”

The woman glared at him, grabbed her purse, and left. The others exchanged looks before following her out.

I watched them leave, unbothered.

Anyone who moved in Crownshore’s social circles knew exactly what kind of man Harlan was. He was a notorious playboy who had been raising hell since his teens.

He poured me a drink and gestured for me to sit.

“Don’t look at me like that. I was single until tonight. I was just socializing.”

I smiled and tugged at his lipstick-stained collar.

“Looks like your socializing left a mark.”

Harlan laughed, but his expression quickly turned serious.

“All right. Let’s get down to business.”

His phone lit up on the coffee table. He was in Brennan’s group chat too, and the messages were still pouring in.

“I saw the messages. Is Brennan really getting married?”

I looked up at him.

“Yeah.”

“How long has he known her?”

I took a sip of my drink.

“One day.”

Harlan nearly choked.

“How long?”

“One day.”

He stared at me for several seconds, then gave me a thumbs-up.

“Impressive.”

I didn’t feel like repeating every ugly thing Brennan had said, so I gave Harlan the short version.

We’d broken up over the wedding fund. Brennan planned to spend the entire twenty thousand dollars on Lennox, then told me to try Harlan instead.

The smile on Harlan’s face faded.

“He told you to come to me?”

“Yeah.”

“Those exact words?”

I took a sip of water.

“He said you were rich and told me to see what you’d offer.”

Harlan looked me over.

“Does he know how our families are connected?”

“No.”

He studied me for another two seconds before suddenly laughing.

“All right. If he’s going to hand me the opportunity, I won’t waste it.”

I looked up at him.

“I didn’t come here to get back at him.”

Harlan set down his glass.

“Of course I know. My dad tried to set us up years ago. Before he could bring both families together, you started dating Brennan.”

The Wrenfords and Westcotts had been Crownshore’s two most powerful business families for years. Our companies cooperated in some industries and competed in others.

Since Harlan and I were both only children, a marriage between us had always been the safest move for both families.

I knew it, and so did he.

Harlan took out several documents and slid them across the table one at a time.

Some covered Westcott Group shares that would be transferred to me. Others dealt with several properties and upcoming joint projects between our companies.

The final document was a prenuptial agreement.

I skimmed through it. Every foreseeable issue was covered, and the financial interests of both sides after marriage had been divided with remarkable precision.

These documents couldn’t have been drafted in a single day.

I closed the agreement.

“You put this together fast.”

Harlan leaned back against the couch.

“I didn’t put them together. I called Dad before I came. When I told him what happened, he laughed for three full minutes.”

Harlan held up three fingers.

“I’m serious. Three minutes. That’s not an exaggeration.”

His expression made me laugh too.

I was nearing the final page when a thought occurred to me.

“I haven’t even told my parents yet. I don’t know what they planned to give us when I got married.”

Harlan casually swirled his drink.

“Doesn’t matter.”

He offered me a pen.

“Sign this first so it’s settled. We’ll settle everything else later.”

I didn’t take it.

“You trust me that much?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Harlan met my eyes.

“Maren, a marriage between our families was never about one of us taking advantage of the other. It benefits everyone.”

I smiled bitterly.

Only a few hours ago, Brennan had held up twenty thousand dollars and asked whether I was willing to lower my price.

Now several contracts lay in front of me, and the legal fees alone probably cost more than that.

Harlan checked his watch.

“Besides, judging by the time, Dad should already be at your parents’ house.”

I took the pen and signed my name on the final page.