Chapter 2: Doomed to Misfortune

Aylin stayed in her dormitory until five in the afternoon before unplugging the USB drive from her computer and leaving.

She needed to take the USB drive to Vintage, a clubhouse not far from the the University of Faypine, about a ten-minute walk.

As she walked, Aylin suddenly felt like someone was following her from behind. She quickly turned around and saw two suspicious-looking men.

One of them whispered, "It's her. Go for it!"

Aylin's gaze hardened at these words.

With people coming and going nearby, she didn't want to cause a scene here. It would attract too much attention. So she quickened her pace, then swiftly darted into a nearby alley.

The two men hurriedly chased after her, only to find the long alley was empty, without a trace of the girl.

They widened their eyes, wearing expressions of disbelief.

"No turns in the alley. Where did she go? How did she disappear so quickly?"

"It seems she's quite skilled. No wonder they sent the two of us. Let's go in and search."

They had thought it would be easy to handle a young girl, but they didn't expect her to be so smart. She vanished right before their eyes.

Failing to catch even a young girl was truly embarrassing for them.

Aylin easily shook off the two men and made her way onto another street, continuing towards Vintage.

However, it seemed that today was destined to be full of misfortune for her.

Just as she had escaped the two suspicious men, she ran into the entire Rodway family at Vintage's entrance.

Carmen Rodway noticed her first and spoke with an unfriendly tone, "What are you doing here? Who allowed you to come?"

Both of them attended the the University of Faypine but were in different departments. Carmen had never liked Aylin from the start.

When she found out that Aylin was her brother's fiancée, she became even more disgusted. Fortunately, their grandfather and parents didn't acknowledge this engagement. Otherwise, Carmen would have been sickened by it.

Today was Carmen's birthday, and her family and friends were celebrating with a birthday party.

She never expected Aylin to show up. This woman had such thick skin.

Everyone turned their gaze towards Aylin with disdain.

Aylin looked coldly at Carmen and said, "What? Is Vintage your family's business?"

At that moment, Jazmin Rodway walked over and scolded, "You really have no shame. You've followed us all the way here? Let me make this clear first, Aylin. We gave your family 500,000 dollars, and that favor has been repaid. As for your marriage with my son, the Rodway family will not acknowledge it. Kael will never marry a woman like you from a lower class. Give up on that idea. If Kael is going to marry someone, it will be a proper young lady from a suitable background, not someone of such low status!"

Aylin sneered, "Jazmin, I have no interest in your playboy son who is constantly making tabloid headlines. You're overthinking things."

"Then why are you here at my birthday banquet?" Carmen crossed her arms and mocked.

Vintage was known as Faypine's palace of luxury.Iit was a paradise for the wealthy. Aylin belonged to an ordinary class and couldn't afford to come here naturally. Carmen assumed Aylin had come looking for the Rodway family.

"But your presence is useless anyway. Kael is currently not in the country. You have no chance to seduce him."

Another elegantly dressed woman chimed in, "she's just insatiable! She just wants more money than 500,000 dollars. Marrying into the Rodway family could change her miserable fate and allow her to live as a wealthy person in Faypine. How could she bear to give up on this marriage?"

Carmen sneered, "The Rodway family doesn't want this kind of woman!"

Dwayne Rodway, Carmen's father, fumed. His face darkened as he glared at Aylin. He didn't expect her to be so clueless after he had humiliated her and kept her out before.

Dwayne turned to Tyree Rodway and said, "Dad, you go ahead inside. I'll handle this."

Today was his daughter's birthday. If Aylin caused trouble here, it would be embarrassing for the Rodway family.

Tyree didn't respond but walked up to Aylin instead. "Aylin, your father did me a favor back then when he asked for this marriage arrangement under those circumstances. I agreed only because I wanted him to rest in peace. However, I hope you understand that you are not suitable to be the wife of my grandson. But don't worry. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, feel free to come to me. I will help you."

He paused and lowered his voice. "But if you cause trouble here and embarrass the Rodway family, it won't benefit you at all."

Aylin felt disgusted and cast a cold glance at everyone present. "Can't any of you understand human language? Or do you have problems with your ears? I already said I went to visit you earlier to cancel the engagement, and running into you today is just a coincidence. I have no interest in marring into the Rodway family."

Her father had made an agreement with Tyree that when she turned twenty years old, she would marry into the Rodway family as their eldest grandson's wife.

She knew her father had good intentions and wanted her to have someone to rely on. However, she didn't want to get married or need protection from the Rodway family. That was why she hadn't interacted much with them during her time in Faypine these past few years.

This year, she had just turned twenty years old. A week ago when she went to see the Rodway family, she had intended to discuss calling off the engagement. However, they mistook her visit as an attempt to ask them to fulfill the agreement instead. Not only did they refuse to meet with her or let her inside their house but also subjected her to humiliation by their maids.

At that moment, she saw through the true nature of the Rodway family members.

As for that so-called 500,000 dollars, she had never seen it nor needed it.

The faces of those present turned dark upon hearing her words.

They certainly didn't believe that Aylin wasn't interested in the Rodway family's money. They thought Aylin was just hurt, putting on a tough front.

Dwayne snorted coldly, "That better be true! Aylin, if you behave yourself, I guarantee that you can stay in Faypine. But if you don't... Don't blame me for not considering our past relationship."

Tyree grew impatient. "Alright everyone, let's go inside."

She had something important to do now, so Aylin ignored these people and walked into Vintage.

"Stop!" Carmen caught up with her as she headed towards Vintage. "You dare walk inside? Don't you see you're not qualified? How much money do you have in your pocket? Is this a place where you can come?"

Aylin glanced at Carmen coldly and said with disdain,"Stay away from me!"

Carmen was about to say something else when suddenly a man approached them.

"Miss Lovelace, you've arrived." It was the manager of the clubhouse.

Aylin looked at him and replied curtly,"Mr.Vane."

Mr.Vane smiled slightly and politely invited her in."I've been waiting for you for quite some time now. Please come this way."

"Okay."

Seeing this scene unfold before them left Carmen stunned. Why did the manager of Vintage receive Aylin personally?

For a moment, everyone from the Rodway family wore different expressions on their faces as they realized Vintage had deep connections, connections that even extended to its manager.

The Rodway family weren't qualified enough for Mr.Vane himself to receive them, so how could Aylin manage it?

Carmen's face turned pale with anger."What is going on here?"

One of her friends stepped forward immediately."She must be here for work. I heard she has already started an internship. She probably needs money."

Jazmin walked up beside her daughter."Alright, today is your birthday. Don't waste time on her."

A girl without power, or connections, or parents coming to a place like this could only mean one thing. Jazmin assumed Aylin either wanted work here or was being kept by someone wealthy, so she didn't think much about it.

But Carmen remained unhappy. She held onto her mother's arm,"Mom can we please make Aylin leave the University of Faypine? I don't want to see her."