Dorothy knew this was Everett's final plea.
He had already swallowed his pride so many times, and she had trampled all over his dignity countless times. She didn’t want him to go through this anymore.
"Everett, stop asking." "Alright, I'll stop." He gave the officiant a nod, and the wedding commenced.
There were no guests, relatives, or friends. Aside from the officiant, it was just the two of them.
Dorothy couldn't bring herself to look at Everett's finely chiseled face or his fathomless eyes throughout the ceremony. She wanted it to end quickly.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtNot just the wedding, but all of it.
"The groom may now kiss the bride." The officiant completed his line, closed his eyes, and began to pray for them.
Everett's hands cradled her face as his warm lips drew near until there was no distance left between them.
The kiss lasted a long time.
So long that it nearly emptied Dorothy's lungs of all air.
Her brain, starved of oxygen, allowed him to continue kissing her until she heard Everett whisper in her ear.
"Dorothy, | hate you." Hate, was it? Yes, he had every right to.
Three years later, in a small town in Everglow City.
This place was about to be developed into a resort with a budget of two billion dollars, aiming to be the most luxurious leisure and entertainment venue in the northern cities.
Not only would it have a hot spring hotel, amusement facilities, and shopping malls, but it would also have a golf course, a horse ranch, and upscale restaurants.
Most of the original residents of the town had taken the compensation and moved away. Those who remained were packing up, except for one family who steadfastly refused to leave.
Because of this family, the company had already delayed a lot of work. The investors were quite dissatisfied and issued an ultimatum that this issue must be resolved within a week.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmDorothy glanced at the email on her phone, paused the car, and took a deep breath. She then put on the hard hat from the passenger seat, switched to flat shoes, and walked towards this stubborn family’s home.
This was her sixth visit. The first three times, she was coldly rejected, and the next two times were even worse when she was cursed at and driven away.
"Knock, knock." "Hello, is anyone home?" Dorothy knocked on the door and peered inside. She didn't see anyone, but she could certainly hear them cursing.
"Get lost! We're not moving! If you can, just bulldoze our house!" The same old lines.
"Please don't get angry. I'm here on behalf of East Star Enterprises to negotiate the compensation price for your land. We can discuss this matter peacefully.” "There's nothing to discuss! Unless you give us half million dollars, we're not moving!" Half million? Dorothy felt a headache coming on just hearing that number.
This house was barely over 50 square meters, and the surrounding neighbors received just over one hundred thousand dollars in compensation. Each of them had larger properties than this one. If they gave this family half million, wouldn't the others who had moved demand the same from East Star Enterprises? "Let's talk about this. Could you come out, please?" A middle-aged man finally agreed to come out.
He was fat, robust, and came out wearing a black sweatshirt. He was the kind of man you wouldn't want to mess with.
Seeing that the person who came was a young woman, he didn't take anything she said seriously. "Can you, on behalf of East Star Enterprises, promise me half million dollars?" "Sir, your land certificate states that your property is 53.85 square meters. At a compensation rate of fifteen hundred per square meter, you should receive 80,775 dollars. Our managers have said that they can round that up to an even one hundred thousand dollars. What do you think?" "Bullshit!"