The Florist's Dominance

Chapter 2

All eyes now turned to Zak, as if they were waiting for the most romantic scene at the end of their college years.

Zak handed his bouquet to Elysia, ignoring Adrian who was extending the ring box toward her. "Congratulations on being the best graduate."

One of Elysia's friends said, "Zak, I didn't expect you to be this romantic! Using a surprise performance and everything!"

"We didn't know you were this serious about Elysia!"

Zak glanced briefly at Adrian, then looked back at Elysia who seemed confused.

Elysia asked nervously, "D-Did you put on this show, Zak?"

Zak's face lifted as he answered confidently, "Who else do you think it was?"

He then extended his hand. "Will you marry me, Elysia?"

"If you agree, we can go to the jewelry store right now and you can pick any ring they sell in Vecredal."

Elysia's friends cheered.

"Say yes, Elysia!"

"Opportunities like this don't come twice!"

"Oh my god, Elysia is really making every girl on campus jealous!"

"What are you waiting for, Elysia? Answer!"

Adrian gripped his ring box. "Zak, what the hell are you doing? Elysia is my girlfriend! I'm the one proposing to her right now!"

"Look! I already brought my ring in front of her!"

Zak answered cynically, "Proposing with what?"

"A fake diamond ring?"

"I could bring a whole truckload of rings like that for Elysia."

Elysia's friends laughed.

Adrian turned to Elysia. Even though she wasn't laughing, she wasn't saying anything either. Instead, her face grew redder because she thought Adrian was boasting in front of so many people.

Adrian ignored Zak's words and said, "Ignore him. This ring is real and I can show you the certificate."

Zak spoke again with a condescending tone, "Even if that ring is real, do you see Elysia interested in you or believing you right now?"

He laughed cynically.

"If it weren't for the fact that you have a face similar to the late Alistair, I'm sure Elysia would never have glanced at you at all!"

At that moment, in the minds of Elysia's friends who had known her since high school, a tall figure appeared. A handsome man with black eyes, a sharp nose, a strong jaw exactly like Adrian.

He was Alistair Rios, Elysia's ex-boyfriend who had died four years ago. And he was also a man from one of the three most influential families in Vecredal.

The only physical difference between Adrian and Alistair was that Alistair Rios had dyed his black hair brown.

Zak stated sharply, "All this time she's been nice to you because she hasn't been able to move on!"

"You're just her rebound! Her fantasy fulfillment!"

"Someday when she realizes you're not like Alistair and never will be like Alistair, she'll throw you away!"

Zak's words hit like a thunderbolt on a bright sunny day. Elysia didn't say anything, but her hands clenched tightly and her eyes welled up with tears.

Zak continued his speech, "Besides, you're not equal to her and you can never make a worthy contribution to Elysia's future!"

"Do you see Elysia's AEON project succeeding and getting nominated for VIT?"

"Do you think that's because of your contribution?"

Elysia's friends nodded in agreement.

"Yes, Adrian is just a parasite on Elysia!"

"He can copy his ex-boyfriend's face, but he can't copy his bank account!"

"You're right! What's the use of a handsome face if you're poor?"

"He doesn't even have the shame to take credit for Zak's romantic gesture!"

Adrian answered confidently, "I know Elys isn't that shallow when it comes to seeing me."

"And I never copied anyone's face!"

Zak laughed loudly. "Shallow? She's not shallow, she's realistic!"

"With her common sense, she'll eventually choose a man who can actually contribute to her future!"

Adrian replied indifferently, "What do you know about my contribution to Elys?"

He turned to Elysia, then stated, "Elys, listen, I haven't been idle since you started AEON, not even until now."

One of Elysia's friends scoffed, "Anyone can talk, idiot!"

Adrian's hands clenched tightly.

"If I told you what my contribution was, would you even believe me?"

Unfortunately, by then everyone had already labeled Adrian a liar and didn't believe a word he said.

Finally Elysia shouted, "Enough!"

Everyone fell silent, their eyes now on Elysia.

Still with a red face, she spoke, "Ad, I can't believe you'd be so shameless as to boast in front of so many people!"

"It turns out I've misjudged you all this time!"

Adrian lowered his voice. "Elys, don't be fooled by their words!"

"They don't understand us at all!"

Adrian reached out to take Elysia's hand. But before he could touch her, Elysia pulled her hand away.

She declared, "Enough of this game, Ad. From now on, we're over!"

Adrian's eyes widened. "Elys, please don't joke like that!"

Elysia asked back, "Do I look like I'm joking here?"

"Elys, are you sure about your decision? And do you not value our time together at all?"

Elysia answered again, "Valuing the past doesn't mean I have to cloud my common sense by accepting a liar like you!"

"I'm not ly—"

Elysia cut Adrian off. "Enough! I don't want to hear it anymore!"

"Stop being ridiculous!"

"I don't need you or anyone else pretending to contribute to my life!"

"I can handle all my problems myself!"

Elysia started to leave, but Adrian held her hand. "If you really leave, you might regret it later."

She looked at him sharply. "Regret what? Leaving a liar?"

She pulled her hand away and left the crowd.