She Rejected Him—Then His Helicopter Arrive

CHAPTER 1 — The Proposal She Laughed At

"Please... marry me."

Adrian knelt before Vanessa with a diamond ring in his hands.

The ballroom fell quiet.

For two years, he had loved her without conditions. He believed the elegant charity dinner was the perfect place to begin their future.

Vanessa stared at him.

Then she laughed.

"Did you really think I would marry you?"

Adrian's expression collapsed.

Vanessa had spent two years introducing him as a hotel consultant. She never mentioned that he lived in a modest apartment or drove an old car.

That evening, surrounded by wealthy guests, she finally decided he embarrassed her.

"I'm sick of pretending you could ever give me the life I deserve."

Adrian closed the ring box.

Before he could stand, the ballroom doors opened.

A uniformed attendant entered and bowed beside him.

"Mr. Adrian, your helicopter is ready. The celebration is waiting for you."

Vanessa's smile disappeared.

"Your... helicopter?"

Through the open doors, a white-and-gold aircraft waited on the hotel's private landing pad.

Adrian rose slowly.

"It was meant to take us to my family's estate. They thought we were celebrating our engagement."

Vanessa reached for him.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"You never asked what I had. You only complained about what you thought I lacked."

Adrian walked toward the doors.

Vanessa's father, Martin Ashcroft, pushed through the guests.

He had spent six months negotiating with an anonymous investor who intended to save Ashcroft Hotels from bankruptcy.

Martin stared at Adrian in horror.

The investor's representative had always used the initials A.L.R.

Adrian's full legal name was Adrian Laurent-Reed.

He was the sole heir to Laurent International, a hotel and aviation empire worth billions.

Martin turned to his daughter.

"You don't understand what you've done."

Vanessa looked toward Adrian.

Her father gripped her arm.

"The man you just humiliated is supposed to buy our company tomorrow."