Carrie couldn't help but laugh.
Jeremy Milton's speech had been so self-righteous, so dripping with hypocrisy, that she couldn't help it. A bright, amused smile curved across her lips as she looked at the man standing in front of her.
In the novel, Jeremy Milton was nothing more than one of the heroine's countless devoted lapdogs.
Originally, Carrie had planned to leave the Norton household quickly and avoid wasting time arguing with someone like him.
But Jeremy was simply too hypocritical.
They had grown up together.
The original Carrie had always treated him well—going out of her way to secure resources for him whenever she could. In truth, most of her money had been spent on him.
He had looked down on her all the while… yet kept her dangling with sweet words and false affection.
And now that she had lost her value? He had stabbed her in the back without hesitation.
Suddenly, Carrie felt a dull ache in her chest.
A heavy, suffocating grief.
Is this… the original owner's resentment? Her heartbreak?
Carrie lowered her gaze for a moment.
Don't worry, she thought quietly. I'll settle this for you.
Then she raised her hand—
Smack!
Her palm landed hard across Jeremy's face.
"If your mouth stinks this badly," she said coolly, "maybe you should keep it shut. The Norton family raised me––so I owe them a debt of gratitude for molding me into a decent person. But you?"
Her eyes sharpened. "You're the last person here who has the right to speak so brazenly about anyone. For years, you enjoyed everything I gave you, yet you never showed me even a shred of kindness. What a truly ungrateful, heartless scum!"
She took a step closer, clenching her fists at her sides. "And don't forget—our engagement was officially registered with the Marriage Bureau. As long as I refuse to cancel it, the moment today passes… We become a legally married couple."
Her smile turned cold. "And once we're married, divorce isn't allowed within the first three months. And unless I agree to it... You'll never get rid of me."
The more she spoke, the less satisfied she felt.
So she raised her hand again.
Smack. Smack. Smack.
Several more crisp slaps rang out across the living room. Jeremy had been ready to dodge the moment she struck the first time.
But somehow... He still couldn't avoid the blows. He was slapped again and again.
He stared at Carrie in stunned disbelief.
How is this possible?
Wasn't she supposed to be a useless waste with no mental power and no abilities?
Jeremy himself possessed S-rank mental power and a fifth-tier fire ability.
How could he possibly fail to dodge her?
And more importantly, wasn't Carrie hopelessly in love with him?
Ever since childhood, she had adored him. How could she bring herself to slap him?
The woman standing in front of him felt like a stranger.
Was this really the same timid, submissive Carrie Swann who had once devoted herself completely to him?
No.
He quickly convinced himself otherwise.
She must simply be unable to accept reality yet.
But none of that mattered. What mattered most now was cutting ties with her completely.
After all, Emily Norton was now here. Beautiful, talented, and brilliant. She was the one who truly matched him.
Jeremy covered his burning cheek and shouted angrily, "Carrie Swann! I'll consider those slaps repayment for everything between us! I'm ordering you right now—terminate our engagement immediately! There is no way I would ever marry trash like you!"
Mrs. Norton had not expected this at all. The timid, cowardly Carrie she knew had actually struck back.
More than that—the entire aura around her seemed to have changed. She no longer looked weak.
But even so, that didn't change Mrs. Norton's decision. The Norton family had no place for useless people. Especially not someone who wasn't even her daughter.
Her face hardened.
"I'm ordering you to terminate your engagement with Jeremy immediately," Mrs. Norton said sharply.
"Take the fifty thousand star credits and leave the Norton family at once."
Emily sat quietly beside her. A gentle smile rested on her lips as she watched the scene unfold.
She said nothing. She simply waited. After all, she was the heroine. Everything she wanted would naturally be placed into her hands by others.
Carrie flexed her fingers and shook her hand lightly.
"Tsk. That face is surprisingly thick. My hand's already red from hitting it."
Although her abilities had only just awakened and were merely Tier One, she had survived the apocalypse.
Her combat experience alone was enough to handle trash like Jeremy with ease.
She slowly raised her hand and showed five fingers.
"Fifty million."
Her eyes landed lazily on Jeremy. "Jeremy Milton, I've spent far more than that on you over the years. The moment the money arrives, I'll cancel the engagement immediately."
Jeremy's face darkened. "Carrie, fifty million? Are you out of your mind? You think you're worth that?"
Mrs. Norton immediately pointed at her angrily. "Carrie, don't be ridiculous! I didn't even demand repayment for the twenty years I raised you. You should already be grateful. Where did you get the audacity to make such outrageous demands?"
Carrie didn't even look at Mrs. Norton.
Instead, she turned back to Jeremy with a bright, delighted smile.
"I can't believe it. We grew up together. We are childhood sweethearts." Her voice softened sweetly. "How could you possibly bear to abandon me?"