Seeing that Lu Chen still remained silent, a trace of unease crept onto Chu Fu's face. He forced a composed smile as he stepped forward, clasping his hands behind his back.
"Young Master Lu," he said carefully, "I know Chu Ming's words may have offended you, and for that, I apologize on his behalf. But surely… this isn't enough reason to break off the engagement, is it? Such a move would harm not only the Chu family's reputation, but also that of the Lu family."
His words were tactful, but there was a veiled pressure behind them — a reminder of what was at stake.
Lu Chen's eyes finally lifted, calm and unwavering. His voice was cold and precise.
"The proposal to break off the engagement did not come from me," he said. "It was your daughter who made that choice. I'm merely respecting her decision."
The room fell silent.
Chu Fu's expression darkened instantly. He turned toward Chu Ming, his face twisted with anger.
"Unfilial child!" he roared. "Is this how you treat your betrothed? Do you think this is a game?"
Chu Ming's face went pale. She clenched her fists tightly, glaring at Lu Chen with eyes full of resentment. Tears welled up and slid silently down her cheeks — not from guilt, but from humiliation and hatred.
Lu Chen, however, simply stood there — calm, unmoved, watching the scene as though it were a play staged for his amusement. A trace of satisfaction flickered in his gaze as the proud Chu family unraveled before him.
---
Chu Fu took a deep breath and stepped forward, trying to salvage what dignity he could. His expression softened, his tone now pleading with a hint of desperation.
"Young Master Lu," he began, "though Chu Ming may have spoken bluntly, it's clear you care deeply for her. You've always loved her, haven't you? Let's not let one moment of anger ruin everything. From today onward, you are still our son-in-law. Let the past be the past."
For a moment, the room held its breath.
Lu Chen looked at Chu Fu, eyes like still water—deep and unreadable. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he pulled a folded piece of paper from his robe and let it fall open in his hand.
"Chu Fu," he said coldly, "I didn't come here to beg for forgiveness… I came to end it."
He held up the document between two fingers, sharp and final.
"This is a letter of annulment. The engagement is over. All ties between us—cut. Please have your daughter sign it."
The paper fluttered as he held it out, and the silence in the room became deafening. The proud Chu family, once towering and arrogant, now stood stunned and speechless as the man they had once looked down upon severed the bond with ruthless grace.
---
Chu Fu's face twisted, his jaw clenched tight as he stared at the divorce letter in Lu Chen's hand. Humiliation and anger warred in his expression, but in the end, he could do nothing to stop it.
Grinding his teeth, he turned toward his daughter with a cold glare.
"Chu Ming," he growled, "sign it."
For a moment, everyone expected protest—tears, outrage, resistance.
But to their surprise, Chu Ming's eyes lit up with sudden joy. Her lips curled into a smile, as if she had been granted freedom.
Without hesitation, she stepped forward, snatched the paper from Lu Chen's hand, and signed her name in bold strokes.
"There," she said proudly, placing the letter back on the table. "I've signed it."
Her voice was calm, even smug—completely unaware that in her moment of defiance, she had severed the last thread that tied her to a man whose worth she would soon regret overlooking.
Lu Chen gave a faint smile, his gaze unreadable, as if watching a fool leap into a pit of her own making. He said nothing more, simply turned to leave—his steps steady, and his back tall and unshaken.