Belated Love: Marrying the Billionaire

Today was the birthday of the eldest daughter of Brad Roland, chairman of Crown Group. Everyone knew that the Roland family had two daughters, the outstanding eldest daughter, Stella, and the unruly and willful younger daughter, Carina. The most favored one in the Roland family was Stella, whose birthday would be celebrated every year. There were many people coming. Most of them were business people with money, power, and interest, mostly young single rich men. Carina  didn't want to do anything except for eating and drinking, using food to ease her sadness. Her fiance, Steve, betrayed her, falling in love with her best friend, Violet.  This revelation plunged Carina into a profound abyss of despair for countless months as she grappled fiercely with the harshness of such a reality.  She couldn't comprehend why her fiance would suddenly fall for someone else after a decade of commitment.  In desperation, she wept, screamed, and even questioned them in tears. However, all she got from Steve was an insult, calling her a lunatic. Just as Carina was about to dodge, she was hit hard on the shoulder.  She staggered back two steps and held on to the wall before she could stand firm. There was a snap. The white diamond-covered handbag fell to the ground. The zipper was open, and the things inside were scattered all over the place. While rubbing her shoulders, Carina lowered her eyes and saw the diamond earrings at her feet. She felt that the earring was familiar at first sight. Just as she was about to pick them up, a person took the earring away first. Carina looked up and was stunned. "Violet?" The sight of her romantic rival immediately reminded Carina of Steve. Did Steve bring her here? The idea was denied by her as soon as it came up. Impossible. Steve protected Violet very well. Outsiders didn't know their relationship. He couldn't bring Violet here because Carina was here. Now, she was a vicious woman in Steve's eyes. Steve was afraid that she would bully Violet and Violet would suffer, so he wouldn't bring her here. While Carina was dazed, Violet had put all the things, including the earrings, into her bag and stood up with the bag. Then, she replied, "Stella invited me here." Only then did Carina remember that Stella and Violet were university alumni and close. It seemed reasonable for Stella to invite Violet over for her birthday. "You..." "I have something else to do and have to go." Just as Carina spoke, Violet ran away with her bag. Her footsteps hurried as if she had something really urgent. Carina looked at her back and didn't catch up. She wanted to talk to Violet, but not today. After coming out of the bathroom, Carina went back to the room and played games. As soon as the third round of the game started, there was a knock on the door. Carina was unlucky tonight and lost two games two times. She was upset. She put on her slippers and went to open the door angrily. It was the servant, Tracy. Seeing Carina's depressed look, Tracy didn't dare to stay any longer and finished her words quickly. "Ms. Stella Roland lost her earrings. Mrs. Roland asked me to come up and ask you. Did you see it?" Earrings? When Carina followed Tracy downstairs, Stella was sad because she had lost her earrings.  Michelle put her arm around her shoulders and comforted her softly.  When she looked up and saw Carina, she quickly asked, "Where are the earrings?" She was slightly questioning as if it was certain that Carina had taken the earrings. Carina casually glanced at the crowd and fixed her eyes on Violet, the only one who was in purple here. "Do you take them out yourself, or do I help you?" Violet's expression changed, and she exclaimed, "Ms. Carina Roland, what do you mean? Do you mean that I stole Stella's earrings?" Violet straightened her back, silently accusing Carina with the humiliation and vulnerability in her eyes. Her silence served as a protest like she was bullied. Steve took off his suit jacket and put it on Violet. Then, he took her hand and pulled her back, completely protecting her behind him. His face was etched with anger, and his sharp eyes were set on Carina. "Carina, don't go too far!" Carina stared closely at his hand holding Violet, frowning tightly and speechless. "Did I go too far? What did I do? I just told the truth, and she went through her bag and took off her clothes." Carina pointed to the bag on the ground and said, "I did see the earrings in her bag. I didn't lie. You can check the surveillance." However, Stella said the surveillance camera was broken yesterday and hadn't been fixed. Could it be so coincidental? "Carina, that's enough. Stop causing a scene and return the earrings to your sister." Steve held Violet's hand protectively. "Apologize to Violet, too." "Apologize to her?" Carina dragged out the last syllable while she snatched a champagne glass from a nearby young man and smashed it toward Steve, the glass shattering at his feet. After the smash, Carina tilted her head. "Sorry." Everyone was rendered speechless. The tension was palpable when Tracy ran over. She was holding a half-opened maroon wooden box with intricate carvings, revealing something green sitting in the box. She found the earrings tucked in the corner of Stella's room's sofa. The earrings were found, and Carina's suspicion cleared, but her gaze didn't waver from Steve. "Got that? It was because of Stella's own forgetfulness and not me stealing. Steve, did your brain go bad after you became a playboy? Do I even need to steal what I want?" She provocatively eyed Violet, calling her out by name. "Unlike Violet, I don't stoop so low as to steal men." As she spoke, she tilted her slender neck arrogantly. Violet paled at the mention of her stealing someone else's man, looking at Steve with distress evident in her tearful gaze. Steve soothingly patted her hand before turning to Carina. "You've had too much to drink." "I'm calling off the wedding with Steve. It's over," said Carina. Steve's head shot up. "What did you say? The wedding's off?" Steve assumed Carina was just saying that because she was mad again and scratched his head in annoyance. "Carina, please stop causing trouble." "You have no right to say that to me. You're the one who cheated, and you're the one who wouldn't call off the engagement for the sake of shares. Now get this straight; it's me who doesn't want you anymore!" After walking out, Carina immediately dialed a number. "I'd like to meet Mr. Adrian Lorenz to ask for his favor."