<h4>Chapter 46: Briena’s Pitiful Act</h4>


    That same evening, Briena and her mother, ra, arrived at a private room in one of the high-end hotels, where they had arranged a dinner with Ivan and his mother, Amelia. The purpose was to rify the recent incident that had negatively impacted Briena’s image.


    "Mother, what if Ivan breaks off the engagement with me?" Briena’s voice trembled, her face sad, eyes moist with unshed tears.


    "It won’t happen," ra assured her, her tone firm. "I’ve already spoken to his mother. Your grandmother has ordered the clearing of all those news stories, and she’s even offered a new project contract to the Browns. With the power we hold, they have no choice but toply."


    "But Natalie... she’s not going to stop. I’m sure she’ll continue to create problems for me. She won’t ept seeing me with Ivan. What if she plots something again? She’s there living with her husband, and here I am..." Briena choked on her words, tears spilling from her eyes.


    "Oh, my poor baby!" ra cooed, wiping away her daughter’s tears. "Don’t worry, I have a n that will destroy her life once and for all. After this, not only Ivan but even her husband will throw her away. No one will want her, except maybe some beggar on the roadside."


    Briena’s teary, sad eyes suddenly lit up with hope and a flicker of malice. "What do you n, Mother?"


    "There’s a new drug I’ve acquired," ra whispered conspiratorially. "Once we make her take it, her life will be ruined."


    Briena was delighted to see her pitiful act had worked perfectly on her mother. "How are we going to give it to her?"


    "Soon, there will be a wedding anniversary celebration for your grandparents. Your father and I are nning a grand party in their honor. That event, filled with many guests, will be her downfall." Wicked smirk ying on her lips. "Her scandal will ruin her life, unlike her mother, who managed to find her way into Jay’s life."


    "You are truly great, Mother," Briena praised, her earlier despair reced with admiration.


    "Don’t let those tears dry up just yet," ra advised. "You need to maintain a sad and hurt image to calm Ivan down."


    Just then, the door opened, and Ivan and his mother, Amelia, entered the room. As instructed, Briena quickly adopted a sorrowful expression, her moist eyes lowered in a disy of guilt and remorse.


    "Amelia," ra greeted warmly, standing up with a bright smile, "I’m so d you could find the time toe here."


    Amelia returned the smile, equally pleasant. "Why wouldn’t I be here? I wanted to meet my daughter-inw and check if she’s alright after what that cunning Natalie did to her."


    Hearing this, both ra and Briena felt a wave of relief, reassured that the marriage between Briena and Ivan was not in trouble.


    ra nced at Ivan, whose expression remained quiet and unreadable, a stark contrast to his mother’s. It worried ra, but she kept herposure and said, "Ivan, it’s good to see you. Please, both of you, have a seat."


    They all sat around the circr table, with Ivan eventually taking a seat beside Briena. She finally lifted her gaze, looking at him with a soft "Hello, Ivan," before addressing his mother. "Hello, Aunty."


    Amelia noticed Briena’s red, swollen eyes and asked, "What happened to your eyes? Have you been crying?"


    Briena pressed her lips together and stayed quiet, her head lowered, while ra took over. "After what Natalie plotted against her, Briena has been inconsble. She didn’t mean what she said in that video. She was just trying to provoke Natalie, hoping to teach her a lesson for embarrassing our family and now living happily with the man she married after hurting Ivan."


    "Really? She’s living with her husband?" Amelia almost eximed.


    "Yes," ra confirmed. "My father-inw even visited her home, and they seem to be having a great time while we’re left to deal with the embarrassment in front of the entire world." ra gently ced a hand over her daughter’s, adding, "Briena simply couldn’t stand Natalie’s smugness and wanted to punish her on Ivan’s behalf. But Natalie is too clever for anyone to easily handle."


    Amelia’s expression darkened with anger. "She humiliated my son by toying with him, and now she has the nerve to live happily with another man? What a wretch!" She turned to Ivan. "Trust me, I’m relieved you didn’t marry her. Do you see her true colors now?"


    Briena finally spoke, her voice soft and full of remorse. "Ivan, Aunty, I’m so sorry for embarrassing you both. I just wanted Natalie to feel the humiliation she made Ivan endure on their wedding day. What greater humiliation for a man can there be than discovering that the woman he trusted and loved had already betrayed and cheated on him? I know Ivan must be greatly hurt that day."


    Ivan clenched his fists under the table, seething with anger at the thought that Natalie was now living with her husband. She had yed him well, and the betrayal stung deeply.


    "Ivan, Briena is speaking to you," Amelia nudged him gently. "Look at how sad she looks. This is all because of Natalie—she’s taken the peace from our lives."


    Ivan looked at Briena who looked at him with her. Her small beautiful face was so innocent and pitiful that it would evoke protective instincts of any man.


    "Don’t worry about what happened," he finally said, his voice steady. "Just stay away from her from now on, and don’t try to do anything on your own."


    Briena nodded lightly, her voice soft. "Thank you, Ivan."


    "Why don’t you go and stand on the balcony until the food arrives? Some fresh air might help you feel better," ra suggested to her daughter.


    Briena nodded again and excused herself, heading to the balcony attached to the private room. It was beautifully decorated with nts, soft lighting, and offered a stunning view of the city.


    "Ivan, go console her," Amelia urged. "She did all that because she was angry at Natalie for what she did to you. Briena loves you."


    Ivan nced at the balcony, where Briena stood quietly, her posture giving away her sadness and loneliness. Here was Briena who was ready to do anything for him and Natalie, she never even showed any emotions towards him, but betrayed him. He stood up and walked over to her, positioning himself beside her on the balcony.


    "You don’t have to feel bad. Everything will be alright," he said, noticing her discreetly wiping away her tears.


    Briena turned to him, her teary eyes making his heart ache for her. "Ivan..." she choked out before leaning into him, hugging him tightly as she sobbed against his chest. "I just wanted to teach her a simple lesson for hurting you. But..."


    Ivan wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "I know. Don’t cry."


    As he held her, Ivan felt his heart skip a beat. Her delicate, soft body pressed against his stirred something within him, a familiar feeling that he had experienced before, like when they were in the parking lot. He almost had an urge to kiss her. They were engaged so it should not be wrong right?