?Chapter 220:


    Her words snapped him back to the moment. He cast one final, lingering nce in Ste’s direction before turning away and heading for the stairs.


    Momentster, the lights in the hall dimmed, signaling the beginning of the engagement ceremony.


    A hush fell over the guests, every head turning toward the stage in anticipation of the couple’s entrance.


    Haley glided down from the second floor, her white gown shimmering under the lights, every inch the storybook princess. A bouquet of fresh roses rested in her arms as soft, enchanting music filled the air. Across the grand staircase, Marc appeared, looking every bit the devoted fiancé. Together, they created a picture-perfect scene. Marc approached her with steady hands, slipping the engagement ring onto her finger—a modest diamond that still sparkled in the spotlight. The moment the ring slid into ce, the room burst into cheerful apuse.


    Haley, always calcting, had made sure Ste sat front and center, forced to watch every second of her triumph. After the exchange, Haley stepped onto the stage, letting her gaze linger on Ste with a sly, victorious smile.


    “Standing here with Marc, I’ve never felt happier in my life,” she announced, her voice ringing out clear and proud. “We’ve weathered every storm and, in the end, chose each other above all else. Whatever happened before—it’s all in the past now.”


    Haley lifted her ss, urging everyone to celebrate, then slipped gracefully off the stage in search of Ste.


    “Ms. Gilbert, what’s your impression of the engagement party?” she asked, her voice syrupy sweet.


    Ste turned her head, regarding Haley as if thetter were some sort of sideshow act. “It’s not bad. Pretty extravagant,” she replied, her tone deliberately casual.


    Haley rolled her eyes, unimpressed by Ste’sckluster answer. “Marc loves me now, you know. Did you see his face when he slipped the ring on? He was glowing.”


    Ste marveled at Haley’s shameless bravado. Where did she even get the nerve?


    “Sure, he looked happy,” Ste remarked, barely disguising her boredom.


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    Haley’s expression tightened, a flicker of annoyance betraying her poise. “Ste, what’s that supposed to mean?”


    “I’m just agreeing with you,” Ste replied, feigning innocence with a slow blink. “Isn’t that enough?”


    Haley’s face twisted with fury for a split second, but she recovered fast, tossing her hair back with an icy smile. “Oh, please. I know you’re seething with jealousy. Sure, Marc was married before, but in that rtionship, he was the one who suffered.”


    His ex-wife only ever cared about money and climbing the socialdder—and if that wasn’t enough, she even slept with another man during their marriage. That’s the kind of person she was. Absolutely shameless.”


    Haley’s voice rang out, loud and clear, making sure every guest within earshot caught every word.


    A murmur of interest rippled through the crowd. “Marc’s ex-wife really did all that? Hard to believe!”


    “If that’s the case, Marc is quite pitiful. But didn’t that woman just vanish one day?”


    The mention of Ste’s disappearance left Haley almost giddy with satisfaction. She turned to Ste, her eyes glinting. “Ms. Gilbert, you might be the spitting image of Marc’s ex-wife, but you’re definitely not her. It’s no shock a woman with that kind of reputation just vanished—maybe she’s dead for all we know. People like that always end up getting what they deserve, don’t you think, Ms. Gilbert?”


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