In a swift motion, everyone got back to what they were doing, well not everyone. Everyone except Austin and his friend.


    Oh and his dad also, had a huge smile on his face, if he goes any further, I’m scared his face might tear apart.


    How can such a nice man have such an arrogant son? Maybe he wasn’t always nice, you’d never know. “Hey, are you okay?” Jake asked, only then I knew I had been holding my breath.


    “Yeah, yeah. I’m good.” I said trying to catch a breath. He nodded. We walked towards where Austin and his crew were. I watched awkwardly as Jake shook and hugs his friends.


    Most of them shook hands with me. I remembered two of them, the ones from the party I had attended a while ago– Carson and Dave.


    They had a smirk on their faces, they sure do smirk a lot, I was trying to figure out why they were smirking but couldn’te up with an idea. “Well, Miss Carl, it’s a pleasure to meet you again… With Jake, you two are splendid too -” someone cut him off.


    “Babyyy!” I heard the annoying voice of Austin’s girlfriend. I don’t know why but I find her really annoying, how does Austin even put up with her? It’s none of my business!


    She ces kisses practically all over his face. Eww. I wasn’t even the one she was kissing and I found it disgusting. I threw an at Carson and Dave’s faces to see they also have the disgusted look on their faces. I mean, who wouldn’t find that disgusting?


    You’re just jealous. My subconsciousness said I wanted tough at that. I have no reason to be jealous.


    Keep telling yourself that.


    “Daddy, wants us to be at the table.” She said pointing at a table, I noticed Austin’s father sat on one of the chairs and next to him was ady, probably his wife.


    They were smiling at each other like love birds and opposite them was another couple. They were all smiling and talking to each other.


    Austin just nodded his head. “Oooh, Tessa! I thought you’d nevere! But I’m so d you did!” She said. I eyed her suspiciously.


    She was wearing a long silver thin strap gown, her chest was on full disy, and on her neck also, was a silver ne. She wore silver matching shoes and oh, silver earrings etc. As much as I hate to admit it, she looks really good and expensive.


    And the fact that those are real silver…


    She probably spent millions of dors on it. I’m not surprised. She got closer to me, giving me a hug. I have a feeling she’s faking this.


    I could swear when she walked here, she scowled at me. Her obviously expensive perfume filled my nose.


    “Thank you?” I said, well it was more of a question as I didn’t know what to say. She released me and I couldn’t be any happier.


    “Oh, and who is this cutie? Your child? Who is the father? I mean, I won’t be surprised if she’s a bastard, poor girl, she has to grow wit-”C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    “Loren..” Dave tried to say, but she cuts him off. “What? The truth has to be said.”


    I really wanted to hit her, so bad. How dare she call my child a bastard? I gritted my teeth, bringing Anne closer to me.


    “Like I was saying… Poor girl, she has to grow up with a whor -”


    “Loren stop,” Jake said. She rolled her eyes. “Okay fine! Come, baby.” She said pulling Austin away. I watched them walk towards where his parents were.


    I don’t think I’ve hated anydy as much as I hate her. “I wouldn’t let her get to me if I were you, Tessa.” I heard Dave say.


    “Yeah, she’s always been like that, saying stuff to make people feel bad. Don’t let her get to you.” Carson said. For the first time, I feltfortable around Dave and Carson, it almost seems as if they care.


    I looked at Jake who was giving me an ‘it’s okay’ smile. I smiled back. The three friends went on discussing themselves. I stood there awkwardly, silently praying the engagement wouldmence soon so I could get out of here.


    It felt like someone was watching me. I subconsciously looked everywhere until my eyesnded on Austin. He quickly looked away. He’s been staring?


    Or it was just my eyes malfunctioning?


    “Tessa!” I heard a female voice squeal. Gwh. “I kept looking everywhere for you but couldn’t find you, I thought you hadn’te!” She said putting her hands around me for a hug.


    I’m not surprised she couldn’t find me because the ce is really huge. “And who is this cutie?” She said bending down to the level Anne.


    “She’s my daughter, Anne.”


    “You’re so cute!” She said ying with Anne.


    “I’m Gwh and you’re Anne, right?” Anne nodded her head giggling. She stood up to face me. “She’s so cute, I bet she’s going to grow up beautiful, just like her mom.” She said. I smiled at her.


    Everyone was suddenly quiet. We looked forward curiously to see the exchange of rings was about tomence. Everybody walked closer towards them, I followed behind Gwh with Anne in my arms.


    I watched as Loren basically unts herself. “You know? That gown costs 3 million dors.” I heard somebody whispering while pointing at Loren.


    Gwh must have heard it too as she said to me, “don’t be surprised, after all, she’s getting engaged to a multi-billionaire family and her parents her also multi-billionaires. Do you know theirpanyes third after the King’s enterprise?” She asked.


    That’s probably why she acts like a bitch, pardon mynguage, but I really hate her.


    Again, you’re just jealous.


    Shut up.


    From what I know, The King enterprise is the leading in business, theirpanies are basically on the no. 1 spot.


    “Her parent’spany is worth over a 200billion dors.” Gwh continued whispering to me. She really is one luckydy. I noticed rich people are really arrogant.


    Well, not all rich people. Jake, for example, came from a really rich family, he’s the second son of the third richest man. And has a lot to inherit.


    You must be wondering why he works under the King’s enterprise, well he doesn’t have a really good rtionship with his older brother.


    He wants nothing to do with him,  so he stopped working in his father’spany. However, his dad is currently working on sharing hispanies and properties equally between his two sons.


    You could say he’s working at the King’s enterprise out of modesty and also because Austin’s dad wanted him to.


    “… and on no. 1 spot is the Kings enterprises, it’s worth over 500billion dors. Austin’s dad recently retired, giving thepany over to Austin, who is doing really good.” She said. What’s up with rich people? I wish there weren’t rich people in this world.


    The couple stood a few inches away from each other. While Loren was watching and adoring Austin, it almost looked like he didn’t want to be there.


    A man walked towards them with something that looked like a small pillow. I noticed two rings on it. Those must cost a lot.


    Why am I even bothering about this?


    My eyes moved from the man to Austin. I could swear I saw his eyes on me. Loren must have noticed this as she looked away from Austin to re at me.


    She looked back at Austin with a soft smile, just then, soft music began ying in the background and then it was time to exchange rings.


    For some reason, I didn’t like this part.


    Everyone’s eyes were on them. I watched Austin take a ring from the pillow. Loren stretched out her hand, a huge smile on her face.


    It was like everything was in slow motion. He was about to put the ring on her hand, but it fell off his and rolled down, towards my direction.


    At a point, I thought it was going to roll past me, but it didn’t,  instead, it stopped in front of me. My breath hitched.


    Everyone’s eyes were on me. I looked down at it nervously. What was I going to do? Pick it up? I noticed no one did anything so I stooped down to pick up the ring. I slowly walked towards where the couple was.


    I gulped giving the ring back to Austin. I noticed the death re Loren was shooting at me. What did I do for her to re at me right now?


    Jeez.


    I stepped back to where the crowd stood and watched them exchange the rings. Everyone cheered. “Oh my god, are you okay? You look pale.” Gwh said walking towards me. I nodded my head.


    Jake, Dave and Carson walked toward us. Jake ced a hand on my shoulder. “Are you really?” He asked. I nodded my head.


    I noticed Gwh blushing, she threw a quick nce at Dave before quickly looking away, her face was red as a tomato. Dave must have noticed as he smirked at her, giving her a quick look.


    “I can’t believe he’s actually thinking of getting married to her, I heard they’ve ced a wedding date already,” Carson said, his eyes on Austin and Loren.


    Loren was busy trying to kiss Austin on the lips, but he isn’t having it. I’m starting to think he doesn’t actually like her.


    Of course, he does! Why would he want to marry ady he doesn’t love?


    He loves her. I just hurt myself for thinking that. Jesus, why would such a thing hurt me? I hate Austin.


    Lies.


    “He’s probably going to get a divorce after the honeymoon,” Dave said shaking his head.


    “I really don’t know how he stands for her, I can’t bear to be around her,” Jake said. At least I’m not the only one who hates her.


    I noticed blooding out of Gwh’s nose. I gasped. “Oh my god! Gwh are you okay?” I asked she nodded her head trying to clean the blood from her nose.


    “You might stain yourself if you keep doing that, here,” Dave said giving her his pocket-handkerchief. I think he was going to say something else but Austin suddenly walked toward us. My breath hitched. My heart suddenly beats faster.


    Calm down. Calm down.


    “Congrats man,” Dave said giving him a bro hug like he hadn’t said anything against his fiance a minute ago. They exchanged bro greetings and then got on with talking.


    I just stood there awkwardly.


    “Hey, I’d be back in 30mins.” I suddenly heard Jake’s voice in my ear. When did he get next to me? I nodded my head and watched them walk away, leaving me, Gwh and Anne.


    “Do you guys want something?”


    “Yes!” Anne squealed. She was suddenly hyped. She just wants food. “Of course, I’d be here with Anne,” Gwh said sitting down on a chair, she ced Anne on herp.


    I quickly left to go get something. A few metres away from where Gwh was, I copsed with someone. I almost fell but whoever the person was, he caught me.


    The scent of the person was very familiar. I looked up to see Austin. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I was… I was..”


    “It’s okay.” He said. Did he just say ‘it’s okay and not insult me? I looked at him again, just to be sure he is Austin Kings, the arrogant boss.


    It was him.


    Maybe he’s pulling a prank?


    Austin Kings doesn’t pull pranks!


    “I’m sorry, I really am,” I said. I know he said it was okay, but you could never predict with Austin.


    He seems to be out of breath. “Just watch where you’re going, next time.” He said. To say I was taken aback was an understatement.


    “Uh. Thank you?” I said.


    “Question, d-” he was about to ask something, I think.


    “Babyyy.” I heard the annoying voice of Loren. I cringed. How does she not find what she’s doing embarrassing?


    “I was looking everywhere for you, Mr Casey is already here.” She said. Austin must have been expecting whoever this Mr Casey is as he walked away.


    She dragged me into a not really closed room before I could protest.


    “I’m going to warn you, Tessa, stay away from my man. You’d really not want to know what I’d do to you next time I see you, looking at him like the way you just did, go find your own man, you wore, I thought you were with Jake..” She hissed. But didn’t know what gave me the courage to cut her off.


    “You love him and he loves you, right? It’s funny after all those ims, you still don’t trust him-”


    “Shut up!” She hissed cutting him off. “Don’t try to act all brave your pussy, I know you have something for my man, I’d a-”


    “You’re the one being a pussy here, obviously.” I wanted to hit her so badly, she’s insulted me enough, but for who she was, I couldn’t.


    “I can ruin you with the snap of a finger, Tessa Carl. Don’t push me.” She said pointing a warning finger at me.


    “Push you? Why would I do that? I don’t even know why I’m wasting my time on you.” I said trying to walk past her to go out of wherever we were. Her face turned red in anger.


    She grabbed me by my hair pulling me back. I winced at how tight it was. I struggled to try to get out of her grip.


    “Do you know who the fuck I am?” She sounds pathetic, even in the position she was in. “I won’t think twice about destroying you, not even Jake would be able to save you..” She said through gritted teeth.


    I couldn’t see her face, but I bet it’s a bit red. “First, I would start with your stupid child of a bastard!” She sneered. I struggled harder and got her to release me. Giving her a sounding p, she squealed like she’s never been hit in her life.


    I bet she’s never been.


    “How dare you?!” She said attacking me. Howe no one has seen what was going on? She dragged you into a room remember? Oh yeah… How did I allow her to do that?


    She stepped on my gown. It made a ripped noise. She tore it! I pushed her away from me, trying to cover my exposed legs, I panicked. This is not good!


    Sheughed at me. “Pathetic. I was thinking of actually letting you be, but after this, I’m not going to, so watch out!” She hissed. I watched her as she arranged herself before whipping around and walking away.


    I tried to stop myself from crying, but I couldn’t. How am I even going to get help? I can’t walk out there looking like this… In my underwear.


    I hope a miracle would just happen and Gwh woulde right now. Suddenly, I heard someone stumbling in here. The footsteps became louder.


    Just then, a figure was in front of me, I looked up to see a familiar man. He seems drunk, a bottle of wine in his armpit. He must have noticed me as his eyes widened.


    He was the man who almost ruined my life. The man my aunt wanted me to get married to before Jake saved me.


    What was he doing here? Does Austin know him? Or Loren.


    “You.” He hissed. He snapped his fingers and suddenly, there were men in suits everywhere. I panicked.


    .


    .


    .


    ….