Chapter 2

The moment those words dropped, the entire room went pin-drop silent.

Chloe’s cousin was holding his phone up, practically shoving the camera right into our faces to film.

My dad let go of my arm and stepped forward.

"Out of the way."

Chloe’s dad didn't budge.

"Didn't I make myself clear? No wedding, no money. Return the cash, or nobody walks out of here today."

I looked at my fiancée.

She stood just a few feet away, clutching that diamond ring, looking frantic and anxious. Yet what came out of her mouth was:

"Ethan, stop being like this. Can't we just talk this out? It’s just a petty argument."

"You call this a petty argument?"

I stared at her.

She stared back, swallowed hard, and actually nodded.

Brandon rushed up from behind, clutching the ring he’d just ripped off his finger and holding it out toward me.

"Ethan, look, I took it off! It was really just a dumb joke from when we were kids. If you hate it that much, I'll never see her again, okay?"

Someone in the crowd whispered, "The guy already apologized, he should just let it go."

Chloe’s mom immediately seized on that. "Exactly! It was just a ring! Our families have been close since they were babies. Honestly, they were supposed to get married in the first place—your family just barged in!"

She caught herself halfway through and slammed her mouth shut.

But I heard every single word.

My mom heard it too.

"What did you just say?"

Chloe’s mom raised her chin, throwing all pretenses out the window. "So what if I said it? Chloe and Brandon are childhood sweethearts! Both families agreed on it years ago. If your son hadn't wormed his way in—"

"Then you should have told me earlier."

I threw the bridal bouquet hard onto the floor.

Petals scattered everywhere, red and white crushed across the stage.

"If you’d said so earlier, I wouldn't have had to come here and play the extra in your twisted play."

Chloe panicked, shoving her mother behind her and yelling at me, "Ethan! She's just talking out of anger, don't take it seriously!"

I didn't look at her. I kept my eyes on her mother.

"Ma'am, what you just said is true, isn't it?"

She looked away, refusing to answer.

Chloe’s cousin muttered under his breath from the side, "What a drama queen."

My dad shot him a cold glare, then turned back, calmly pulling his phone from his inside suit pocket.

"Twenty thousand dollars. I can transfer it right back to your account this second."

Chloe’s dad’s eyes lit up. He pulled out his phone, ready.

"Since we're returning everything," my dad continued, his voice steady, "you can return our pre-marital gifts as well."

His voice wasn't loud, but the whole ballroom went so quiet you could hear the hum of the central AC.

Chloe’s dad froze.

"What pre-marital gifts?"

My mom wiped the corner of her eye and sneered. "Playing dumb now? My son gave you fifty thousand in cash and bought a thirty-thousand-dollar car in her name. Add that up yourself."

Chloe’s mom turned pale.

My dad held his phone up.

"Either wire the money back right now, or I'm calling the police. Your choice."