Chapter 2

The table lay in ruins, food and drinks scattered everywhere.

Everyone in the hall gasped, their eyes locking onto us.

Marcus stared at me, his face a mask of utter disbelief.

He probably never imagined that I, the girl who had always been gentle and submissive for the past six years, would do something so wild.

"Chloe! Are you out of your mind?"

"Today is our engagement party!"

I looked up, my eyes ice-cold as I swept a glance over him. Then, I let out a soft laugh.

"Oh, right. Our engagement party."

"Too bad. I don't feel like getting engaged anymore."

The moment those words left my mouth, Nora, who was standing right behind Marcus, swayed on her feet. It was as if she had just received a fatal blow.

She weakly grabbed Marcus's arm, her eyes instantly welling with tears.

"Chloe... sweetie... is it... is it because of me? Did I do something wrong?"

She bit her lower lip, her voice trembling as she sobbed.

"I... I really only came here today to give you guys my blessings."

With that pathetic, victimized look, she made me look like some kind of heartless monster.

I was too tired to play along with her little drama.

"Your blessings?"

"Tell me, Nora. What kind of sane person wears a literal funeral gown to someone else's celebration to offer 'blessings'?"

My question cut through the room like a knife. Instantly, every guest’s eyes zipped right to her.

Actually, the murmurs had started the second Nora walked in.

But she had ignored them completely, doing nothing but squeezing herself closer and closer to Marcus.

Under the harsh glare of the crowd, Marcus's face turned a violent shade of crimson.

He instinctively stepped in front of Nora to shield her.

"Chloe! Stop making a scene!"

He lowered his voice, his tone laced with a harsh warning.

"I already told you, Nora’s baby boy just passed away! She is absolutely devastated right now!"

"You should show some empathy!"

Hearing the word "baby boy," the surrounding guests gasped in understanding.

"Oh... so she lost her son. That’s heartbreaking."

"Yeah, her own child just passed, yet she still forced herself to attend her friend’s engagement. That is true loyalty."

"Still, though... wearing black to a celebratory party? It’s a bit of a bad omen, isn't it?"

The whispers weren't loud, but they were crystal clear.

Hearing the crowd tilt in her favor, a flash of smugness crossed Nora's eyes.

She leaned weakly against Marcus’s chest, tears streaming down her face like a broken string of pearls.

"Marcus... it’s all my fault. I shouldn't have come."

"I just... I just wanted to see you be happy with my own eyes. We grew up together. You’ve always been like a big brother to me..."

She cried so delicately, looking completely helpless.

Marcus’s heart practically broke for her. He wrapped his arms tightly around her.

Then, he turned to me, his eyes filled with deep disappointment.

"Chloe, apologize to Nora. Now."

"She’s already going through hell. How can you be so malicious and twist her pure intentions?"

Watching this disgusting display of "brotherly-sisterly love," the last bit of warmth in my heart died.

I let out a cold sneer.

"You want me to apologize to her?"

Under everyone’s bewildered stares, I slowly lifted my chin.

"She chose to put on a funeral dress for a dog, and then she brought her little circus to my engagement party!"

"Marcus, let me ask you. Why the hell should I care about her dead pet?"

The entire banquet hall erupted into a frenzy.