Chapter 2.
985 Words
Brianna POV
The atmosphere grew increasingly lively with Garth and me looking handsome on stage tonight. I felt every eye on us, every whispered compliment feeling like poison in my ears.
My mom approached me and whispered, "Bri, what’s wrong with your dress?"
I just gave a thin smile. "I just wanted a little change. And I feel more comfortable with this style." My heart was actually full of lies wrapped in a faint smile.
I saw my mom only smile while nodding her head.
The guests marveled at Garth and me.
"I lost my chance. If I had known the Lawson family had such a beautiful daughter like Miss Brianna, I would have matched her with my son."
"An engagement party as grand as this, imagine their wedding party."
"I’m sure the business relationship between the two families will be stronger."
I could hear how many guests commented on my engagement party tonight. Unfortunately, their admiration would soon turn into profound shock. Truly, I awaited that moment, like waiting for an explosion that would shatter all this pretense.
The host walked onto the stage and stood in the same place as Garth and me, who kept smiling. And I knew that smile was fake.
"At this peak moment, Miss Lawson and Mr. Foster will exchange rings. But before that begins, let’s watch the happy photos of the journey of the couple who will be engaged tonight," said the host, pointing to the big screen.
I glanced at Chloe, who smiled at me encouragingly. Perfect acting. I thought she deserved an Oscar.
The ballroom, which was previously filled with applause from the guests after displaying the happy photos of Garth and me, suddenly turned silent in seconds.
'Garth, Chloe, enjoy this beautiful show,' I said to myself.
At that moment, on the big screen, a steamy video of Garth and Chloe was shown without any censorship. The sound of their moans echoed throughout the hotel ballroom.
I saw Garth and Chloe's faces turn pale as they watched their explicit video. They looked utterly panicked. It was as if their world crumbled in an instant, and that gave me immense satisfaction.
I also saw the guests’ shocked faces. They whispered to one another. And surely, I was pleased tonight. An indescribable satisfaction, like seeing justice finally arrive amidst unbearable suffering.
"What’s going on?!" shouted Brandon, my brother, running toward the stage. He hugged me. "Are you okay?"
I just nodded. I buried my head in Brandon’s embrace. My tears flowed again, soaking his shoulder, but this time there was a bit of relief in them.
"Great cheating couple," I said, looking cynically at the pair with my face still wet with tears.
"Brianna, you bastard! This must be your doing!" Chloe shouted shamelessly. She even stood behind Garth.
Chloe’s gaze was different toward me. She seemed to show her true colors.
"My sister is not a bastard," Brandon shouted, pointing at the cheating couple. "You are the bastard and a cheap woman, Chloe."
Garth glared at Brandon, my brother. "Call Chloe a cheap woman again, and you will deal with me."
I couldn’t believe it, Garth dared to say that. He showed his defense for Chloe and ignored my feelings. It felt like being hit by an invisible sledgehammer; every word from his mouth added to the gaping wound.
Garth turned to me and continued his words. "You! Your spoiled behavior and insensitivity to my desires as a normal man with biological needs made me sick of you! You are the reason I decided to cheat on you!"
Not accepting Garth’s words that blamed me for his affair with Chloe, Brandon immediately gave a hard punch toward Garth. Chloe, standing behind him, fell along with Garth.
I saw Garth's parents also run towards the stage to approach their son.
Elton Foster, Garth Foster's father, stood up. "I won’t accept being humiliated like this. I will sue your family!!"
Edgar Lawson, my dad, appeared while clapping his hands. "An amazingly great show." He then pointed at Elton Foster, his business partner and future in-law. "Your son betrayed my daughter. I should be the one suing you! I ensure our business deal fails."
Seeing this chaos made me immediately step back from this insane event. Even though I was satisfied with exposing my fiancé’s and my friend’s affair, my heart was still shattered.
I ran outside the hotel and stopped a passing taxi. I didn’t care about anything happening in the hotel ballroom. Right now, I just wanted to calm down.
After fifteen minutes had passed, I got out of the taxi. I was currently standing in front of Eclipse Nightclub, a place that I believed would make me forget all my heartache.
I stepped into the place. I see a lot of eyes staring at me, especially since I'm a mess with tangled hair and a party dress that's been torn here and there.
Really, I didn't care about any of that.
"Any drinks you'd like to order here?" asked a male bartender, just as I arrived at the bartender's table.
I looked at his face for a moment. Handsome. That was the only word that came to my mind. I nodded my head. "I need something that can calm my mind. I want to forget my pain."
I saw her smile slightly. "I understand. I'll concoct it right now," he said.
A medium-sized glass was now in front of me. I grabbed the glass quickly and downed what I believed to be the liquor quickly.
My head felt so heavy that I couldn't hold my own head back as it landed on the bartender's table. Suddenly I felt someone approaching me.
"You're already too drunk, Miss," he said, sounding faint in my ear.
I raised my head and looked at him. My eyes blinked repeatedly. I held out my index finger to make sure. "You? Here?"
- Writer
