I snorted with laughter. “You really take after your mother.”
Hearing the commotion outside, I quickened my steps.
Rachel trailed behind with her head lowered, who knows what she was thinking.
Inside the banquet hall, Emily, eyes red, announced that she was breaking off the engagement with Daniel.
Daniel tried to grab her hand. “Baby, what are you doing? Don’t make a scene. Everyone’s watching.”
Emily shook him off, her chin trembling.
“A scene? Do you dare say what you and your so-called female buddy were doing in the bathroom?!”
The whole table went silent, every pair of eyes turning toward Daniel.
His face went from pale to red to pale again, his tone softening immediately.
“Baby, you got it wrong. It was all a misunderstanding… I’ll explain when we get home.”
My ex-husband Robert Parker tried to smooth things over. “Emily, since Daniel says it’s a misunderstanding, don’t get upset. You’re both adults now. Don’t talk about breaking up over every little thing—it makes us look bad.”
Beside him sat his new wife of just over a year, Susan Lee, her heavy makeup making her resemble Rachel a little.
“Exactly. Rachel and Daniel grew up together. If there were really something between them, it would’ve happened long ago. He’s marrying you now, isn’t he?”
Relatives and friends chimed in one after another:
“Every couple has fights. Today’s your engagement. Don’t make a scene.”
“Marriage is about daily life—bills, groceries. Learn to compromise, and things will be fine.”
Emily inherited my stubborn streak but not my sharp tongue.
Her tears fell uncontrollably, leaving her sobbing too hard to make sense.
I shoved through the crowd and stood before Daniel.
Smack!
The banquet hall fell dead silent.
Daniel clutched his face, eyes wide.
I swept a cold gaze around before fixing it back on him. “If you’re all so open-minded, then let your own sons-in-law fool around with their female buddies. Don’t you dare stop them.”
The sound of people gasping filled the room.
Daniel’s face burned under the weight of their stares.
Rachel suddenly rushed in.
Under everyone’s shocked eyes, she slapped Daniel hard.
“It’s all your fault. I told you not to joke around, but you never listen. Now both Ma’am and Emily think the worst.”
“We’re done. From now on, we’re strangers.”
Daniel looked wronged. “Rachel, do you really have to go this far?”
Rachel glanced at Emily. “What else can I do? Everyone already thinks I’m some homewrecker.”
Susan grabbed Rachel’s hand. “My daughter was too mischievous. From now on, I won’t let them meet alone.”
The mother and daughter left quickly.
Daniel wanted to chase after them but stopped short when he remembered Emily and I were still there.
With everyone staring, he stammered, “I’ll… I’ll go get you a car.”
“Wait,” Emily called after him. “It’s over. The engagement is off. Don’t ever show up again.”
She yanked off her engagement ring and hurled it at Daniel’s face.
“Wait—”
Daniel looked panicked but, gritting his teeth, turned and ran after Susan and Rachel instead.
The engagement party ended in chaos.
Looking at my daughter’s cold, expressionless face, I regretted ever agreeing to her marriage with Daniel.
I’d known him since the day Emily first brought him home.
