I heard Carson cried so hard he nearly passed out, and Jenna spared no expense in helping him. She ordered her assistant to urgently commission a new black-and-white memorial photo of Carson’s mother, this time, framed in glass and adorned with delicate diamond inlays.
To help her assistant save face, she even live-streamed the entire memorial through the company’s intranet. A few media reporters were invited as well, publishing flattering pieces that praised Carson as a symbol of filial devotion, declaring that such loyalty was rare among today’s younger generation.
Meanwhile, I crouched in silence, carefully gathering the shattered pieces of the blue-and-white porcelain vase. My mother’s final gift, now lying in fragments.
I had no idea if it could ever be restored, but I couldn’t stop myself from trying.
As I turned on my phone, a message from Carson lit up the screen.
[Bryce, so what if you come from a good family and were once Jenna’s fiancé?]
[In the end, didn’t she still choose me over you?]
Right after those two lines, another message appeared, this time, a photo. Jenna’s hand, still wearing the engagement ring, was tightly entwined with Carson’s fingers.
[See this hand? She touched me with it last night. You’re engaged to her, but you’ve never even gotten a taste, have you?]
[She felt bad that I had no one to lean on. We did it in the office. So even if you marry her, you’re just getting what I’ve already had.]
Without a flicker of emotion, I closed the message and issued my command with ice in my voice.
“Tell Legal to wrap up all matters related to the engagement. I want it terminated.”
After all, I never had a taste for secondhand goods.
My father had already seen everything. The livestream captured the entire humiliation, the disgrace I suffered during my own birthday banquet.
He brought people with him to the venue to salvage the mess.
He didn’t hold back, not even in front of the reporters he brought.
“My son doesn’t need to cling to anyone to find a wife. This engagement ends today.”
“From this moment on, Jenna is no longer his fiancée. Their lives, their futures, they have nothing to do with each other anymore.”
The moment I saw my father, my vision blurred. My throat tightened, and I couldn’t hold back the tears.
“Dad…”
He walked straight to me, gently helping me off the ground. His face was etched with heartache.
“Come on. We’re going to the Ortega estate.”
Only then did I realize he hadn’t trusted anyone else to handle my birthday banquet. He and my mom had already arranged everything themselves, planning a grand and joyful celebration at the Ortega residence.
With just one phone call, he informed all our friends and relatives of the new location. The celebration wouldn’t stop; it would simply continue somewhere better.
I looked at him, dazed. “Dad, did Uncle Ben and Aunt Martha come back to the States?”
As a child, the family we’d been closest to was the Ortega family. Their warmth had once felt like an extension of our own.
Uncle Ben had been my dad’s sworn brother, and Aunt Martha was my mom’s closest friend. I had grown up side by side with their daughter, Dixie Ortega, and we were childhood sweethearts.
But in recent years, they had been tied up with business overseas and had settled abroad. It had been years since we last met.
My dad gave me a mysterious smile and said, “Not only are Ben and Martha back, your little childhood sweetheart is here too.”
The moment I stepped into the Ortega residence, I was enveloped in a warm, heartfelt welcome.
Ben and Martha had always been fond of me, especially Martha, who took my hand with a tender smile.
“We haven’t seen you in years. And just look at you, our little Bryce, grown into such a handsome young man. The more I look at you, the more I like you.”
I saw Dixie again, my childhood sweetheart, after so many years.
She had grown taller, wore gold-rimmed glasses, and carried herself with quiet elegance and grace.
“Bryce, long time no see.”
She smiled gently as she extended her hand. “Do you still remember me? I’m Dixie.”
I gave a small nod, and when her gaze lingered on mine, I felt an unexpected heat rise to my cheeks.
Back then, I had once written her a love letter, even stolen my mom’s gold ring just to gift it to her, boldly calling it my “token of affection.”
I once said that when Dixie grew up, I’d ride a white horse and marry her.
Now that she was bringing up those childhood memories, I was so embarrassed I wished I could disappear into the floor.
Throughout the birthday banquet, Dixie was incredibly considerate, offering me tea and water, handing me tissues right when I needed them.
She always looked at me with a soft, gentle smile, and every time our eyes met, my cheeks would heat up and I’d quickly look away.
But Aunt Martha saw right through our little feelings, her eyes gleaming with a kind, knowing smile.
My dad let out a hearty laugh and seized the moment.
“My son is single now. He was engaged, but it’s already been called off. Why don’t we let our two children get engaged instead?”
Ben and Martha immediately set down their utensils, excitement lighting up their faces, ready to agree.
Just then, a hoarse voice rang out from outside the door.
“No!”
