My Boyfriend's Action Made Me Decide To Break Up

Bizarre Engagement Banquet

On National Day, my boyfriend of four years and I decided to get engaged.

My family handled everything, including the banquet, invitations, and even the bridal chamber.

At the last minute, my boyfriend, who claimed to be an orphan, suddenly produced a pair of parents.

His mother, counting the gift money while licking her lips, criticized my family, "Your relatives' gifts are really stingy, probably not even adding up to ten thousand. My precious son is going to suffer."

His father, with one foot on a stool and holding a wine glass, shouted, "Welcome everyone to my son's engagement banquet. Eat and drink well, don't be polite with us!"

Then a group of aunts and uncles, each carrying several plastic bags, swept the food off the table.

As they packed, they complained to me, "Crystal, the hotel you chose isn't good. The abalone is so small, and the shrimp aren't fresh. It's clear you're not good at managing things. When you marry into our family, you'll have to learn from your mother-in-law.

I was stunned. When they turned their claws towards my mother, I couldn't hold back any longer.

I walked up and gave each of them a slap, "Shut up, all of you!"

***

My mother had compared my and David Jones' birth charts multiple times, confirming that we were a perfect match. She specially consulted a master to pick an auspicious date, coinciding with National Day.

Friends and family had received the news long ago, and by eleven, the banquet hall was packed.

I had my makeup done before dawn and was greeting guests in the hall, but David, one of the hosts, was nowhere to be seen.

I took out my phone and called him several times, but it was always busy.

This had never happened before.

For some reason, I felt uneasy.

Thankfully, at eleven, I finally saw David at the door.

Just as I felt relieved, I tensed up again.

Behind him were a middle-aged man and woman. The woman, with a cloth of indeterminate color tied around her head, looked around the hall.

When she saw me, her eyes lit up, and she rushed over.

"Ah! This must be Crystal. You are such a lovely girl, just look at those eyes. You and David are meant to be together."

She grabbed my hand, her calloused palm hurting me. I forced a smile, "Auntie..."

At this moment, David, his handsome face darkened with displeasure, scolded me, "Crystal, what are you calling her? This is my mother!"

I was scolded and said hesitantly, "Mom."

"Yes!" Her face blossomed into a smile. "Here, this is our family heirloom bracelet, blessed by a great monk, invaluable!"

After saying that, she grabbed my hand and forced the bracelet onto my wrist.

Looking at it, I could tell even as a layman that it was fake, likely from a street stall, three for ten dollars.

I rubbed the bracelet, giving David a pleading look.

To my surprise, he frowned and, in front of everyone, said, "Crystal Brown, why are you making faces? My mom gave you our family heirloom bracelet as a sign of accepting you as her daughter-in-law, and you're being ungrateful!"

In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on me. I endured it for a long time, and just as I was about to speak, my mother stopped me.

My mother intervened, trying to ease the tension, "Dear in-laws, it's getting late. Let's take our seats and let the young ones catch up!"

"Yes, yes, let's take our seats!"

His father gestured, and suddenly a crowd of people, young and old, male and female, emerged from nowhere, chattering as they approached.