The banquet hall doors were heavy, opening with a dull thud.
The light inside was painfully bright, stabbing at my eyes.
Crystal chandeliers glittered overhead, and the champagne tower scattered fragments of golden light.
This was the Griffin family's stage for power and reputation. The air was thick with expensive perfume and hollow pleasantries.
Harrison Griffin sat at the head of the table, his face flushed with satisfaction.
Ethan stood beside him, lazily swirling half a glass of red wine. Tessa leaned against him like a boneless ornament.
The first thing I noticed was the ring on Tessa's hand.
It was a flawless emerald ring. My mother had left it for her future daughter-in-law. Now it sat on another woman's finger.
Wearing the black dress, I walked in.
Amid the glittering jewels and elegant gowns, I felt like an unwelcome ghost. Or a crow bringing bad news.
The gentle violin music stopped.
The surrounding conversations faded like a receding tide. Dozens of eyes turned toward me.
"How unlucky!" The sharp shout shattered the silence.
Elaine Griffin, Ethan's mother, shot up from her seat, waving a handkerchief in disgust. "Tonight is a family dinner. Who are you wearing funeral clothes for? Who are you trying to curse?"
I ignored her hysteria. My heels clicked against the marble floor as I walked straight to the main table.
Ethan looked at me with pure contempt in his eyes.
"So you finally decided to show up?" Ethan set down his wine glass and pointed to the empty floor beside Tessa. "Since you're here, show some manners. Apologize, and admit you were the one causing trouble last night. Then the engagement continues as planned."
Tessa hid behind him with a timid expression, but her eyes swept across my face in open provocation.
"Nina, don't make Ethan angry," Tessa said softly. "As long as you lower your head and apologize, I won't hold it against you."
I looked at them and felt nothing but absurdity.
I opened my black clutch. There was no makeup inside, no gift. Only a piece of paper.
The paper had yellowed with age, its edges worn and frayed.
Twenty years ago, my grandmother saved Ethan's grandfather, Edmund Griffin's life. He personally arranged this engagement.
For the past two years, it had been the chain around Ethan's neck.
I placed the engagement contract on the table.
"You want the engagement?" I asked.
Ethan sneered. "Now you're trying to threaten me with that? Too late. Unless you kneel right now—"
I picked up the silver candlestick from the table.
The flame flickered, reflected in my eyes.
Without hesitation, I held one corner of the contract to the flame.
"What are you doing?" Ethan's expression changed instantly.
The old dry paper caught fire immediately.
Flames curled upward, devouring the black ink.
The words that once represented promises and contracts twisted, blackened, and turned to ash in the heat.
The fire spread quickly, licking my fingertips, but I felt no pain.
"Nina! Have you lost your mind?"
Ethan reached out to grab it, but I stepped back.
The burning paper in my hand had already become a small fireball.
Gasps filled the room as I flicked my wrist and dropped the burning paper into the expensive champagne glass in front of Ethan.
The flame died instantly.
The clear golden champagne turned murky, filled with black ash and scraps of paper like a glass of spoiled water.
The last ember faded.
I brushed the ash from my hands and looked at Ethan's darkened face.
"I'm the one ending this engagement."