Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Up on the stage, Quinlyn had already started her speech.
“I only found out after I came back that I actually had a fiancé,” she said. “The engagement was set before we were even
born.”
Her words instantly made the rest of the Guzman family nervous. They had no idea why she would bring that up during the
party.
Evelyn panicked and whispered to Graham, “See? I told you Quinlyn was petty, but you didn’t believe me. What was so bad about our life before? Why did we have to bring her back?
“Chancey, Yancy, and Yalena-they’re all well-behaved. But she’s just making a mess up there. What’s Yalena supposed to do now, Graham?”
Graham was panicking too. He never imagined Quinlyn would actually go this far.
Chancey and Yancy both frowned.
Chancey managed to stay calm, but Yancy wasn’t as composed. He glanced at Zachary, who was standing on the other side holding tightly onto Yalena’s hand, and muttered under his breath, “What’s so great about that boy anyway?”
Zachary couldn’t hold it in anymore. If he let Quinlyn keep talking, Logan would definitely never accept Yalena. His emotions got the best of him and he started walking toward the stage.
Quinlyn had already seen him coming. When she noticed his flushed face, she quickly held out her hand to stop him. “Sir, please wait your turn. I’ll let you talk when I’m done.”
The guests below all knew Zachary. Seeing him and Quinlyn argue on stage, their curiosity peaked.
A few people in the know started whispering.
“That guy, Zachary Fletcher, is the fiancé.”
“What? But I just saw him holding the other Guzman daughter’s hand.”
“This whole thing is messy. We probably shouldn’t gossip about it.”
Graham and Evelyn heard the murmurs. They both felt deeply embarrassed, and their dislike for Quinlyn reached a whole new level. Even Graham’s lingering guilt toward her disappeared.
To people like them, parties like this were all about business deals and social capital. No one would be foolish enough to embarrass themselves in front of everyone. But now, as the hosts of the party, they were exactly that-embarrassed.
Zachary, who had been furious ever since that phone call with Quinlyn a few days ago, stormed onto the stage. He asked sharply, “What, are you trying to force me to marry you?”
Quinlyn smiled. “Can’t you wait until I’m done talking before asking questions? Or do you just enjoy getting slapped in the
face?”
Zachary was so mad that he wanted to punch her.
Quinlyn calmly gave him a quick glance, then turned to the crowd with a smile. Her red dress and red lips looked stunning. Her smile radiated confidence.
No one knew that it came from someone who had nothing left to lose. She had already died once-there was nothing to be afraid of anymore.
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Chapter 13
She went on, “Yes, you guessed right. This is my fiancé. He seems a little upset right now. Maybe it’s because I stole his mic?”
“He’s got something to say, too, so I’ll keep it short to save time.” She cleared her throat. Her tone was calm, but her voice was strong and clear enough for everyone in the room to hear her perfectly.
“I can’t accept a marriage that was arranged before I was even born,” she said. “It’s like opening a mystery box-you never know what you’ll get. I’ve never had good luck. Looks like this time’s no different.
“So, right here and now, I’m ending this engagement-alone and officially.”
What she said wasn’t exactly wrong, even if she’d gone on stage without talking to her parents first.
Graham and Evelyn looked a bit more relaxed.
Graham let out a sigh. “I told you Quinlyn’s not a bad kid. She just took a wrong path.”
Evelyn was just about to respond when Quinlyn continued from the stage, “That’s all I’ve got. Zachary, you can go propose to Yalena now. I think no one will get in your way this time. I’m off to find my true love. Good luck.”
Her words felt like a spell. Zachary’s face darkened more and more. In the end, his whole body was frozen with rage.
But Quinlyn wasn’t done. She pointed to the tiny bride and groom figures on top of the cake, where a diamond ring hung around their necks. “The cake, the flowers, the rings-you did great, Zachary. I wish you both the best.”
Zachary stayed silent.
Quinlyn walked toward him and handed him the mic. “Go on, propose to Yalena.”
Zachary staggered back a few steps, eyes wide. His face turned purple with anger, like he was about to cough up blood.
Quinlyn saw everything and felt pure satisfaction. She admitted-she was petty.
With a sweet smile, she asked, “Zachary, don’t you want the mic?”
“Shut up!” Zachary growled through gritted teeth. His face twisted with rage, as if he’d forgotten he was supposed to be the charming gentleman in the room.
“Oh, okay,” Quinlyn said nonchalantly. “Then I’ll get off the stage.”
Zachary had nothing to say.
Quinlyn stepped down, her pace light, and met Yalena’s dark, cloudy stare. “Yalena,” she said with a bright smile, “I wish you happiness.”
As Quinlyn stepped down from the stage, the Narrator chimed in with a soft ding, back on duty.
[Plot Update: Today was Yalena and Quinlyn’s eighteenth birthday. At their coming-of-age party, Quinlyn took the stage before Zachary and explained the truth about their engagement. She said she didn’t accept a marriage arranged before birth and declared she would go find her true love.
[Quinlyn’s sharp words left Zachary emotionally wrecked.]
Quinlyn was quite pleased to hear that Zachary had suffered emotional damage.
He had been left on stage, stuck in an impossible spot.
If he walked away, he’d look like a coward. If he proposed to Yalena, it would prove everything Quinlyn had just said.
Everyone there was smart. It didn’t take much to figure out why Quinlyn, who had just come home, was so eager to break off
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the engagement-and, more importantly, why Zachary had chosen to propose at this exact party.
Every deal in this mess was worth thinking over.
As soon as Quilyn got off the stage, she was blocked by Graham and Evelyn. Both of them looked so angry that they could
ext her alive.
Quinlyn, what do you think you’re doing?” Evelyn snapped. “You said all that in front of everyone-what are we supposed to do now? You want people to laugh at us? Does that make you happy?”
Quinly took a step back to dodge Evelyn’s flying spit.
1 don’t understand what you’re saying,’ she replied calmly. “Didn’t you want me to explain things? I did. And I also said I dun I want the engagement with Zachary. Isn’t that what you all wanted?”
Her question left both parents speechless.
Gabam was the first to pull himself together. “This is a private family matter. It shouldn’t have been said out loud like that.” He lowered his voice a bit. “Quinlyn, tell Dad-are you upset about something?
You did this on purpose, didn’t you? Why? If you can’t have it, you’re going to ruin it for everyone?”
Geriam had dearly spent years in the business world. Every word was sharp and subtle, painting Quinlyn as a petty troublemniter without even raising his voice.
