Angela's P o v

Exhaustion seared through me and I held my head and quietly winced in pain. All that crying from last night has managed to give me a terrible migraine.

"Just leave it there." I tell the maid and she obeys.

I scoff bitterly. Brian must still think I have no idea what he's doing. I'd seen on their chats yesterday about having a date with Laurel and she had made it a big deal for him to come.

That's why he postponed our wedding. He shifted our wedding which is supposed to be the most important thing to him right now just to go and meet with Laurel for a mere date.

I picked up my phone and searched Laurel's Facebook page and the first picture I saw that she updated on her page was of her wearing a bikini and fishing on a yacht. The next slide was of her standing and watching the water, a man's hand around her neck.

My heart sank instantly as I recognized the hand, before I even noticed the wrist watch he wore was the exact one I got Brian for his birthday last year.

A dull ache spread through my chest, sharp and relentless. So, the reason Brian postponed our wedding wasn’t because of work. It was to accompany the woman he truly cherished on a fishing trip.

Later in the day, Brian returns home and to my surprise Laurel is with him.

"Hi cousin! It's so nice to see you!" Laurel bursts through the room, like everything was alright. The enthusiasm in her voice was believable but I could sense the insincerity more in them. "How are you, Angela? I was planning to drop by and say hi to your u but bumped into your finance at the lawn and he walked in together. Hope you don't mind."

The way she pressed on “don’t mind” was a deliberate dig.

"I don't mind, Laurel." I rely firmly before turning away.

Why would I be mad? She's someone Brian loves more than me, if he even loved me at all. She's someone whom Brian cancelled our wedding for, whom he just went on a date with.

I guess they all think I don't know this.

I excused myself and went into my room to gather some clothes into my travel box.

John had invited me to Seattle to help him with a marketing gig which he assured me o would be forty percent of the money if it worked out. I'd been skeptical about accepting his offer because I already worked for this family's company.

Now I have nothing to lose and everything to gain if it works out right.

I didn't know Brian had walked in after me until his hand came around me from behind, revealing a shimmering pendant he's hooking around my neck.

"What is this?" I ask him interestedly.

"Beautiful right? I'm going to the company's thanksgiving after party. Come with me."

"I'm sorry, I can't. " I reply sternly before moving away from him and zipping up the box.

Brian holds the box in an attempt to stop me from walking out.

"Come on, Angela. Clearly nothing could be more important than going to our company's party. You know the people who would be there."

I watched him, thoughts steering through me. Clearly, going off to see Laurel was more important than our wedding to him. Has he even cared to mention that to me or even explain further why he had to call off our wedding since he arrived?

"I'm sorry, this is important to me too." I reply sternly.

"Come on, you know everyone's gonna be there. And you don't expect your fiance to go there with another woman in his arms, do you?."

I gave it a thought. This would be a chance for me to say goodbye to the people I worked with at the company. Once I leave to join John in Seattle I would not be coming back ever again. So maybe this was a good thing.

"Okay." I replied.

Brian calls a make up artist and stylist to fix me up. After getting dressed in a shimmering teal bustier gown that overflowed on the ground behind me, I walked down the stairs. I emerged in a floor length, couture gown with an elegant train, the ruby necklace resting against my collarbone. When Brian saw me, his eyes lit up as he opened the car door. “You look beautiful!” But his compliments didn't mean anything to me anymore.

"You're so beautiful." He says as he takes my hand.

I just nod at him before walking out together to his parked car outside.

Brian held the door for me but before I could sit inside, Laurel pushed past me, holding the hem of her dress dramatically high, her face upturned as she chuckled sheepishly.

"Ugh, my dress is too big for a small car, Angie, can we switch places and I take the other car instead?"

The audacity.

The ruby necklace she wore —far larger and more radiant than mine —caught the sunlight, sending dazzling reflections that felt almost mocking. I glanced at my own necklace, its delicate chain and modest pendant suddenly looking like a trinket from a clearance sale. “My dress is big as well,” I reply irritatedly.

Laurel pouts her lips dramatically, her hands still agitatedly holding on to the hem of her dress "but I have phobia for closed spaces and I will hyperventilate inside a smaller car," she whines "why can't you just let me take this car."

I opened my mouth to give her the reply she was asking for but Brian's shocking statement holds me back.

"Darling, why don't you just allow Laurel. She's our guest, remember?"

My mouth remains agape as the words hit my ears. He even let out an exasperated sigh as if he didn't understand why I would drag on this for so long.

Angela's P o v

She pouted, her lips trembling slightly as she looked at Brian with feigned innocence like I had said something that hurt her deeply.

Brian gave me a doting smile, but his hand moved behind his back to reassure her. I watched their interaction in silence, a cold laugh echoing in my mind. Did he not realize how obvious it was? What was he doing?

Brian gently reached for my hand, his tone laced with that all -too- familiar coaxing.

“Come on, honey. It’s just a seat. Let her have it. After all, she’s your cousin. Switch with her, okay?” His voice was laced with tenderness, his eyes filled with an affection that seemed reserved for me. Yet his words defended another woman. I gave him a faint smile, lifting my gown as I walked toward the car in the back.

“Very well.” I said coolly. At least this way, I wouldn’t have to endure the sight of him pretending anymore.

The banquet hall buzzed with conversation as people milled about in their finest attire. As Brian's fiance, I had a lot of the guests meeting me for toasts and discussions all which I engaged in with feigned smiles and happiness.

The party was a hive of activity, its vast expanse buzzing with a sense of anticipation and excitement. A great number of staff members weaved through the crowd, holding glasses of Champagne. The clink of glasses and the murmur of conversation filled the air, punctuated by occasional bursts of laughter.

At the center of the room, a grand stage commanded attention, its crimson curtains held back by golden ropes. A shimmering chandelier hung overhead, casting a warm, inviting glow over the proceedings. Large round tables were scattered throughout the space, their surfaces adorned with crisp white linens, glittering silverware, and elegant centerpieces of fresh flowers.

As guests arrived, they were greeted by hosts in formal attire, their smiles warm and welcoming. The sound of a string quartet drifted through the hall, their melodies adding a touch of sophistication to the already lavish atmosphere. Yet I could not feel the warmness in this room.

A sea of people filled the room, their voices rising and falling in a melodic cacophony. Dressed in their finest evening wear, they chatted, laughed, and exchanged greetings, the sense of camaraderie and excitement palpable in the air as the hour grew closer to the start of the award ceremony.

I looked to see Laurel was already holding a glass of red wine, her eyes gleaming with mischief as she approached me.

“Oh, Angie,” she said with a mocking lilt, “how could you be so sloppy? Look at your dress. It’s all wrinkled. Couldn’t you have at least ironed it before wearing it?”

I ignored her, turning toward the dessert table to pick out a small cupcake. I hadn’t had breakfast and my stomach was growling. At this point, satisfying my hunger was far more important than engaging with her nonsense. But Laurel wasn’t done. She followed me,

“Do you think I’m just going to steal your man?” Her tone dripped with smug satisfaction. I took a bite of the cupcake, glancing at her with mild curiosity. Her lips curled into a sly smile. “Stay and watch. It’s just the beginning.” The host took the stage moments later,

"Look, I don't know why you're here... After what happened with Kian, I really don't give a damn about no man. So you can do whatever you want but leave me out of it."

She chuckled and sipped her drink. "Oh... Angie... Poor Angie. Your plight has just begun but better for you if you are sincere about what you say." She says before walking away.

I felt my chest burning and the pain increasing. The master of ceremony went up the stage and began to speak.

Through out the speech that was delivered, I had my ear else where until it was finally time to give the awards for Outstanding Performance. Laurel’s name was called.

Laurel stood gracefully on stage, her lively demeanor engaging Brian with a knowing look. The eyes of everyone in the room shifted between the three of us. I could feel pity as their gaze landed on me. On the screen, Laurel’s track record began to roll through, showcasing her accomplishments. A client named Mr. Kumar, whose asset management returns had exceeded 20%, was hailed as a miracle in the industry. The crowd gasped in admiration. “She is so amazing!”

“The last person to be this impressive was Mr. Rocha’s fiancée, the legendary Miss Duncan!” “You call that a legend? Her best was only 15%, while Laurel’s hit 20%. Now, that’s a legend.”

The people continued to clap but I remained glued to where I stood completely drenched in disbelief. She may have stolen my man, but I didn’t care. Because any man who could be stolen wasn’t worth having! But stealing the achievements I had worked so hard for? That, I couldn’t tolerate. Anger surged through me as I stormed up to the stage, grabbing the microphone from the startled host.

“Breaking industry records with a 20% return rate? I’m sure the audience would love to hear how you did it, Laurel, especially since I have never seen you in office ever before.” I said, my voice steady but icy.

Laurel froze, caught off guard by my direct challenge. Everyone else went quiet and watched on at the allegation that I was cooking.