Beg Me for Mercy

My schedule was packed with work commitments, alongside a long list of social events. But when my former class monitor, Sky Watson, insisted that the engagement party was a rare chance to get everyone together, I finally agreed to attend.

Out of consideration for my old classmates, I even postponed an important business deal just to make time for it. I had expected the reunion to be sentimental, but instead, the room buzzed with nothing but bragging and flattery.

Disappointed and irritated, I was about to get up and leave.

Sky caught on immediately and stopped me. "Celia, don't mind what everyone else is saying. Since you're already here, why don't you stay for a while?"

I was just about to respond when a former classmate—who had already rolled her eyes at me earlier—let out a mocking snort.

"If you're already here, you might as well eat, right? No point in coming for nothing. That reminds me. Have you ever seen food this fancy before?"

She covered her mouth in an exaggerated attempt to stifle a laugh.

I glanced at her, my voice calm. "And what exactly does that have to do with you? I only came because I didn't want to disappoint Sky. Don't bother inviting me to things like this again."

I hadn't even finished speaking when Mabel Fairbank—the center of attention that evening—suddenly raised her voice, saying, "Celia, don't you think you're being a little too much? Do you think you're so high and mighty?"

Mabel twisted my words, and just like that, the others turned against me.

"Give me a break. Does she think she's the First Lady or something?"

"Look at that outfit. Even a beggar would turn it down."

"Exactly! She calls herself a white-collar worker, but she's just some low-ranking employee. All that studying back in the day—what good did it do her?"

How ridiculous! I was the one who signed paychecks for white-collar workers.

"Celia, stop throwing a tantrum. Why? Are you upset just because we didn't pay enough attention to you? Talk about a big ego."

"People are different. Sure, you were good at studying, but school grades don't mean much in the real world."

"All that hard work back then, and you're still wearing such cheap clothes."

I had only wanted to leave because I hated the atmosphere, but thanks to Mabel's comment, I had suddenly become everyone's target.

I let out a slow breath before stating, "I'm sorry, everyone, but I have an important business meeting to get to. Tonight's engagement party is on me. Order whatever you want and put it on my tab."

I pushed my chair back to leave, but before I could take a step, a massive figure blocked my way.

"Quit pretending. You don't even know the names of these dishes, do you? This meal costs thousands of dollars. How exactly are you planning to pay for it?"

The man wore a tight plaid shirt, his belly so large it looked like the buttons could pop off at any second. More than that, though, the cigarette smell on him was overwhelming—so strong I had to cover my nose.

Seriously, where had he been? Inside a chimney?

"Celia, don't tell me you don't recognize me. Look at that face, still putting on an act."

My expression was unreadable. "Sorry, but I've met too many people over the years. And you are…"

The truth was, I had no idea who he was.

He coughed, tilting his chin upward with an arrogant smirk. "You showed up to an engagement party without even knowing whose it is? Come on. I used to be the guy of your dreams."

I nearly lost my balance. There was no way this chubby, round-faced man in front of me had once been the captain of our college basketball team.

What happened to him? Did he make a diet out of pure fat?

I hesitated before asking, "You… You're Harland Eland?"

The moment I said his name, his face lit up with pride.

"Knew it! You remember me perfectly. But…"

He deliberately dragged out the word, his eyes gleaming with arrogance.

"You missed your chance. My fiancée is Mabel."