CHAPTER THREE - THE ANNOUNCEMENT. 

The door swung open. 

“Sorry I’m late,” Warren said from the back. 

The room turned as one. The silence that followed was the kind that has weight.

“Isn't he the heir to su tech?”

“I thought Faith disliked him?”

“Why is he here?”

Faith smiled. “You deserve a punishment for coming late.”

Warren started walking forward, without listening to their whispers. 

Before he could reach where Faith was standing. Cassius blocked his way. 

“What are you doing here?”

Warren let out a mocking smile. “You are here; why can’t I? She is my classmate too.”

Lydia's smile had gone rigid.

Cassius punched Warren in his face; his lips tore. 

“What was that?”

“They are all classmates; why is he being so aggressive?”

Faith rushed toward them. She pushed Cassius aside, holding Warren. 

“Can't you see that my hands hurt?”

“Go get yourself treated,” Faith muttered. 

Lydia held Cassius's hand, but she was pushed to the other side. 

“Hmph,” she stomped her foot hard. 

“Are you okay?” Faith asked Warren. 

Warren nodded. “I'm fine.” He wiped the blood from his lips. 

She called for the first aid kit without looking away from Warren's face.

Faith finished applying ointment on Warren's face. 

Warren stuck his tongue out in mockery. 

Cassius tried to step forward, and Warren pretended to be hurt again. 

Ouch!! 

“Does it still hurt?” Faith asked with all concern. 

Lydia marched toward Faith. 

“Can't you see Cassius is the one hurt, and you are treating your enemy?”

“He should go treat himself. Do I look like a doctor to you?” 

The Hall was in chaos, from one whisper to another. 

“But he is your boyfriend,” Lydia raised her voice. 

“If you are so concerned about him, here is a first aid kit; go treat him yourself. ”.

“What do you mean, isn’t he your—? 

“Just shut it. I'm tired of hearing the same words time after time.”

Cassius' eyes widened. 

Faith glared at them, pushing them aside. 

Just then, the door opened for the second time; it was Faith's grandparents. 

Faith rushed to hug them. 

“Grandma, Grandpa, I missed you so much.”

They looked at her; Faith has always despised them for being old. 

She looked at Cassius, and their eyes met. 

She stiffened slightly after seeing them.”

“Good granddaughter, you have finally opened your eyes.”

“Yes, Grandma, finally putting this scumbag to his place.”

“That’s my granddaughter.”

She held her grandma's hands. 

“You think caring about Warren will make me care for you.”

“Who wants your fake care?”

“Huh? What do you mean? You better go up there and announce that you were just worried about Warren; that was why you acted so implosive just now.”

“Save it,” “Warren is my fiance . Who are you to tell me what to do and how to go about my things?”

“If you keep acting like that, I won’t mind breaking off our engagement right now.”

“Who is getting engaged to you?”

“Faith, if you keep doing this, I won’t beg Cassius for you,” Lydia said.

Faith scoffed, “Who needs him?”

“Don’t come on your knees later, because I won’t even look at you. 

“Why do you think highly of yourself? Who do you think you are?”

“Because you are rich doesn't mean you have everything; that's why I hate all these rich brats.”

“If you hate rich people,why are you so clingy to me or why are you here?”

“Have you forgotten you begged me to come yesterday?”

Mrs. Sartini stepped forward. Then she yelled. “ENOUGH”

The Hall went quiet. 

The host began, "Since the young miss is not ready to reveal her fiancé to us, why don't we engage in a dance together?” 

“Yes, yes, yes.”

Slow background music started playing. 

“Choose your partner. 

Cassius planted himself before her.

Faith passed him, without glancing at him. 

She went to Warren. 

“What, why is she not dancing with Cassius? ”.

“They just had a little argument?”

“But I heard that the Su and Sartini families are into marriage arrangements, but Faith declined.”

“Why are they together? Do you think she is not into that poor scumbag again?”

Warren's sister, who was present, was shocked. 

Faith is actually dancing with her brother. 

They started dancing; Cassius was with Lydia. 

His feet stopped. Eyes narrowed.

He pushed Lydia to the floor, and he grabbed Faith and took her out of the Hall. 

“What's the meaning of ‘Why are you with him, or are you doing this to spite me?”

“Why would I do that? This will be the first and last time you will drag me out without my permission,” she warned before walking back inside. 

 The music ended , Faith cut the cake. She took pictures. 

Lydia was sitting at the corner; her butt was still hurting from the fall. 

"Lydia's gaze could draw blood.

Faith took the mic. 

“My fiancé is Warren Sutter.”

Cassius went completely still.

Lydia's breath caught audibly.

Cassius rushed to the stage. “What do you mean?”

Grandma hugged Faith immediately. 

“What do you not understand? My granddaughter doesn’t want you; you aren’t fit to clean her shoes.”

“Huh? You are standing there, and your grandmother is insulting me.”

Shame flickered briefly across her face

“I disagree; she can't get engaged to Warren.”

“Who are you to make my daughter marry your son?” Mrs. Sartini asked. 

“My son has been with her; she even promised him. Okay, now I get what you rich focks want, So after using my son, you want to throw him away like he is some kind of trash.”

It's impossible. I won't allow that. 

Lydia climbs the stage. “Bestie, don't you hate Warren? Are your parents forcing you?”

Her smile sharpened. She saw this coming.”

Lydia holds her head. “Cassius, I’m not feeling well,” she said, pretending. 

"Lydia crumpled on cue.”

Cassius caught her the next minute. 

If you want to be my fiancé, you have to choose one: stay with me or go with her."

The room held its breath.

Faith looked at Cassius for a long moment — long enough for him to think she was considering it. 

Long enough for the old Faith to surface in his eyes, that blind, devoted girl he had always been able to bend.

Then she turned back to Warren and took his hand.

She leaned close. "Welcome to the rest of my plan.”