CHAPTER 1: GIVING TO THE LESS-PRIVILEGED

One year later, Alyssa stood in the middle of the ballroom. She was stunning, and her dark hair shone under the light.

“To think they'd get married. Is Clara going this far for a couple of gold?” Alyssa muttered, twirling her wine glass.

The whole room had a holiday style to it. It was a month till Christmas, and the marriage was to happen on Christmas Day.

Alyssa smiled. The 25th of December was her birthday, and Clara knew this.

This was always her plan, to take the attention away from Alyssa.

Clara soon spotted her, and she was walking over. “Alyssa, is that you?”

With the deliberate way she called Alyssa’s name, she pulled the attention of the high level, gossiping parade around her.

Everyone knew about the girl from a year ago, the one who had begged for love.

Clara's smile didn't reach her eyes.

Seeing the incoming crowd, Alyssa straightened up. Her plan was in motion.

“Hey, waiter, please can you help me out for a moment?” she smiled at the man beside her.

Wasn't he too handsome for a waiter? especially that sharp jawline?

“Focus, Alyssa.” She looked at the incoming bridezilla before turning to her hired boyfriend.

Alyssa smiled at him. “You’d pretend like you know me for a moment,” she said, stuffing some dollar notes into his front pocket.

Tipping forward slightly, she placed a kiss on his cheek.

Then someone coughed, as if interrupting them.

Clara gave a small smile. “Alyssa. I'm so glad you could make it. How did you get an invitation card, please?"

Then she looked at Conner, and there was a hint of concern in her tone. “Darling, did you send Alyssa a card?”

But Conner wasn't paying attention to her, his eyes narrowed at the man beside Alyssa.

“Don't tell me I'm not invited to my own sister's engagement?” Alyssa raised her wine glass to her lips.

The way she spoke casually seemed like an insult to Conner, and he erupted.

Taking a step closer, he said in a voice that was low and furious, “I can't believe you haven't changed, Alyssa. You are still as disgusting as ever, and it's been a year.” He raised a scrutinizing gaze to the man beside her.

“You are sleeping around with a mere waiter? Have your standards dropped to the same level as your minuscule dignity?” Conner smirked, pleased by the fact that she could amount to nothing without him.

Alyssa tightened her hold on the wine glass. Just before she could say anything, the waiter stepped forward, his posture straightened.

He was three inches taller, so his presence bore down on Conner.

"Who do you think you are calling a waiter?" He curled his lips. "I didn't think the first son of the Winters Family would be this displeasing." His voice was calm, but strangely elegant.

Conner raised a brow, who did this man think he was? And why did he look so familiar?

Even Alyssa looked up, wasn't this waiter playing his role a little too well?

Seeing how the tension was taking her moment, Clara frowned. She hated that this sister of hers didn't know when to back down.

"It's fine, Conner. Alyssa has always tried to reach our level. Don't undermine her efforts. Besides, we have an engagement to focus on, darling," she said, rubbing his arms soothingly.

Conner smirked and pulled her closer. "You are right, darling. There's no way she'd pick up the pieces of her nonexistent life in minutes."

A chuckle rang out, and Alyssa stepped forward. "My life is no longer your business. I only came here to greet Granpapi. I'm sure he'd love to see me."

Conner's face twisted when he heard that name. His grandfather loved Alyssa, so it was obvious what she wanted to do.

He wasn't going to let her. "You would leave here now, Alyssa. You have nothing to do with my family."

Alyssa's smile widened, and Conner instantly had a bad feeling.

A light flashed in the centre of the large ballroom, attracting everyone's attention, followed by a recording.

'Hey, Granpapi, it's Alyssa. I'm sure you must have wondered about my whereabouts. I'm sorry I kept you worried, but I didn't leave your grandson. Instead, he betrayed me, cheated on me, and drove me out.'

The recording was loud enough for both families to hear, and it was followed by the scene that happened a year ago.

Grandfather Winters, who was seated at the upper level, almost crushed the arm of his chair, hearing how disgraceful his grandson had been.

That naughty boy had told him his beloved Alyssa ran away when she was caught stealing the company's files.

When the video stopped, Alyssa's voice came again.

'Grandpapi, I couldn't abandon you without giving you a reason. Thank you for all your help, but I have severed all connections with the Winters Family.'

Conner's eyes went red, and he turned to Alyssa.

"You—Alyssa, you can't do this. After everything I did for you? You can't be this ungrateful. Tell grandad that it was all for humour now, and that you were drunk!"

Conner said, and he grabbed Alyssa's hand, pulling her to his grandfather.

However, he felt an iron grip on his arm.

It was the waiter again. "Take your hands off her. Now!"

Conner quickly stepped back. Who exactly was this person?

"Alyssa, why are you doing this to me?" Clara stepped forward, tears were already flowing from her eyes.

"If you hated me this much, why do you have to twist the truth to grandfather? You could have told me if you still loved Conner. I'd have let you marry him instead." Her voice was shaky, and she continued weeping.

But unlike the guests, Alyssa wasn't fooled.

"I don't love Conner anymore, Clara. As a matter of fact, Mother always told us to give our used toys to the less-privileged, so Conner fits you best," Alyssa said with a soft smile.

Clara, "...."

Conner, "...."

The guests, "...."

Alyssa placed her wine glass down. "I wish the couple a good marriage, and I hope Santa puts them on the naughty list," she said with a soft gaze, masking her pain.

"I'd take my leave now as I can't keep my boyfriend waiting."