3. Good News

I picked up my juice and walked towards the couch where Granny was sitting with an elderly guest. A few guests looked my way, their eyes laced with judgment. Most of them were familiar faces. They were board members and managers of the Watson Group, along with a few longtime employees. Our relatives were there too, as well as family friends and some of the city’s most influential businessmen. Their eyes followed me as though I didn't belong here, yet the moment I came near, they would turn away and avoid any interaction.

I knew it was because of the scandal. I still had no idea how they managed it, but the scandal was wiped from the internet, including every social media platform, within two days. I had a feeling Mr. King was behind it because only he had the power to make a scandal like this vanish. But how my family dealt with him, I had no idea. I didn’t dare ask my uncle either. If I did, he would spend the next hour reminding me how grateful I should be that he handled everything for me, how he had to leave work, and how much of his valuable time had been wasted cleaning up my mess. Still, deleting the photos and videos didn’t erase what people already knew. My identity had already been exposed, and scandals like this weren’t forgotten overnight. Granny didn’t let me set foot outside the mansion. I didn’t even go to work. She insisted we wait at least a week before I showed my face in public again. So, after one week, here I was, standing in the midst of the guests at the engagement ceremony of my ex-boyfriend and my cousin.

"Oh, there you are," Granny said the moment she saw me. Her eyes swept over my appearance, and a warm smile spread across her face. "You look gorgeous, Ony. Come, sit here."

She gestured to the empty spot next to her, and I quietly took my seat. The elderly woman beside her studied me with curious eyes.

"Eva, this is my granddaughter, Oindrila," Granny introduced me.

To my surprise, there was no judgment in the older woman's gaze, unlike in everyone else's. Instead, she smiled warmly at me.

"Oh… hello, my dear. You are such a beautiful young woman,"

"Thank you." I returned her smile softly.

She gave a small nod before turning back to continue her conversation with Granny.

I looked around the hall. There was no sign of Nicole, Brandon, or his parents. That was because they were upstairs getting ready. Uncle Matthew and Aunt Pamela were talking with some guests, whereas their son, Michael, was at the bar drinking with his friends. He was a few years younger than me. Uncle Benjamin and his wife, Aunt Jasmine, were also talking with some guests, and their two sons, Heath and Jacob, stood with them. Heath and Jacob were both teenagers, much younger than me. Even though they were my cousins, none of them had ever been close to me. I had always treated them kindly, yet it was obvious they wanted nothing to do with me. My aunts also kept me at arm’s length. I knew why, but I could never understand their resentment. We all lived under the same roof, yet behaved like strangers. They shared warmth and closeness among themselves, while I remained the outsider they disliked. My grandparents loved me with all their hearts, but I still felt the need to be accepted by the rest of the family. Perhaps it was because I was a bastard child. I spent years trying to make them like me, trying to earn their approval, but I never succeeded. Eventually, for the sake of my own peace, I stopped trying and kept my distance from them as well. Nicole was the only one I had been closest to, but that had turned out to be a pretence as well.

I watched them gather together for a family photo. Everyone was dressed as though they were attending a royal engagement. The ceremony was being held at our mansion. It wasn’t because my uncle couldn’t afford a five-star hotel, but because the Watson family mansion was far more luxurious than most of them. Although Watson Group was now considered one of the smaller companies in Purple City, there had once been a time when it stood at the very top, unmatched by anyone. This mansion was proof of the Watson family’s former glory. Even though both the family and the company had lost their prestige over the years, the mansion itself remained untouched.

My grandfather had made sure of that. To him, this mansion was the foundation of the Watson family, and he refused to let it go, no matter how difficult life became.

A sudden commotion drew me out of my thoughts, and I lifted my gaze towards the staircase. Brandon’s parents made their way down the stairs. Right behind them were Brandon and Nicole. He looked handsome in a black tuxedo. Nicole, on the other hand, wore a beautiful red gown, her hand wrapped around his arm. Smiles were plastered across their faces as they acknowledged the guests around them.

I felt that familiar ache in my heart and averted my eyes, taking a sip from my glass of juice. It hurt even more seeing Brandon so happy. All this time, he had been the perfect, devoted fiancé to Nicole while treating me with nothing but cold indifference. I didn’t even know what I had expected. Perhaps a trace of regret. A flicker of sadness over losing me. But there was nothing.

Together, they stepped onto the stage, and Uncle Matthew reached for the microphone.

It was time.

"Today, we gather here to celebrate this beautiful union—my daughter’s engagement to Brandon Wales. She is truly fortunate to have a man like Brandon as her future husband," Uncle Matthew announced proudly, while Aunt Pamela stood gracefully beside him.

"This isn't a union between just two person but between two family...." he continued and by his face anyone could tell how happy he was with this engagement.

After finishing his speech, he handed the microphone to Nicole.

"Good evening, everyone. Thank you all for blessing this occasion with your presence. Today is one of the happiest and most important days of my life. I’m finally getting engaged to the man I’ve admired since childhood. Growing up together, Brandon and I had always adored each other. But I never thought this day would come." She paused, smiling softly before continuing. "And we’re also delighted to share another piece of wonderful news..... we’re expecting our first child."

As she spoke those words, her gaze shifted towards me. My eyes widened as I processed what she had just said.

She was pregnant?

How was that possible? They had only officially been together for a month. Or.... had they been together long before that? My throat suddenly went dry. My eyes immediately moved to Brandon. He seemed a little uncomfortable at the announcement, and in that instant, I realized the truth. They had been having an affair behind my back.

Rage burned inside me.

All this time, he had been using me. He cheated on me? But why? I thought he loved me. Was everything between us a lie?

My eyes burned with unshed tears, and I blinked hard, refusing to let them fall.

"Are you alright, Ony?" Granny asked softly.

I forced a faint smile and nodded, unable to meet her eyes. She didn’t question me further, only squeezed my hand gently.

I sat there with my head lowered, unable to focus on anything. The ceremony continued around me in a blur. They exchanged rings, smiling lovingly at each other before giving speeches about their happiness and future together.

Meanwhile, I sat there broken, wishing for the night to end as quickly as possible.

"Ony..." I was jolted awake from my trance by Granny’s voice, and I looked at her.

"We should go congratulate them," she said, gesturing towards the stage where Brandon and Nicole stood side by side, smiling brightly.

For the first time in a month, the sight of them together didn't hurt because all I felt was numbness. No pain. No jealousy. Nothing at all.

I gave her a small nod and rose to my feet. But just as we started walking towards the stage, a commotion erupted near the entrance. I was too exhausted to look at what had happened.

Uncle Matthew grabbed the microphone once again, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. "Ladies and gentlemen... since the night is still young, we have another special announcement for you all."

I scoffed. What new drama had they planned now?

"But before that, please welcome our most prestigious guest of the evening, Mr. Andreas King." He pointed towards the entrance.

A frown immediately formed on my face, and I turned sharply in that direction. The moment my eyes landed on the tall figure making his way through the crowd towards the stage, they widened in shock.

Andreas King?

What was he doing here?