Three years ago, just before our wedding, one of Seth's friends had hurled vicious accusations at me.
"You're a gambler's daughter. Don't tell me you paid off daddy's debts with your own body?"
"Zoe Winfield is the one he actually loves. You're delusional."
Back then, Seth had knocked him to the ground with a single punch, beaten him until his face was purple and swollen, then ran over his leg with a car, crippling him.
Seth's voice had been ice-cold when he warned him.
"Say one more word. The Vance family has more than enough ways to make you disappear."
But now that same man stood right beside Seth, whole and unharmed, without a trace of injury.
Only now did I understand: promises that burned so hot meant nothing once the love ran cold.
In the distance, the crowd was still laughing and gossiping, but I couldn't hear a word of it anymore.
So the whole rescue, the whole knight-in-shining-armor act—it had all been a show they'd staged to toy with me.
And I'd believed every second of it like a fool.
I'd even been planning to make things right with Seth.
The reason I hadn't spoken to him these past few days wasn't anger. I'd been preparing for an interview at a multinational firm. I wanted to surprise him. I wanted to become someone worthy of standing beside him.
No wonder every apologetic message I'd sent over the past few days had vanished into silence.
While I stood there, lost in a daze, a server grabbed my arm and hauled me roughly to Seth's side.
Before I could even process what was happening, the red wine on my tray splashed across Zoe Winfield's designer gown.
Zoe had been raised in the lap of luxury. Refinement radiated from every pore. Standing next to Seth, she didn't pale in comparison for a second. They were a perfect match.
And me? I was just a waitress working this extravagant gala.
Zoe let out a derisive laugh, her gaze raking over me with undisguised contempt. She'd clearly recognized me as Mrs. Vance.
She shifted her position, subtly blocking Seth's line of sight, the scorn in her voice barely concealed.
"A waitress deliberately wandering over here to get Seth's attention? Do you have a death wish?"
"You could work here your entire life and still never afford the dress Seth personally picked out for me. It's worth millions."
"You'd better start figuring out how you're going to pay for the one you just ruined."