"How does your sensible, financially challenged secretary afford to hang out in this pricey restaurant?"
"Don't you find that a bit strange, Jack?"
After challenging him, he gave Liz a questioning look.
Liz stiffened, and after a tense few seconds, she tearfully said, "Mr. Yoxall, I'm here for a gathering with friends."
"It's my first time here, I..."
She stumbled over her words, hiccupping through her feeble explanation.
Jack frowned, tightened his grip on her shoulder, and interrupted her, "That's enough, I believe you."
I stared at him in disbelief, feeling as if I had plunged into an icy abyss.
Each word he spoke felt like a hammer pounding on my heart.
My hand trembled at my side as I gritted my teeth, glaring at them.
"Really? Well, I'd like to see for myself what kind of friends can afford this place."
I turned quickly to push open the door.
Just as my hand touched the handle, my wrist was abruptly seized.
Jack towered over me, his voice grinding out through clenched teeth, "Enough, Ginny!"
"Must you always try to humiliate people?!"
I paused, looking up at him defiantly.
The fury inside me exploded, "Humiliate her? How?"
"I'm merely verifying her story, what's wrong with that?!"
I shouted, struggling to free my hand, but his grip was unyielding.
His arm tensed, veins bulging with anger.
Suddenly, he swung his arm, slamming me against the wall.
A sharp pain shot through my back, forcing a cry of pain from my lips.
He hesitated for a moment, then stopped himself from coming to my aid.
After a brief pause, he spoke coldly, "Ginny, this restaurant isn't yours; she has every right to be here."
"Not everyone is born into privilege like you."
"Her life has been full of hard work and struggle—why do you feel the need to demean her?"
He then looked at me, disappointment etched on his face, "I'm truly disappointed in you."
I glanced at him, then over his shoulder at Liz.
I felt like a fool in this instant.
Was I really such a despicable person in his eyes?
Holding back the tears threatening to spill, I lowered my head to conceal the emotion swirling in my eyes.
After composing myself, I looked him straight in the eye.
"Fine, since I'm such a disgrace in your eyes, not worth a fraction of Liz, let's end the engagement."
