Open Marriage, Broken Promises: When Love Turns to Ashes novel Chapter 97

"Some people are just born with nothing. You'll never have it no matter how much you envy others."

I'd never met Tiffany in person.

But I did know that my father's chauffeur, Jackson, had sent her abroad to study from a young age. He'd poured all his resources into her education, sparing no expense.

However, there was one thing Mike had gotten wrong.

This hotel didn't belong to Tiffany's family.

It was mine.

My father had sponsored the event as a gesture of gratitude for Jackson's decades of loyal service to our family.

"Mike, who are you talking to?"

At that moment, a heavily made-up woman approached us.

When she saw me, her brows furrowed slightly, her face full of hostility.

"Who is this woman? Didn't you promise me before? That you'd never have contact with any other woman again, that you'd love me and only me for the rest of your life?"

Mike's face froze. He hurriedly explained, "Tiffany, don't misunderstand. This woman is my ex-girlfriend. I broke up with her a long time ago. She's the shameless one who keeps pestering me!"

"Tiffany, I'm..."

I had just opened my mouth to introduce myself when Tiffany slapped me hard across the face.

Her slap landed squarely, stinging my cheek as she snarled, "Who do you think you are, calling me by my name and harassing my fiancé?!"

I hadn't expected Tiffany to lash out so suddenly. Stunned, I froze in place, covering my face, momentarily at a loss for words.

Mike, instead of stopping her, smirked and sneered at me.

"I told you to get lost. Tiffany has a bad temper, but you stayed here asking for trouble. You deserve it!"

Tiffany lit a cigarette, holding it elegantly between her fingers.

Mike, like a dog eager to please, pulled out a lighter and offered it to her. "Tiffany, let me light it for you."

Watching this scene, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of despair.

Once, I treated Mike like a treasure, carefully cherishing him, afraid even the smallest thing might upset him.

"Well, let me make it clear right now in front of everyone: I, Mike, will only ever marry Tiffany. I will only ever love Tiffany. As for you, you shameless piece of trash—give up already!"

To please Tiffany, Mike didn't hesitate to fabricate lies, slandering me in front of everyone.

The atmosphere at the engagement party instantly shifted.

Guests began glaring at me with contempt and disgust, whispering to one another.

"How could a woman be this shameless? She cheated on him, and now she's still pestering him? Absolutely disgraceful."

"Some people are just born with a twisted personality. They can't stand seeing others happy when their own life is in shambles."

"If this were the old days, someone like her would've been thrown into the river with a pig cage."

The cruel remarks stabbed at me like knives. Panic surged through me, my face pale as I shook my head in desperation.

"No... that's not true... I didn't cheat on him... He's lying... Please don't believe him..."

But my protests were drowned out by the noisy crowd. No one wanted to hear my side of the story. All I received were glares filled with suspicion and malice.