On the night of the gala, Fred invited a long list of big names from the business world, along with plenty of well-known faces.

Of course, his usual crowd was there as well.

For the past month, I had played along as if nothing had happened. I acted sweet and agreeable, like I had let everything go.

Fred bought it. He even dialed things back with Ayla a little and started acting like we were back to normal.

He told me he had a surprise planned for the gala. I already knew what it was.

Tonight, he was going to propose to me.

When his friends saw me, their eyes wandered all over me, their tone careless and suggestive.

"You look amazing tonight, Hannah."

"Man, you're lucky. A girlfriend like her? Damn. I need to find someone just as stunning someday."

I smiled and played along, nodding politely, while internally, I had already rolled my eyes a dozen times.

The party was in full swing when the lights suddenly cut out. A spotlight dropped straight onto me. Soft violin music filled the room.

Just like I expected, Fred stepped forward, ring in hand, and went down on one knee.

"Hannah, these past five years, you've become irreplaceable to me. You've completely won my heart. Will you marry me and spend the rest of your life with me?"

The crowd erupted.

"Say yes! Say yes!"

I smiled sweetly.

Then, right in front of everyone, I threw the glass of red wine in my hand straight at his face.

"Get lost, you cheating piece of trash."

The entire room went silent.

Fred stood there, frozen for a full three seconds before it hit him what had just happened. His face darkened instantly, anger flashing in his eyes.

"Have you lost your mind?"

"Was I not clear enough? You're the one cheating. And you think you're worthy of proposing to me?"

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Voices rose in a wave of shocked whispers.

Fred wiped the wine off his face and grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight that it felt like my bones might crack.

"If you want to make a scene, do it at home. Don't embarrass me here."

He was too strong for me to pull away.

So I lifted my hand and slapped him across the face.

"Get lost!"

He stared at me, stunned, one hand on his cheek. It took him a moment before he finally spoke through clenched teeth.

"Fine. If you really wanna push this all the way, then don't blame me."

He turned, grabbed Ayla, and pulled her forward.

Then he dropped to one knee again.

The spotlight shifted to them as he repeated the exact same proposal.

Ayla looked at me, smug, her voice soft and sweet. "I do."

The crowd cheered again, though plenty of people were still whispering, their eyes flicking back toward me with complicated looks.

Fred pulled her into his arms and kissed her right there in front of everyone.

The way he glanced at me was almost like a challenge. Like if I begged now, he might still take me back.

I didn't even spare them another look.

I walked straight to the center of the hall, toward the massive screen. Under everyone's gaze, I nodded to the staff I had arranged in advance.

"Play it."