Zane, overhearing Dave, turned to Skylar with a smile that matched the coldness Dave often carried.
“Miss Larson, Mr. Evans asked me to let you know that my presence here should be taken as his own. I’ll place the Heart of True Love on your finger, just as he would.”
Skylar’s face drained of color at his words.
The guests couldn’t hold back their laughter after hearing Zane.
“She really thought her fiance would put the ring on himself? Funny, isn’t it?”
“The Heart of True Love? More like a comedy show.”
“I’d rather jump into a toilet than go through this humiliation.”
But Lucas’s stern glare quickly silenced the room.
After making sure Zane delivered his message, Dave smirked, feeling satisfied. “I need to get to my meeting now, Grandpa. Everything is as planned.”
Then, he hung up.
Lucas tried calling him back, but the line was busy. On the verge of losing his temper and smashing his phone, he remembered the crowd around him and forced himself to stay calm, maintaining his dignity.
Letting Zane stand in for Dave at the engagement was unthinkable. The idea of getting out beyond these walls could turn the Evans family into a laughingstock.
After a moment of thought, Lucas cleared his throat and addressed the crowd. “I apologize for the confusion, everyone. My grandson is very dedicated to his work. He just informed me about an important meeting regarding a key partnership. Unfortunately, he can’t be here today. I’ll reschedule the engagement party, but please stay for dinner. Let’s enjoy the evening regardless.”
Everyone quickly figured out what had really happened. No matter how Lucas tried to explain it, it was clear that Dave had avoided the engagement party.
“Looks like the CEO is as focused on his work as they say. It’s understandable. Young leaders have so much energy, and it’s impressive how committed your grandson is to Phoenix Alliance Group. No need to apologize. We get it.”
Lucas, relieved to hear this, muttered some half-hearted responses. The guests, pretending to agree, secretly thought the situation was amusing.
For many, it was the first time seeing the Evans family in such an awkward situation.
Off to the side, Blake couldn’t help but laugh.
Bianca nudged Blake, whispering, “Keep it down. It’ll be awkward if Skylar catches you laughing.”
Trying to stifle his amusement, Blake glanced at her and replied quietly, “I was worried you might be dealing with trouble, so I came to keep an eye out. Didn’t expect this kind of drama!”
He thought to himself, ‘If this fiance of hers really chose Skylar, who flirts with other people’s boyfriends, I’d seriously question his judgment and taste.’
Bianca looked up, her eyes sparkling. “Worried about me being bullied? That won’t happen. I don’t let anyone walk all over me without a fight.”
Seeing Bianca’s strong, independent spirit, Blake’s heart fluttered. He couldn’t help but look at her with tenderness and admiration.
Bianca quickly looked away.
With a polite smile, Lucas announced, “Let the feast begin! Please make yourselves comfortable!”
The guests started chatting in small groups, exchanging pleasantries. Lucas let out a sigh of relief and turned to Skylar, gently taking her hand to comfort her. “Dave has always been like this. Today’s situation was unexpected. But don’t worry, your engagement with him is set. The ceremony can wait.”
Skylar nodded, trying to reassure him. “I understand. Dave is dedicated to his work. Please don’t worry. I’m really fine.”
But despite her calm words, Skylar’s distress was visible. Her face was pale, and her hands were tightly clenched. She looked lost in thought, trembling with a coldness that seemed to be taking over her.
The sudden change in Dave’s decision, the mocking whispers from the guests, and the sympathetic look from Bianca all piled up on Skylar, nearly overwhelming her.
After a short while, Skylar apologized to Lucas, saying she felt unwell and needed to leave. Lucas’s face softened as he asked, “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
Skylar shook her head faintly. “I’m just so exhausted. I think I need to rest.”
Seeing how distressed she was, Lucas agreed and arranged for her to be taken home.
As Skylar made her way out, Bianca noticed the sorrow in her pale face. Concerned, she approached her gently and asked, “Are you okay?”
Bianca’s question hit Skylar hard, sparking a sudden, intense reaction from her. Her eyes flared with anger, a sharp change from her usual calm, leaving Bianca confused and dubious.
Skylar hissed through clenched teeth, “You knew this would happen, didn’t you? You’re just here to enjoy watching me suffer, aren’t you?”
Bianca was caught off guard. “What do you mean? I don’t understand. Can you explain?”
Skylar’s hands balled even tighter, and she almost shouted at Bianca’s face, declaring that nothing would change the fact that she would soon be married to Dave. But she held back, knowing that doing it would only make her look foolish.
Dave paid so much attention to Bianca, yet he couldn’t even pretend to care about their engagement party.
Skylar couldn’t bear the thought of Bianca seeing her as a pathetic joke if she said anything. Just imagining Bianca’s smug look was enough to shatter her.
Swallowing her anger and resentment, Skylar stared at Bianca for a moment before turning away, choosing to leave without saying another word.
Bianca furrowed her brow, watching Skylar leave with deep confusion.
Once she was out of sight of the banquet hall, Skylar let out her frustration, stomping her heels in anger. Just as the staff opened the front door for her to exit, a crowd of journalists with microphones and cameras rushed in, blocking her path.
The situation was more than just annoying for Skylar. She had been the one to reach out to the media, hoping to build excitement for her engagement. But after everything that had happened, it all felt pointless. All she wanted now was for this entire banquet to disappear, erased from everyone’s memory.
When Skylar tried to tell the reporters to leave, one of them shoved a camera into her face. “Miss Larson, do you think ‘fiance rejected marriage’ accurately describes what happened at today’s ceremony?”
“Do you know why your partner didn’t show up, Miss Larson? Was the decision to get married yours and your partner’s alone, or did Mr. Lucas Evans arrange it?”
“Miss Larson, rumors are spreading that your engagement to a Evans family only happened after you worked hard to win Lucas Evans’s favor. Can you comment on that?”
“Miss Larson, can you confirm if your engagement is still ongoing? When will your engagement ceremony actually take place?”