As I stood on the outskirts of the jubilant gathering, my eyes were fixed on the spectacle unfolding before me. Timothy's family celebrated his engagement with all the pomp and extravagance befitting a grand occasion, while I stood there in silent awe, a bewildered observer of a world I did not belong to.
The grandeur of the Hayes family estate was on full display, the opulent chandeliers casting a warm, golden glow on the festivities. A string quartet played a melodious tune in the background, adding an air of sophistication to the affair. But it was the laughter and clinking of glasses that resonated the most—a celebration of love and union that I couldn't help but feel like an intruder in.
My decision to attend this event with Scarlett had been a calculated move, one meant to confront
