Chapter 5 Engagement I

GENERAL

Both families and guests froze at the sight of a different groom when Sarah and Knox walked into the hall. Everyone halted their actions and stared at them with mixed expressions.

Gerald, who was just getting up to walk forward, stopped in his tracks when he saw his girlfriend and uncle.

"What!" he spurted, staggering slightly. He sank back into his seat, his jaw hanging open.

His mother and aunt rushed to him.

"What's happening, Gerald? Why is that girl with your devilish uncle? Isn't she your girlfriend?" his mother asked, her voice sharp with anger, matching her expression.

Beads of sweat covered Gerald's forehead. Their voices barely reached him. He was shocked beyond words. He was still trying to comprehend what was happening and why it was happening.

"We can't keep waiting, sister. Gerald is too shocked to talk," his aunt said exasperatedly. "Do you know what? Let's stop the engagement before it happens. We can't let Knox steal his nephew's woman," the aunt suggested, and the mother nodded in agreement.

The duo rushed forward and intercepted them before they got to the ring.

"I didn't think the mighty Knox would bring his cruelty into his family," Gerald's mother blurted out, her eyes scanning the couple with disgust. "She's your nephew's girlfriend, and this engagement party is for them," she added with an eye roll.

Knox's lips stretched into something that didn't feel like a smile. A chill ran down Gerald's mother's spine. She knew the smile wasn't as real as it looked. It was a warning.

But she couldn't stop. This concerned her reputation. A lot of her friends from the elite group were present. She wasn't ready to lose her respect and ego.

"Even if she's a shameless two-timer, I didn't think you would go ahead with her to ruin your own nephew's engagement party. Have you lost all respect for this family?" The aunt shouted; the veins in her neck popped out.

Again, Knox smiled widely, increasing their fury.

"This engagement cannot hold between you two. She belongs to your nephew," Gerald's mom asserted.

At that moment, Sarah couldn't hold her anger anymore. The way they spoke about her as if she were some sort of product that could only be claimed by her son infuriated her. However, before she could react, Knox let out a low laugh.

It wasn't exactly laughter-it sent goosebumps across their skin. They bit their lower lips to suppress the trepidation gripping them. They couldn't show their weakness yet-not until they fought for their son.

Then he leaned forward.

Their breath caught in their throats.

He faced Gerald's mother. "Only my dead parents can stop this engagement from happening today, Auntie." His eyes darkened. "But they are no more because you killed them," he added in a whisper, low enough for only her to hear.

Gerald's mother and his aunt's bodies tightened at the statement. They stared for a few seconds, then held hands and pulled aside.

"It's time for our engagement, little girl," Knox informed Sarah, who nodded.

She didn't hear what he said to them, but their reactions were enough to tell her that whatever they heard would haunt them for days.

When they got to where the Mossanaites' ring was placed, Knox pushed it aside and brought out an almond-shaped diamond ring.

Everyone in the hall gasped at it, slowly getting to their feet to get a full glimpse. Since everyone in the hall was well-to-do, it wasn't surprising that they knew the worth of the ring.

Sarah wasn't left out.

She nearly gasped in shock when she saw it. It was beyond surprising to her because she knew the brand of the ring wasn't even located in the country. How did he get it within twenty-four hours?

"When did you prepare this?" she asked, her eyes fixed on it.

"Midnight," he responded. "It was sent over by private jet," he added, making Sarah go through another round of shock.

"I didn't know you were that rich," she mumbled in a low tone, but it didn't escape Knox's ears.

"Well, I'm verrrrrryyyy rich. I don't think we can ever spend it all," he joked.

She had more questions to ask, but the host didn't give her the chance.

Knox was asked to put the ring on her finger, and he did. Afterward, they waited for the guests to congratulate them one after the other.

Then Sarah's sister, Amara, appeared. As soon as Sarah saw her, her smile faded and her mood turned sour. She rolled her eyes and let out a breath.

"The mood spoiler is here," she murmured.

And just as Amara got there, she seized Sarah's hand and dragged her out of the hall. Knox tried to intervene, but Sarah gestured, "I can handle it," to him.

"What are you doing, Amara? I can work, you know," Sarah muttered as they got outside.

Amara didn't stop dragging her until they got to the garden. It was dimly lit, silent, and peaceful.

"Why did you pull-?"

"Shut your filthy mouth, Sarah," Amara snapped, causing Sarah to swallow her words. Her eyes reddened, and her veins throbbed with anger. From her shaky hands, Sarah could tell that Amara was extremely exasperated, and that only excited her. She wanted more-more frustration, more anger, more hate.

"Amara, what did I do? Why are you angry?" she feigned ignorance.

"Today is my engagement, sister. Aren't you supposed to be happy for me? Or are you angry that I might get married before you?" Sarah felt the urge to laugh after saying that, but she suppressed it by digging her nails into her skin.

"Stop acting all innocent, Sarah. Yes, today is your engagement, but it's supposed to be with Gerald, not his uncle," she flared, pointing toward the entrance. "You fucking cheated on Gerald. Choosing his uncle over him?" She scoffed. "That's the highest form of betrayal I've ever come across," she shouted.

Sarah rolled her eyes, her patience thinning.