Chapter 1 Bitter mockery

Raphael's POV

I looked at the venue, and everything was perfect. Tonight is our 3rd year anniversary, and we have been engaged for 1 year and three months. In just two months, we will be Mr. and Mrs. Aveyard. I want to make sure that everything is perfect and she will enjoy tonight. I ask people to come up with all the stuff around here.

She can walk on the red carpet towards the stage, where a table is set up with her favorite and preferred design of mantle. There are scented candles everywhere, even on the ground.

In the middle of the table are her favorite red roses. The background has lettering and number balloons that say 'Happy 3rd Anniversary.' I know Nathalie well. She wants everything to be perfect and instagrammable.

"Sir, everything is okay. The food is also ready," says the chef.

"That's great! Make sure everything is perfect because we don't want a messed up celebration, do we?" I suggest. She laughed and nodded. I know she gets scared, but that's only to remind her.

"Yes, Sir. I'll go inside, and we will be standing by," she says.

I simply nod, and she leaves me right away. She is indeed nervous because of the subtle warning that I gave. I waited for Nathalie for 15 minutes until she arrived with her beautiful Porsche. I opened the car door, and she only passed through me and didn't greet me.

"So... I was correct. This is all you have. I thought you would keep your promise from two months ago. You're really a cheapskate."

I look at her with confusion. How can she tell me such a word? A cheapskate? I spent $10,000 for this damn celebration! I followed all her desires for decorations.

As for the yacht? I missed the chance to buy it because of a damn billionaire. I missed a single minute because of a traffic jam. I stood beside her and held her hand.

"Look, I lose the chance to buy the yacht that you're saying. But I promise I'm already on the list of people they will call for the next yacht with the same design. I promise I will have that, and we can go to an island that you like. I promise," I replied.

Her glances and the way she rolled her eyes were proof that she was disappointed. When Nathalie said she wanted something, I knew I had to do it or she'd be upset. I tried to hide the pain of how she saw my gift for her, but I guess her coldness has trapped my heart ever since we became a couple.

Yes, she has been like this, particularly because her family was far wealthier than mine. She's a billionaire heiress, while I'm just a multimillionaire with $899.7 million in assets and liabilities. She pushed me away when I tried to hug her.

"Move away! How can I spend my time on a loser like you? Now you're making me realize that dating you was the worst five years of my life! Ugh, I can't do this anymore!" she says. I look at her.

I don't know why I'm nervous, but I can tell that she will throw a bomb in my face. She grabbed her engagement ring and threw it on my face. The diamond even hit my right cheek.

She pointed her finger at me with the most disappointing and mad expression she ever gave me. I crouch down and pick up the engagement ring.

"I guess you are calling off our wedding, right, Nathalie?" I ask.

"Of course, you fucking loser! What did you expect? that I will wait for you until you're richer than me? Oh, c'mon. That will never happen, and I'm sure of that. So you and that cheap ring are leaving together because I found a man who meets my standards. Goodbye!" she says and turns around. My eyes widened.

"What did you just say?" I ask. She only laughed and walked away.

A new man? She has been cheating me since what?! How can she do that and even choose this day to break up with me? My laughter quickly turned to horror.

My palm clenched into a fist as I tried to calm myself, afraid that I'd break everything the organizers had set up. I grab the champagne and drink all of it. I kept on asking for another bottle until my best friend arrived and saw how messed up I was.

"Let's go home and stop already!" Trevor roared and dragged me away.

Kristine's POV

As soon as we saw my niece's ex-fiancee drag by his friend away from the area, I closed my car window. Belinda looks at me from the rearview mirror. We both witness how they broke up and how upset he is for what Nathalie did. I sign her to drive away. It's been a week since I came back from studying in Australia.

Now that I'm back here in Los Angeles, I will start my plan. Every card that I have in my hand will be slowly placed on the table. When we reached the mansion, my heart skipped a bit. I'm glad that the mansion is still the same. The gate opened, and the maids saw my arrival.

"Welcome home, Lady Kristine!" they all said. I smiled sweetly.

"I'm home, everyone. Prepare the dinner, and we will eat together," she announces.

They look at each other and face me.

They all smiled and followed me as I got inside the house. When I turned around and saw my parents' portrait above the furnace. Tears stream down my cheeks. The pain from the past had come back. I shed my tears and looked at Nanny Risa. She only hugs me and caresses my back. I ended up hugging her and cried silently.

"You're now home. Please, you have to refrain yourself from crying like this when that time comes, understood?" she says. I nod.

She held my face and shed those tears on my cheeks. She is my dad's nanny, and she became my nanny as well. She doesn't have any family after her daughter and husband died in a demolition derby when I was seven years old. She is like my grandmother now.

Dad says grandma died when I was 3 years old, but she's happy that she met me and got the chance to spoil me with sweets. Grandpa died when I was 10 years old. But I'm glad I enjoyed his company.

"I will nanny Risa, no. I mean Grandma Risa. Don't worry about me. I'll be okay, and this time, I'm ready to face my enemy."

She smiled and drag me on the kitchen. Belinda seems uneasy about the lavish dinner that she saw on the table. I chuckled and tapped her shoulder. I told everyone to take their seats, and we all ate together. My parents before me had always asked the maids to eat with us.

That's the reason why we have such long tables in the dining hall. After that dinner, I went to my room. Grandma Risa and Belinda followed me inside. They both gave me an envelope. I grab the papers and scan them. I smiled sweetly. like what I need.

"Thanks, Belinda and grandma Risa. You guys can rest now. I will just review this and then I'll go to bed," she says. They both nodded.

"Good night," they both say, and they leave me in my room.

I spend an hour reading the papers to make sure that I won't miss any important details. When my eyes get tired, I decide to rest also. The sun's light blinds my eyes. When I turn around and look at the clock, it's already 7 in the morning. I woke up and took a shower.

After eating breakfast, I told them that I'd drive around the neighborhood. Belinda wants to come, but I told her that I'd be fine. She agreed in the end.

As I drive around the city proper, I see a certain park that reminds me of my childhood. I park my car and roam around. I am glad to be home once again.

"Oh my, a familiar face..." I whispered.

I walk toward that person. Her tears were falling down her cheeks. I gave her my hanky. But she's too embarrassed and chooses to take it without facing me.

"Thank you," she says.

I stood beside her and looked at the people in the park who are here to unwind before Sunday hits the floor.

"No problem," she replied. I left her after she settled down and grabbed a bite at my favorite fast-food chain when I was still a kid.

As soon as I got back to the mansion, Belinda handed me a small envelope. I smiled when I saw what was written on it. I almost forgot what tomorrow's event is. Oh well, I'm ready anyway.

"Make sure to dress up tomorrow. You will be coming with me."

"No problem, Kristine. I'll take care of myself," she says.

Tomorrow night had finally arrived. I'm already excited for his reaction when we meet again. It's been ten years...

"Are you ready?" Belinda says, snapping her finger. I smirk.