Even though Sandra had tipped him off about Tiffany’s intention to break off the engagement, Kenneth hadn’t taken it seriously.
In his eyes, it was completely impossible.
Tiffany had already been chasing after him for years, loving him to the point of obsession. No matter how many times he’d humiliated her, she’d never given up.
But today, the Kelleys had shown up at their doorstep, ready to call it quits.
Kenneth had tried countless times to shake Tiffany off, to escape this engagement he despised. Now that the day had finally come, he felt an inexplicable irritation gnawing at him.
Thankfully, his mother downstairs hadn’t agreed right away. With a diplomatic smile, she’d said. “Breaking an engagement is a big deal. We should discuss this with my husband. Don’t you agree?”
“Of course, Thalia nodded. It was a two-family affair, after all.
As they waited for Kenneth’s father to return from his workout, his mother turned to Tiffany. “Sweetie, you must be bored. Why don’t you take a stroll in the back garden? The weather’s lovely, and all the flowers are in bloom.”
Tiffany knew this was just a ploy to get her out of the room so the adults could talk. She nodded and let a maid lead her to the garden.
It was a breathtaking sea of flowers. Tiffany waved off the maid and strolled through the vibrant blooms, letting her curiosity guide her.
The early summer sun was high, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves. Tiffany bent down to touch a blooming gardenia, its petals soft and fragrant.
She was lost in the moment, her mood lifting, until a tall shadow fell over her.
Looking up, she found Kenneth standing there, his face grim.
“You want to break off the engagement?”
Tiffany stood up, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips. “What’s this? You sound almost disappointed, Mr. Harper.”
“I couldn’t be happier!” Kenneth blurted out.
But there was something else nagging at him. He wanted to ask about her and Richard. The image of Richard with his arm around Tiffany’s waist outside Nocturne Arena kept flashing in his mind.
The thought plagued Kenneth. ‘Even if I don’t like her, Tiffany’s still my fiancée, at least on paper. What the hell was she doing getting so cozy with another guy?’
Before Kenneth could ask. Tiffany cut him off. “We’re done here. You can go now.”
Kenneth was stunned. “This is my house!
“Oh. Right.” Tiffany shrugged and turned to leave.
The garden was huge. Finding a spot where she didn’t have to see Kenneth’s face wouldn’t be hard.
Her casual exit left Kenneth fuming. This wasn’t how things usually went.
Before, Tiffany would never have treated him like that. It was always him walking away, with her trailing behind, calling out, “Kenny, wait for me!”
He’d never looked back.
But since the day before yesterday, Tiffany had stopped clinging to him. Her eyes, once full of adoration, now held only mockery and hatred.
Kenneth stood frozen, watching Tiffany leave. Under the bright sun, her silhouette was graceful, exuding an air of effortless grace. Her every movement outshone the blooming flowers around her.
Setting aside his past disgust and prejudice, Kenneth had to admit Tiffany was beautiful.
But still, he couldn’t bring himself to love her.
If she wanted to break the engagement, then so be it. Kenneth wouldn’t stop her.
As Kenneth turned to leave, a girl no older than thirteen emerged from the bushes. Seeing her brother walk away, she chased after Tiffany.
“You! Stop right there!” the girl demanded, her nose in the air.
“What do you want?” Tiffany looked down at the girl, irritated.
This was Kenneth’s younger sister, Snow. She was known for being a total brat, always talking down to everyone like she owned the place.
Back when Tiffany was less aware, she’d bent over backwards trying to please both Mrs. Harper and Snow. She’d been so pathetic then, letting Snow boss her around and even make her bark like a dog.
Back when Tiffany was less aware, she’d bent over backwards trying to please both Mrs. Harper and Snow, She’d been so pathetic then, letting Snow boss her around and even make her bark like a dog.
The memory brought a cryptic smile to Tiffany’s lips.
“Hey!” Snow planted her hands on her hips. “What were you saying to my brother? Let me tell you, if you want to be part of the Harper family, you’ve got to get through me first!”
“And then what?” Tiffany yawned.
Snow, mistaking Tiffany’s attitude for submission, pressed on. “Can’t you see my shoelace is untied? Get on your knees and tie it! Or… I’ll tell my brother you hit me!”
The sound echoed through the garden before she could finish.
Snow stood stunned, then burst into tears, screaming for help.
Tiffany remained calm, her gaze icy. “You’re young, so I’ll let this slide. But keep acting like this, and someday someone might sew that nasty mouth of yours shut.” With that warning, she walked away.
‘Some people never learn until they get a taste of their own medicine. Tiffany bristled.
Maybe it was bad luck, but as she wandered through the back of the estate, she got lost among the smaller buildings. Then, through an open door, she saw something she really, really wished she hadn’t.
Tiffany froze. Her eyes widened as she took in the scene before her.
It was Kenneth’s dad, Ryan Harper. The answer to why they hadn’t been able to find him earlier became clear-he had been preoccupied.
She glanced around the room. With its practical furnishings and cluttered workspaces, it was unmistakably the staff quarters. If Mrs. Harper found out about this, it would be utter chaos.
And of course, Tiffany had to be the one to stumble upon it.
She backed away instinctively, her only thought to get out of there fast. She was here to call the engagement, but if someone discovered her now, her chances of ending it would be obliterated.
But luck wasn’t on her side. As Tiffany turned to leave, she knocked over a flower pot. The crash seemed to echo forever as shards of ceramic were sent flying across the floor.
“Who’s there?”
Tiffany’s heart raced as she heard Ryan’s voice and the sound of approaching footsteps.
Tiffany broke into a cold sweat. She had to run.
But before she could even move, a strong hand grabbed her arm and pulled her into a nearby storage closet.