The engagement ceremony was taken place at the hanging garden the next day, the highest part of the Ophelia Hotel which appeared to be the most deluxe hotel in City N. It was said that no more than ten people in the city had the privilege to invite guests to the hanging garden.
Florence was putting on a long white dress embroidered with gems and she was wearing a delicate makeup. She was so beautiful that she looked like a fairy which had accidentally gotten into the human world. As she walked into the main hall of the hotel and was heading towards the lift, she caught a glimpse of a wedding poster at the side. It was a wedding photo of a man and a woman, who also happened to be the two people she was most familiar with in her life: her ex-boyfriend and her enemy at university for four years.
She did not expect them to actually get married today, even at the same hotel as hers…Her face went slightly pale and she felt heavy-hearted. There was some kind of irony in it. "Florence, what are you doing here?" A woman's criticizing tone of voice suddenly rang at the hall. She then saw Isabel Hopkins who was wearing a white wedding gown walking towards her in rage in the next moment whereas Grayson Russell who was the groom was following behind her, all dressed up in black suit and leather shoes. He looked at her with a mixed expression and his lips tightly pursed.
Florence stared at both of them and those memories of their betrayal and harming popped out once again, making her somber. Isabel approached her and her look turned gloomier when she saw her gown. "You still don't want to give up Grayson? Grayson's broken up with you, why are you still bold enough to come here?" Her voice was loud and full of humiliation, attracting the bystanders' attentions at once.
Many of them tossed Florence a suspicious look and examined her from head to toes, someone even started to gossip behind her back. Florence looked at both of them in disgust and spoke frigidly, "I'm not interested in your wedding, stop being self-important."
"Then what are you doing here wearing this? This kind of long white dress is only worn during wedding or engagement ceremony." Isabel's tone of voice was full of contempt as if she was looking at a pathetic clown. "If you're not shameless enough to show that you're better than me who's the bride, could it possibly be that you're going to engage with Mr. Hawkins?"
There were only two banquets at the hotel today which were the Hawkins' engagement banquet and the Russell's wedding. To Isabel's eyes, not to mention being engaged with Ernest Hawkins, Florence was not even eligible to join the Hawkins' engagement banquet. Isabel's bridesmaid chuckled in disdain and chimed in, "Oh come on, doesn't she know who Mr. Hawkins is? How could she be eligible enough to become Mr. Hawkins' fiancée?"
They were taking turns to humiliate her. Florence tightened her muscles and she felt a burning fire in her chest. She wanted to admit that she was indeed Ernest's fiancée, yet she could not say that in this situation, because no one would believe her. "See, you're speechless. You are here to seduce Grayson, Florence!" Isabel pointed at her nose with fury. "I've gotten married with Grayson and you still want to bother him. Do you still have any self-esteem?"
The bystanders started to judge Florence secretly as if she was a shameless woman that wanted to ruin a marriage. Grayson stood with his back straight and his eyebrows slightly wrinkled. There seemed to be doubt in his stare towards her. He then spoke softly, "Go home, stop messing around. We're already done." His seemingly consoling and advising tone of voice had dealt a fatal blow to Florence's pride. With her muscles tightened, Florence was burning with rage. With what could these people have the right to humiliate her?
"Oh. Mr. Russell is bold enough to ask my fiancée not to mess around." A cold voice of a man was heard from the entrance, both disdainful and sarcastic. Slightly shocked, Grayson turned around and was instantly stupefied with an incredulous look. Isabel followed his eyes and her face went cadaverous due to deep shock the moment she identified who that man was. It was Ernest Hawkins! Why, why did he say that Florence was his fiancée…Could it possibly be true?
Ernest walked towards them gracefully and the way he walked was composed and modest. The dark tuxedo he was wearing had lined his body figure flawlessly. His eyes fell on Florence and he waved at her. "Come here." Florence stared at the man in a daze and her heart was racing. She did not expect him to be the one rescuing her during the hardest and the most helpless moment she had encountered. After recovering from her surprise, she straightened her back confidently and walked towards him with a smile on her face.
Seeing Florence standing with Ernest, Grayson felt his face burning with shame, and it was reminding him how ridiculous his behavior just now was. However, he was still a shrewd person. He quickly hid away his emotion and spoke with a smile, "No, no, it's just a misunderstanding. I'm a friend of Ms. Fraser and I was just joking with her." Joking? Florence stared at him with great disappointment and she felt a rush of disgust. How could she not find him to be that barefaced back then?
Ernest took one step forward. His lofty figure blocked right in front of her and had right away formed an invisible protective shield around her. He pursed his lips and his stare towards Grayson was exceptionally frigid. The words he said were even harsh. "Who do you think you are to be able to joke with her?"
Grayson's face flushed and went pale at the same time. He was mortified as that was truly a blatant humiliation. He opened his mouth but did not dare to speak a word to retort. Although he was also a person with fame and wealth, he was no different than a fragile ant that could be killed with just a finger in front of Ernest. He secretly clenched his fists, lowered his head and apologized. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hawkins. I promise that would never happen again."
Ernest sneered and no longer paid attention to him. He turned around, looked at Florence and bent his arm a little at the elbow. Florence's mind drifted a little away and she was slightly moved. Ernest had been aloof and indifferent yesterday, why did he treat her so nice today? Defending for her in a domineering way and standing out for her, he was behaving like a righteous and faithful fiancé.