They finally get to the venue, Mark finds a clear space and packs the car.
He packs the car and they all get down while he went to the boot to bring out the gift he had prepared for Lacey’s grandmother.
They inside the mansion all together, Mark couldn’t help but marvel at the place structure.
It seems more like a ball party, yet classics type just like his in-law would always do.
It’s beautiful and everything is different, everyone at one table or the other drinking and chatting between themselves.
He is stuck beside Lacey and they look for a spot together to take their seat, they finally get a table at the high table, where they are served drinks almost immediately.
“What’s the gift you have prepared?” Lacey asked with her eyes glued on the flat thing he had wrapped up.
She has been giving it thought and guessing what it could be but couldn’t find a thoughtful one that he could have brought.
He won’t bring something that won't be worth it right? She had specifically given him money to get her something beautiful.
They are both sitting at the table without uttering a word, just staring around and enjoying the view of the dancer on stage.
Lacey stands on her feet heading to one of her old family friends that she had known long again after sighting them, “I will be back shortly” She said heading towards another table.
Mark focuses on the interior decoration of the place, the event planner must have been one special agent cause he loves it.
It’s not too classy yet it’s not looking cheap either, just gorgeous stating the old woman's age.
It’s finally time to present their gift, the families one after the other started presenting their gift.
Mark and Lacey walk side by side and step forward to present their gift.
The guests all couldn’t help but stare at them like some low class family, “I heard he’s some cheap little pathetic boy” One of the guests said.
The words hit them both and they could hear it clearly, Lacey removed her hands from his hold slowly without being rough.
She has been with him enough to know that once sandal with him started it would always escalate and things would get extra.
They dropped the gift and some of the guests started laughing, they seemed to be murmuring things between themselves and it’s obvious that it’s about them.
Mrs Richard from her seat started getting even more annoyed, this thing has always brought them nothing but shame and now he’s about to do it again.
She watched from her seat what she had wrapped like some ugly thing from afar, what was he thinking presenting a gift like that? She scoffs from her seat.
“You need to take things easy, a gift is a gift” Mr Richard said plainly.
He knows his wife won’t let it be anyways but had to say it anyways.
They get back to their seat and she keeps staring at her drink like she’s about to break the wine glass with her hard glare.
A couple join them on the table soon which makes Lacey uncomfortable, she knows Damon's wife to be a trouble and so is her husband.
“I never get to see your so-called husband till tonight,” Damon’s wife said, looking at Mark from head to toe.
It’s almost like he’s finding a flaw in him,”what do you do exactly?” She asks which makes Lacey swallow hard.
“Business” Mark replied plainly, he could already feel the tension building up and knows these people are up to no good too.
The fact that their gifts are both wrapped in the same way made Damon annoyed and wants to know what it is that they had given to the old woman.
“Business like what? I thought you had nothing to do with your pathetic life and feeding on your wife's family?” Damon blurted out without any restriction.
“Yes, correct that’s due I heard that too!” Annie, his wife added.
“I’m not sure what you must have heard about me but I do work and feed myself” He said, glancing at Lacey.
“Really? Lacey, is that true? He’s been working well like a real business man? The last I heard is almost getting your business whacked!” Damon replied and burst into laughter with his wife.
“Right?” Lacey shook her head in terror, “You can help me direct the question to him because I didn’t know what he meant by been a businessman”
“You never give me anything I want and the least you could do is disgracing me up and down even after trying to bath you rich, Mark you always manage to shout it out to the whole world how pathetic and useless you have always been” Lacey blurted out her pent up emotions.
She really didn’t think she can take this anymore, how could he not for once disgrace her publicly? “Gra…cie” He called slowly, looking her right in the eyes.
He really didn’t know what to say when he heard her say those words.
Mark thought things were going well between them and he was expecting her to support him when he said he’s a businessman.
“It’s a shame! You just dump him already” Annie said standing on her feet with her husband immediately they started showcasing the gifts.
They seemed to be cheering for the most expensive gift, Lacey held the aim of her gown tightly.
Why does she already feel like he’s going to disgrace them?The gift already looks less and she fears he’s going to disgrace not only her but also their family at this rate.
Mark's eyes widened when the same gift he had prepared for Lacey’s grandmother unwrapped from what Damon and his wife had presented.
They open the gift and the guest all starts wondering what’s going on, it's the same gift.
Same painting and almost everyone is eager to know which of the paintings is the original.
“I’m sure he gets the fake one, He can’t even afford his own feeding talk less of a painting worth his whole existence” Damon said from his table loudly and the guest all laughed.
“Now what have you done? Brought a fake punting even after I have given you enough money?” Lacey faced him fiercely.
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about but I can assure myself right now that my painting is original with no forge but yours already seems fake to me” Mark said from his seat.
Lacey and her mother were not expecting him to utter any word but does he really have to go further?, “Are you sure your painting is the original?” The event coordinator asks Damon.
“What do you take me for? Would you buy some cheap fake paintings?” He frowned at the guy.
“I’m certain my painting is the Original” Mark said before they could ask him.
“What is he doing?” Lacey's mother lamented from her seat.
“Do you really have to go to this extent?” Lacey couldn’t hide the fact that she’s about to burst into tears of shame that this guy she had called her husband is about to put her in.
Not only her but also trying to put her whole family name into shame this time.