The Banquet

The next day, Tanya half heartedly left for the long boring day at work.

After spending the day with joblessness and tossing around and drinking coffee, she got off work.

That's when Tanya realized that Bianca wasn't at work that day.

She didn't really mind her, her main concern is Kenneth. She knows that her mother would be shamefaced and the bullying she'll get from Bianca if Kenneth didn't show up will definitely be very embarrassing.

She got home quickly and dressed up. She paced up and down before going out to board the cab and left for her grandfather's house.

It was 5pm, the old house is welcoming several guests as Tanya's uncle's and aunt's invited alot of people.

She stood at the gate for a long time waiting for Kenneth to show up like he promised but none of the cars that are passing looked like that of Kenneth's.

After all the guests have arrived, Tanya had prepared herself to leave the occasion since her husband is nowhere to be found when Bianca and Frank's car pulled up before her.

There's a split moment of eye contact between Tanya and Frank before Bianca hopped out of the car with a giggle.

"Hi sis, it's your grandfather's birthday banquet why did you look so glum? Is your husband not here yet?"

Hearing this made Tanya feel embarrassed. She casted a quick glance at Frank who was looking at her with an expression she can't describe.

Meanwhile Frank was thinking of Ryan's offer. His mind flashed back to the juicy offers attached to helping Ryan.

He sighed exhaustedly, he was fed up of Bianca's attitudes for real. He gestured to Bianca, "Lets get to the party now Bianca, the party would have started already"

Bianca ignored him and faced Tanya again, "Sis, you're the one who should he at this party the most since they are you mum's parents so why are you leaving already?"

Tanya scoffed, she wasn't going to let her know what's really happening, she smiled as she replied, "Who says I'm leaving and I don't think I need you to explain the relationship between my grandfather and me"

With that savage reply she turned back and joined the party. The party started as the old couple cut their cakes and exchange of gifts followed.

Frank also appeared there with Bianca and presented them with gifts. After that several gossips followed them like...

"Isn't that Tanya's husband that called off their wedding? Why is he with her sister?"

"I heard her stepfather maltreated her and her mother maybe that's why the stepsister snatched her husband"

Bianca and Frank walked out of eyeshot quickly to avoid the spread of gossip.

Tanya can't help but feel that the both of them are really shameless for coming to such an occasion when they know that everyone knows about Frank and Tanya's wedding. After the gift presentation of several family members leaving only Tanya behind that hasn't presented hers.

She felt timid when she realized she was the only one left and her mother gesturing her to come and present her gift regardless wether Kenneth was there or not.

Seeing that there's no sign that Kenneth will show up, Tanya took the gift box she had prepared to go and present alone.

"Happy birthday grandpa, I wish your more happy to live" she said with smiles. But the man did not accept the gift from her, instead he asked.

"Where is he?"

Everyone directed their attention to them. Waiting for what her reply would be. Tanya fidgeted for a while, she knows that he's talking about Kenneth but still feigned ignorance.

"Granpa who are you talking about?"

The grandpa stamped his feet to the ground immediate angrily, "That punk that appears on the TV with you where is he? Don't tell me he's indeed works at the brothel?"

Everyone gasped as he asked this question. Tanya felt shamefaced and bowed her heard slightly in shame. She tugged at her own fingers without saying anything.

"I saw the news too, the man is the CEO of Immortal so it's true that our Tanya is sleeping with him?"

" I don't believe that he's the CEO, she was going to a brothel at her age. What a shame!"

"Like mother like daughter, she sleeps around with men at her age. What a disgrace"

At this point, Tanya burst into sobs as she felt very disgusted with the sudden turn of things. She could see her stepfather patting her mum from where they are standing since she was crying too.

"Sorry that I'm late wifey" A domineering voice sounded from the entrance. Tanya turned to see the owner of that voice through her sobs and there he was standing in grandeur and majesty.

Her Husband! Kenneth Griffin.

Tanya's eyes lit up in glee as he approached her with a slight smile on his face. He was holding a flower banquet as he walked towards her.

The hall was in a standstill for while as the man walked. Everyone that has slandered Tanya earlier had their hearts in their mouths after seeing him.

Bianca and Frank were also surprised that he came to this banquet. Bianca, wondering how come he made it to the party despite being out of the country to a far away place for bussines and Frank, he was expecting Ryan Griffin to be there instead.

Meanwhile, back at the entrance before coming into the hall, Ryan stood in daze as he realized that his well prepared plan goes to ruin.

His original plan was to be there for Tanya instead of Kenneth so she could have a soft spot for him too but here, Kenneth is there instead of him.

His fists were clenched in anger as Kenneth presented Tanya with the flowers while she smiled pleasantly at him.

They both presented the grandparents the gifts before departing from the stage.

"That's my son-in-law. Those who are saying my wife is shameless should kiss their ass!" He heard Tanya's stepfather said.

Anger surged up in Ryan's heart. He left the premises angrily without looking back.