Chapter 0002

"I'm a waiter, Madame. I'm here to take all the empty glasses" The man politely responds. Contrary to his calmness earlier, he looks awkward at the moment.

"A waiter?"

"Hahaha"

"What a shame"

"A waiter? Hahaha"

Abigail could hear the hushed laughter around while her gaze was still plastered on the man's calm one. His orbs seem to bewitch her.

"Well, you have a nice pick. A waiter?" sounding amused, Karen interjected. Another subtle scoff and laughter buzzed.

Despite not looking around, Abigail could sense the amused mockery aimed at her. Especially those who are close to the Del Castillo family and Alice's friends.

"Stop this nonsense, Abigail" her father mutters with a clenched jaw.

"For once, act maturely. Enough disgracing our family" he added with contained anger. Still trying to act cool in front of guests.

"Abby has been desperately stealing the attention of my guests, Dad. Tonight is supposed to be our celebration but with what Abby was doing, she's ruining this night" Alice, sporting a fake hurt expression, speaks after getting close to them.

After slightly grasping what her father and Alice said, she turned to look at them. She almost forgot where she was if not for the sour face of her dad and a venomous smirk from Alice. They reminded her of their current predicament.

"Why, Dad? Am I not allowed to choose my date for tonight?" she calmly asks despite her rising irritation.

"Should it be a waiter? Can't you choose a decent man? We have a lot of acquaintances here. Pick one of them" he snaps while gritting his teeth.

Hearing his spiteful words, her eyes darted to the man in time to see, for a fleeting moment, how his face hardened. It's so fleeting she could have missed it.

"And we are talking about decency now. I was deceived by a company President and my family. So tell me, who's decent?" she retorted, mockery lacing her voice.

"Abigail" another warning from her father.

Alice looked away while Justin who had also moved closer to the commotion, awkwardly cleared his throat. Like Alice, he avoided looking at anyone. Even his family was disconcerted. Especially when guests started to be curious, some were coming closer.

"I stick to a promise coming from your so-called decent man, believing its truthfulness. But then, we are in this predicament" She smiles while taking her time looking at everyone. Some meet her gaze but Justin and Alice together with their families avoid her.

"And, I don't need a wealthy man. I don't need any man's money or resort to schemes just to be wealthy. I have enough millions" She sweetly smiles as she fixes her eyes on Alice before casting a malicious look at her stepmother. She almost laughed out loud upon seeing the two women's sour faces.

"Enough, Abigail!" forgetting his calm facade, her father angrily snapped at her.

"Then, spare me with all your hypocrisy" coldly, she mutters while unwrapping herself from the man, but not letting him go. She takes hold of his arm, before facing everyone.

"Let's enjoy this night. This is supposed to be a celebration" With an immensely charming smile, she chirpily announces. Contrary to her mood earlier, she looked ecstatic while her father and the rest of their family all looked unamused, almost furious.

Unbothered by everyone's sourness, she gestures to the waiter, holding a tray full of filled champagne glasses, to come.

"Here" She picked up two glasses and handed the other to the waiter beside her. But he was reluctant to accept.

"I'm still on duty, Madame" Politely, he declines.

"Let the guy earn his living, Abigail. Stop this nonsense" Seeing the man's awkwardness, her dad interjected. But she ignores him. Instead, she turns to face the waiter.

"Consider today as your day off. And tonight you will be my date" she insisted while staring him straight in the eyes.

"Pardon me, Madame. I still have a lot to do" Despite her persistence, he calmly excuses himself and is about to leave. But Abby was not deterred. She tightens her hold on his arm.

"I will pay you" she mutters with a clenched jaw. His refusal doesn't sit well with her. But she doesn't feel insulted, it's something else.

"I don't need your money" Despite being surrounded by a crowd, the man made sure that only she could see the glint of cold warning in his eyes.

She recognized the warning he issued. But instead of being scared, she was rather bewildered. No one would dare resist her, more so warn her in such a way. The man started to stir her curiosity. Even with her earnest gaze boring on him she sees no hint of intimidation from him.

"Abigail, enough of this craziness. I will send you home" Her father interrupted their silent duel.

"The celebration is not yet over, Dad" She turns to her father and smiles before turning back to the man she was holding.

She no longer cares about anyone. Her whole attention was snatched by the meek man with a raging fire in his eyes.

"Let's celebrate" With a stern tone but a sweet smile, she holds the man's hand to put his supposed drink.

As she enfolds his huge hand into her smaller ones, forcing him to accept, she bore her intense gaze into him. Implying one thing.

"Excuse us, Dad. I want a private moment with my date" she announces without tearing her gaze away from the man.

Her charade has earned different reactions. Her father was aghast with her stubbornness while others see it as shamelessness and rebellion.

While most of the guests are in complete confusion, a triumphant smirk forms on Alice's lips. But she was careful not to be noticed.

Justin, on the other hand, is stiffly standing on his spot. He looked quite disconcerted, especially when Abby started to leave with the waiter in tow.

"Abby...please...stop..." For no apparent reason, Justin's hand suddenly grabbed Abby's arm, halting her from walking away.

If Abby was startled, Alice was stunned together with Karen and the entire Del Castillo entourage. No one had expected Justin's action. More so Justin's pleading expression.

Abby stares straight into his eyes for a long moment as tense silence rules the venue. Despite all the attention fixed on them, Justin did not let her go. Afraid she will indeed leave with another man.

"Abby, can we talk, please" he begged, unbothered by everyone's take on his action. Especially Alice who is still in shock.

With a raised brow, Abby continues to stare at Justin's pleading eyes before she slowly looks down at the hand grabbing her arm.

"Justin..." Simone softly calls her son but she gets nothing.

"We need to talk, Abby. Please let me explain" Instead, Justin continues to beg.

"Unhand me" with a clenched jaw, she demands.

"Please, let's talk" he insisted. But Abby remains staring at him with stoic contempt.

"Oh yeah, I'm sorry I forgot" Abby yanked her arm away and turned to get something from her other hand.

Justin together with those who are near watches her slip a sparkling ring out of her ring finger.

"Here" Casually, she raised the ring she was holding between her thumb and index. Murmurs erupted but she was already deaf to other people's thoughts about her.

Justin earnestly stared at the familiar ring before his eyes slowly turned to meet her calm one.

"I'm sorry, I forgot to return this to you" she added amidst the furor that erupted around them.

She believes everyone understood the implications of what she was doing.

While everyone is busy grasping the situation, she watches Justin's disconcerted look. Waiting for him to take the ring. But after some time, he did nothing but stare at her.

Justin chooses to be miserably quiet while Karen and Alice are anxious about the reaction of the guests. They are waiting for him to do something. But all he did was stare at Abigail.

They are starting to be impatient while enduring their guests' curiosity. Justin's impulsiveness should not ruin everything they've worked hard for.

Even Justin's father has been facepalming himself while his mother is getting exasperated. Both are starting to be embarrassed by their son's behavior.

"No, Abby. Please let's talk. Hear me out" sounding so disheartened, he whispered.

"I believe your fiancee should be wearing this ring," she said instead. Ignoring his plea.

"Abby, please" Hopelessly, he tries to nudge away her hand holding the ring. But she avoided it.

"We have nothing to talk about. This ring you gave me a week after I returned is a pure hoax. I should have known better than to believe you" with gritted teeth, she mutters.

After weeks of avoiding him, she now has the chance to tell him what has been running through her head. And let him know how painful his deception was.

But as much as she wanted to rave her anger, she chose not to. It would be useless. It's too late. All she will get is nothing but ridicule or maybe some pity. She doesn't need anything now but to leave in peace.

"What was between us was over. I don't fancy preloved items. Especially tarnished ones" Sneering, she grabs his hand to return the supposed engagement ring he gave her.

"I'll find a fresh start somewhere" she added while watching him, blankly staring at his palm with the ring.

"With a waiter?" bemused, Justin glanced at the waiter beside her. But the man remained placid while staring straight ahead.

"What's wrong with being a waiter?" clenching her jaw, her tone hardened by the insult.

"You should step up your game, Abby. Don't disgrace your family like this" After getting no reaction from the other man, he turns to meet her sharp gaze.

A moment passed without a response from her. But her ragged deep breaths show her anger. Still, he waited until he had a glimpse of the smirk curving her lips.

"I can choose to be with a waiter or even a street sweeper if they turn out to be more honorable than a man who doesn't know how to keep his word" Smirking, she watches his face turn sour. And it's the chance she seized to taunt him more.

"Your money could never make you the man I deserve. But you're lucky you found a greedy woman who loves you for your money and the influence your name holds" Deliberately, she made her voice louder as she snickered before turning away to leave. Leaving everyone, dumbfounded.

Eyes follow her as she confidently sways away while still holding the waiter's arm. Unbothered by the attention everyone was giving her. She said what she needed to say. She did what she had to do. It's time to retire.

Eerie silence came upon the hall while Justin and Alice endured the scrutinizing look of their guests. Behind him, Mr. and Mrs. Del Castillo were discreetly glaring at him.

Awkward tension surrounds the entire venue. They felt like being roasted by their own guests and it didn't sit well with their family.

Whilst the agonizing silence, Justin was pulled by his mother away. And looking at the Del Castillo couple, they are extremely disappointed with the outcome of the earlier confrontation.

Hushed murmurs erupted. Philip Sandoval, Abby's father, had no choice but to pacify their guests.

"Wine and champagne will be served, please help yourselves" Facing and smiling at the crowd, he gestures for the waiters to serve the drinks.

He was rewarded by skeptical smiles, even so, guests were ecstatic when waiters came with an assortment of drinks.

"That bitch ruined this night" Seeing her husband desperately pacifying the situation, Karen angrily raves at her daughter.

"Don't worry, Mom. It won't be long before that bitch will be the laughingstock of this city" Alice whispered. Her eyes are still following Abby's departing figure.

"What do you mean?" Following her daughter's gaze, she also watches the two figures who are making their way to the door.

"From a very prominent man, Justin Del Castillo, she will end up with a penniless waiter. Won't it be hilarious?" Alice amusingly jeers.

"Even if she is a prominent figure because of her family's money, everyone will laugh at her. She will become a desperate fool for a man who can't even buy her a snack in her own hotel" She chuckles at the mere thought. Karen joins her upon understanding what her daughter meant.

"So make sure she will have no chance to get back with Justin. Let her be with her beloved waiter. Surely, Philip and Madame Mariebel Fuentebella will be immensely disappointed. And if luck is on our side, she might be disowned. You understand what it means, Alice?" Karen was ecstatic but she made sure no one noticed.

"You could inherit all of Fuentebella's wealth. Philip could make that happen" she happily whispers near Alice's ear.

"Luck is still on our side, Mom. The Fuentebella heiress only wants a waiter. Then, I will make sure she will have what she wants" She smiles as she turns to her mother.

"A soon-to-be waiter's wife. A pathetic heiress who knows nothing but splurge money she didn't earn" A scoff of disdain adorns her face as she added.

"Let's see how far she goes with an impoverished man by her side" Alice and Karen share an ominous smirk.

****tbc****