He really thought that it was just a fake engagement and that Naya was kind enough to help out because she did not want his grandfather’s condition to worsen. However, the truth was everyone was lying to him and setting him up.
Ava felt the need to tell Daniel the truth because she could not let him go ahead with the engagement ceremony with Naya. Otherwise, things would become very complicated if everything were to become official.
After Daniel heard what Ava said, his heart started to thump enthusiastically.
He knew that although he had not been in love with Ava for a long time, he was convinced that Ava was the person he wanted to protect forever.
That was why he thought now was a good time.
Daniel silently thought to himself and suddenly became a little nervous.
He reached inside his jacket pocket because he wanted to take out the custom-made engagement ring that Niamh had designed for him to present to Ava, but when he felt around in his pocket and checked twice, he could not seem to find the velvet box.
Daniel thought it was strange, and Ava watched him curiously.
“Danny, what are you looking for?”
Daniel paused for a moment because it was supposed to be a surprise for Ava. Of course, he could not tell her what it was, so he had no choice but to make an excuse.
“I’m looking for tissues. I think I probably forgot to bring them.”
“I have some here.” Ava smiled as she pulled out a piece of tissue from her bag and handed it to Daniel.
From afar, Naya had a sullen look on her face as she watched Daniel and Ava embracing each other. She was so angry that her chest felt tight and her stomach was full of unease.
However, a wicked smile of triumph gradually crept onto her face.
Naya lowered her head slightly and raised her hand to look at the velvet box that was currently on her palm.
“It’s mine. It has always been mine. Even if it initially belonged to you, it’s in my hands now.” Naya smiled sinisterly and was about to walk away when Mrs. Graham walked over in the afterglow. Naya immediately hid the velvet box in her hand and quickly changed her expression to one of sadness. She even pretended to wipe a tear before turning around with a look of sadness.
When she turned around, she acted as though she had just seen Mrs. Graham.
“Mrs. Graham, why are you here?” Naya pretended to be surprised and immediately went up to Mrs. Graham. “Come, let’s walk together, Mrs. Graham.”
“Naya, what are you doing here? Why are you crying?”
Puzzled, Mrs. Graham walked closed to Naya and looked behind her. “What did you see that made you so sad?”
“I-It’s nothing, Mrs. Graham! Let’s just go!” Naya stepped forward and took Mrs. Graham’s hand, pretending to pull her away.
This time. Mrs. Graham felt that Naya was acting even more peculiar, so that piqued her interest more. She wanted to see what was going on. She moved Naya away and immediately, she saw Daniel and Ava standing in the corridor. They were talking and laughing with each other sweetly.
Immediately, Mrs. Graham’s anger rose.
“This is outrageous!” Mrs. Graham said angrily, “You and Daniel are about to get engaged! How dare she come over and confuse him?! Don’t worry, Naya. I’m about to go right up to her and tell her to get the hell out! Wait here.”
After Mrs. Graham finished speaking, she quickly walked toward Ava in a rage.
“Mrs. Graham, Mrs. Graham! Don’t go.” Naya pretended to stop her with a smirk.
When Daniel and Ava heard someone was coming, both of them looked in the direction of the sound. The moment Ava turned around, all she saw was a pale palm swinging toward her cheek before she could see who the person was.
Slap!
However, Daniel reached out to hold his mother’s hand in time.
“Mom! What are you doing?!” Daniel questioned her sternly.
Mrs. Graham shook off Daniel’s hand angrily. “How dare you ask me what I’m doing?! I should be the one asking you what you’re doing, Daniel! Naya is your fiancee, the person who you’ll spend the rest of your life with! How can you treat Naya like that?! Kissing and hugging this woman here?! Do you have no shame or virtue?!”
Ava could not help feeling amused when she heard how righteous Mrs. Graham sounded.
‘You’re one to speak of shame or virtue!
‘Where did you get the courage to criticize Daniel like that?!
‘The person who has no shame or virtue is you!
“Daniel, come back with me right now. Naya’s father has returned, so you’re to go over immediately and hold the engagement ceremony with Naya,” Mrs. Graham commanded and glared at Ava again. “If you still have some sense in you, you’ll get the hell out right now. Otherwise, I’ll have security to come over and throw you out!”
Daniel was unhappy with his mother’s attitude.
“Watch yourself, Mom. Don’t you dare talk to Ava like that.”
“Daniel, why are you still defending her?! Are you hoping to see your grandfather get so angry during your engagement ceremony that he ends up in the emergency room?!” Mrs. Graham threatened Daniel with Old Master Graham in a timely manner.
Daniel could not continue what he wanted to say.
He looked at Ava with apologetic eyes that were full of heartache. “Ava…”
“Go. I understand,” Ava said with a smile, but her expression soon turned indifferent.
“Hmph.” Mrs. Graham rolled her eyes toward Ava with disdain, pulled Daniel, and left.
Naya, who was still standing at the same spot, saw Daniel being pulled back by Mrs. Graham. She pretended to look innocent.
Daniel kept looking back at Ava, but in the end, he was helplessly pulled back to the engagement ceremony. He became the star of the show again.
Ava stood at the same spot for a while before finally making a decision.
She heard the emcee’s voice coming from the banquet hall. They were about to officiate Naya and Daniel’s engagement ceremony.
Without waiting any longer, Ava stepped toward the banquet hall.
Maisie, who seemed to have come out of nowhere, started to follow behind Ava.
She could see the determined look on Ava’s face, so she cheered her on, saying, “Don’t worry, Ava! I won’t let you fight alone! I’ve prepared a secret weapon for you that’ll help you slap the smug looks off these people!”
Ava did not expect that she would meet such a sincere and good friend apart from Niamh.
Although this whole thing was a sh*tshow, what Maisie said made her feel a lot better.
It made her feel like she was not alone.
When Ava arrived at the banquet hall, the guests, family, and friends were in high spirits as the emcee was livening up the atmosphere.
Everyone was looking forward to seeing Daniel and Naya exchanging their wedding rings, and of course, hugging and kissing each other.
Even so, Daniel had no intention of doing that during the ceremony. Besides, he remembered that Naya had not chosen a ring she liked yet, so they could skip that part.
However, something happened that Daniel did not expect. The bridesmaid that Naya had invited suddenly handed an exquisite velvet ring box to them.
It was a familiar-looking one at that.
While he was still stunned, the bridesmaid opened the velvet ring box.
Underneath the dazzling lights, the diamond ring shone brightly inside the box.
Daniel could not believe his eyes and could not comprehend why that ring was there. Just when he was about to ask Naya, she let out a surprised gasp.
“This ring is beautiful, Daniel! Thank you for this surprise! I love it so much.” Naya radiated with happiness and joy.
Ava saw everything in the audience and felt as if her heartstrings were tugged.
The ring really was beautiful. She could even see design elements that she liked in the ring.
She could not help but felt her heart sink.
If the Grahams liked her, the woman standing in front of Daniel right now would have been her.
“Ava, why are you just standing there? Is it because you don’t know what to say? If you’re too embarrassed to interrupt them, I can help you stop them!” Maisie said, preparing to go forward.
Ava immediately pulled her back. “Thanks, Maisie, but this is something that I have to do on my own.”
When Maisie how dignified Ava looked, like she was going to prove herself, Maisie felt more at ease.
It seemed that Naya had stolen Daniel’s ring and handed it to one of her bridesmaids before instructing her to come up at this time because she wanted to leave Daniel with no choice.
Even though she waited, Daniel did not seem like he was going to give her the ring.
Naya started to get a little anxious. “Daniel…”
“Daniel, why are you just standing there? Naya’s waiting for you, and so is everyone else.” Mrs. Graham urged him.
However, Daniel’s face darkened. He did not want to embarrass Naya in front of everyone. After all, Naya was kind enough to agree to help him with the fake engagement, so he started to speak in a low voice.
“I don’t know how this ring got here, but this ring isn’t for you, Naya. I hope you can understand that.” Daniel politely rejected her, reached out to take the velvet ring box, and closed it. After that, he turned to the emcee and said, “I think this is the end of the ceremony. I’ve got other things to do, so just do something else to keep the guests entertained.”
He turned around after that.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.