Cheating Scumbag, Break Off the Engagement

I woke early the next morning and packed my bags to head home.

Once I was ready, I phoned my mom from downstairs. She came out to greet me, her face alight with excitement.

"Ginny, you finally decided to visit your mom!"

"Come on, I made your favorite soup."

I nodded and followed my mother into the living room.

Dad was at the dining table, already enjoying his soup. I pulled out a chair and sat opposite him.

We ate in silence for a while. When we finished, I gathered my courage to broach the subject.

"Mom, Dad, there's something I need to talk about."

Their expressions brightened instantly, but I briefly looked away before meeting their eyes again.

"I'm thinking about calling off the engagement."

They exclaimed in unison, "What?!"

The sound of Dad's spoon hitting the floor echoed sharply through the room.

Mom's concern was immediate. "What happened, did you and Jack have a disagreement?"

"If you're upset, just tell me, and I'll handle it!"

I hesitated, choosing my words carefully, "It's not a quarrel, it's just that... we can't continue."

"He just doesn't care about me, not really."

Dad frowned deeply, the room descending into a tense silence.

After a moment, he suggested, "I've arranged to meet with Uncle George for dinner tonight. Why don't you come and discuss it with him?"

That evening, dressed and ready, I rode with my parents to the restaurant.

Upon arriving, I pushed open the door to the private dining room, and my heart stopped for a second.

Jack was there, casually dressed in a black T-shirt, looking as charming as ever.

I managed a brief glance at him before warmly greeting his dad, "Hello, Uncle George."

Uncle George smiled warmly and nodded, "Ginny, it's been too long. You've grown so much. Come, join us for dinner."

I nodded and deliberately chose a seat next to my mom, avoiding sitting by Jack.

His reaction was palpable; he paused while pulling out a chair, then pushed it back in, his expression turning sour.

Noticing the awkwardness between us, his dad tried to keep Jack involved with me.

He served me food and filled my glass, yet our interaction was constrained and uncomfortable.

Maybe it was all the water, but soon, I excused myself to use the restroom.

As I left the room, the door to an adjacent room opened as well.

I was stunned to see Liz McKibben emerge.

As our eyes met, her complexion turned ashen. I was as well astonished.

She was dressed in a purple dress that accentuated her waist, her eyes quickly darting downward as she started shaking.

Confronting her, I couldn't help but ask in a cold tone, "What are you doing here?"

I glanced suspiciously at the room behind her, assessing her from head to toe.

Given the restaurant's luxurious nature, how could Liz, reportedly from a modest background, afford to be here?

Suspicion rising, I moved to bypass her to enter the room.

She blocked my way.

I pushed her aside with force, and she cried out in pain, tumbling to the ground unexpectedly.

As I reached for the door handle, ready to push it open, I heard Jack's stern voice from behind.

"Ginny! What are you doing?!"

Turning around, I saw him hurrying to Liz's side, kneeling to check her injuries.

Her knees were scraped and bleeding, her face tear-streaked and forlorn.

He glanced at the wounds then looked up at me with intense eyes, "Ginny, you need to apologize to Liz now!"

Anger surged through me.

He was siding with her without knowing all the facts?

I loosed the door handle, my eyes fixed on Liz. Approaching them, I sneered, "Apologize? Sure, but first, let's clear something up."

"How does your sensible, financially challenged secretary afford to hang out in this pricey restaurant?"

"Don't you find that a bit strange, Jack?"

After challenging him, he gave Liz a questioning look.

Liz stiffened, and after a tense few seconds, she tearfully said, "Mr. Yoxall, I'm here for a gathering with friends."

"It's my first time here, I..."

She stumbled over her words, hiccupping through her feeble explanation.

Jack frowned, tightened his grip on her shoulder, and interrupted her, "That's enough, I believe you."

I stared at him in disbelief, feeling as if I had plunged into an icy abyss.

Each word he spoke felt like a hammer pounding on my heart.

My hand trembled at my side as I gritted my teeth, glaring at them.

"Really? Well, I'd like to see for myself what kind of friends can afford this place."

I turned quickly to push open the door.

Just as my hand touched the handle, my wrist was abruptly seized.

Jack towered over me, his voice grinding out through clenched teeth, "Enough, Ginny!"

"Must you always try to humiliate people?!"

I paused, looking up at him defiantly.

The fury inside me exploded, "Humiliate her? How?"

"I'm merely verifying her story, what's wrong with that?!"

I shouted, struggling to free my hand, but his grip was unyielding.

His arm tensed, veins bulging with anger.

Suddenly, he swung his arm, slamming me against the wall.

A sharp pain shot through my back, forcing a cry of pain from my lips.

He hesitated for a moment, then stopped himself from coming to my aid.

After a brief pause, he spoke coldly, "Ginny, this restaurant isn't yours; she has every right to be here."

"Not everyone is born into privilege like you."

"Her life has been full of hard work and struggle—why do you feel the need to demean her?"

He then looked at me, disappointment etched on his face, "I'm truly disappointed in you."

I glanced at him, then over his shoulder at Liz.

I felt like a fool in this instant.

Was I really such a despicable person in his eyes?

Holding back the tears threatening to spill, I lowered my head to conceal the emotion swirling in my eyes.

After composing myself, I looked him straight in the eye.

"Fine, since I'm such a disgrace in your eyes, not worth a fraction of Liz, let's end the engagement."