I'm Your Stepping Stone but His Gem

Michael looked at me, his expression heartbroken. "Ariel, I'd never thought you'd do something like this out of jealousy."

Before I could even defend myself, the doors to the banquet hall flung open, and in walked Tahlia. Her clothes were disheveled, and there were tear stains down her cheeks. Two deep gashes were also visible on her wrists.

The guests all gasped in shock.

"Mikey, I thought I'd never see you again…" Tahlia cried out, her voice trembling as tears poured out of her eyes.

Michael rushed forward and pulled her into his arms, his gaze filled with heartache. But when he turned to me, his expression hardened with resentment.

"Everyone, I'm making an official announcement today—I refuse to take Ariel Kingston as my wife!"

Even though I had already accepted that he held no feelings for me, hearing those words still cut deeper than I expected—I could hardly breathe.

Jeremy chimed in with a smirk, "Mr. Kingston Senior is severely ill and bedridden. Kingston Group needs a successor. If no one steps up to manage it, then it'll be in crisis."

Giving me a meaningful look, Howard added, "Ariel, smart people know how to read the room. You should know what to do."

Just as I wondered what scheme they were cooking up this time, Michael strode over to me arrogantly, tilting my chin up with his finger.

"If you sign an agreement that gives me full control of your assets after we get engaged, then I might just be convinced to accept you," he said, his tone filled with contempt.

Jeremy and Howard nodded in agreement. "Ariel, hurry up and thank Michael."

Still pretending to be heartbroken and with tears streaming down her face, Tahlia said, "Mikey, you don't need to sacrifice yourself for me…"

The guests whispered among themselves—some pitied me, but most of them looked at me with disdain.

I had never felt so humiliated in my life. Slowly, I stood up, and the whole room instantly fell silent.

A calm smile broke out over my face.

"I am indeed announcing my engagement today, but it's not to you. Don't flatter yourself."

My voice wasn't particularly loud, but it was enough to send shockwaves through the crowd.

Michael's smug expression froze instantly, while Howard and Jeremy exchanged uneasy glances. Even Tahlia's expression morphed from sorrow to panic.

At that exact moment, the doors to the hall swung open once more.

A strikingly handsome man wearing a white suit walked in. There was an ethereal air about him, and each one of his movements radiated a serenity untainted by worldliness.

"Isn't that the Treyist from the Gordon family—Charles Gordon?"

"Goodness! I thought he had withdrawn from society!"

"Rumors have it he'd long since renounced all worldly attachments. What is he doing here?"