Rejected and Abandoned, Until the Right Man Found Me

I couldn't tell, nor did I have the strength to.

Seeing my silence, Mathias pulled me into his arms, his fingers threading gently through my hair.

"Irene, I'm sorry. I was wrong last night. I'll make it up to you."

A fever had drained every ounce of my strength. My head rested weakly against his shoulder until my gaze landed on the collar of his shirt.

A bright red lipstick stain. My breath hitched. That shade, I recognized it instantly. The same bold crimson Nathalia had been wearing last night.

A violent shiver ran through me. Every breath felt like a dagger, piercing deep into my chest, twisting mercilessly.

Yet Mathias, still holding me close, remained oblivious. His gaze was locked on some distant point, shadows swirling in his eyes, a madness barely restrained.

He took a slow breath, exhaled, and said, "So, Irene… let's get engaged."

That very day, the news of our engagement dominated the headlines.

A young, self-made CEO and an orphaned girl, the contrast alone was enough to set the world abuzz.

But Mathias wasn’t satisfied.

He poured money into trending topics, secured exclusive interviews with top magazines, and ensured that news of our engagement echoed in every corner of society.

By afternoon, waves of reporters swarmed outside the house.

Over the next two days, before the cast on my foot had even been removed, I was forced into an extravagant gown, slipping my swollen feet into ice-cold heels that gleamed under the flashing lights.

Around my neck rested the emerald necklace Mathias had won at the auction, a jewel as heavy as the expectations he placed upon me.

Mathias, however, was in his element, his smile unwavering as he faced the cameras with effortless charm.

"I love Irene, and of course, I’ll give her nothing but the best."

"When it comes to the person I love, I spare no expense."

"I always have, and I always will."

The words spilled from his lips like a well-rehearsed script, polished and perfect.

When it was my turn to speak, all I could do was smile and nod, my lips curving into a practiced expression.

Not a single word escaped me.

I had brought up the idea of engagement with Mathias before.

After losing my parents, a constant sense of insecurity clung to me like a shadow. But I also knew that rushing into marriage could affect Mathias’s career, so I had trod carefully, testing the waters with caution.

"If getting married is too complicated right now, could we at least get engaged first?"

Mathias had only sighed, rubbing his temples in exhaustion.

"Irene, I’m really tired right now. I don’t have time to deal with these trivial matters. Can you be understanding?"

"When I have time, I’ll make it up to you."

Back then, I never would have imagined that, despite his company being on the brink of going public, with assets under evaluation, Mathias could suddenly find so much time to ensure our engagement made headlines.

During a break in the photoshoot, I happened to glance at his phone.

The screen was flooded with missed calls and unread messages, all from an unmarked number.

A flicker of curiosity took hold. Without thinking, I quickly searched the number on social media.

An account appeared instantly.

The name left no room for doubt.

Nathalia.

I had meant to exit the screen. But in my panic, my finger slipped.

I clicked "Add."

She accepted the request instantly. And then, a message popped up.

[Do you believe me when I say I’ll make sure your engagement party never happens?]

The words echoed in my mind, lingering like a whisper of impending doom.

The missed calls on Mathias’s phone became more frequent, his screen lighting up relentlessly.

And every so often, when he thought no one was watching, I caught glimpses of something unsettling, a fleeting smirk, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.

Then came the night before the engagement banquet.

Without warning, Nathalia stopped calling. The endless messages ceased.

Silence fell. And somehow, that silence felt far more ominous than her threats ever had.