Roseline's POV

If I had a knife right now, I would stab it into my boyfriend's heart without hesitation.

That bastard. What is he doing right now?! He's proposing to Ann, one of my best friends—instead of me!

We've been together for five years! How could he do this to me?!

The irony was unbearable. I glanced down at my exquisite dress. I had thought this engagement party was for me.

But seeing them kiss under the spotlight made it painfully clear—I was not the heroine of tonight’s story.

How did it come to this?

Isaac and I had been together for five years! We never broke up!

When Isaac and Ann finished sealing their engagement with a kiss, he finally noticed me.

I met his gaze. Panic flickered in his eyes. He was clearly shocked to see me there. Frankly, I was shocked too—because just last night, we had been together. We had a night of intense sex, and he had promised me forever.

Then he had told me he couldn't accompany me today.

So why had I come here?

Isaac’s grandfather had invited me. I had grown up alongside Isaac, under his grandfather's care. He told me there was a big surprise waiting for me.

Based on Isaac’s words, I thought that surprise was our engagement.

"God bless the happy couple," Isaac’s grandfather said warmly, once their kiss ended, announcing it to the crowd.

I wanted to question Isaac—why? Why had this happened?

Ann, my best friend—and now Isaac’s fiancée—walked over and grabbed my hand.

"Rose, you’re here!" she said brightly. "Isaac told me this morning you weren’t feeling well and might not make it. But you did! I’m so happy! You know, you being here as Isaac’s best friend means the world to us... right, Isaac?" Ann turned to him with a tender smile.

I swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in my throat, and looked at Isaac again.

But before he could answer, Grandpa Jones appeared between us.

"Rose, I’m glad you made it," he said kindly. "After confirming the final guest list at midnight with Isaac, I realized you weren’t listed. I figured he must see you as family, which is why he forgot to formally invite you. But... this is Isaac’s most important moment. As our family, I had to make sure you’d be here on time."

No...

I had been deceived.

I blinked back the tears. Grandpa knew Isaac and I were lovers—knew we were secretly together. His real purpose was to show me—to my face—that he would never allow me and Isaac to be together.

He had set me up to witness this humiliation.

Tears once again burned my eyes. Grandpa, the only person besides Isaac who had ever treated me kindly in this family—why would he do this?

"Listen, Rose," Grandpa said, hugging me before the tears could fall. His voice was still warm, but his words were an unmistakable warning. "Family forgives each other's mistakes, right?"

"Rose, are you okay?You look like you just swallowed a fly." Ann asked nervously once Grandpa let go of me.

Grandpa’s eyes flicked toward me again, stern with unspoken command.

I knew this wasn’t the time to confront the truth—especially not against Grandpa’s orders. I had always respected him too much.

"I’m just... so shocked," I forced out a small laugh as I squeezed the words past my lips. "It’s unbelievable, you know? My two best friends, together."

I turned to Isaac, searching his face for any trace of guilt—but there was none.

He walked straight over to Ann and kissed her without hesitation.

"I’m going to the bathroom," he said.

Ann giggled and turned to Isaac. "It’s all Isaac’s fault," she mock-complained. "He said announcing our engagement this way would be a huge surprise. Two years ago, our parents had already been discussing our marriage with his grandfather."

The floor beneath my feet seemed to crack.

Two years.

Isaac had been betraying me for two years—and Grandpa had orchestrated it.

My heart twisted painfully.

Those past two years, Isaac had told me he was busy because Grandpa wanted him to quickly inherit the family business. I believed him without suspicion. After all, Grandpa had seen Isaac kiss me in the garden and had said nothing—I'd thought that was tacit approval.

I was so naive.

Isaac had hidden Ann’s existence from me all along.

But I couldn’t bring myself to ruin Ann’s happiness by exposing everything.

I need to leave, or else I might not be able to stop myself from throwing my wine glass at Isaac’s face.

Suddenly, a three-tiered wedding cake came crashing toward me.

"Watch out—!" someone shouted.

Before I could react, Isaac shoved me roughly.

Bang!

The three-tiered cake smashed into me. Cream splattered into my eyes, icing clung to my lashes. Laughter erupted around me. Some people even pulled out their phones to record it.

Through the sticky sweetness, I saw Isaac protectively holding Ann—he didn’t even glance my way.

How fitting.

This was the reward for my loyalty to love.

"Oh, dear, I’m so sorry," suddenly came a concerned voice. It was Grandpa Jones, pushing through the crowd. He helped me up.

"Roseline... are you alright?"

"You ruined the cake, Roseline," Alice, Isaac’s sister, sneered loudly. Ever since I moved into their house, Alice had taken every opportunity to humiliate me.

"Shut up, Alice!" Grandpa snapped sharply. "Rose is family, and we must unconditionally forgive the mistakes of family."

He repeated the same words again.

I wished the floor would crack open beneath me—after all, nothing could be more mortifying than making a fool of yourself at your ex’s engagement party.

I saw Ann start to walk toward me, wanting to help, but Grandpa Jones stopped her.

"You two are the stars of today’s celebration. Focus on entertaining the guests. Roseline is our friend—I’ll take care of her," he said.

Then he turned to me. "Roseline, come upstairs. I’ll have the maid bring you some clean clothes."

Numbly, I nodded toward Ann, then followed Grandpa Jones out of the room.

"Was it you who sent me the invitation?" I asked once we escaped that suffocating crowd.

I stared at his back. He paused, then slowly turned around with a heavy sigh.

"Roseline… no matter what happens between you and Isaac, remember—you’re always family to us."

"No! Isaac and I—" I shouted.

"Listen to me!" Grandpa Jones cut me off harshly. "I don’t care what happened between you two. Isaac’s wife must be Ann. That’s final."

And with that, he walked away.

I stood there frozen, fists clenched tight.

Why had they all changed?

None of them were the people I remembered.

What had happened?

After my parents died, Grandpa had supported me through everything, right up until I turned eighteen. He was my grandfather’s best friend—the man I respected most in the world.

Two years ago, he had seen me and Isaac kissing in the garden. He hadn’t objected. I had taken that as approval.

I worked harder in school and at my job, hoping to earn the family's full acceptance.

Receiving that invitation, I genuinely believed tonight would be the moment when our relationship would be officially acknowledged—blessed by everyone.

I came here wearing my best dress, full of hope—

but in the end, I was met with humiliation and betrayal.

I had to figure out the truth behind all of this.

Just then, I heard the maids nearby snickering.

"I always knew Young Master Isaac would never marry that orphan. Ann brings the best dowry—what does that orphan have?"

Rage surged within me.

Don't cry.

At least not here.

I needed to leave this desolate place.

The moment they decided to treat me like a clown,

I had to stop begging for their love.

Even if I was an orphan, I would never allow anyone to trample on my dignity.

But when I finished changing and opened the door—

he was there.

Isaac.

How dare he show up?!