Gwyneth's smile was so big that the crowd congratulated them. Even her engagement ring is as big as the joy she felt when she walked up that stage.
Reeve wrapped an arm around Gwyneth's small waist as Gwyneth placed a hand over his chest before they looked into each other's eyes like a couple of lovebirds.
They looked like that perfect couple who deeply loved each other.
As Gwyneth's eyes looked over the audience, she immediately noticed the only man who ever loved her sitting among the crowd.
While Gwyneth and Reeve were having the best time of their lives, August felt like a crushed loser who had lost everything he had.
Gwyneth was everything that August had. He wouldn't have survived and lasted long under the viciousness of the Henderson family if it hadn't been for the love he had for her that kept him going.
August loved Gwyneth with all his heart, and he thought that Gwyneth had loved him the same way, too.
As far as August could remember, he and Gwyneth did not have a fight, and everything was going well between them. There's no way he would have expected something like this to happen.
He couldn't understand why his girlfriend would suddenly be engaged to Reeve Henderson. The last time that Gwyneth and August met secretly, Gwyneth did not say anything to him.
What is this? He couldn't understand. How could his girlfriend become Reeve's fiancé when he has been dating Gwyneth since high school and things were going fine between them?
August and Gwyneth had been through a lot of hardships in the course of their relationship since high school. However hard the problem they faced was, Gwyneth went through all of it with him, strengthening their relationship together and making them realize how much they love each other.
Why would Gwyneth suddenly agree to marry Reeve?
August and Gwyneth's gaze connected, making August's heart clench. August stared at Gwyneth with a question in his eyes. Not only was he confused, but he was also afraid of the truth that was displayed in front of him.
"Did I mean anything to you at all? Did you ever love me the same way I did?" Questions flooded August's mind as he stared at Gwyneth, desperately hoping that it was not what it looked like.
Gwyneth saw the pain in August's eyes, making her smile falter. Even though she is an ungrateful woman who only took advantage of August, she still has her conscience.
Gwyneth averted her gaze from August, completely ignoring him. She shouldn't let August ruin this auspicious day for her. Reeve just announced her as his fiance publicly. This is a complete declaration of her upcoming marriage with Reeve Henderson, which is a fortunate day for her and her family indeed.
Gwyneth is marrying the eldest grandson of the Henderson Group's chairman, the future heir of the Henderson fortune. Not only that, she would also become the chairman's future first granddaughter-in-law.
Not only will Gwyneth be blessed by the Henderson family, but she will also bring fortune to her family. By marrying into the Henderson family, the Tinsleys will receive recognition and familial connection to the Hendersons, who have a higher net worth than them.
Gwyneth will be treated with respect both in the Tinsley and Henderson family because she married Reeve.
Those are the things that Gwyneth will never receive if she chooses to marry August. She would lose on things that life had to offer for her if she chose to become August's wife.
August's sad eyes turned hard when Gwyneth disconnected their gaze first as if she hadn't done anything wrong. August clenched his trembling fists underneath the table as his face held a stony expression. August turned his furious gaze to Reeve, blaming him for everything.
August knows Gwyneth too well, and she has been his girlfriend for so many years. Gwyneth is a kind person who helped him during the times when he was bullied. Gwyneth is not capable of doing something as evil as this.
This must all be Reeve's doing. He must have threatened Gwyneth somehow or bribed Gwyneth's family so he could steal her from him. Reeve is a cunning man who always resorts to evil schemes.
Ever since August came into their lives, Reeve had always hated him and made him a target of his viciousness. Reeve enjoys August's pain and despair. It is his mission to torment August and make his life a living hell.
August knows Reeve too well; he knows the things that he is capable of and the things that he would do just to make August's life harder than it was. August has no doubt that this kind of scheme is something that Reeve would do.
Gwyneth must also be a victim. There's no way she would agree to marry him when she is in love with August. Besides, Gwyneth knows the type of man that Reeve is since they all came from the same school.
Clenching his jaw and grinding his teeth, August could only glare at his enemy and boil with anger in his seat. Although Reeve is doing this to provoke August and humiliate him, August cannot burst onto the stage and cause a huge scandal that would ruin the Henderson Group's name.
It would surely make the headlines if they found out that the chairman's eldest grandson was attacked and humiliated in public by an orphan whom the chairman had treated like his own son because he thought that the eldest grandson's fiancé was his girlfriend.
Hendrik Henderson cares so much for today's event because this is something special for the business. They are launching a new product, and it would be an ominous sign if something went wrong.
Hendrik Henderson was so worried that he even assigned August himself to check on the venue as soon as his plane landed from Hungary.
The chairman entrusted today's event to August to ensure its success; how can August ruin the event himself?
Besides, no one knows that Gwyneth and him were dating. All people would think that he has gone crazy if he suddenly interrupted the party and yelled that he is dating Gwyneth Tinsley. There is no way that a Tinsley would date an average guy like him.
August's breath was cut short when he saw how Reeve gave him a smirk when their gaze connected. As if stealing his girlfriend was not enough, he still had the audacity to rub salt in the wound. Reeve is clearly declaring war against August.
When the crowd had died down and the great news had finally dawned on the audience, Gwyneth and Reeve walked down the stage together with their hands clasped together.
August wasted no time and hurried after them, not letting them escape his line of vision.
August fell back when chairman Henderson and his wife, Nina Henderson, welcomed Gwyneth and Reeve with happy smiles on their faces. August watched as they hugged Gwyneth lovingly, willingly accepting her as their future granddaughter-in-law.
August hid behind, not wanting to show his face to them. He is afraid that he won't be able to hold himself much longer and do something he might regret in front of the chairman's face.
August watched them with tightness in his chest as he saw how Gwyneth willingly hugged them back and accepted their words with a sincere smile on her face. He wondered if Gwyneth was truly innocent at all.
"Grandfather, Grandma, please excuse us. My fiance and I will have to talk about our future wedding in the garden." Reeve spoke eloquently like the perfect grandson that he was not.
Reeve is clearly hinting at August to follow them to the garden if he wishes to talk to them. Little did they know that August wanted to do more than just talk. His hands have been itching to punch Reeve in the face.
August had never fought back at Reeve before when he had bullied him while they were in high school out of respect and his indebtedness to his grandfather.
Right now, not only is he asking Reeve for a fight, but he has also stolen his almost ten-year girlfriend from him.
"Reeve Henderson!" August shouted once they had arrived at the empty garden.
A smirk appeared on Reeve's face before he turned around to face August. Gwyneth gasped when she saw that it was August who followed them.
"What is your problem, August Hayes? Have I done anything to provoke you for you to call me with my full name?" Reeve asked slyly, knowing too well how to pull August's strings.
August glanced at Gwyneth, who was standing timidly beside Reeve. She held tightly on Reeve's arm like a little bird trying to hide under Reeve's shelter. Worry washed over August upon seeing Gwyneth's anxious state.
"What did you do to her, Reeve?" August asked with gritted teeth. "What threats did you make again, and how much money and power did you have to use against Gwyneth and her family to make Gwyneth agree to marry you?"
This kind of scheme is something so familiar to August. Reeve used to bribe teachers and threaten students. He uses his power to abuse others and have everything that he wants.
Reeve scoffed at August's questions. "I am the eldest grandson of the Chairman of the Henderson Group. I am the future heir of the Henderson's fortune. I don't need to threaten any woman and bribe any family to make a woman agree to marry me."
"Gwyneth and I had been dating since high school. I don't know how you found out about it, but it must be the reason why this happened. Now tell me the truth, Reeve. Tell me what threats you made and what things you did to make her agree to marry you. I swear if you lifted a single finger on her hair, I would kill you." August threatened with a murderous glare.
August never talked back when Reeve insulted him. August never fought back when Reeve assaulted him. August only lowered his head when Reeve mocked him and humiliated him in public. August took all that abuse, but he would never accept it if Reeve had hurt Gwyneth in any way.
Reeve laughed at August's empty threats. To Reeve's eyes, August would always be that pathetic man he always stepped on since high school. August is a man with no backbone, so why would he be afraid of his threats?
"You sounded so serious, I nearly believed that you would actually kill me. Since you believe that Gwyneth is your girlfriend, why don't you ask her your questions?" Reeve spoke confidently, making them turn their gaze to Gwyneth.
"Look, her hands are not tied, and I'm not holding her back. Why don't you call her to your side if you are worried that I would hurt her." Reeve told August smugly.
August looked at Gwyneth, and Gwyneth immediately turned her head away when she saw August stare at him.
"Gwyneth, come to my side. Don't let this man scare you. I will protect you from whatever he has told you. I might be nothing compared to him, but I am willing to give my life just to make you safe and happy," August spoke sincerely, but Gwyneth deliberately ignored him. "Gwyneth…" August called out her name with sadness in his voice.
Reeve laughed. "August, even if you cry with blood right now, I doubt that Gwyneth will choose you over me. You say she is your girlfriend, but why do you have to plead to her?"
August did not speak. His eyes did not let go of his beloved as his heart shattered at her cold refusal. She did not even dare to explain; she did not even spare her a glance.
"Gwyneth, tell him if I had ever hurt you or threatened you. I'll give you the time to talk."