Gwyneth gasped when Reeve forcefully removed Gwyneth's hold around his arm. Gwyneth tightened her hold on Reeve, not wanting to let go, but Reeve was way stronger than her.
"Here, why don't the two of you talk instead of accusing me of things? Let your girlfriend explain for herself," Reeve spoke confidently with that signature smug look on his face. He pushed Gwyneth away from him because Gwyneth refused to let him leave his side.
August's brows furrowed together as he watched Gwyneth's timid posture as she fought for Reeve's arm to use it and hide her face from August. August had been nothing but a caring and thoughtful boyfriend to Gwyneth. There is no reason for Gwyneth to act this scared to August.
August clenched his fist together, wondering if Gwyneth was acting like this because Reeve had brainwashed her or if she was just simply acting in shame because of what had happened.
"Gwyneth, I don't know what he said about me to make you act like this, but you must not listen to him. I know that what happened did not look good for you, which may be the reason why you are afraid or ashamed right now, but I promise that I wouldn't hold anything against you without hearing the whole story," August spoke, hoping that his words are enough to put Gwyneth out of her misery, what happened next caught August off guard instead.
Gwyneth finally turned her gaze to August. Instead of showing gratefulness at August's kindness, she gazed at him with a loathful stare.
August swallowed a lump in his throat when he saw how his beloved stared at him with pure hate that August didn't deserve to have.
August knows that familiar look so well; it is the same look that his bullies had given him, and it is also the same way how the Hendersons would look at him. August never thought that he would receive that same look from the person he loves as well.
"You think I'm acting like this because I am ashamed of what I did? Why should I feel ashamed for accepting Reeve's proposal, August?" Gwyneth asked him angrily.
August stared at Gwyneth with pitiful eyes as he searched for any hint of pretense in her. August had seen all sides that Gwyneth had. He had witnessed her cry, laugh, and act out of anger many times before through the course of their relationship.
Today, August could tell that Gwyneth is seriously angry at him with no hint of remorse in her.
Reeve couldn't hide his smirk when he heard Gwyneth spoke. "I should leave the two of you alone so both of you can sort things out together," Reeve spoke before he turned to leave to give the two some privacy.
August stared at Reeve's back as he left them. August has a lot more things to tell him, but he chooses not to follow after Reeve. The most important thing to August right now is to settle things with her girlfriend and fix his relationship with her.
Most importantly, he wants to know the truth.
"Gwyneth, Reeve has already left. You can tell me the truth now. You don't have to lie anymore," August spoke with a desperate look in his eyes.
He already knew that Gwyneth was seriously angry, but he was a fool to hope that he was just mistaken.
Gwyneth couldn't help but scoff at August's pathetic state. "August, you really are just as what they say. You are nothing but a pathetic loser who happens to grow a dick." August felt a stab in his chest when Gwyneth threw him an insult.
As if that wasn't enough, Gwyneth smirked when she saw August's pained expression. She circled him like a predator as she said her next words.
"You have already seen it in your own eyes that I chose Reeve over you, but you still insist on believing that I'm still the same girlfriend that you had. You even demand an explanation. Are the things we showed you still not yet enough? Do you still want me to tell you the whole story just so you'd get hurt for the second time?"
August could not say a word; he could only clutch his chest, which had shattered into a million pieces. He had never thought that behind Gwyneth's angelic looks and the innocence that she had shown him lay a poisonous snake that was just waiting for its chance to strike him.
"If you insist on hearing an explanation, then I should not spare you from any details," Gwyneth spoke coldly before stopping in front of August to tell him the story.
"Reeve and I have been dating since high school, August. We've been dating before I even started dating you."
August's jaw fell open as he lifted his head to gaze at Gwyneth.
"Did you really think that a Tinsley would date a school outcast, August? Did you really think that a woman in my status would look at you and consider having you as a husband?" Gwyneth sneered at August, who stared at her with anger and sadness in his eyes.
"You fooled me… You and Reeve were planning this all along. None of it was real. You never truly love me." August spoke the words that poisoned his heart.
Gwyneth frowned at August's words. "I only showed you a little kindness, August. Wasn't it you who first confessed that you love me? Wasn't it you who courted me? Everything I did might be a lie, but it was you who made the decisions. You shouldn't blame me for the consequences of your actions."
August lowered his gaze again.
"It is because of your greediness that you ended up like this. You think just because a man like Hendrik Henderson could pity you, a woman like me could also fall in love with you? You are just a social climber, but no matter how high you climb and no matter which person you use, you will always be a low scum of the Henderson family," Gwyneth whispered the words.
"If I were richer and more powerful than Reeve, would you have chosen to marry me instead?" August asked after a moment of silence, and his heart had already turned numb.
Gwyneth was surprised at August's question, not expecting that a question would be the only thing she'd hear from him after her confession.
"Since I did say that I am going to tell you the truth and I won't spare you any details, then I will also answer your question," Gwyneth paused. "Even though Reeve Henderson was the chairman's eldest grandson and the heir to the Henderson fortune, I was afraid that the chairman wouldn't pass his fortune to him in the future."
"The chairman would always compare Reeve to you. He would always commend you and scold Reeve. He would always point out your achievements and point out Reeve's shortcomings. To the chairman, you are better than his own grandson. He thinks you would be a better chairman of the Henderson Group in the future than his own grandson, Reeve."
"Naturally, I thought of the possibility that Hendrik might change his mind and leave his fortune to you instead once he realized that Reeve would never be as capable as you in becoming the Henderson Group's chairman. It is the reason why I prolonged this lie because I wanted to make sure before I made my decision."
"If Hendrik decided to give you everything, I would have chosen you instead. If not, then I would have chosen Reeve. I realized that there was no way Hendrik would give you his fortune, and it took me this long to realize it now. I should have known that blood would always be thicker than water."
"If you were only rich and powerful with a great family background like the Henderson Family, then yes, I would have chosen you instead. However, you are just an orphan abandoned at the orphanage since birth. You are just a low scum taking advantage of the Henderson Group's chairman."
The corner of August's lips lifted in a small smile; after that, he let out a small chuckle, surprising Gwyneth. "Then I'm glad… I'm very glad that the chairman chose his grandson over me. He saved me from ending up with a gold digger like you," August spoke with venom laced in his voice.
Gwyneth's eyes went wide, and her nose flared at August's insult. "What did you just say?!"
"Earlier, you said that I was a social climber who takes advantage of the chairman's kindness, but you just confessed that you would have chosen to marry me if I were born from a prominent family. Between the two of us, who do you think is the real social climber?" August raised an eyebrow as he stared right into Gwyneth's eyes.
"You imbecile!"
"Gwyneth, if you really think that the only reason why I dated you was because I am after your family's riches and status, then we shouldn't be having this conversation right now!" August raised his voice, making Gwyneth flinch.
August had never raised his voice at Gwyneth before.
August held Gwyneth's arms so she wouldn't go. "Gwyneth… I loved you with all my heart. Out of all the rich people that I met, only you and the chairman treated me with kindness. I never easily trusted anyone, but I gave you my trust. When I dated you, I never thought about your status. I never thought about your family's riches. I only cared about you. H-How can you do this to me?"
August's voice broke as tears escaped his eyes. Instead of feeling remorse, Gwyneth only stared at him with disgust.
Gwyneth pulled her arms away from August's hold, refusing to yield. "If you really love me as you said, then you should be happy that I chose Reeve instead of you. You are nothing compared to Reeve, and you wouldn't be here if it wasn't for his grandfather's help. What kind of life would you give me if you married me? My family will hate me, and the people will only ridicule me if I choose you. You will only drag me along the mud with you."
August's eyes were red with tears as he stared at Gwyneth. Everything that Gwyneth had said is true; what should August reply to?
If he marries Gwyneth, he would only bring her shame and give her a difficult life. Even if the chairman favors him and he has a high position in the Henderson Group, who knows what will happen to him once the Chairman dies and Reeve's father becomes the new chairman?
He was a fool to think that he could change his life. He is a fool to think that he could change his fate. Even if he wears an expensive suit, even if he graduates from a prestigious school, even if he stands beside the chairman, he will always be that orphan who was abandoned by his parents.
August slowly nodded his head, finally accepting his life. "Fine… You are right. You made the right decision by choosing him. I shouldn't hate you for choosing to live a better life." With that, August had finally let go of Gwyneth.
With an emotionless expression on his face, he finally turned back to the party, leaving Gwyneth alone in the garden.
After wiping his tears away, August went back, not letting what happened ruin his life. Just like always, life pulls him down, but nothing could keep him down.
A laugh made August turn around. August's face turned as hard as stone when he saw that it was none other than Reeve.
"Do you see it now? It doesn't matter if you are born with talent. You will never be able to escape the world that you are born in." Reeve reminded him.