The Bride Who Said No: Escaping the Shadows of Yesterday

Freya's eyes twinkled with mirth, her voice brimming with certainty.

Seeing Freya so confident, Eloise's face soured even more. "Cindy, Mae, please. Let's get out of here!"Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

"Hold on," Freya said with an icy tone, looking at them squarely. "I don't remember giving you permission to leave."

"Freya, even Eloise is willing to let this go. What more do you want?"

Freya glanced at the scattered food remains on the floor, turned to them, and said, "Have you heard of 'waste not, want not'? Is this how your parents taught you to squander food?"

Mae stepped forward, her voice sarcastic. "You think we're clueless, huh? The Dawson family is on its last legs. Without tying the knot with the Sutton family, you're nothing but a Ms. Dawson surviving solely on Mr. Sutton's charity. And here you are, putting on airs?" Mae scanned the crowd deliberately and added, "Is the Dawson family so broke that they can't even afford a meal? Ms. Dawson, I've heard tales of you groveling to Mr. Sutton, shining his shoes, and waiting on Audrey hand and foot like a maid. You've secured your spot as the future Mrs. Sutton because of Audrey's favor."

With a provocative glance at Freya, Mae continued, "If you grovel before us as well, this meal's on us."

"Yeah, everyone knows our school cafeteria charges an arm and a leg. And look, Ms. Dawson's plate seems to be missing any meat. Must be hard times, huh?"

Previously put in her place by Freya, Cindy suddenly said, looking smugly at Freya as if she'd caught her in a trap.

Cindy yelled to the crowd, "Come one, come all, and witness Ms. Dawson begging for a meal!"

Instantly, the cafeteria buzzed with excitement, everyone eager to see what was happening. Eloise made a symbolic attempt to pull Cindy and Mae back, saying, "Cindy, Mae, let's not..."

Cindy cut her off, "Eloise, stay out of this! Freya was shameless. We were ready to let her off, but she doesn't know when to quit!"

Freya watched the scene unfold with a slight smile.

Taken aback by Freya's demeanor, Mae glared at her, "What are you smiling at?"

Freya's smile didn't wane. "I'm amused at how clueless you are."

Mae frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I think she's lost it," Cindy said. "Otherwise, why would she dare offend Mr. Sutton? Here she is, still talking big."

Freya replied, "You rushed to spill this plate without asking whose it was."

Cindy scoffed, "This kind of simple meal? Only the nearly bankrupt Dawson family would eat this. Who else's could it be but yours!" Freya smirked, "This meal was for Mr. Beckett."

At Freya's words, Eloise and Mae turned

Rale. Only Cindy seenet

confused and dismissive as she

said Mr. Beckett? Never heard of

him!"

BUMS

"It's me." A calm, composed voice cut through the crowd as everyone stepped aside to reveal Ronan.

Who didn't know Ronan was

Summit University's esteemed professor and one of its biggest benefactors? Ronan's annual

donations to the school were inet

the

millions. Thanks to his passion for teaching, the university frequently invited Ronan for lectures,

Ronan was an influential figure in school and the CEO of the Beckett Group outside school. Even their fathers would have to address Ronan as Mr. Beckett respectfully.

Upon spotting Ronan, Cindy's face went pale. "Mr... Mr. Beckett..."