The Engagement Scandal

The engagement family banquet was held in a private room at the finest restaurant in the city. Crystal chandeliers cast light on every face; the clatter of glasses filled the air with hollow cheer. I sat in the main seat, with my fiancée, Charlotte Harper, by my side. She was wearing a white dress today, her long hair pinned up in an elegant bun, looking gentle yet composed. But I couldn't shake the feeling that there was unease hidden in her eyes, like a frightened rabbit. Halfway through the banquet, Charlotte's childhood friend, Gene Murphy, suddenly stood up. He held his phone in hand, wearing a provocative smile as he strode to the center of the private room. "Everyone, today is Edward Geller and Charlotte Harper's engagement banquet, and I have a special gift to show you all." His voice was low, yet it instantly silenced the entire private room. Everyone's eyes locked onto the screen of his phone. My heart skipped a beat, a sinking feeling gnawing at me. The next moment, the images on the screen made my blood run cold. In the photo, Charlotte Harper wore a black lace camisole, leaning provocatively against the sofa. Behind her was a room I had never seen before; her eyes were glassy, a suggestive smile playing at the corners of her mouth. One photo after another—each more exposed and intimate than the last. Gasps echoed in the private room, relatives whispering among themselves, their eyes filled with curiosity and disdain. Charlotte Harper's face turned pale instantly. She tugged at Gene Murphy's sleeve, her voice trembling with tears: "Gene, stop this. Put it away, quickly." But Gene yanked his hand free and stared sharply at me. "Edward, wanting to marry Charlotte is acceptable, but I have two conditions." His tone was arrogant, as if he were the true star of this engagement banquet. "First, the first child you have after marriage must bear my surname, Murphy." "Second, Charlotte and I must travel alone at least ten times a year, and each time, she has to dress exactly as she does in the photos, so I can take pictures of her." The moment those words left his mouth, the entire private room erupted in chaos. Charlotte Harper's parents turned deathly pale. I clenched my fists so tightly my nails nearly tore into my palms. Rage surged like a tidal wave, threatening to overwhelm my reason. But I knew this was not the time to lose control. I took a deep breath, stifled the fury boiling inside me, and slowly stood up. "Mr. Murphy, your demands are quite intriguing." My voice was calm, unlike myself—but only I knew the storm raging beneath that calm exterior. Gene Murphy expected me to lose my temper or snap then and there; his smile grew even more smug. "What? Mr. Geller doesn't agree?" He shook the phone in his hand. "If these photos get leaked, Charlotte Harper's reputation will be..." I didn't wait for him to finish; I walked straight up to him. "I'll handle the photos. As for your conditions," I looked him straight in the eye and said, word by word, "impossible." Before Gene Murphy could react, I snatched the phone from his hand. He tried to grab it back, but I dodged to the side, my fingers flying over the screen. I opened the album, selected those disgraceful photos, hit delete, and then emptied the recycle bin. The entire sequence was smooth and fluent, taking only seconds. Gene stared at the now-empty album, his expression instantly turning savage. "Edward Geller! How dare you delete my photos!" He reached out to hit me, but I raised my hand to block him. Charlotte Harper rushed over and grabbed my arm, her face filled with displeasure: "Edward Geller, what are you doing!" "Gene was just joking with you. How could you delete things from his phone?" I shook off Charlotte Harper's hand and stared at her coldly. "Joking? Joking with photos like these? Charlotte, do you find this funny?" Charlotte was left speechless by my words, but her eyes reddened, as if she had suffered some grave injustice. The atmosphere in the private room dropped to an icy silence, and the relatives looked at us with complicated expressions. I threw the phone back to Gene and turned to sit down again. "The family banquet will either continue or end here. Everyone decides for themselves." My voice wasn't loud, yet it carried an undeniable authority. No one dared speak, nor did anyone dare move. Gene Murphy gripped his phone, trembling with fury, but dared not take another step forward. Charlotte Harper sat beside me, wiping tears continuously and softly murmuring something under her breath. I didn't look at them again; instead, I lifted the glass before me and drained the red wine in one gulp. The wine was sharp and burning, but it couldn't quell the fire raging inside me. This engagement family banquet was a joke from the very beginning.