As the engagement party was soon to be getting over, I felt a hand at the back of my shoulder, it was Ryan. He leaned in close, his voice barely above a whisper, as if he never wanted Sarah to know about this. "Hey, Gabriel, Stephanie wants to speak to you," he said, his words sending a shiver down my spine. I felt a sense of trepidation wash over me, wondering what Stephanie could possibly want to talk to me about.
I turned to look at Sarah, wondering if she had heard Ryan's whispered message. But she seemed oblivious, her eyes fixed on the crowd, a smile on her face. However, as I caught her eye, she turned to me and gave me a slight nod with her head, as if permitting me to go. I felt a surge of gratitude towards her, knowing that she trusted me. I smiled back at her, trying to reassure her that everything was okay.
I stood up from the chair, feeling a sense of reluctance wash over me. Ryan took my seat, flashing Sarah a charming smile as he began to chat with her. I watched for a moment, feeling a pang of jealousy, before I reluctantly turned to go and find Stephanie. I couldn't help but wonder what she wanted to talk to me about. Was it about our past? About Sarah? I pushed the thoughts aside and made my way through the crowd.
As I scanned the room, I saw her standing a distance away, alone and looking vulnerable. My heart skipped a beat as I began to walk towards her, feeling like this was a wrong idea. What did she want to talk to me about? And why now? I thought about turning back, but something compelled me to keep moving forward.
"Stephanie," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, as I approached her.
She turned to me, her eyes locking onto mine, filled with a mix of emotions. I could see the pain and hurt still lingering in her eyes, and I felt a pang of guilt. "Gabriel," she replied, her voice soft and husky.
We stood there for a moment, the tension between us palpable. I could feel the weight of our past bearing down on me, the memories of our time together flooding my mind. I remembered the laughter, the tears, the moments we shared together. It all came rushing back, and I felt like I was transported back in time.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" I asked, trying to break the silence. My voice was shaking slightly, and I hoped she didn't notice.
Stephanie took a deep breath, her eyes never leaving mine. "I just wanted to say congratulations," she said, her voice laced with sincerity. "I know we didn't end things on the best terms, but I'm happy for you, Gabriel. You deserve it."
I felt a surge of emotion at her words, my heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you, Stephanie," I replied, my voice filled with emotion. "That means a lot coming from you." I paused, eyes staring into hers, then she continued speaking. "I'm sorry again for everything that happened between us. I know I hurt you, and I'll always regret that."
Stephanie's eyes welled up with tears, and I felt a pang of guilt. "I know you are, Stephanie. And I forgive you. I just want you to be happy."
I had always known that this conversation wasn't going to be about congratulating me for moving on, that was just a facade, a way to ease into the real reason she wanted to speak to me. And now, she was diving into the heart of the matter, her words laced with venom and accusation, each sentence dripping with malice and hurt.
"So, Gabriel, it looks like you've orchestrated all this, doesn't it?" she said, her eyes narrowing as she spoke, her voice low and menacing. "This is why I turned down your proposal, because I sensed it, I knew you were cheating on me, that you had another woman waiting in the wings, waiting for the perfect moment to strike."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing, the audacity of her accusations leaving me speechless, my mind reeling with the implications of her words. But then, I burst out laughing, unable to contain my amusement at her manipulative tactics, my laughter echoing through the room, a stark contrast to the tension that had been building.
"Oh, Stephanie, you're unbelievable," I said, shaking my head in disbelief, my voice laced with sarcasm and incredulity. "So, now you're blaming me for your rejection? You're saying I planned to throw you under the bus, that I had another woman lined up all along, waiting for the perfect moment to discard you like yesterday's trash?"
Stephanie's face turned red with anger, her eyes flashing with jealousy, her expression twisted in a scowl, her lips pursed in a thin line. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying," she spat, her voice venomous, her words dripping with malice. "You were never serious about our relationship, you were just using me until you found someone better, someone more beautiful, someone more interesting."
I laughed again, unable to believe the drama unfolding before me, my laughter echoing through the room, a stark contrast to the tension that had been building. "Someone better?" I repeated, my voice laced with sarcasm and incredulity. "You mean someone more beautiful, someone like Sarah? Someone who actually loves me for who I am, not for what I can offer?"
Stephanie's eyes widened in anger, her face twisted in a scowl, her expression a mask of fury and jealousy. "How dare you," she hissed, her voice barely above a whisper, her words dripping with venom. "This has nothing to do with Sarah, it's about you and your deceitful ways, your manipulative tactics, your ability to use people for your own gain."
I know she was jealous, but the Stephanie before me right now, was different from the Stephanie I used to know.