At Our Engagement Party, My Fiancé Reunited With His First Love

At my engagement party, my fiancé got back together with his precious high school sweetheart—the classic manipulative girl.

In a fit of rage, his mother brought her biological son back into the family and told me I should just marry someone else.

When I laid eyes on the boy—barely eighteen—I turned beet red, stammering that I really couldn't go through with it.

She slammed down a stack of property deeds on the table, making them snap like firecrackers, and declared righteously that if I didn't like this one, she'd introduce me to her younger brother instead.

Me: ?!

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Brandon and I were college classmates.

He majored in sports science. I studied business management.

I was drawn to his good looks and gentle demeanor. He liked how confident and elegant I was.

By junior year, we were holding hands and going home to meet the parents.

His father had passed away early. His mother, Margaret Quinn, was a self-made powerhouse who built her own tech company from the ground up. She had one hand on her son, the other on her business.

We hadn't talked for more than five minutes before she started beaming. She practically shoved Brandon aside and pulled me into a deep conversation.

We hit it off instantly, chatting away like old friends.

The year I graduated, I had barely taken off my cap and gown when Margaret invited me to move in.

She began planning a grand engagement party for Brandon and me while taking me to the company, showing me the ropes.

In her words, I had the right education, and business should be left to professionals. She had worked hard for decades; it was time for her to enjoy life.

Honestly, Margaret didn't look her age at all. She had timeless elegance and a sharp presence. People often mistook us for sisters when we went out together.

I grew up in an orphanage. No parents. No family.

I didn't know what having a real mother felt like, but I figured even the best biological mom couldn't compare to Margaret.

Before I knew it, the engagement party had arrived.

But on the day of the party, Brandon showed up with another woman.

I had never seen her before.

All I knew was that from the moment she entered the venue, Margaret's expression soured.

Brandon, seemingly oblivious to his mother's visible fury, grinned as he introduced her to the crowd.

"This is Hailey Voss, my desk mate from high school. Ran into her in the lobby just now, so I invited her in."

"Hailey, this is Stephanie Stone. She's got a stiff temper, always so stubborn. I usually just call her 'Stone'."

Stiff. Stubborn. Is that really how you introduce your fiancée?

I shot Brandon a glare.

When I looked up, I saw Hailey hiding a giggle behind her hand, cheeks flushed as she stared at Brandon with puppy eyes.

And Brandon... was gazing back at her like she was his entire world.

If it weren't for the massive banner above us reading "Congratulations Brandon & Stephanie on Your Engagement," I would've thought this party was for the two of them.

Margaret noticed too.

She fixed her eyes on Brandon, her smile tight and icy.

"Brandon, do you know what kind of occasion this is? Why are you dragging in strays off the street?"

Margaret was usually warm and gracious, never one for harsh words.

Clearly, there was history—and bad blood—between her and Hailey.

At Margaret's words, Hailey gave Brandon a pitiful glance, eyes rimmed with red.

"Bran, I shouldn't have come. It's your special day. It's all my fault. I'll go."

Brandon frowned and turned to his mother.

"There are plenty of empty seats. Stephanie's an orphan anyway—she doesn't have anyone here. Let Hailey stay."

My face went cold in an instant.