The Past is Hard to Recall

Chapter 7

I coldly glanced at Cole, surrounded by the crowd, a flicker of sarcasm in my eyes. Winona finally snapped. She pointed at me, yelling at the debt collectors, "This was all arranged by Stella. Why are you coming to us for money?"

Her sharp voice made everyone turn to look at me. I slowly stood up, and just then, Cole, who had been looking irritated, glanced down at my stomach. It seemed like he suddenly found some confidence.

"Stella, didn't we agree on this?" he demanded. "We just needed to go through the motions with Winona. Why are you being so aggressive? Hurry up and pay the money, or don't expect me to marry you later!"

I smiled at him and shook my head, laughing softly. "Cole, you really have no shame, do you? You're just a second-hand man! Do you honestly think I care about you?"

I looked around at the crowd and continued, "Everyone can see that Winona is the bride. The ring is on her finger, and the wedding dress is on her. So why should I be the one paying for this? And what's this nonsense about 'just going through the motions'? Do you even hear yourself?"

"And let's not forget," I added with a sneer, "All these years, you've been living off me, using my resources, all while secretly getting involved with Winona. You two even have a child together."

I signaled the employee I had bribed to play the recording of that night. Embarrassing, shameful sounds echoed through the speakers. The room fell silent, and gasps of shock rippled through the crowd. Winona's influencer friend, who'd been hoping for drama, was momentarily unsure where to point her camera. Meanwhile, the live stream exploded.

"Oh my god, is this guy crazy? How could he cheat on a woman like Miss Hale with that?"

"I've heard Miss Hale is the definition of true love. She stood up to her family for him and gave up a chance to marry into a rich family. And now this guy is trying to scam her and take over the Hale family? What a scumbag!"

"Such trash! Thankfully, Miss Hale isn't blind to the truth and walked away before it was too late!"

"This proves it , spending money on a man is a lifetime of regret. Even someone as beautiful and successful as Miss Hale isn't immune to being cheated on."

Winona's friend shoved the camera into my face, but I couldn't help but laugh bitterly at the comments flooding in. I had already learned the hard way not to be blinded by love. This time, I wouldn't make the same mistake again.

As my resolve grew clearer, no one dared question me. The jewelry store manager who had worked with Winona and the wedding dress shop manager both stepped forward to back me up.

"That ring was custom-ordered by Miss Hale six months ago," the jewelry store manager said, shaking his head. "You just took it as if it was yours and demanded we change the name overnight. Miss Hale didn't even argue with you, and now you're trying to twist the truth?"

"Right!" the wedding dress manager chimed in. "Miss Hale worked tirelessly on that dress, going back and forth with the designer to get it perfect. We even told you it didn't suit you, but you insisted on taking it. You and Cole were rude and disrespectful to her, and now you want her to foot the bill? You two have no shame."

The room's mood shifted, and people began turning against Winona. Her eyes welled with tears as she looked at Cole, but instead of evoking sympathy, they only made him more disgusted.

"I told you," he muttered bitterly, "we just needed to go through the motions. Why did you have to make this a scene?"

They started blaming each other in front of everyone, but the shop owners weren't interested in their excuses. Seeing Cole's inability to pay, their attitudes grew colder.