Even though Sandra had tipped Kenneth off about Tiffany's intention to break off the engagement, he hadn't taken it seriously. In his eyes, it was impossible. Tiffany had been pursuing him for years, her love bordering on obsession. No matter how many times he humiliated her, she never gave up. But today, the Kelleys had arrived, ready to end the engagement.
Kenneth had repeatedly tried to escape the engagement he despised. Now that the day had finally arrived, an inexplicable irritation gnawed at him. Thankfully, his mother, Thalia, hadn't immediately agreed. With a diplomatic smile, she said, "Breaking an engagement is a big deal. We should discuss this with my husband. Don't you agree?"
"Of course," Thalia nodded. It was a two-family affair, after all.
While they waited for Kenneth's father to return from his workout, his mother turned to Tiffany. "Sweetie, you must be bored. Why don't you take a stroll in the back garden? The weather's lovely, and all the flowers are in bloom."
Tiffany recognized this as a ploy to remove her from the room. She nodded and allowed a maid to lead her to the garden.
It was a breathtaking expanse of flowers. Tiffany dismissed the maid and strolled through the vibrant blooms, letting her curiosity guide her. The early summer sun shone brightly, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves. Tiffany bent to touch a blooming gardenia, its petals soft and fragrant.
She was lost in the moment, her mood lifting, until a tall shadow fell over her. Looking up, she saw Kenneth, his face grim.
"You want to break off the engagement?" he asked.
Tiffany stood, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips. "What's this? You sound almost disappointed, Mr. Harper."
"I couldn't be happier!" Kenneth blurted out. But another thought nagged at him. He wanted to ask about her and Richard. The image of Richard with his arm around Tiffany outside Nocturne Arena flashed in his mind. The thought plagued him. Even if I don’t like her, Tiffany’s still my fiancée, at least on paper. What the hell was she doing getting so cozy with another guy?
Before Kenneth could ask, Tiffany cut him off. "We're done here. You can go now."
Kenneth was stunned. "This is my house!"
"Oh, right," Tiffany shrugged and turned to leave. The garden was huge; finding a place out of his sight wouldn't be difficult.
Her casual exit left Kenneth fuming. This wasn't typical. Before, Tiffany would never have treated him this way. He was always the one to leave, with her trailing behind, calling, "Kenny, wait for me!" He'd never looked back. But since two days ago, Tiffany had stopped clinging to him. Her eyes, once full of adoration, now held only mockery and hatred.
Kenneth stood frozen, watching Tiffany leave. Under the bright sun, her silhouette was graceful, exuding an effortless elegance. Her every movement outshone the blooming flowers. Setting aside his past disgust and prejudice, Kenneth had to admit Tiffany was beautiful. But still, he couldn't bring himself to love her. If she wanted to break the engagement, so be it. He wouldn't stop her.
As Kenneth turned to leave, a girl no older than thirteen emerged from the bushes. Seeing her brother walk away, she chased after Tiffany.
"You! Stop right there!" the girl demanded, her nose in the air.
"What do you want?" Tiffany looked down at the girl, irritated.
This was Kenneth's younger sister, Snow, known for being a brat, talking down to everyone. Before, when Tiffany was less aware, she'd bent over backward to please both Mrs. Harper and Snow, letting Snow boss her around and even make her bark like a dog.
The memory brought a cryptic smile to Tiffany's lips.
"Hey!" Snow planted her hands on her hips. "What were you saying to my brother? Let me tell you, if you want to be part of the Harper family, you've got to get through me first!"
"And then what?" Tiffany yawned.
Snow, mistaking Tiffany's attitude for submission, pressed on. "Can't you see my shoelace is untied? Get on your knees and tie it! Or… I'll tell my brother you hit me!"
The sound echoed through the garden before she could finish. Snow stood stunned, then burst into tears, screaming for help. Tiffany remained calm, her gaze icy. "You're young, so I'll let this slide. But keep acting like this, and someday someone might sew that nasty mouth of yours shut." With that warning, she walked away.
Some people never learn until they get a taste of their own medicine, Tiffany thought.
Maybe it was bad luck, but as she wandered through the back of the estate, she got lost among the smaller buildings. Then, through an open door, she saw something she wished she hadn't.
Tiffany froze. Her eyes widened as she took in the scene: Kenneth's father, Ryan Harper, preoccupied. The room, with its practical furnishings and cluttered workspaces, was unmistakably the staff quarters. If Mrs. Harper found out, it would be utter chaos. And, of course, Tiffany had to be the one to discover it.
She instinctively backed away, her only thought to escape quickly. She was there to end the engagement, but if anyone discovered her now, her chances would be ruined. But luck wasn't on her side. As Tiffany turned to leave, she knocked over a flowerpot. The crash echoed as shards of ceramic flew across the floor.
"Who's there?"
Tiffany's heart raced as she heard Ryan's voice and approaching footsteps. She broke into a cold sweat. She had to run. But before she could move, a strong hand grabbed her arm and pulled her into a nearby storage closet.
I removed the website plug and repeated text. I also made some minor word choices for better flow and clarity.