Fiancee falls in love with poor
student
Chapter One
My fiancée dumped me for some scholarship
kid I was bankrolling.
She was dead set on breaking things off,
even after her parents freaked out. She
showed up at my place herself to call off the
engagement.
My dad was seeing red, and my mom almost
passed out right there.
Overnight, I became the laughingstock of the
upper crust.
But what they didn’t know was, we had a
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family pow–wow that very day.
The three of us sat around the table, ice-
cold, strategizing.
My dad, sipping his tea, said, “Lay low, go
abroad, get your MBA or something.”
My mom, cool as a cucumber, suggested,
“Rebrand yourself. He’s playing the sweet,
innocent puppy? You go full–on alpha male.”
I smirked. “First thing I’m doing is buying her
family’s company.”
- 1.
Three years later, I was back, and my buddies
threw me a welcome–home bash.
The room was buzzing with chatter, everyone
clinking glasses.
Then the door swung open, and the
temperature dropped about twenty degrees.
Standing there was my ex–fiancée and her
boy–toy.
I glanced over and met her eyes.
Sarah’s eyes lingered on me.
It was enough to make her boyfriend, Chad,
scowl.
My friends exchanged looks, sizing up my
reaction.
I blinked for a second. then waved my hand.
all casual. “Come on in, grab a seat.”
Like the whole thing had never happened.
Sarah looked a little stunned, like she wanted
to say something, but didn’t.
Finally, she just mumbled, “Okay.”
Chad squeezed in next to her, trying to act
cool.
But you could practically taste the awkward.
Everyone knew the story. I’d been the sucker
who paid for this guy’s college, and he’d
repaid me by stealing my girl.
Who’s going to be nice to a lowlife like that?
My family’s business had blown up in recent
years, dwarfing Sarah’s.
Everyone there was either taking my side, or
trying to get on my good side.
Between the toasts and small talk, they were
pretty much ignoring Chad, treating him like
he wasn’t even there.
He kept shooting Sarah these desperate
looks, but she was giving him the silent
treatment.
I could feel her eyes on me every so often.
In the dim light, I could still see the sweat
beading on Chad’s forehead.
I’d had enough of the show. I raised my glass.
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breaking the tension.
“You guys are late. You know the rules. Gotta
do three shots.
“Come on, it’s my homecoming. Cut me some
slack here, right?”
Everyone perked up, chiming in.
“Yeah, this is Blake’s night!”
Sarah hesitated a beat, then grabbed a glass
and downed it.
She did all three in a row, her hand shaking a
little as she set the glass down.
Our eyes met, and I could see a hint of
apology in her eyes.
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I just smiled and turned to Chad.
He was clutching his glass, looking totally
miserable.
I was just about to toast him when he
suddenly stood up.
“Uh, sorry, guys, my stomach’s acting up.
Gotta hit the restroom.”
And he bolted out of the room.
Everyone stared at each other, then burst out
laughing.
“Sarah, your boyfriend’s a tool.
“Blake was giving him an out, and he just
runs?”
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Sarah looked mortified, but she tried to play it
off.
“He’s got a sensitive stomach. He really can’t
drink.”
Chad was hiding out in the bathroom, and the
vibe in the room was getting worse.
Some of my friends who didn’t have ties to
her family were ready to blow.
“I swear, if I see him again…”
- 2.
I held up my hand, flashing a smile.
“Hev we’re all friends here. It’s no big deal.
<
“Let bygones be bygones, right?”
I looked at Sarah and Chad, raised my glass
and took a swig, trying to ease the situation.
Sarah seemed relieved.
The tension eased.
Everyone got the message.
The party was back on.
Later, I went out to the balcony to get some
air.
I heard Sarah’s voice behind me.
“So, how have you been these last three
<
The night air rustled my jacket, adding to the
dramatic, long–time–no–see vibe.
When I turned around, I caught the surprise
and confusion in her eyes.
“Remember to take your meds, don’t overdo
it with the alcohol.”
I avoided her question, and started asking
about her health.
Sarah instinctively touched her chest, her
expression shifting for a second.
She’d had a congenital heart condition since
she was a kid, and she was the pickiest eater
I knew.
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I’d spent a year researching her diet, putting
together a personalized meal plan.
