“Why don’t I set up an agency for you, and you can sign him up as one of the talents?” Bryson quipped beside her.


    “You’re terrible,” Hannah retorted with a roll of her eyes.


    “Be quiet and just enjoy the show!”


    She rarely let herposure slip, let alone show her irritation outright.


    Bryson enjoyed every single second of it.


    “Please rest assured, Jaylin,” Alick replied over at the small tform.


    “I will treasure your daughter with all that I have.


    ” He took Lydia’s hand and beamed at her.


    “I will treat Lydia well.


    Bryson began pping lightly.


    The other guests quickly followed suit, and soon, the hall was filled with thunderous apuse.


    As the audience cheered them on, Alick pulled Lydia to his side.


    “I’m sure everyone here is dying to know about your love story,” the host teased them.


    “Where did it all begin? How did the two of you meet? Do you care to share it with us?”


    Alick didn’t hesitate to take the microphone, and proceeded to narrate their shared past, painting himself and Lydia to be childhood sweethearts.


    “Our families have always had a good rtionship, and Lydia and I have been friends since we were kids.


    We were very young when we promised to marry each other, and thankfully, our feelings only strengthened as we grew older.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Now that we are adults, Lydia deserves to be given the official status as my partner.


    ”


    “Ohh,” the host continued to tease them.


    “So, not only were you a campus couple, but you were childhood sweethearts, too? It seems like you were meant for each other since the beginning! How about you, Miss Phillips? Would you Like to share your perspective? What do you think of Mr.


    Shaw?”


    Lydia’s smile never faltered as she took the microphone and said, “Actually, all I feel for him is disgust.


    ”


    A shocked silence fell over the hall.


    The four elders sitting in the front row all flinched in their seats, their expressions ranging from disbelief to outrage.


    Beside her, Alick struggled to keep his cool.


    He tugged at Lydia’s hand and hissed as quietly as he could, “Lydia!”


    But she simply ignored him and kept telling her side of the story, just as she had been asked.


    “Ever since we were in high school, he never had a shortage of girls.


    He always had a girlfriend, and a different one each month or two.


    In fact, neither of us has looked kindly at the other.


    Today’s engagement is merely a business transaction between our families, nothing more, nothing less.


    That is neither here nor there, though.


    Right now, I just want to ask Alick one simple question.


    ”


    Lydia turned to look him in the eye, a yful smile dancing on her lips.


    “Tell me, Alick, have you ever wronged me in any way?”


    With so many eyes on them, Alick could only force a smile.