Public Betrayal: I Gifted Her Our Token of Love

Everyone has gathered around to play games together. The current game requires all players to transfer red wine to each other via our mouths.

Before my fiance, Teodoro Lamperti, is able to transfer the wine to me, his female best friend, Cristina Ghedini, shoves me away before kissing him on the mouth right away.

"What are you doing? Today is Serafina's big day, you know!"

Teodoro might be complaining on the outside, yet he's patting Cristina gently on the back.

The atmosphere in the villa becomes eerily silent. Everyone stares at me as I sit on the floor in a wretched manner.

Cristina merely smiles nonchalantly. Then, she leans against Teodoro's shoulder.

"Don't be so petty, Serafina. Teodor and I are as thick as thieves since we were kids. We're used to sharing everything together."

Teodoro begins advising me as well. "It's just a game, Serafina. You've always been gracious, haven't you? Don't act like a sore loser."

Everyone thinks that I'll explode into rage and flip the table of food over, like I had done in the past.

But this time, I just draw to my feet and take off the engagement ring. Then, I slide it onto Cristina's finger.

"This ring is yours now. Congratulations on your marriage. Remember to invite me to your wedding."

"What cologne are you wearing today, Teodoro? It smells so good."

Cristina Ghedini's flirtatious voice echoed throughout the quiet villa as if she had spoken directly into a megaphone. Every single word was dripping with provocation.

Satisfaction and joy were written all over Teodoro Lamperti's face. He swept his gaze across the crowd surrounding him when he suddenly noticed the villa had grown too quiet, his eyes finally landing on me, who had remained pathetically crumpled on the ground.

He subconsciously pushed Cristina away, but immediately held her hand and patted it lightly when he realized that his actions might have been too harsh.

"That's enough fooling around, Cristina. Don't forget that Serafina's the star of the party today."

Cristina coyly bumped her fist against Teodoro's chest, saying, "Oh, Teodoro! I don't think we're stealing Serafina's thunder just by playing a little game. You're not that petty, right, Serafina Juliano?"

I was rendered speechless by her words.

From Cristina's perspective, something as intimate as a kiss, which should be reserved for couples, was just "a little game".

Our friends glanced at me nervously. They were familiar with my character and knew what would happen next. They assumed that I would react like how I always did—berate Teodoro for his wrongs, accuse him of neglecting me, and storm up to him for an argument.

However, I simply got back up to my feet slowly and gently smoothed out my skirt, elegantly brushing away nonexistent dust as if I was cleaning myself of filth.

I raised my hands that were callused from years of relentless work and gently removed the diamond ring—Ocean's Heart—from my finger.

I had used the money I earned from my first