By the time we arrived at the Shen residence, word of what had happened at the engagement party had already spread throughout the house.
The atmosphere in the living room was heavy.
Father Shen sat on the main sofa with a stern expression, while Mother Shen quietly sipped her tea, her eyes moving between everyone present.
Shen Gu stood beside me.
Shen Yu entered a few moments later with Ting Ting following closely behind him.
The moment Mother Shen saw Ting Ting's swollen cheek, she gasped.
"My goodness! Ting Ting, what happened to your face?"
Ting Ting lowered her head immediately.
"It's... it's nothing, Auntie."
She forced a smile despite the redness on her cheek.
"Mei Mei was just upset. I understand."
My stomach turned.
The same performance.
The same carefully chosen words.
She never directly blamed me.
She never needed to.
Mother Shen frowned.
"Xie Mei, is this true?"
Before I could answer, Ting Ting hurriedly shook her head.
"Please don't blame Mei Mei. It's all my fault. I accidentally broke the necklace her mother gave her. She was emotional, and I understand why."
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
"I don't want everyone arguing because of me."
She looked so pitiful that even one of the servants sighed sympathetically.
Shen Yu placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I told you to stop apologizing," he said gently. "You did nothing wrong."
Of course.
He was protecting her again.
Just like before.
I lowered my eyes.
For a brief moment, I allowed my shoulders to droop.
When I looked up again, my eyes were already glistening.
"I wish..." I whispered.
Everyone turned toward me.
"I wish it had only been the necklace."
The room fell silent.
I smiled bitterly.
"I've known Ting Ting since we were children."
"My parents welcomed her into our home."
"They treated her like another daughter."
"I trusted her with everything."
I paused, swallowing hard.
"So when I saw her wearing the last birthday gift my mother ever gave me..."
My voice cracked.
"...I didn't know how to react."
I looked at Mother Shen, tears finally spilling over.
"I wasn't angry because it was expensive."
"I was angry because it was precious."
"My mother chose it herself."
"It wasn't something that could simply be replaced."
I wiped my eyes quickly, almost as if embarrassed to cry.
"And then..."
I looked at the floor.
"It broke."
The words were barely louder than a whisper.
"I know it was an accident."
"I know Ting Ting didn't mean it."
"But when I watched those beads scatter across the floor..."
I pressed a trembling hand against my chest.
"...it felt like I was watching one of my happiest memories shatter with them."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even Ting Ting forgot to cry.
Mother Shen's expression softened.
She reached over and gently took my hand.
"Oh, child..."
"I didn't realize the necklace meant so much to you."
I forced a small smile.
"I'm ashamed that I lost my temper."
"I shouldn't have slapped Ting Ting."
I turned toward her.
"I'm sorry for hurting you."
The apology was sincere in tone.
But not in meaning.
Ting Ting stared at me.
She couldn't reject my apology now.
Not in front of everyone.
"I... I..."
She bit her lip before forcing out a smile.
"I forgive you, Mei Mei."
I nodded.
"Thank you."
Then I lowered my head again.
"I only hope... everyone can understand why I couldn't bear to see my mother's gift treated so carelessly."
Father Shen, who had remained silent the entire time, finally spoke.
"No one should have taken something that wasn't theirs without permission."
His gaze shifted toward Ting Ting.
"Whether intentional or not, the necklace should never have left Xie Mei's possession."
Ting Ting's face turned white.
Shen Yu frowned.
"Dad—"
Father Shen raised a hand, silencing him.
"Enough."
He looked at Shen Gu and then at me.
"If the two of you have truly decided to honor the marriage agreement, then the Shen family will discuss the arrangements properly."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ting Ting's fingers curl into fists.
For the first time that evening...
Her mask slipped.
Just for a second.
And I knew.
She wasn't upset because I had slapped her.
She was upset because, for once...
She hadn't been the only victim in the room.