Chapter 27
Aaron remained composed, his grip tightening on Ellie as he guided her away.
“Alex, you’re right. I haven’t been the best brother. I’ll do better. Excuse us,” he said, his voice calm but firm.
Perhaps it was Aaron’s calm demeanor or Ellie’s silence that set Alex off. Without warning, Alex lunged for Ellie’s shoulder, but Aaron swiftly blocked him. The crowd gasped as the two began to grapple.
“Alex!” Layton shouted, stepping in to separate them. Ellie stood back, holding Aaron, while Haley remained by her parents, not intervening.
Alex shoved Layton aside, pointing at Aaron. “Aaron, you’ve been waiting for Haley’s birthday. You must have a gift for her, right?”
Aaron glanced at Haley, but she quickly turned away, her face unreadable. “It’s none of your business,” Aaron responded coolly.
Alex’s eyes narrowed as he focused on the thin pocket of Aaron’s slacks. Before Aaron could react, Alex’s men appeared in front of him, blocking his escape. Aaron instinctively backed away, sensing what Alex was up to.
Ellie clenched her fists, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew what was in Aaron’s pocket: the engagement ring he’d carefully chosen for Haley.
“Hey, why do those two always argue?” Layton casually asked Ellie, his voice light and almost playful.
Ellie forced a smile, trying to hide her unease.
Seeing her hesitation, Layton added, “Haley’s parents are watching. We can’t let them keep fighting. Who’s your pick? I’ll help that one.”
Ellie nodded quickly, feeling the weight of the situation. “Thanks, Layton.”
The scene escalated into a chaotic struggle. Layton attacked Aaron, using the distraction to give Alex a chance to grab something from Aaron’s pocket. Aaron tried to react, but Layton blocked him, and the item flew into the air, landing with a thud on the floor. The small box popped open, and a ring rolled out.
Ellie’s stomach churned as she realized what had happened. She looked at Layton in disbelief as he scratched his head sheepishly. Her eyes welled up with anger and regret. Layton and Alex were old friends, and she knew that they were all too willing to cause trouble for Aaron.
The ring rolled to a woman’s feet. She picked it up, examined it briefly, and then laughed. “I thought it was a treasure, but it’s just a plain platinum ring.”
The crowd burst into laughter, some jeering and others whispering behind their hands.
Haley stared at the ring, rooted to the spot. She seemed torn, unsure of how to react. As she moved toward Aaron, her mother quickly pulled her back.
Ellie could see the pain in Aaron’s eyes. He clenched his fists, his anger rising. For him, that ring wasn’t just a piece of jewelry—it was the symbol of his love for Haley. To see it treated this way felt like an insult.
“Give me back the ring!” Ellie demanded, her voice shaky with emotion.
The woman smirked, tossing the ring carelessly away. It rolled across the floor, and Ellie immediately ran after it, determined to retrieve it. But before she could get to it, the ring stopped at Alex’s feet. As Ellie bent down to pick it up, Alex kicked it away, sending it rolling past everyone’s feet.
Ellie stood frozen for a moment, her chest tightening with frustration and helplessness.
