Done with Cheater's Coldness Shine in Rival's Arms novel Chapter 133

Chapter 133 The Uninvited Guest at the Engagement

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Finished

This was exactly why they’d discussed postponing the engagement in the first place. Even though the scandal had died down, the internet never forgot. Too many people still knew about what had happened- and about the messy ties between him and Wendy.

“Heard they’ve been together for ages. They just never made it public,” one guest whispered.

“Wasn’t the Hart family’s daughter disowned by her family over a boyfriend once? Did she settle for Peyton after that failed relationship?”

“I also heard Peyton’s had someone he’s liked for years. Maybe they both got burned in past relationships

and found solace in each other.”

Quinn caught every single word. What was supposed to be one of the happiest days of their lives had turned into a circus of whispers and gossip.

A flicker of doubt stirred in her chest.

Has Peyton really been pining for someone else all this time? Who’s that person? And why has he ended up with me instead?

She’d heard the rumors before-rumors that he’d been searching for someone for years, never giving up. But he’d never breathed a word of it to her, like the whole thing was a secret he’d buried deep.

Maybe he just never let it show when he was with her. They’d never really talked about their feelings-not deeply, anyway. She had no idea what Peyton truly felt for her.

“Quinn, don’t listen to them,” Doris said, hurrying over to comfort her daughter. Her heart ached for Quinn. “Qui This was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but now it felt like a weight hanging over everyone’s heads, with guests dissecting their relationship left and right.

It was their fault for not handling the announcement better. If they’d gone public sooner, none of this shock and gossip would be happening right now.

“It’s okay, Mom. I don’t care,” Quinn said, forcing a smile. “We’ve both been through a lot in the past, and those things really did happen. I can’t blame them for talking.

“Whatever they say, as long as this engagement party goes off without a hitch, that’s all that matters. It’s just a ceremony, anyway. I wouldn’t have minded if we skipped it entirely.”

But Peyton cared about this engagement deeply. He’d been determined to give the woman he loved the recognition she deserved-to make sure everyone knew that Quinn was his fiancée.

“Just hang in there a little longer. It’ll be over soon,” Doris/said, squeezing her hand gently. No matter what had happened in their pasts, this was a brand-new start for her daughter.

“Go on, Mom. I’ll be fine. You don’t have to stay with me,” Quinn said. She turned to go find Peyton.

He was chatting with some business partners, all of whom had made the trip to honor the Reed family by attending the engagement.

But the second he spotted Quinn, he excused himself from the group and walked straight over to her side.

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Chapter 133 The Uninvited Guest at the Engagement

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Finished

Quinn opened her mouth to speak-then froze. A familiar figure had appeared nearby. It was Wendy.

She couldn’t believe it. Wendy had actually shown up.

Quinn stared in shock.

Why would this woman come here uninvited? Hasn’t Peyton made it clear to her before the engagement that she shouldn’t be there?

In fact, Peyton had warned Wendy repeatedly not to come. After everything that had happened, her presence would only stir up trouble, attract more gossip, and do irreparable damage to her own reputation.

But Wendy had clearly ignored his warning. She was sitting in her wheelchair, stripped of her usual polished appearance, looking disheveled and pitiful—as if she were deliberately trying to evoke sympathy.

“Peyton, Quinn, congratulations on your engagement,” Wendy said, her voice warm and cheerful, a bright smile on her face. “I know today’s the most important day of your lives. I’m still sore from rehab, but I just had to be here in person to wish you both well. It means so much to me.”

She laid it on thick, her words dripping with false sincerity.

“Wendy, didn’t I tell you this wasn’t the right place for you to be?” Peyton said, his voice tight with frustration. He was at his wit’s end with Wendy. No matter what he said, she always had a comeback.

“I know you didn’t want me here, Peyton,” Wendy replied, her tone softening into a pitiful whimper. “But this is your big day. After everything we’ve been through, I just had to come and congratulate you myself.”

There was no point in arguing now. She was already here.

Peyton sighed, helpless. The whole room had already seen her. If he tried to make her leave now, it would only spark, more rumors and make things even worse.

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17:05 Tue, Jan 27 JMM

Done with Cheater’s Coldness Shine in Rival’s Arms