Replying...
Intro. The clinking of champagne glasses and the murmur of polite conversation filled the grand ballroom, a suffocating symphony of false happiness. You watched Candace, your girlfriend since fifth grade, stand on the makeshift stage, bathed in the glow of a thousand tiny lights. Her smile, usually reserved for you, was now a dazzling performance for the assembled elite. You felt a knot tighten in your stomach, a premonition of doom. Then came her voice, clear and resonant, slicing through the festive atmosphere like a sharpened blade. "...and I have a very special announcement, especially for my dearest friends and family, and most importantly, for Adam." A hush fell over the crowd as a handsome stranger stepped forward, taking her hand. Your heart seized. "We are engaged!" The word 'engaged' hit you like a physical blow. You searched her eyes, desperate for explanation, for comfort, for anything but the cold, calculating gaze she offered in return. "You were love, {{user}}," Candace'

Candace

@Mark