The Gift Lunch That Broke the Wedding

1
The day before my wedding, I went to my fianc's office to surprise him with lunch.
What I found instead was Lily Vancethe woman whod left him for being poor and gone abroaddraped across his lap.
When she saw me, Lily deliberately tightened her arms around Leos neck. So youre the little social climber who just plays cards all day? Leo is a celebrated architect now. Youre not in his league.
I ignored her and looked straight at Leo. Are you calling off the wedding?
My fiancs face was a mask of cold indifference. I need a partner in my career, Stella, not a common woman who only knows how to gossip over a card game.
He sneered. The stench of the common world on you it makes me sick.
I didnt scream. I didnt cry. I just went back to the private club and, as usual, sat down with my regular partners for a game of Bridge.
Leo was right. My daily routine was playing cards. What he didnt know was that the women at my table held his entire future in their hands.
I picked up a card, the ace of spades, and played it with a calm, deliberate motion.
Mrs. Kingston, I said, my voice light, that downtown design project your husband is overseeing? Dont give it to Leo. I have someone better.

Across the table, Mrs. Kingston paused, her hand hovering over a card.
She looked up at me, not with a question in her eyes, but with complete understanding.
Of course, dear. Whatever you say.
She picked up her phone and stepped away from the table. Her voice was low but every word was crystal clear.
Henry, darling? About that downtown project put it on hold. Yes, replace Leo. Stella has a more suitable candidate.
She hung up and returned to her seat as if she had just instructed her maid to change the dinner menu.
My face was impassive. I continued to draw and play my cards as if nothing had happened.
Less than ten minutes later, Leos call came through.
I declined, hung up, and blocked his number. The movements were a single, fluid motion.
Half an hour later, the club door was thrown open with such force that it shuddered on its hinges.
Leo stood there, panting, his eyes bloodshot, glaring at me like a cornered animal. Lily Vance was clinging to his arm, the picture of fragile innocence, but her eyes glittered with triumph and provocation.
Leo stormed over to my table, swept the cards into a pile, and slammed them to the floor.
Stella! The Kingston project is dead! Was this your doing?!
The sharp clatter of the cards was jarring in the quiet room.
Mrs. Kingstons brow furrowed, her expression turning to ice. Mr. Armstrong, you are not welcome here. Please leave.
Leo completely ignored her, his rage focused solely on me. Have you had your fun? Dont play dumb with me! I know you went crying to the Kingstons! Do you have any idea how many nights I spent on that project, how many proposals I drew up? And you destroy it all just because I chose Lily?
Lily immediately gave his sleeve a timid tug, her voice just loud enough for the table to hear.
Leo, darling, dont be like that. It couldnt possibly have been Stella. She doesnt have that kind of influence. Im sure it was just a last-minute procedural change, or maybe one of your competitors sabotaged you. You shouldnt blame an innocent person.
Her words were placating, but her body pressed closer to his, staking her claim.
At her reminder, the suspicion in Leos eyes wavered. Thats right. Stella was just a woman who kept rich wives company at the card table. How could she possibly have the power to kill a project that Mr. Kingston himself had approved? Hed much rather believe it was a rival.
His gaze shifted from suspicion to pure contempt and disgust.
Get a grip, Stella! Look at yourself. What can you do besides wait on these wealthy women? The cheapness clinging to you is utterly repulsive!
I need a partner like Lily, someone who can help me with my career, with my connections! Not some common woman who only knows how to play cards!
Do you think Im finished without the Kingston project? Let me tell you something. Without me, you are the one who has nothing!
He spat his final words, grabbed Lilys hand, and stormed out as if fleeing something foul.
The club was silent.
Mrs. Kingston handed me a cup of tea. Stella, dont waste your anger on a man like that.
I shook my head and gave a small, self-deprecating laugh.
Across from me, Mrs. Albright played a card with a slow, deliberate hand.
The lead architect for the new downtown redevelopment project hasn't been chosen yet, she said casually. The requirements arent steep. Just a clean record and impeccable character.
An idea sparked in my mind. I picked up a card, looked toward the door where Leo had disappeared, and placed it gently on the table.
And game, I said. A clean sweep.
After they left, Leo and Lily convinced themselves the Kingston project was a fluke, a bit of sabotage from a competitor.
They pinned all their hopes on the new downtown redevelopment project.
Lily pulled strings with her father and managed to secure Leo a coveted presentation slot.
That night, Leo sent me a text. It was a photo of him with a well-known city official.
[See this, Stella? This is where I belong.]
[The lead designer role for the redevelopment is mine.]
[If you hadnt been so dramatic, that could be you standing next to me. Too bad. Not your fate.]
I looked at the boastful message, found it laughable, and deleted it.
The next day, at the card table.
I brought it up casually with Mrs. Albright.
Mrs. Albright, I heard theres an architect named Leo Armstrong in the running for the redevelopment project?
Mrs. Albright nodded, her expression neutral.
Yes, I believe so. His proposal was decent. A bit clever.
I smiled, as if we were just making small talk.
He was a senior of mine in college. He was always so talented. His graduation project even won the Gold Medal.
I paused, then added, But I heard a rumor later that the award-winning design was actually plagiarized from his girlfriend at the time. The poor girl was so foolish. She covered the whole thing up to protect his future.
Mrs. Albrights hand slowed as she reached for a card.
She didnt say anything, but her eyes darkened as she glanced at me.
On the day of the presentations, I went to the city hall.
I had just found a seat in the audience when Lily appeared.
She looked down her nose at me, a smirk playing on her lips.
Common women belong in their card clubs. A place like this is above your station.
I didnt look up, just calmly smoothed the hem of my dress.
I came to see how something I threw away is being treated like a treasure.
Lilys face tightened. She shot me a hateful glare and stalked off.
Leo, dressed in a sharp designer suit, was on stage, speaking eloquently. His proposal was impressive, drawing rounds of applause.
When he finished, he made a point of looking in my direction, his eyes filled with a mixture of contempt and triumph.
Lily sat in the section reserved for family, smiling like the lady of the manor.
The judges on the panel were whispering among themselves, clearly pleased with his work.
The host was already raising the microphone to announce the decision.
Ladies and gentlemen, regarding Mr. Armstrongs proposal, the committee is in unanimous agreement that
Just then, Director AlbrightMrs. Albrights husbandwho was seated on the panel, raised his hand.
One moment.
Every eye in the auditorium turned to him.
Director Albright held up a file. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried through the silent hall.
Mr. Armstrong, behind this stunning proposal of yours, I have just one question.
Why does the core design concept of your graduation project, Dream Weaver, bear such a striking resemblance to a publicly presented thesis by a Ms. Stella Ross, titled Lightspire?
The smile froze on Leos face.
He looked as if hed been struck by lightning, his mind a complete blank.
Director Albright projected a side-by-side comparison of the two designs onto the massive screen behind the stage. The overlapping sections were highlighted in red. It was damning.
We had several industry experts conduct an independent analysis. The conclusion is that your work constitutes plagiarism of over ninety percent.
For an architect, academic integrity is the foundation. For a civic project, the designers character is the minimum requirement.
The hall erupted in gasps and murmurs.
Leos face was ashen. He stood trembling on the stage, a clown stripped bare for all to see.
His eligibility was revoked on the spot.
The plagiarism scandal spread through the industry like a plague.
Reeling from one blow after another, his reputation in tatters, Leo finally started to suspect I was behind it.
But he had no proof, and he couldnt bring himself to believe I wielded that kind of power. All he could do was call me, ranting and raving like a madman.
Lily, however, refused to believe it. She was convinced I was a brainless twit.
Leo, darling, dont overthink it. Stella isnt smart enough for that.
It has to be your jealous rivals, trying to drag you down! Dont worry, Ill help you!
To salvage Leos crumbling reputation, Lily threw a lavish gala for the citys top architects.
She wanted to use the event to show everyone that Leo was still a brilliant genius, with her and her familys backing.
I received an invitation, embossed in gold foil. It felt like a declaration of war.
I knew it was a trap.
At the gala, architects who knew Leo saw me and shot me looks of pity and disdain, quickly turning away.
Lily, in a pristine white evening gown, moved through the crowd like a proud peacock.
When she saw me, a flicker of malice crossed her face, as if she were plotting something.
She walked toward me, a glass of red wine in hand. As she got close, her ankle twisted, and the entire glass of wine splashed across my dress.
The crimson liquid was a garish stain on my cream-colored gown.
Oh my goodness, Stella, I am so, so sorry! she cried out, her voice loud enough to draw everyones attention. It was an accident! Are you alright? Im just so clumsy.
Before I could say a word, Leo rushed over, pulling Lily behind him protectively.
He scowled at me, his face a mask of impatience and disgust.
Stella, what the hell is your problem? You follow us here, and now youre trying to hurt Lily?
I remember how you begged your distant, business-owning relative to help me get started. Is this how you repay me? With these cheap, pathetic games of revenge?
With that one statement, he branded me a bitter, obsessive ex.
People around us began to whisper.
So thats her. I heard shes the one who reported him for plagiarism.
If she cant have him, shell destroy him. That woman is manipulative.
Look at what shes wearing. Looks like its from a discount rack. How did she even get in here?
The whispers were like needles, pricking at me from all sides.
The same suffocating feeling from my past lifeof being isolated and misunderstood by everyoneclosed in around me.
I looked at the perfectly synchronized performance of the wretched pair before me.
I saw the false concern on their faces, hiding their smug satisfaction.
I knew I had to make them pay.
I smiled brightly at Lily.
Then I took out my phone and, right in front of them, made a call.
Mrs. Zhang, are you awake? Ive run into a bit of a situation.
Mrs. Zhangs cheerful voice came through the line. Not at all, dear. Whats going on? Take your time.
I glanced at Lily, whose face had instantly changed, and kept my voice just loud enough for those nearby to hear.
Oh, its nothing major. I was just wondering, is your husband still investigating Vance Holdings for tax evasion?
I paused. I heard the chairman of Vance Holdings is Lily Vances father. If the evidence is solid, I imagine thats enough for a ten-to-fifteen-year sentence, wouldnt you say?
The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds.
Stella. Thank you for the tip. I know what to do.
I hung up, and with a small smile, raised my phone in a little toast to a pale, trembling Lily.

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