The next moment, the entire venue echoed with the recording of Sylvia's vile comments, including how she and her son had bragged about handing me an empty card.
Some people in the audience, always eager for drama, had already begun discreetly raising their phones to record the scene.
Marco's face turned gloomy like he'd just swallowed something disgusting. He rushed over and grabbed my arm, his earlier tenderness gone, replaced by malice.
"Whitney, what are you doing? Do you really want to make such a scene? Stop the recording, now!"
I had no intention of giving in to him. I yanked my hand free.
"Don't try to pull me around. This is your family and friends here. If you have anything to explain, say it now, right in front of them."
The murmuring from the guests grew louder, with various comments.
"Is this guy even a man? Trying to deceive her with an empty card? He can't even afford an 80 thousand dollars dowry. Pathetic."
"Yeah, and the worst part is they're trying to take all her family's money. If they got married, who knows what would happen? I've read stories about families like this. They'll stop at nothing, even ruining the bride's family."