1.

The room had different people of high class scattered around in groups. Some sat around a table with wine in hand as they spoke to each other, while others stood while chatting with a few people. The only person in the room not currently speaking to anyone was the man of the hour or at least, one of the people that owns the hour. Jacob Murphy.

He stood at the front of the bar, wine glass in hand, eyes darting around as he slowly brought his cup closer to his lips to take a little sip. He was more than nervous as he darted his eyes around. This was not his usual social gathering. Not like he has never been in a gathering as big as this before, but it was the people that filled the hall that intimidated him.

The president's son was in the room speaking with Mr.wilson, Amelia's father. Amelia was the girl in the spotlight today. The only daughter of Mr. Wilson and very well overprotected by him. Amelia was the one woman that had found a very nice way to get into Jacob Murphy's heart and remain there.

At first, he never knew who her family was. Yes, she was rich. You can always smell it around her with her expensive perfume, body, expensive clothes, a car and sometimes body guards that can send shivers down someone’s spine from afar. Amelia was that wealthy but Jacob Murphy did not fall in love with her just because she was rich. No.

Their first meeting was one of the best. They met at a coffee shop while they both went to buy coffee. As the universe may have it, they both had the same timing as to when they wanted to go on their run and a couple of times they interacted with each other. None of them knew when affections for each other blossomed in a matter of months.

And now, they were in the presence of everyone telling them they wanted to get married someday and they were in love. Murphy's gaze landed on Amelia who stood some distance away from where he stood smiling with her friends. They laughed with her and they made her laugh too. If only when he was with them they did not target him.

They kept asking him questions that made him very much uncomfortable. He felt they wanted to show Amelia that a life with him was nothing more than suffering. Murphy was a hard working young boy. He was not really poor but He could feed himself well and remove the high class mentality of buying big things, he could take care of Amelia but not as much as the way her father took care of her.

Murphy had a car. He was able to get that by so many years of savings. It was a very small car that he managed and sometimes due to expenses he lacks gas money. Some people see him as someone who wanted Amelia's father's money. But that was not the case.

Murphy loved her deeply and all he wanted was to take care of her and shower her with so much love that she deserved. He could not help but smile at her as she discussed with her friends. If only his family was rich or at least well known in the society as a rich family then he would not be scared to approach anyone in the room.

Murphy would speak to them and they would not give him gazes that speak, ‘And who are you?’

It was a gaze he got used to after staying in this city for so long. This city adores rich and well known people. Never people who were struggling or at least were able to take care of himself. He was a pharmacist. A good profession but he was working for someone at the moment. He had good pay but it was not enough to live a lavish lifestyle like everyone expected him to have.

“Can the couple step on the stage  for us to have our closing speech?” the host said and everyone clapped

Amelia excused herself from the group and Murphy did too. They met and Murphy gave her his hand for her to take. Gladly, she took it with a wide smile.

"Stunning” Murphy whispered in her ears as he held her hand

Amelia blushed but covered her lips so no one would notice her cheeks turning red. They walked up the stairs with Murphy helping her out every now and then to make sure she was okay. They got to the platform and he helped her with her dress. He straightened it up. Some people looked at them with love and cuteness.

But not many thought the same. Mr. Wilson took the microphone and cleared his throat. From a mile away, Murphy knew what he wanted to say was not going to be good. Mr. Wilson did not like Murphy. In fact, he saw him as a gold digger. He never wanted his daughter to get married to someone so low classed.

After so many failed attempts to set her up with some rich and handsome boys, which made him have a bad relationship with Amelia, he chose to allow her to go ahead with dating Murphy.

“Everyone was so happy that he did that for her. Should that be a surprise to anyone?” Mr Wilson said, looking around the room

Murphy became stiff and Amelia tried to comfort him. “He has to do that after all he did not contribute a dime to the party. I did not let him because I knew how he would plan it. Too local for esteemed guests to come into. Take a look at the ring. Not costumed like what it ought to be. Just plain. I am being generous to let you get engaged to my daughter because she loves you but try and make things good so you don’t bring poverty upon her”

His words stabbed like a sharp knife and for the entire party, Murphy remained silent and calm before heading back home.