Chapter 49 The farce Lucien's words sent a ripple of shock through the crowd in the grand hall. "What's going on here?" someone whispered. "Is this wedding turning into a proposal? Are they changing the bride now?" "No way around it, I guess. Who could've seen it coming? Alden in love with Luna, his sister? They always said Luna was the daughter of some old friend they took in. This is wild." "Didn't you see the video? Luna was only sixteen back then. Is that even legal?" The murmurs, though hushed, pierced Allen's ears like needles. He gasped for air, his chest tight, as if the room were running out of oxygen. "That damned boy! I'm going to have a heart attack! That brat!" Alyssa wasn't sure if her grandfather was cursing her cousin Alden or her uncle Lucien. In her head, she gave Kaia a silent thumbs-up before swiftly slipping a heart pill into Allen's mouth. "Grandpa, don't get so worked up. You'll make yourself sick," she said, her voice dripping with concern. "Are you feeling okay? Want me to call someone to help?" Her caring words only made the veins on Allen's forehead bulge more prominently. "Alyssa, did you know about this?" he demanded, the pill still in his mouth, his eyes blazing. Alyssa threw up her hands, quick to defend herself. "No way! Grandpa, Alden messed up, but don't pin this on me!" She wasn't about to take the fall for Alden's mess. Luna's face had drained of all color. She bit her lip anxiously, clearly at a loss. Joanne stood just a step away. Luna glanced at her nervously, her eyes rimmed with red. "Mom, what do we do now?" she whispered. "Quiet!" Joanne snapped, shooting her a fierce glare. Zane and Joanne were blindsided by the sudden turn of events. They'd known Kaia was pushing to call off the engagement, but her parents had assured them the wedding would go on as planned. Now, with this disaster unfolding, they were at a loss for how to salvage it. Lucien's public blessing of Luna and Alden had all but confirmed their scandalous relationship. What should've been a flawless wedding ended in a rushed half-hour. ***** Alden stared at the scene in disbelief, his eyes red with fury as he glared at Kaia. "Happy now, Kaia?" Kaia gave a faint, mocking smile. "Pretty happy, yeah. What, you're not? You just got to propose to the woman you really love. Shouldn't you be thrilled?" Her words were like a knife, slicing the carefully hidden truths wide open for everyone to see. It was humiliating, not just for Alden and Luna, but for the entire Graves family. And yes, even for herself. Alden couldn't understand her. Couldn't fathom what had driven Kaia to blow everything up like this. Sure, the Graves family's reputation was taking a hit, but for Tobias, this was an even harder blow. His carefully laid plans were all in ruins. Worse, his daughter had publicly humiliated the Graves family, ensuring that any hope of mending ties was gone. Their families were now on a collision course. Tobias' face was a storm cloud, his voice low and venomous. "Kaia, have you lost your mind? Do you even realize where you are? Do you have any idea who you're crossing?" Kaia turned to face her father, who was practically charging at her, and let out a bitter laugh. "I know exactly where I am. You insisted I show up today, remember? You even threatened to drag me here if I didn't come. "I'm here now. So why are you still not satisfied?" Tobias' eyes burned with rage, like a volcano ready to erupt. He raised his hand, but before it could fall, someone caught his wrist mid-air. Lucien's shirt cuff revealed a glimpse of a toned forearm, veins tracing a map beneath his skin. His gaze met Tobias', calm but piercing. "What do you're doing, Tobias?" you think status. Faced with Lucien's commanding presence, Tobias faltered, his bravado crumbling. He yanked his hand back, his voice tinged with irritation. "Can't I discipline my own daughter?" Lucien formed a cool smile. "Kaia's the one who's been wronged here. You think it's okay to treat her like this?" The room fell silent as both families exchanged uneasy glances. Lucien's words had just put the final stamp on this farce. Zane stepped forward, forcing a strained smile as he addressed Tobias. "Look, Tobias, we owe you an explanation for today. Don't worry, I'll keep my word on our agreement." He hated every second of this, but he had no choice. After today, the internet would be buzzing with rumors that Kaia had been jilted. In the court of public opinion, she was the victim. Zane's gaze lingered on the girl standing tall, her back straight as a rod. "Kaia, I'm sorry you had to go through this." Kaia met his eyes, her expression detached. "Mr. Zane Graves, I'm fine. I just gave Alden a little push to go after what he's been pining for." She turned to Luna and smiled. "Congrats, Luna. You got what you wanted. Oh, and thanks for taking the time to visit my grandma after your car accident yesterday." Her voice was soft, yet it cut like a honed blade. "The moment she opens her eyes, you and I are going to have a long, hard chat with her… about everything." Coin Package: Earn up to 1200 bonus for free. X get it Write your comment Gifts