12:49 Wed, Nov 13
Chapter 117
“What are you doing here?” Heather was seething at the sight of Ophelia, remembering how much Emily had suffered at her
hands.
But Ophelia didn’t even lift her eyes, completely ignoring Heather.
“And you. Heather turned to Miles. “Why did you bring this woman here? This ungrateful girl has long since had nothing to do with the Hastings family.”
After all, Ophelia wasn’t even Heather’s biological daughter. The Hastings family had raised her and lified her to where she currently was, yet she dared to act so arrogantly instead of being grateful.
Ophelia responded calmly. “You’re right. I have nothing to do with the Hastings family. I’m here on behalf of the Carnegie family. But since I’m not welcome, I’ll take my leave.”
Ophelia turned to go, but Miles quickly stepped forward to stop her.
The crowd around them gasped at the mention of the Carnegie family, suddenly realizing who Ophelia was. No wonder she seemed so familiar, with such a commanding presence.
Ophelia was the new member of the Carnegie family that Theo had acknowledged. Not only did she own shares in the company. but she also stood to inherit the Carnegie fortune. No one in the room could match her status. The fact that she was even attending the wedding on behalf of the Carnegie family was already a huge honor
Owen was too exasperated to say more about Heather, the idiot
Meanwhile, a few prominent business leaders, people Owen himself barely had high enough status to approach, were now fawning over Ophelia, their wives in tow.
Owen was left awkwardly sidelined
Fortunately, the wedding ceremony began.
The cameras panned across the room as the emcee skillfully delivered his opening lines. But hardly anyone was paying attention to the ceremony. They were all too busy trying to greetOphelia.
Even Miles, standing at the front and waiting for the bride, couldn’t help but sneak glances at Ophelia, now the center of everyone’s attention. Watching others offer her drinks and strike up conversations with her, a wave of jealousy and longing rose inside Miles.
Soft, melodic music filled the air as the lights shifted to the hall entrance. The grand doors slowly swung open, revealing. Emily, arm in arm with Owen, as they made their way down the aisle.
With a gentle smile, Emily clutched her bouquet, walking steadily toward Miles without glancing at either side.
Beaming pridefully, Owen handed Emily’s hand over to Miles.
Down below, Heather was overwhelmed with emotion.
Miles took Emily’s hand, leading her to the front. But as they turned to face the crowd, Emily suddenly froze, her smile faltering.
Emily thought, ‘Ophelia? What is she doing here? The woman she despised to her very core had appeared at her wedding. Hatred surged through her veins, so intense that it made her tremble uncontrollably. Her face contorted with rage.
Sensing something was wrong with Emily, Owen quickly stepped in, blocking her view. “It’s your wedding day. Let’s deal with that later.”
1/3
12:49 Wed, Nov 13.
Chapter 117
Emily forced herself to push down the storm of emotions inside
The atmosphere between the bride and groom grew increasingly tense, and the emcee, sensing the shift, did his best to steer the ceremony back on track.
“Ms. Emily Hastings, the emcee asked, “do you take Mr. Miles Lewis as your husband? To love and cherish, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, until death do you part?”
“I do, Emily replied, her voice tight as she forced a weak sinile. The moment she saw Ophelia, an inexplicable sense of dread had gripped her heart.
“And Mr. Miles Lewis, the emcee continued, “do you take Ms. Emily Hastings as your wife? To love and cherish, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, until death do you part?”
Miles lowered his gaze, his throat suddenly dry. The words caught somewhere deep inside. Without realizing it, his eyes drifted toward Ophelia in the crowd below.
Emily’s eyes blazed with fury, her fingers gripping the bouquet so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
The emcee, sensing the tension, awkwardly repeated the question.
“I… I do,” Miles finally muttered, forcing the words out.
“Now, let the couple exchange rings, the emcee continued.
Just as those words fell, instead of the soft, romantic melody expected, the speakers blasted out something crude and indecent. The entire room froze in shock, guests exchanging bewildered glances as the sounds of a woman moaning filled the hall, causing them flushed in embarrassment.
Snapping out of her daze, Emily immediately withdrew her hand from the ring.
“What’s going on? Was there a mistake with the audio?” Owen stood up, attempting to calm the guests.
But then, the LED screen on the stage flickered to life, playing a video that left the entire room speechless. The scene was obscene and impossible to ignore and gasps rippled through the crowd like wildfire.
“What the hell? Are they seriously showing an adult film at a wedding?” someone exclaimed.
“No, look closer. That’s the bride!” another voice shouted, stunned.
“This is insane,” one said.
“Turn it off. Turn it off now!” Emily screamed, panic overtaking her. She lunged toward the screen, desperate to shut it down, but her wedding dress made it impossible to move freely She stumbled and fell to the floor, helpless.
Owen rushed to the stage, yanking the plug from the LED screen, but the haunting sounds still echoed throughout the hall
Miles glanced over his shoulder and felt his stomach turn. “It’s so fucking disgusting.” he spat, throwing the ring he was going to exchange in Emily’s face before storming off. The very thought of spending even a single night with her made him nauseous. He couldn’t help but worry about what kind of diseases she might carry.
Everything unraveled within minutes. Aubrey charged onto the stage and grabbed Emily by the hair, delivering slap after slap to her face.
She cursed. “You filthy little tramp. I knew your Hastings family was rotten to the core. Gallivanting around like this, and you dare to frame my son? You thought you could play your dirty games with us? Shameless wretch. I’ll beat you to death today”
Emily screamed, covering her head, the sound eerily matching the one still playing over the speakers.
2/8
|||
12:49 Wed, Nov 13
Chapter 117
Heather and Sophia hurried to the stage to shield Emily. The scene descended into utter chaos.
1
After several minutes of brutal blows, Aubrey got tired. She grabbed the emcee’s microphone and announced, “This wedding is canceled.”
All eyes turned to the Hastings family, filled with contempt and disgust.
After the Lewis family departed, all the prominent guests follows, leaving only a handful of onlookers from the lower. ranks to witness the drama unfold.
The Hastings family really messed up this time. They mistook a fake diamond for a real one, lavishing attention on a foster daughter while neglecting their own flesh and blood. It’s beyond me,” one woman remarked, shaking her head.
“Exactly. And this bastard dares to engage in such disgraceful acts. Who knows what dirty blood runs through her veins? The Hastings family must be incredibly bold to adopt anyone, another added, scothing.
Emily watched her wedding crumble into chaos, her gaze fixed on Ophelia, a burning desire to kill the woman coursing through her.
“You don’t understand anything!” Emily shouted. “Ophelia is the real bastard. I’m not. I am a real Hastings. I carry the blood of the Hastings family. My father is Owen.”
The sound from the speaker cut off abruptly. Emily’s desperate cries echoed in the silent hall.
