Chapter 10
Everyone turned in surprise toward Tyler Horton, the man who had just spoken up.
His face darkened, brow furrowing tightly. “The bride up there is my wife!”
The guests stirred with unrest.
Sarah Carlisle reached out to restrain Tyler Horton, but he flung her hand off without
hesitation.
He strode onto the stage in a few swift steps, fury etched into his face.
Grabbing my arm in a vise–like grip, he spat, “Well, Elizabeth Cala, how shameless can you get? You just told me you were pregnant with my child, and the next econd you’re here marrying another man! Don’t you have any sense of decency?!”
He squeezed so hard that my arm throbbed with pain, leaving me unable to move.
Jeff Vince calmly removed Tyler Horton’s hand from me and positioned himself protectively in front of me. His gaze was razor–sharp, carrying a dangerous warning:
“This is my
wife.”
“Your wife?” Tyler Horton scoffed, giving Jeff a contemptuous shove. “Jeff, you’ve barely returned to the country and haven’t even settled in. Now you’re rushing into marriage with a woman who’s actually my wife–who’s carrying my child!”
But that push did nothing to Jeff. With a slight movement of his hand, Jeff easily threw Tyler Horton off balance.
Staying perfectly composed, Jeff said, “You seem rather drunk. You claim she’s your wife and pregnant with your child–do you have any proof?”
Tyler Horton, proud for so long, had never been forced into such a corner before. He straightened up, teeth clenched, and snarled, “No proof? We held a ceremony a year ago!”
I let out a derisive laugh. “A ceremony alone makes us husband and wife?”
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Tyler Horton’s eyes widened, as though he’d never imagined I would dare talk back.
Taking a step forward, I pressed him further: “All legitimate relationships must be recognized by law, Mr. Horton. Did we ever get a marriage certificate?”
His face stiffened.
He never would have thought that his own words from four months ago-“I will never register a marriage with you, Elizabeth Cala, you’re not worthy“-would come back to hit
im so hard now.
I twisted the knife deeper: “Jeff and I are legally married. We have our certificate.”
Tyler Horton’s expression turned ghastly, his gaze as if it could devour me. “Elizabeth Cala, what did you say?!”
Jeff responded with a faint smile and slipped an arm gently around my shoulders. To the guests, he offered a polite explanation: “My apologies, everyone. There’s been a misunderstanding.”
“This gentleman did hold a ceremony with my wife a year ago. To be honest, if not for him,
I wouldn’t have pursued her so quickly.”
“It’s a long story. Why don’t we let everyone hear a recording?”
At Jeff’s signal, suggestive sounds began playing over the venue’s audio system.
Such noises were wholly inappropriate for a solemn wedding ceremony.
Faces changed across the crowd.
But the explicit sounds of flesh against flesh and the lewd dialogue were unmistakably clear
to everyone present.
“Ah… Tyler, what if your sister returns? Isn’t today your one–year anniversary? …Hmm?”
“Sarah… are you teasing me on purpose by saying that? We never even registered, so what doe’s Elizabeth count as? I’ll never get a certificate with that bitch. You’re the only one in my
heart…”
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Then came more blush–inducing sounds before the audio cut off.
This was the recording I’d made at the door on that anniversary day.
The guests erupted into excited murmurs.
Unflinching, Jeff said to Tyler Horton, “I wanted Elizabeth to have a perfect wedding, so I made certain… preparations.”
the wealthy circles where appearances are everything, this was like dropping a
bombshell.
The crowd launched into fervent discussions, countless mocking glances pinning Tyler
Horton to the spot.
His face went ashen, green and white by turns, his entire body trembling with rage.
“If you didn’t want anyone to know, you shouldn’t have done it,” Jeff said with a smile. “I must thank you, Mr. Horton, for helping me win the heart of such a wonderful bride.”
“You…!” Tyler Horton ground out, then turned and stormed away.
Sarah Carlisle lifted her skirt and hurried after him. Under the relentless stares and ridicule
of the guests, the pair fled like rats under a spotlight.
No one paid attention to the stage anymore.
They whispered about Tyler Horton’s utter shamelessness, and about Jeff daring to play
such a recording at his own wedding.
Jeff remained composed, smiling broadly as he slipped the ring onto my finger and kissed
my hand. “Did I do well?” he asked.
I knew there’d be a show today, but not one this explosive. I burst out laughing. “Perfect, absolutely perfect.”
Jeff looked at me warmly, “I’m honored that, at the start of our marriage, I can make you laugh so happily.”
He guided my hand so I could put the ring on him.
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I couldn’t stop laughing.
Suddenly, he leaned in and kissed me.
My eyes widened, and I stood there, momentarily stunned.
In just one day, Tyler Horton became the laughingstock of the entire circle, and the Horton family’s reputation fell into ruins along with him.
Hearned that he had been summoned home by his parents and punished according to the
family’s longstanding rules.
The Hortons valued their good name above all else and would never tolerate anything that tarnished their reputation.
This was also why, a few months ago–despite the Cala family’s declining fortunes–they still went through with marrying me into their household.
My engagement to Tyler Horton had been arranged by his grandfather and my own.
Both men were from the same hometown, served as comrades–in–arms, and later collaborated in the business world, expanding their domains together.
My mother had fallen in love with a handsome, penniless student named Barny Carlisle Indulgent toward his daughter, my grandfather allowed her this freedom to love.
Not becoming in–laws back then had always been a regret for both elders.
When they saw Tyler and me grow up together, developing deep feelings over time, they transferred their unfulfilled hopes onto us.
Even though Sarah Carlisle had tried to paint me as the villain, Tyler Horton never truly succeeded in rejecting this marriage.
Tyler’s parents didn’t genuinely like me; after all, the Cala family’s fortunes were fading fast. But they cared deeply about keeping their word and showing benevolence when times
were hard.
So they firmly commanded Tyler to marry me.
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Under these circumstances, Tyler Horton crafted a cunning plan:
He would not register our marriage–only hold a wedding ceremony. I would bear his child,
and then that child would be given to Sarah Carlisle to raise.
In doing so, he could kill three birds with one stone: appease his family, punish me, and
compensate Sarah Carlisle.
As long as he held the wedding, the original engagement between the two families would be
Fulfilled.
Later, he could find any excuse to throw me out and grandly marry the woman he actually
wanted.
As I thought of this, my lips curled into a bitter smile, a chilling emptiness settling in my
chest.
In his plan, I was nothing but a tool, easily discarded at any time.
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