Chapter 23

Evelyn wanted payback against Adrian for only offering her 30,000 dors to end their fling.

If she could make Victoria suffer for costing her the job, it would solve two problems at once.

Victoria's reputation would be ruined beyond repair, making her unmarriageable to any respectable man.

But the plan backfired spectacularly when the supposedly silent video played with crystal clear audio!

Adrian grabbed Sophia's arm in panic. "Listen to me, I swear she means nothing to me!"

"Don't touch me!" Sophia shoved him away in disgust. "I can't believe I almost married someone like you!"

Gathering her wedding dress, she fled the venue without looking back.

Adrian shot Rachel a murderous glare before chasing after his runaway bride.

The guests' condemning whispers forced Rachel to slink offstage in humiliation.

She'd seduced the groom at her best friend's wedding, extorted money from him, then tried framing someone else. The sheer audacity!

If rotten tomatoes had been available, the crowd would've pelted her without hesitation.

Evelyn stifled a yawn, craving nothing more than her pillow. When she glanced down, she caught Nathaniel watching her with unsettling amusement.

'Why's he looking at me like that?'

As Evelyn stepped down, Lucas approached the microphone with grave authority.

"Let me be clear - today's events never happened. If word leaks, the Graysons will hold every single guest accountable. Since we can't trace rumors, we'll target everyone equally."

The threat hung heavy in the air.

"Cough! I didn't see anything."

"Me neither."

"Just here for the food!"

"What a coincidence - same!"

The Bennetts were connected to the Graysons through Nathaniel's mother. Nobody dared cross either family.

Nathaniel stood abruptly, making the crowd flinch.

Evelyn followed at a safe distance, desperate to escape for a nap.

Suddenly Dominic blocked her path with a wolfish grin. "Didn't expect such fire from such a little thing!"

Evelyn blinked at the stranger. 'Who the hell is this guy?'

Outside, they found Adrian groveling before Sophia.

"I'll never look at another woman, I swear! Let's just get through the ceremony first!"

"It's over. No wedding." Sophia's voice cracked with finality.

Adrian's expression darkened when his pleas failed.

Marrying Sophia was his ticket to inheriting the Castillo fortune.

He yanked her close and hissed, "Walk down that aisle or your nudes go viral before sunset."

Sophia recoiled as if struck. The man she'd loved for three years had just threatened to destroy her.