Chương 10: Unexpected Guest

The next two days flew by in a whirlwind, setting the stage for the most scandalous wedding the city had ever seen. Despite the short notice, guests eagerly arrived at the beachfront resort, drawn by the prospect of witnessing the downfall of the most notorious fake heiress in their society.

The ceremony was set against a magnificent ocean backdrop, with waves gently lapping at the pristine sandy beach. Neatly arranged chairs and tables lined the balcony, offering a perfect sunset view. A heart-shaped wooden frame adorned with vibrant blooms served as the picturesque stage for the couple. Lanterns hung from palm trees, casting a warm glow as the soft hum of waves provided a serene soundtrack.

Sophia dressed in a sleek red dress that exuded authority and malice, roamed around the venue, acting as if she had arranged everything herself, though the Wrights hadn't spent a penny for this wedding. She couldn't help but smile at the setup for the chaos she had orchestrated.

"Seriously, Annabelle?" Sophia grumbled as Annabelle approached her, walking steadily. "This is an important day. Don't cause any trouble!" Sophia glared at her sweet daughter, adjusting the splint on her right wrist. She wanted nothing to spoil the fun of finally throwing Evelyn out of the Wright family. Not her own puppets at least!

"Isn't it suspicious that she agreed to the marriage so easily?" Annabelle asked for the umpteenth time, her brows furrowed. She couldn't shake off the odd feeling, especially after seeing that handsome man, the richest tycoon according to Vincent, save Evelyn at the boutique. It added more pieces to the puzzle.

"She realized there's no escape and accepted her fate," Sophia replied smugly, her overconfident smirk dismissing any concerns.

"But—"

"Quit ruining my mood. Go find your lover boy; he's our main actor today," Sophia snapped, pushing Annabelle toward the entrance. This day would become a nightmare for Evelyn, and for the first time in decades, Sophia missed Evelyn's real mother.

"Only if you were here, Mrs. Margaret Wright," she mumbled, looking up at the sky with a smirk before walking downstairs to welcome the guests.

———

In the bride's room, Evelyn stared at her reflection in the mirror, her expression betraying her nervousness. Avery had called to inform her they had left the city and would be there before the vows, but Evelyn's heart still pounded erratically.

Felicia walked in, wearing a royal blue dress. She couldn't help but admire Evelyn in her wedding gown. If only Evelyn hadn't turned out to be the fake daughter, Felicia would have been the proudest mother-in-law today.

Clicking her tongue, she commented, "If you had been a little patient, you would have been marrying my son, Evelyn."

"Stop rubbing salt in her wounds, Felicia," came a hoarse voice from the door. They turned to see a 70-year-old man standing in a brown suit.

"Father-in-law," Felicia quickly bowed, not expecting Edmund Blake to attend the wedding. As he gestured for her to leave with his eyes, she gritted her teeth and walked out.

"Grandpa Edmund," Evelyn greeted him with a small smile. The old man smiled back, his expression one of guilt and pain.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you more," Edmund said, gently patting Evelyn's head. She was the spitting image of her mother, Margaret. How could William ignore the resemblance and blindly believe those fake reports?

"Rest assured, Grandpa," Evelyn mumbled, holding his hand. She leaned closer and whispered with a smirk, "It's finally my turn to pay them back."

Edmund blinked, looking at her in confusion. "Whoever tried to dig dirt on me will regret it today," Evelyn added in a low voice, her determined eyes intriguing the old man. Oh, how he would love to see her in her villain era!

"I'll go grab the best spot for the show then," Edmund joked, causing Evelyn to chuckle and nod. As he walked out, she turned back to the mirror, taking a deep breath and hoping everything would go according to plan.

———

[An hour later]

The guests gasped as Evelyn stood beside William at the end of the makeshift aisle. She looked stunning from every angle, and even Vincent, catering to Annabelle, couldn't take his eyes off her.

William reluctantly held out his hand, and Evelyn took his arm like every daughter should on her wedding day. Cameras clicked as they started walking down the aisle, with Nicholas clad in a black suit standing on the stage.

Evelyn looked at each face relishing her suffering: her scheming stepmother, the so-called real heiress, her ex and his family, and everyone else who had once praised her to the skies when she was still the pampered princess of the Wrights. She couldn't wait to slap them with the biggest shock of their lives.

"Don't try anything funny. This wedding will take place at all costs," William warned, his voice low but full of hatred. His fatherly instincts told him Evelyn was up to something again.

Evelyn scoffed softly at his words, trying to remain unaffected. "We are strangers after this marriage, Mr. Wright. And… I hope you will stop resenting me for your wife's death," she said, trying to sound as mean as she could.

William glanced at her, his brows furrowing deeply, but he quickly changed it into a smile as the photographer snapped a picture. They reached the end of the aisle, and he stepped back, allowing Evelyn to face Nicholas.

Evelyn's nose wrinkled as Nicholas came forward, extending his right hand. He reeked of alcohol, but the bandage around his left hand, particularly his fingers, brought a small smile to her lips. It must have been John, she thought. Ignoring his extended palm, she stood beside the pastor.

Nicholas scorned her attitude, but an evil grin quickly replaced it. He would make sure to bend her to his will after this marriage. Standing in front of her, he waited for the pastor to begin the ceremony.

"We all have—"

"Cut the crap and get to the point," Nicholas grumbled, cutting off the old man. Everyone in the room could understand his impatience to marry such a stunning woman and claim her. Many men couldn't help but envy this insolent drunkard.

The pastor frowned, holding back his irritation as the groom glared at him. Rubbing his nose, he moved to the main vows. "Do you, Nicholas Blake, take Evelyn Wright to be your lawfully wedded wife? To—"

"I do!" Nicholas cut off the pastor again, causing the guests to snicker and shake their heads.

Evelyn's heart raced, not expecting things to move so rapidly. This was not how they had planned it! The fact that Zevian hadn't shown up yet raised her blood pressure. She clutched her gown tightly, ready to go with Plan B.

"Do you, Evelyn Wright—"

Before the pastor could continue, William's voice boomed through the venue. "Mr. Reign!" he exclaimed, getting up from his front seat and running toward the entrance.

Even a few guests stood up, surprised to see Zevian and Avery attending this marriage. Evelyn heaved a sigh of relief, her eyes locking with Zevian's before a small smile spread across her face.

Just his arrival was enough to halt this one heck of a wedding, and she couldn't wait to see everyone's reaction to his next surprise.

"I wasn't expecting you to attend on such short notice, Mr. Reign," William murmured excitedly, thinking Zevian was here to respect their recent collaboration. He then acknowledged Avery beside him with a nod, believing her to be there at Evelyn's invitation.

"Please, come have a seat. The wedding has just started."

"I am not here as a guest, Mr. Wright," Zevian declared curtly, his eyes shifting to Evelyn on the stage.

William's smile faltered. "I'm sorry, what do you—"

With a small, confident smile, Zevian cut him off. "I am here to replace the groom and marry your daughter."