Ch. 101..110: OMG My Crippled Husband is a Hot Powerful CEO Chapter 101-110

Chapter 101: Chapter 101 – Can He Walk?

Thirty minutes ago, Joanna was losing hope of receiving her wedding gown as Alex had promised when they heard a knock on the door.

Her hair and makeup were already done since Jay predicted a delay if they were to wait for the gown before proceeding with other preparations.

Violet was fully dressed and ready, while Joanna felt incomplete without her gown.

Jay and Violet tried to reassure her as much as they could until they heard the expected knock.

Violet went to answer the door, where a man she hadn’t seen before, dressed in a suit, handed her a black wedding gown bag.

"You must be the maid of honor. This is for Joanna. Do you mind if I deliver it personally?" the man asked.

It was not appropriate for Joanna, who was in just a towel robe while waiting for the gown, to see the man so, Violet insisted,

"I will take responsibility for it. My name is Violet, her maid of honor. You have nothing to fear."

Having heard of Violet’s name from his boss before, the gentleman agreed.

"Alright. Please sign here then." Violet signed and took the gown inside.

When she opened it, she was met with the greatest shock of her life.

"Oh my God, is this the gown you chose? I’ve never seen anything like it."

Everyone was stunned, and Joanna was mesmerized. When she had tried on the gown a few days earlier, none of the diamonds were present, and despite Alex paying a hefty sum for it, she was surprised to find that the diamonds were real.

She wondered why Alex would spend so much on a sham wedding but decided to see herself as a model to wear the dress for show since the wedding was a lavish one.

Later, she planned to ask Alex to sell it to recover the money. By the time she was done with her dress, Joanna could barely recognize herself. She felt like a princess out of a fairy tale.

She wanted to call Lily and thank her, but there was no time, assuming Lily had already made it to the wedding, allowing someone else to deliver the gown.

Not being the one who received it, she also had no idea it was delivered by Edmund, which would have given her a clue that something had happened.

Ike was there to drive them to the venue, and Violet was the first to walk down the aisle.

"You are the most beautiful bride in the world," Monica said at the sight of her daughter.

She had her personal bodyguard and driver, amazed that Joanna had hers too.

This was a dream for her, as she never thought Joanna would be married soon, much less to a powerful man like Alex.

"Thanks, Mom, and you look rejuvenated like you’ve gone back to your youth," Joanna observed, wondering what kind of treatment her mother was receiving to make her glow so much.

She knew she had to thank Alex for his generosity. It was amazing, and she was truly grateful for it.

"I know, Alex said, ’make sure the domestic workers do what they are paid for’, so the only thing I am left with is to pamper myself," she said excitedly, Joanna’s heart warmed.

If only this marriage were real, she was certain she could have made Alex the happiest man in the world. But wait, was she falling for him?

Walking down the aisle with her mother after Violet, with the bodyguards keeping the media at bay, she was stunned by the luxury surrounding her.

It was all so reminiscent of Alex, and even if he had another woman, she was glad to be the one walking down the aisle.

Her father may have rejected her, but today, the world would honor her in front of him and the family he had chosen over her.

Seeing Alex in the wheelchair, he was even more handsome than she had ever seen him.

The wheelchair did nothing to diminish his presence. Then, something strange happened when she reached the middle of the aisle, overcoming her nervousness of facing the crowd.

"Miss, please wait. I have your wedding gown," a voice called out, catching Joanna’s attention.

She turned around to see Lily holding a white wedding gown bag, and Lily was equally surprised to see Joanna. "How is this possible?"

Joanna was confused. Lily shook her head slowly, indicating she didn’t send the gown. Murmurs spread as Lily unzipped the bag, revealing the second wedding gown.

"What? Mr. King’s wife has two wedding gowns?" the onlookers whispered in surprise.

The men were particularly astonished, viewing it as a lavish expense for Alex to have two wedding gowns, doubling their shock.

Aiden, who had spent a lot of time with Alex, was taken aback by the revelation, while Violet looked on, perplexed by the situation.

He leaned in to ask Alex about the unexpected discovery, leaving Violet standing there, trying to make sense of the situation.

"How did the second gown appear?" Aiden asked. Alex smiled and replied,

"Be patient. Everything that is hidden will be brought to light today."

The gown looked exactly like the ones she designed, with all the little details, but she knew she hadn’t designed it.

The man who abducted her was afraid of Alex and let her go before the instructed time for her to deliver the gown.

He feared that if Mr. King’s wife walked down the aisle in just any kind of dress, it would not be easy for him, especially since Logan had refused to pay the balance.

"No, I was abducted and just released a few minutes ago. I had to break traffic rules to get here, and I wanted to see you in it," Lily explained.

She stared at Joanna with tears in her eyes. "You look better than I imagined the dress on you."

"Thank you," Joanna said. Her mom smiled as they walked down the aisle, but even as Lily walked back, confusion arose, causing Grandpa to rise from his seat.

"Alex, give them some answers," he said, just as Joanna reached the altar and her mother was about to hand her over to Alex.

Her eyes locked with Alex’s, and at that moment, he rose from his wheelchair, causing Violet to lose her balance.

"He can walk?" Chaos broke out.

Chapter 102: Chapter 102 – Speak now or...

The priest and onlookers were stunned and unable to ascertain the nature of the marriage the priest was about to bless.

Joanna realized her first memory of seeing Alex standing before her, before waking up in her bed a few days ago was not a dream after all.

Although Alex made her feel foolish, it helped alleviate the shock that had caused her to faint when she first saw him.

Grandpa Aristotle was also shocked, while Logan, Colton, and Tess, who were in the corner, had grim expressions. Grandpa knew of most of Alex’s secrets, including the fact that he was Salvadore but was never aware that Alex had tricked everyone.

Tess, in particular, felt a stronger attraction to Alex and was upset that he was marrying Joanna despite everything.

Then it all made sense. The way Alex dodged Logan’s attack and smoothly transitioned out of the wheelchair at the time Logan pulled the trigger on him.

Business partners, extended family members, friends, and even the Bakers were all shocked.

It seemed impossible. Despite being in a wheelchair, Alex easily outmaneuvered his opponents, revealing that his disability was never real.

What was the truth behind the accident? Many questions remained unanswered, and the only person who held the key was the sophisticated man who was once thought to be disabled.

Fiona nearly fainted as she sat there, her primary reason for rejecting Alex before being his leg condition. How could Alex deceive her like this?

She felt foolish for failing Alex’s test initially and now missed the chance to be the princess bride like Joanna.

Alex moved on too quickly and when Fiona tried to win him back, it was too late. Perhaps if she knew he knew she was now single, having nothing to do with Logan or any other man, then he would take her back.

For as long as the vows were not exchanged, it wasn’t too late. Every woman aspired to be like Joanna at this moment, just like Fiona, not knowing the sacrifices she made to be in that position.

"You can walk, but you made me feel foolish," Joanna whispered, pain evident in her eyes.

If only she hadn’t seen Alex on his feet by chance, she wouldn’t feel so ridiculous.

Alex gazed at Monica and reassured her, "Please don’t worry. I will take care of it." In other words, she could go to her chair, which she understood.

Monica forced a smile and allowed herself to be ushered to her seat. Having been in a wheelchair for so long, Alex felt enormous to Joanna as he loomed over her.

"I would have confessed if you had asked me in private," he said calmly.

Joanna gazed into his eyes and discerned the honesty in his voice, feeling ashamed.

She hadn’t been thinking clearly when she revealed everything in that moment, but she couldn’t understand his reason for being so deceptive.

"So, you were never actually disabled?" She asked, meeting Alex’s gaze, which mirrored hers as if they were truly in love.

"No."

"And the wedding gown?" Joanna asked, lost in confusion. Alex’s attention was briefly diverted by Violet and Aiden’s interaction, impressed by how quickly Aiden caught Violet to prevent her from falling.

He made a mental note to ask Aiden about his feelings for Violet later and then refocused on Joanna. He owed her an explanation.

"I will explain after the exchange of vows," he said in a slightly nervous tone. Joanna wanted to insist on it, but this was the main reason she signed the contract, right?

Even if he lied to her, Joanna had no right to leave until the five months were over. Alex ensured to not leave any loopholes behind.

"Alright. After the vows," Joanna agreed, adding, "And you must explain how I got two wedding gowns too."

Alex smiled, and at that moment, with him on his feet, Joanna was enchanted but had to remind herself that this was all a contract.

Quickly, she woke up from whatever spell he cast on her as Alex informed the priest, "We are ready."

The expressions on most faces around were unwelcoming, but the media was reporting the news, and somewhere coded, Dion was in tears.

She could not understand why her brother was marrying this woman when she found the woman who saved her life. Every man is a liar, or so she thought.

The priest cleared his throat, seeming afraid of Alex. For whatever reason, he hid his recovery from everyone present, but there were some procedures he couldn’t skip.

Before exchanging vows, if anyone has a valid reason why these two should not be joined together, speak now or forever hold your peace."

The auditorium fell silent, murmurs breaking out but no one speaking up.

The priest, about to move on, was interrupted by a female voice.

"I object to this wedding. Alex cannot marry Joanna because he was supposed to marry me. He deceived me by faking an accident and pretending to be disabled. If he hadn’t done that, we would have been married by now."

The speaker was Fiona, who confidently stepped forward after her revelation.

Dressed to impress, her makeup almost transforming her appearance, Fiona caught everyone’s attention. The priest turned to Alex, asking, "Mr. King, what is your response to this?"

Alex hesitated, eager to proceed with the vows. "Is there a legal obligation for a man to a woman he hasn’t legally married?"

The priest looked down, shame covering his face, as Fiona walked back to her seat with a sense of shame. Alex was not being lenient this time at all, and his demeanor was intimidating.

Aiden gained confidence and decided to challenge the situation. "Anyone else? Speak now or forever hold your peace."

The priest composed himself after the shock of Alex’s words, following Aiden’s lead.

Once again, no one responded, but just as he was about to proceed, a familiar man started walking to the front, causing Alex’s expression to turn frosty.

Colton’s objection was aimed at Joanna.

"Joan, you agreed to marry me, but then you lost your memory. If you have regained your memory, you will remember me as the man you love, not Alex," he said, surprising everyone, including Logan.

Logan had no idea about the relationship between Colton and Joanna, but at that moment, Joanna appeared to be in a daze.

Chapter 103: Chapter 103 – Cancel the order

Alex was furious that his hidden secrets were being revealed to Joanna, unaware that she already knew.

He signaled to Aiden, who approached him as Alex whispered,

"Colton must not survive another day."

Despite giving Colton a chance to stay away from Joanna and live, he was enraged by Colton’s public declaration of love for her. Alex feared that Colton’s words might trigger Joanna’s memory of their past relationship.

He couldn’t tolerate another rival, even if their relationship was contractual. No man had the right to approach Joanna until after the divorce.

Aiden hesitated for a moment. While he usually followed Alex’s orders without question, he wondered why Alex wouldn’t let Joanna move on after the divorce if he didn’t love her.

Nevertheless, he nodded and said, "It will be done."

He only hoped that Alex would not be the one to retaliate after the contract ended, as killing Joanna’s ex was unrealistic.

A text message was promptly sent to Dario. "You have twenty-four hours to eliminate Doctor Colton. Attached is his current location and picture."

His phone camera was so powerful that he could zoom in from where he stood to capture a clear image of Colton.

Joanna was currently confused, but since this wasn’t a love marriage, even without her memory, the choice was clear.

She already knew why she couldn’t remember Colton from her past, as her mother had told her it was due to an accident.

This information was only revealed recently after Colton mentioned it at the hospital, prompting her to press her mother for details.

"Colton, I did lose my memory, but may I ask, did you propose to me or did I propose to you?"

Joanna was trying to maintain a facade of sincerity, though she had already made a decision.

Alex had closed in on her, causing her heart to race, and Colton looked pained at the sight of their proximity.

If Alex had still been in a wheelchair, he wouldn’t have been bothered, but the man standing next to Joanna was irresistible to any woman. Even his best man was a die for.

As soon as the vows were exchanged, he feared Joanna would no longer be his because Alex gone ahead with the wedding, even after the promise he made to his only sister.

"I proposed to you, and we were supposed to get married after your college graduation," Colton revealed, hoping to jog her memory, but Joanna seemed lost in her own world.

"Since I didn’t propose to you, I’d rather choose the man I did propose to. I fell in love with Alex the moment I laid eyes on him, and he agreed to marry me," she confidently disclosed, stunning everyone present.

Colton felt like crying. After taking a risk to visit her and reveal her memory loss, she still chose Alex over him.

Alex wrapped his arm around her waist, captivated by her words. Joanna blushed, hoping he understood that her words were just for show.

Without his wheelchair, it was even harder for her to resist him. His height made her feel small, and she could only reach his shoulders in her high heels.

The affectionate look in Joanna’s eyes reassured Alex that Colton was not a threat. After all, Joanna didn’t want him.

He glanced at Aiden and shook his head. Aiden sighed and immediately sent a text message. "Cancel the order. Leave Doctor Colton alone."

He received a prompt response, "Well noted."

It was just a few minutes interval, so there was no problem. Besides, whenever an order was received, they might abduct the person but still wait until close to the deadline before executing it, just in case.

However, there were serious penalties. Aiden, on the other hand, was a boss, which is why there were no fines linked to him.

"Anyone else with a reason why these two should not be joined together?" The priest asked confidently.

Logan stood up and walked to the front, unable to keep his eyes off Joanna.

How could he not see such beauty before that he let her go, just like that? "Joan, think carefully."

The hall broke into murmurs. "It seems Mr. King’s wife has a lot of suitors," one of the guests innocently exclaimed, surprised to receive a lot of support.

"Indeed, and yet, she has Mr. King wrapped around her fingers."

"They are prominent men too. Look at that gown? Seems like she was destined to marry a wealthy and handsome man."

All the men who stood up to claim Joanna were so good-looking that Cole was angry with his wife and daughter.

For the first time, he let it all out. "How can you be so unattractive? Joanna has many men pursuing her, all of them prominent, and you haven’t attracted any man, not even a poor one," he said to his daughter, Mia.

The girl had even dated Logan, and yet he broke up with her because of Joanna, knowing that Logan had slept with Mia but not with Joanna.

Why was Mia so naive? She was close to tears, but her mother came to her rescue.

"How dare you compare her to Joanna? She inherited her beauty from me."

Cole stared at the mother and daughter, wondering what had happened to his judgment when he chose them.

"I must have been blind because now, looking at you and Monica, I understand why any man who enters Mia’s life quickly runs away."

"Are you calling me ugly?" Rene was furious, but Cole was unapologetic, wanting to get everything off his chest.

"I honestly don’t know why I left Monica for you. Maybe I am the fool." He admitted that he was the fool.

Reflecting on everything, Monica never harmed him and was faithful to him.

He only chose Rene after a one-night stand because he desired a wife from a wealthy family as she claimed to be, to enhance his image.

However, she failed to provide the support expected from a wife. Mia was determined to speak up and believed her words would alter her father’s opinion of her and her mother...

Chapter 104: Chapter 104 - They have every right to be here

"Dad, you forgot that I secured the company. I won against Joanna," Mia said, and Cole had a devilish smile on his face.

He had not received any document from the finance department showing that Joanna met her target, so Mia indeed secured the company this time.

"For once, you have done something worthwhile," Cole remarked.

He knew that Joanna still had a great advantage over them by being Mrs. King, so he had to find a way to win her back to their side.

At this moment, he decided to use her mother against her. "We can embarrass her during the refreshment for not meeting her target. We can even suggest to Grandpa and the extended family to never give her any position among the Kings Multinational."

Mia and Rene had satisfied smiles on their faces but were unaware of the true intent of Cole’s plans.

The last time, Alex dealt with him from a wheelchair, and now that he had his legs, Cole knew he had to be careful. "I have a plan," he announced.

Mia and her mother were excited, smiling widely. It was time to bring down Joanna once and for all. However, Joanna’s voice interrupted their planning moment.

"Logan, the only regret I have is meeting you," Joanna said to Logan’s dismay, making him feel like a fool. Alex laughed for the first time as he saw his brother’s face turn ashen.

Joanna was enchanted by his laughter, as she had never heard it before, wishing for him to laugh more than frown.

Violet was enjoying Logan’s humiliation more than anyone else, glad to have left him. If it weren’t for Joanna, she wouldn’t have known that the man she was dating was a serial cheater.

As Logan walked back to his seat disappointed, the priest continued.

"I think it’s time to exchange vows." He was no longer going to allow any delays, as no one had a valid reason why the two should not be joined together. "Please repeat after me, Alex."

"I, Alexander King, take you, Joanna Baker, as my lovely wedded wife, to love and to cherish, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death do us part." Many faces were somber as Alex recited the vows, his eyes fixed on Joanna.

The priest then turned to Joanna, and despite the solemn atmosphere, she recited her vows with enthusiasm. Although Alex was not her choice, she had agreed to be his contract bride.

The priest continued with the next phase. "Alex, please take the ring and repeat after me.

"With this ring, I thee wed," the priest instructed. Aiden handed the ring to Alex, who echoed the words and slid the ring onto Joanna’s finger, their eyes locked in a moment of connection.

"With this ring, I thee wed," Alex said, a smile stretching his lips.

Violet held out Alex’s ring for Joanna, and she slipped it onto his finger, her hand shaking slightly. "With this ring, I thee wed."

"I now declare you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," the priest grinned. Joanna’s heart felt like it was going to fall when Alex leaned in, her face turning scarlet.

Alex had already warned her about this, but what made her uncomfortable was his plan to pay for it as if she were some kind of escort.

Warm, soft lips pressed against hers, and she felt butterflies in her stomach, closing her eyes tightly. What was just three seconds felt like an eternity to her when Alex pulled away.

Grandpa stood up and began to applaud the couple, followed by everyone in attendance.

However, what everyone failed to notice was the tension sparking between Violet and Aiden.

They both hid their discomfort very well as camera clicks went off from all angles with light flashes everywhere.

It was time for the photographs. Grandpa and Monica were the first to rush to the stage.

Joanna pretended not to know Cole, as his name was not added to the program list.

The extended family members completed their part of the photographs with the bride and groom, but Cole stood there with tears in his eyes.

On the program, Joanna’s only family member was her mother. This was the most disgraceful situation he had ever faced in his life.

In the HR department, Joanna’s personal information revealed that her father was Cole Baker, so they were surprised by the turn of events.

"Congratulations, Joanna, although I’m upset with you," Juliet said excitedly as she hugged Joanna.

Vida also hugged her and chimed in, "You were getting married to Mr. King and left us in the dark? Was it because he was a fake cripple?"

Joanna laughed but also felt slightly guilty and replied, "I wanted it to be a surprise, but I was never ashamed of him."

"You are the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. I hope to outshine you when I get married," Vida said as she hugged Joanna. Joanna laughed and replied,

"There is room for everyone to shine."

Congratulatory messages poured in from all angles, but when Logan approached, Alex became overly protective of Joanna.

Colton did not show his face again, as he was focused on his plan with his sister. After the vows were exchanged, he lost hope and left with her.

Tess was in tears, but Colton comforted her and insisted that she visit Dion again. Who knows, Alex might divorce Joanna one day if his sister insists on it.

Alex may have cut off external family involvement in the arrangement, but to prevent any backlash, he maintained the traditional setup.

The high table hosted the bride and groom, the best man and maid of honor, Logan, Grandpa, Monica, and the most immediate extended family members.

Another table was designated for business associates and others. However, someone had made a change by adding Cole and his family to the table, which upset Alex.

"I did not include you at this table, Cole. I demand that you leave with your family," he said sternly.

Cole, his wife, and Mia looked drained of color, staring pleadingly at Grandpa, who seemed not to notice. However, someone else spoke up on their behalf, saying,

"They have every right to be here."

Chapter 105: Chapter 105 - The Bride and Groom

"They have every right to be here," Uncle Dean said seriously, but Alex refused to accept it.

Joanna made it clear that she did not want her father anywhere close to her, even if he attended the wedding, and Alex felt obligated to grant her wish.

"My wife doesn’t want them here, so they should find a free table elsewhere," Alex asserted.

Logan was pained but remained silent. He believed that if he could prove that Alex was Salvador, Joanna would leave him for good.

That was his only comeback at the moment. However, for now, Alex had won, and after the wedding, the documents would be signed, and a party held to announce him officially as the CEO of Kings Multinational.

Violet and Aiden exchanged strange glances, clearly uninterested in the drama as their words would not matter.

Monica, who disliked drama, pleaded with Joanna, "Joan, sharing a table means nothing. They won’t come to live at your house."

Joanna was not pleased, but because her mother spoke, she was considering it until she saw the smirk in the corner of Cole’s lips.

Before she could expose him, Uncle Dean further complicated matters.

"Even if you don’t recognize him, you still share his blood and have his name on your birth certificate, so per our King’s tradition, Cole stays."

Joanna made a mental note to change the name on her birth certificate. It could be anyone but not Cole.

However, Alex was not making it easy either. "Alright, Cole and his family will stay. My wife and I will excuse ourselves."

Things escalated quickly, and strangely, Grandpa refused to intervene in this particular matter.

"It’s okay, Alex, let them stay," Joanna changed her mind and said.

Cole and his family settled in, with Cole sitting on a chair facing Monica and Mia sitting next to him. Agnes occupied the seat on his left, while Rene was pushed to the end of the table with the young cousins.

"Monica, can we change seats? It’s more appropriate for me to sit in front of my husband," Rene shamelessly asked. Monica was about to move when Alex intervened.

"Cole, you move to where your wife is, and Rita should take your place."

Cole, having in mind his own agenda, quickly refused. "No, the seating arrangement is fine. Rene, you’re fine where you are."

Rene was not happy with the arrangement, but since Cole insisted, there was nothing she could do about it. Still, Mia tried to be her mother’s heroine.

"Dad, it’s not right. We should sit together as a family," Mia complained, sounding like a spoiled brat, but Cole silenced her.

"We live in the same house, so what’s the harm in sitting apart just this once?"

Mia was so upset that she couldn’t hold back. "Don’t let her deceive you. She hasn’t even met her target. Grandpa, we won."

Monica felt disheartened, but before she could say anything, the MC whispered something to Alex, earning a nod from him before making an announcement.

"The bride and groom will now have their first dance."

Applause filled the room as Mia chuckled. "You can try to avoid it, but the issue will still be there."

Violet glared at her and shook her head. This was a family matter and her only reason for being here was because she was the maid of honor.

"And what about the wedding gown?" Rita chimed in as a reminder. Alex smiled and extended his hand to Joanna.

She took his hand, and the two of them walked to the dance floor amidst applause and excitement.

They hadn’t practiced this part because Alex had always been in a wheelchair, so Joanna admitted, "I’m not a great dancer, but I know the basics of the waltz."

Alex didn’t want to boast, so he remained quiet for the moment. "Just follow my lead," he smiled at her, taking charge of the dance.

All eyes were on them, many filled with envy. Without the wheelchair, most people couldn’t take their eyes off the bride and groom, who appeared to be a match made in heaven.

Joanna laughed throughout until it was time for the slow dance when Alex pressed her closer, her breast was pressed against his stomach, her head against his chest due to the height difference.

Through it all, she felt a warmth in her stomach, feeling her heart drop into it and her face reddened.

"You have been in a wheelchair for a long time, but how do you still dance so well?" Joanna asked, trying to break the tension as Alex’s strong hands wrapped around her waist.

He chuckled. "It’s a tradition for us Kings to learn everything except cooking."

Joanna smiled but did not say anything more. The proximity and the eyes fixed on them made her uncomfortable.

They were so close that they could feel each other’s breath, Joanna tried to pull away but Alex tightened his grip on her, pressing his lips to hers again, earning applause from most of the guests present.

The kiss ended with the music, and they stared at each other, their foreheads pressed together.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we shall continue with the cutting of the cake," the emcee announced. The sophisticated cake was revealed, causing jaws to drop.

Joanna saw when Alex chose that cake, but seeing it mounted, it was almost her height. It’s bigger than I saw in the magazine," she whispered. Alex lovingly pinched her cheek and walked her to it.

"The bigger, the better," he said softly, a tone Joanna had never heard before in their time together. She tried to look away, but her eyes were drawn to them.

They responded to congratulatory messages until Joanna’s jaw began to ache.

Standing in front of the cake, the camera lights seemed endless, just like the dance floor.

The news would be filled with images of the grand wedding. Joanna placed her hand on the knife, and Alex placed his hand over hers. The first cut was followed by applause as Joanna fed a piece of cake to Alex.

He leaned in to receive it, and then playfully dipped his finger into the icing, smearing it on her nose.

Joanna giggled, but in the next moment, Alex leaned in and licked the cake off her nose. "Mr. King is so romantic," some of the guests murmured excitedly as Alex finally fed Joanna the cake.

The catering staff took over, slicing the rest of the cake and distributing it to the guests.

Alex and Joanna returned to their seats and were the first to be served. As everyone began to eat and drink, Grandpa suddenly asked,

"Alex, you have to explain the mystery of the gown. It’s not ideal to waste money."

Uncle Dean quickly interjected, "Grandpa, don’t forget that he deceived us by claiming to be a cripple."

Agnes chimed in, "That’s right, Grandpa. If Joanna were a good wife, she wouldn’t let him waste so much money."

Alex’s expression darkened at the mention of his wife, and he cleared his throat elegantly before speaking, "Before you judge my wife, you should all know this."

Chapter 106: Chapter 106 – Logan in hot waters

"A lot of people, including most of you here, did not want this wedding to happen. The first being my own brother, Logan, who proposed the whole thing because our secret court marriage did not fit the standard of the Kings," Alex began, and the temperature around their table dropped drastically.

Since they wanted it, he would just give it to them, hot or cold.

Logan’s partner was not allowed at this table because she was not included in the list but Logan did not care much since he knew the rules.

"Alex..." Logan started to say, but Alex cut him off.

"I’m not done talking. I don’t have proof, but from what you put up before the exchanging of the vows, you are the first person I suspect to know something about the kidnapping of the wedding dress designer."

Eyes widened, and Grandpa was stunned by the revelation. "Logan, is what he’s saying true?" he asked, his voice low but stern.

There was soft music playing in the background, and he did not want his voice to override it.

"Grandpa, didn’t Alex say that he didn’t want to be interrupted?" Logan asked with his head bowed, unable to lie because he was afraid of the old man.

Joanna and Violet were stunned at the revelation. So, all this while, Lily had indeed been abducted. Earlier, they thought she was making up excuses.

Alex’s voice interrupted their thoughts. "Yes, I don’t want you to speak now, but you shall be obligated to answer after I am done with my explanation."

Alex was not going to allow him to escape. He might search for the proof later, but for now, his gut told him that Logan was the one behind the abduction of Lily.

"Grandpa, you always trained us to be smart. From the way everyone was against this marriage, I secretly made arrangements for a second gown with conditions."

"If the wedding goes smoothly, the spare gown would be auctioned with a starting price of two hundred million. However, I just received news that a billionaire has proposed buying the spare gowns for three hundred and fifty million."

Aiden was nodding his head. No wonder Alex did not panic when he heard about the abduction. Aiden thought it was due to his best friend’s ruthlessness.

"In this scenario, can someone clarify the potential losses?" Alex inquired, his gaze scanning the room like a hawk on the lookout for prey.

Grandpa, growing older, needed a sharp and capable individual to succeed him. His choice of Alex proved to be wise, as the young man demonstrated his worthiness for the position.

Joanna was amazed. She had always thought Alex was a reckless spender, but now she realized that everything about him was carefully planned.

Violet was captivated as she whispered to Joanna, "Wow, you’ve really landed a big catch."

Joanna chuckled, her laughter easing the tension in the room.

A wise child always brings joy to his father, and that was certainly the case with grandpa. He was immensely proud of his grandson. You have learned well, Alex. So, Logan, tell us why you did it," he asked.

Logan tensed up and quickly came up with an excuse. "Grandpa, didn’t Alex warn me to not speak? I will wait until he is done talking."

Before anyone could counter his words, Uncle Dean remarked, "Grandpa, you also forget the fact that he deceived us by claiming to be a cripple."

Grandpa was at the hospital with Alex after the incident, so the shock was greater on his part than anyone else’s.

"Alex, you fooled us. You better have a good explanation, or I will cut your wages by half."

Alex was not broke, but the rich always want to be richer. However, he could not tell them his real intention for faking the accident, which was because of Dion.

He made a promise to her to marry the woman who saved her life, so the best thing he could do was fake the accident to scare women away.

Not until things got complicated. He needed someone to marry for a short period and decided on Fiona.

Alex never intended to marry her for real. If she had accepted the proposal, he would have told her about his family and given her a contract.

Nevertheless, she rejected his proposal, and Joanna came along with the same thing he wanted.

If Alex had accepted the contract marriage back then, there would have been no room for divorce.

However, their accidental meeting led to their mutual support and eventual fulfillment of their desires.

"I had too many women around me and wanted someone who would love me for who I am, not just because I am Alexander King," he shrugged. Joanna forced a smile as all gazes landed on her.

"If you had trusted me, you wouldn’t have gone through all that. Adelaide was the one from the beginning, and yet you refused to meet her," Grandpa explained.

Alex didn’t want to deal with the complications. Many things could have gone wrong if Mia had known from the start that she wasn’t the Adelaide Grandpa talked about, and if Alex hadn’t faked the accident.

There were too many two-faced women out there, making it hard to trust and fall in love easily.

Cole’s intense gaze on Monica made her uncomfortable, but she chose to focus on more important things, elegantly eating her portion.

I think we should ask the emcee to start the toasts and speeches," Grandpa suggested. Mia interjected,

"Grandpa, Joanna didn’t meet her target, why are you praising her?"

Joanna smiled and looked at Mia, saying, "Actually, if you were paying attention, you would have seen that I exceeded my target by five hundred percent."

Mia, Cole, and Rene were all taken aback. "What do you mean by that?" Rene inquired. Joanna smiled and responded.

"I instructed the finance manager to notify you only after all payment transactions were completed. This was done two days ago, but perhaps the excitement of the wedding prevented him from informing you."

The three individuals appeared confused. Alex smiled and turned to Logan.

"Joanna would now go by the surname King and the Bakers would be handing over the company to her after our honeymoon," he announced, the merry atmosphere, turned sorrowful for some.

Logan was not forgotten. Alex addressed him squarely. "As for you, are you ready to explain your involvement in the kidnapping of my wife’s wedding dress designer?" Logan was sweating bullets.

Chapter 107: Chapter 107 – The downfall of the Bakers

Once again, Logan found himself lacking in the game of love. Despite his attempts to keep his actions hidden, Alex discovered the truth without much effort.

Grandpa’s stern gaze made it impossible for Logan to deny the accusations against him.

Reflecting on their younger days when Alex was always caring and protective, Logan realized that Alex still possessed those qualities, and he tried to appeal to them.

"Alex, can we put this behind us? You’ve won, and I’m your only brother," Logan pleaded, indirectly admitting his guilt.

Monica was shocked by the revelation that would have caused the wedding to come to a halt, wondering what other challenges Joanna had faced in her journey of love.

"You didn’t deny it, so it’s clear that you’re the one responsible," Grandpa stated coldly, and Logan understood that he had been caught in his deception.

Desperate to find a way out of the situation, Logan scrambled to come up with a solution.

"I initially opposed their relationship because I believed it was fake, but after witnessing everything today, I see that their love is genuine," Logan confessed, regretting his past actions.

If he had followed Grandpa’s advice to stay away from women, he would not have been involved with multiple women. However, he wondered why it was so easy for Alex to resist the temptation of women while Logan could not.

"Since you kidnapped the..." Grandpa was saying when a calm voice interrupted.

"Her name is Lily," Joanna interjected, and when Logan looked in her direction, she defiantly raised her middle finger.

By the time Grandpa turned to face her, Joanna had composed herself, her middle finger now clenched with the others, showing no signs of suspicion.

"Good. You are going to compensate Lily and then buy the wedding gown," Grandpa declared, leaving Logan feeling pitiful.

The wedding gown was too expensive, and after signing off five percent of his shares to Alex, he would be bankrupt by the time he finished paying.

"No way," Logan initially refused, but Grandpa’s glare forced him to agree. "Yes, yes, I will buy it."

Logan’s face contorted as if he had smelled something unpleasant, but Alex realized that some things were too special to lose.

"Grandpa, one of the gowns has already been sold, and as for the one my wife is wearing, we will never sell it. Compensating Lily is sufficient," Alex countered, with Joanna nodding in agreement.

"Yes, I love the gown," she exclaimed. Initially, she thought it was too expensive, but once she tried it on, she didn’t want to take it off.

Logan felt like Alex had rescued him from a turbulent river by relieving him of the burden of purchasing the wedding gown.

"Logan, it seems you have a lucky star," Grandpa remarked sternly, causing Logan to breathe a sigh of relief. He had almost jeopardized his future.

The Bakers were not particularly interested in the wedding gown issue, preoccupied with news about the company.

They still found it hard to believe everything Joanna had accomplished.

"Joan, I find it hard to believe that you closed a deal that helped you meet your target. Are you just trying to impress Grandpa?" Mia questioned skeptically.

Grandpa suspected that Alex had secretly assisted Joanna and was pleased with the outcome.

In light of all they owed Monica for Mathias’s actions, the least they could do was protect her from individuals like Cole as a form of compensation.

Mia remained incredulous, so Joanna sent her a copy of the final documents.

"If you still doubt it, you can verify with the finance manager. Perhaps he didn’t feel the need to report to you anymore since you are no longer the boss."

Joanna indirectly conveyed that power had shifted, causing Mia to grind her teeth, her mother’s breath to hitch, and Monica to smile.

The reason she never mentioned the shares was because she believed it would be futile, but Joanna proved her wrong.

"Joan, I never thought you would have those shares, let alone the company. Come visit after your honeymoon. I’ll cook you a special meal," Monica said.

Joanna wanted to reassure her, but Alex accepted the offer on their behalf. "We’ll let you know once we return from our honeymoon."

The mention of the honeymoon made Agnes smirk, but no one paid attention to her.

Cole wanted to ask Monica to intercede on their behalf, but with so many people around, he decided to wait until after the bride and groom, as well as Grandpa, had left.

Alex and Grandpa were the most sophisticated individuals at the table, and once they left, everything else would be fine.

On the other hand, Rene had a plan to teach Monica a lesson she would never forget due to Cole’s persistent gaze on her.

The toast began, with Grandpa speaking first, "I had planned for my grandson to have an arranged marriage with the woman he fell in love with. I wish them happiness and many children," Grandpa raised his glass.

Everyone looked at the bride and groom, whose glasses remained untouched while others raised theirs.

"Joan, what’s going on? Raise your glass," Violet urged. Joanna was still tense, but Alex’s actions were remarkable.

He kissed Joanna, snapping her out of her daze, and then announced, "My wife dreams of having a dozen kids and is just in shock because Grandpa spoke her mind without even consulting her."

Joanna was speechless, unable to accept or reject Alex’s statement. Rene and Cole were still reeling from the news until the toast concluded and it was time for the parent dances.

Grandpa stood up and offered his hand to Monica. "We are the only parents here," he said.

Monica smiled, ready to take his hand, but Cole interjected, "Grandpa, Joanna is my daughter. I should dance with Monica.

"His words seemed to fall on deaf ears, causing tears to well up in his eyes from the embarrassment.

Alex and Joanna exchanged smiles as Alex took Monica’s hand to dance, and Grandpa danced with Joanna. Joanna gave the old man a grateful nod.

On the other side, Monica giggled, Joanna was curious about what Alex had said to make her mother so happy. More couples joined the dance as Monica and Alex returned to their seats.

Grandpa was escorting Joanna back to her seat when chaos erupted at the head table...

Chapter 108: Chapter 108 - You better start talking

"Do you want to dance?" Aiden asked Violet. She stared at him and replied, "No."

He was an old flame, and she could never forget how he disappeared and wiped away all traces.

Aiden wanted to say something but noticed Alex walking to the table with Monica.

Rene had taken Monica’s seat, so Alex was about to speak when Monica stopped him and gladly went to sit where Rene had been before.

Alex was not happy, but Monica was relieved. She was glad that the son of a bitch would no longer be staring at her, but what she didn’t expect happened.

"Rita, please, let’s change positions," Cole said politely. Rita agreed, and Cole sat right in front of Monica like before.

With most people dancing, they were not aware of the happenings at the high table.

Alex refrained from intervening since Monica had stopped him the first time he tried.

"Cole, why are you embarrassing me?" Rene went to where Cole sat and asked behind him. Cole turned his head around and replied,

"Is it wrong to speak to her? She’s not our enemy."

Gathering the attention of everyone at the table, Rene held back her comments and returned to her seat when Cole turned his focus to Monica.

"You look amazing," he complimented. Monica smiled warmly, evoking memories of their past together. However, when she responded, his expression turned pale.

"You look terrible. The last time we met, you called me the ugly one, but I doubt you looked in the mirror before showing up like this."

Monica’s words were not spoken loudly but heard by those around the table, eliciting laughter.

Her response brought shame to Mia and her mother, but Cole quickly recovered from his embarrassment.

"Your wife seems to have taken after her mother," Aiden whispered to Alex. At the same time, Violet enjoyed the spectacle, mentally noting to share the gossip with Joanna when she returned with Grandpa.

Alex smiled as he glanced at Joanna in the arms of his grandfather. She appeared so at ease that it sparked a hint of jealousy in him, unaware that Joanna was simply concealing her nervousness well.

"I’m starting to believe that a sharp tongue is a necessary trait for any woman," Alex remarked.

"Monica, I know I hurt you when I chose Rene...." Cole was saying but Monica’s voice interrupted him before he could finish his sentence.

"It’s so loud in here. Can you hear what he’s saying?" Monica leaned in and directed her question at Rene, who looked visibly angry, while Cole appeared embarrassed.

"Look, Monica, you don’t have to be sarcastic, and you know..."

Once again, Monica interjected. "I smell something foul coming from his mouth. Do you smell it too?" she asked the man next to him, causing the table to erupt in laughter just as Grandpa and Joanna returned.

The laughter didn’t sound joyful but rather mocking. Joanna noticed the change in seating arrangements and became curious.

"Mom, why did you change seats?"

Monica smiled at her and replied, "There are some people who can’t stand others’ happiness. One of them made it easy for me to avoid the other, but I ended up with him again."

Joanna smiled, realizing the meaning behind her mother’s words as she saw Rene sitting where Monica had been previously.

"Do you need help?" she asked, concerned. Monica maintained her smile.

The more she spoke, the more Alex and Grandpa noticed the similarities between the mother and daughter.

"To deal with the idiot in front of me? No way." The table erupted in laughter once more, Mia desperately trying to conceal her face to no avail.

"Monica, I just wanted to have a decent chat with you. It’s not too late for us to reconcile," Cole’s words caused a sudden hush at the table, only broken by the sharp sound of a slap.

"That’s for speaking without thinking," Monica coldly reprimanded Cole, her demeanor turning icy.

Joanna was taken aback by this side of her mother, but there was more to come.

"Mo..." Cole attempted to speak again, only to receive another stinging slap on the same cheek.

"Shut up when I’m talking to you, you gold digger. You thought Rene was wealthy, so you married her and abandoned your own daughter."

Curiosity hung in the air as Rene nervously inquired, "Monica, what are you insinuating? Are you so envious of me that you want to sabotage my marriage?"

Monica’s smile was chilling, her eyes betraying no warmth. "Envious? I don’t even know the meaning of that word. Do you think I would expose your secrets? No. Karma will take care of all of you."

"Karma has already dealt with them," Alex chimed in. Monica was not aware of the situation, but she smiled genuinely at Alex and replied,

"Joanna marrying you is nothing compared to what she’s hiding from him."

Rene felt trapped and wanted to escape. "Rene, what is she talking about?" Cole asked seriously. Monica laughed sarcastically and said,

"You will never know, Cole. That is what you deserve for what you put me through. Even when I was giving birth to Joanna, you were busy taking Rene to the most expensive restaurants. If you want to know the woman you married, don’t ask me. I hope she plays you until you die."

"Monica, that’s enough," Rene yelled, her voice cutting through the music and drawing the attention of the guests at the other tables.

Her make-up was already loud so adding to her voice, she looked and sounded uncouth.

"You are warned, Rene. This is an elite wedding, and you better behave," Grandpa retorted.

Feeling ashamed of the gazes focused on her, Rene apologized, "I’m sorry, but Monica, please stop this, will you?"

Monica, feeling satisfied, decided to keep her thoughts to herself. Cole deserved to suffer for the choices he made.

"Are you begging me?" Monica smiled. "My daughter is happily married to a man who cherishes her."

Guilt flickered in Alex and Joanna’s eyes as everything seemed to revolve around a contract, but it quickly dissipated as Monica carried on speaking.

"She acquired the Baker’s Corporation, which is rightfully hers. So, tell me, what do you have besides the man you refer to as your husband? Keep in mind, he’s not even qualified to wipe my shoes."

Another round of laughter erupted, and Cole seethed with anger, his eyes blazing. His attention turned to his wife. "Rene, you need to start explaining."

Chapter 109: Chapter 109 – For Our Unborn Child

Flashback

"Catherine, you made it," Monica exclaimed as her best friend arrived with a surprise guest on her birthday.

"Who is she?" Monica inquired, gesturing towards the girl Catherine had brought along. Catherine smiled and introduced her.

"Meet Rene. She’s my long-distance cousin’s girlfriend."

Monica was pleased that Rene had joined them, as she had no other plans for her birthday.

"Nice to meet you, Rene. Thank you for coming to my birthday," Monica said, embracing Catherine. "I’m so happy you’re here. My boyfriend is busy with work, so your presence means a lot to me."

Catherine’s expression turned somber. "But it’s your birthday. Cole should make time for you."

She had only met Cole a few times and didn’t have a favorable impression of him, but she didn’t want to upset her best friend.

Monica forced a smile, pretending not to be bothered. "He said he’ll join us later, but I have a surprise for him."

"Will you tell me what the surprise is?" Catherine asked eagerly, but Monica hesitated, not wanting to reveal it in front of Rene.

"I’ll tell you, but I need to inform him first, you know what I mean."

"Okay, I understand, but where is the party?" Catherine asked, noticing Monica’s embarrassed smile.

"I already mentioned there won’t be a party this time," Monica replied, unable to reveal that she had invested all her money in Cole’s family business.

She believed that once the business flourished, their lives would improve, making birthdays less significant.

Catherine expressed her concern for Monica, noting that her life seemed better before meeting Cole, and should have improved after meeting him, not worsened.

"But now you have Cole," Catherine pointed out, trying to shift the conversation.

The three of them continued chatting until Catherine left with Rene, but Cole did not show up that day and was unresponsive to Monica’s calls. A month later, Monica ran into him at a coffee shop and approached him.

"Cole, you have been avoiding me," she said as she sat in front of him. Cole stared at her with a slightly guilty look.

"I’m sorry, Monica, but I’ve been very busy. My father is sick, and the business is demanding all my time."

Monica was pleased to see him working hard and offered to help.

"You could invite me over for coffee so we can talk. I can even assist you, but it’s okay that you didn’t wish me a happy birthday or show up like you promised."

Cole had forgotten, as he only said those things to appease her.

He left his coffee unfinished and stood up after checking his watch. "I’m sorry, but I have to go now. Something urgent just came up."

Monica knew that if he left now, she might never see him again. Besides, there was no ringing of his phone so precisely, he was just avoiding her.

She implored as she rose to catch up to him. "Cole, I’m pregnant."

She hoped the news would make him prioritize her. Cole stopped in his tracks and turned to face her, asking, "What did you say?"

"I’m carrying your child," Monica emphasized. Cole’s expression changed, anger clouding his eyes as he shouted,

"Well then, abort it."

"What?" Monica was shocked, as she had never seen this side of him before, but Cole remained unremorseful.

"What I need is a woman to support me. How much does your job pay?" He asked seriously, showing no interest in having a child with her. However, Monica reminded him,

"But I gave you everything I inherited from my parents and everything my ex gave me. I gave you everything to invest in your business."

Remorse briefly flickered in his eyes, but Cole quickly dismissed it. "But I need more. That’s why I had you sign the contract. Whatever you invested, I will pay back. For now, it’s over between us."

Monica felt as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over her.

When Cole mentioned the signed documents to cover the money she had given him, she realized that he had turned it into some kind of business deal.

"Cole..."

"Stop being pathetic and find a life," Cole cut her off, yelling at her.

Monica was relieved that there weren’t many people at the café as Cole continued, "Monica, see your money as an investment. You will get it back."

"I need it now. For our unborn child," Monica demanded, realizing that the conversation and relationship were not going in her favor as she had hoped.

"Yours, not mine. I’m not ready to be a father," Cole added insult to injury, then walked out on her.

However, Monica noticed a familiar figure and caught up to her after Cole had left. She swallowed her pain, hoping that soon he would realize his mistake and come back.

"Rene, what are you doing here?" she asked the woman she saw sneaking around. Rene appeared slightly nervous.

"I just came to have coffee," she replied, unable to admit that she had been spying on Cole for a while now.

"Did you hear what he said?" Monica inquired, not one to air her dirty laundry in public. Rene smoothly denied it.

"No, nothing at all. What did he say? And who?" Rene pretended not to know.

"Nothing," Monica brushed it aside. Rene had a devilish smile on her face as she turned and walked away.

A few months later, Monica was in her ninth month when Catherine came to visit with shocking news.

"Oh, Monica, why didn’t you tell me that Rene stole your boyfriend?"

Monica, who hadn’t heard from Cole in months, was stunned by the news. "Excuse me?"

"I saw them together at a restaurant, and my long-distance cousin mentioned that Rene had been seeing someone else and broke up with him," Catherine explained apologetically. "Seeing them, I knew it was Cole because of how he’s been avoiding you."

Monica hadn’t heard from Cole since that day and she cried her eyes out. Weakened by the pregnancy, she still insisted, "I want to see them."

Catherine froze at the request. "Not in your condition," she advised, but Monica persisted. "I want to."

The flashback continues in the next Chapter.

 

Chapter 110: Chapter 110 – I Can Curse You Even More

Catherine pondered for a moment, biting her finger, considering how to dissuade her. "They may have already left. Let’s reschedule for another time."

"Please, Cat, if the father of my unborn child is a jerk, I can handle it," Monica pleaded, and Catherine relented. "Okay, let’s meet tomorrow."

The following day, Catherine took Monica to Cole’s favorite restaurant, where they found him with Rene once again.

"Cole?" Monica’s tone was filled with bitterness at the sight of them together, but Rene tried to avoid eye contact, fearing Monica’s reaction.

"Monica, what do you want? It’s over between us," Cole shouted, showing no empathy towards her, but Monica’s focus remained on Rene.

"Rene. You?" Monica directed her question towards Rene.

Cole positioned himself protectively in front of Rene, as if she were his good luck charm. "Don’t speak to her, Monica. She’s not in your league. Her parents are wealthy, and she can support me better."

Catherine wanted to intervene, but Monica stopped her, feeling a sharp pain in her abdomen.

Suddenly, her water broke, and she let out a piercing scream. "Arrrh." Catherine was saddened, blaming herself for bringing Monica, but Cole made no attempt to help.

If Monica died, then it would be even better for him to keep her money. "Monica, let me take you to the hospital," Catherine supported her gently.

Monica did not refuse, but on the way, she asked Catherine as the contractions were on and off, "Didn’t you say that Rene had a boyfriend? How rich are they?"

"She broke up with my long-distance cousin because he could not meet her needs, but I didn’t know it was because of yours. Her parents are late and were never rich, so I don’t know how she got all that in Cole’s head," Catherine revealed as she drove Monica to the hospital.

"She lied to him?" Monica asked in-between her labor pains, her heart wrenching with it.

"Yes. Once you get better, we can tell him," Catherine suggested, but Monica smiled bitterly, enduring the pains of her labor.

"No. He should cook and die in the lie," she cursed Cole over her unborn child.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Monica was wheeled to the labor ward as Catherine assured her,

"Let me get some money to pay your bills. I will be right back."

However, that was the last time Monica saw Catherine. She later learned that Catherine had been hit by a car while trying to get money for Monica’s hospital bills.

Catherine’s car had failed to start in the parking lot when she attempted to retrieve the money.

This unfortunate incident left Monica with a deep sense of betrayal and a resolve to make Cole pay for all the suffering he had caused her and for the loss of her best friend.

Monica believed that if Cole had taken care of the bills, Catherine would not have met such a tragic fate.

Mathias, Monica’s ex, came to her aid during this difficult time.

However, Monica faced challenges from both Mathias and Cole’s partners, who pressured her to leave. This marked the beginning of a tumultuous period in Monica’s life.

End of Flashback.

Everyone around Monica was curious about the situation, but she hesitated to reveal the details, fearing that Cole would find out.

Despite Joana and Mia being close in age, Monica knew that Mia was not Cole’s biological child, yet he devoted himself to her.

She hoped that when the truth hit home, Cole would die of a heart attack to compensate for Catherine’s death.

"Rene, are you going to talk?" Cole asked again, noticing his wife’s trembling.

Monica responded sarcastically, "Talk about what? She will feed you lies, and you will never know the truth. I will be very happy to attend our funeral, Cole."

Monica’s cynicism was rare, but the memory of her best friend weighed heavily on her heart.

That was why she never had a best friend after that. She loved deeply, but every time she loved someone, they were taken from her, like Catherine, Enzo, and even Nancy.

The only one left was Joanna. "Do you wish me dead?" Cole asked, feeling hurt, but Monica smiled.

"I don’t wish you alive, so what do you think? My best friend died on the day I gave birth to Joanna because she was out looking for money to pay my bills and got hit by a car."

The head table fell silent, while the other tables buzzed with excitement. The situation was more complex than they had realized, and Grandpa understood that Mathias had been slow to reach out to Monica.

No wonder she was alone at the hospital. Her helper had died on the same day.

Cole remembered Monica’s best friend but never knew she had passed away. "I’m sorry to hear that," he murmured, but Monica smiled bitterly.

"Sorry? You will die a miserable death, Cole. Your blood will not be enough to pay for your sins."

Cole paled, and Monica smiled triumphantly, asking directly, "Do you still want to sit here? I can curse you even more."

Cole stood up rapidly. What if Monica’s curses came true? "I will go home now," he said.

Rene was relieved, and dragging Mia, they followed Cole as he exited the reception before even the bride and groom.

His plans to use Monica to gain back the Company failed because the woman was too bitter to be messed with. Forget about the pretty face and luxury clothes.

Monica smiled as she watched Cole walking away into his misery, and Joanna was overwhelmed. "Mom, I didn’t know you had all this in you."

A chuckle escaped Monica, a faraway look in her eyes. "I was just waiting to see this day."

Her daughter’s marriage was all that she waited for, as she was afraid Joanna might suffer the same fate as her, but now, her heart was at peace.

"It’s time for the grand exit," the emcee announced. Aiden hugged Alex as Joanna hugged Violet. Other friends and office colleagues hugged them as they said their final goodbyes.

Before Alex and Joanna left, Agnes had a message for them. "To the bride and groom, I hope you give us grandchildren after this honeymoon because everything has been prepared."

Alex frowned imperceptibly, sensing that Agness was plotting something.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked, his tone serious.