Ch. 96..100: OMG My Crippled Husband is a Hot Powerful CEO Chapter 96-100

Chapter 96: Chapter 96 – She’s been here twice today

"Relax," Alex said to Aiden as he carried Joanna to his bed. However, before dropping her on it, he reconsidered since he had shared the bed with Aiden earlier.

Therefore, he gently placed her on the couch, mesmerized by her beauty.

He had never had the opportunity to observe her so closely before.

"Call Betty," Alex instructed Aiden, as he began to formulate a plan.

Alex’s bullet wounds were bleeding due to the strain of carrying Joanna, a fact that Aiden noticed.

"Betty, your boss wants to see you," Aiden announced over the intercom before turning to Alex and inquiring, "What’s next?"

Alex’s gaze remained fixed on Joanna as if he were cherishing something precious. Something he knew he would regret losing.

"Alex, she knows now. What are you going to do?" Aiden asked with concern, to which Alex responded by pursing his lips.

"She was bound to find out sooner or later, but the timing isn’t right," Alex replied.

Aiden could only think of one solution. Erasing Joanna’s memory. "Do you want me to get some..." he began to suggest, but Alex interrupted, understanding his intention.

"No, she has already experienced memory loss and has been sedated twice recently. I won’t subject her to that again."

Alex was too caring to exploit her or cause her harm.

Those responsible for her suffering would face consequences as far as he was concerned, but once the necessary documents were signed after the marriage, he would seek justice for her.

A knock interrupted Alex before he could say more.

"Betty, why is she in my room?" Alex inquired, causing Betty to feel confused and anxious upon seeing Joanna.

The boss had a quick temper, but Betty gathered her courage and tried to explain. "I’m not sure, sir."

"She’s not supposed to be in my room, yet she’s been here twice today," Alex accused, making Betty even more nervous.

"I apologize, sir. It won’t happen again. Is she okay?" Betty was so afraid of Alex, worried that he might have harmed Joanna.

They may be married, but who knew the circumstances, and why was Joanna unconscious? Betty’s mind raced as she gazed at Joanna’s pale face on the couch.

"Sir, what happened to her? Is she alright?" she asked, and Alex felt offended. Was it so terrible that Betty thought he would harm his wife?

"Are you suggesting that I’m capable of hurting my wife?" Alex asked, his anger evident in his eyes.

Betty trembled under his intimidating gaze. Alex was like a son to her, but he could be frightening when he was like this.

"I didn’t mean that, sir. I just wondered why she’s unconscious."

Alex didn’t provide an answer and instructed, "No one, including herself, should know that she came to this room. Do you understand?"

Betty knew how curious Joanna was and couldn’t figure out how to make things appear as Alex wanted her to, but who was she to challenge him?

"Yes, sir," she replied. She noticed the bloodstains on Alex’s shirt but wasn’t surprised, considering the stains she had cleaned from the floor earlier that morning.

Satisfied, Alex instructed her, "Aiden will carry her to her room, but you must ensure that no one sees how she is taken there. I will be downstairs in ten minutes for breakfast."

Betty eagerly nodded, "I will get it done and inform the chef to serve your food." It was going to be brunch anyway, but she was confident that the chef had it under control.

Aiden carefully carried Joanna, placing her gently on her bed and making sure no one saw him leave her room before returning to Alex’s room as instructed.

"Call Dario to send some men to deal with the Munchinos wherever they are. I want to handle it myself, but I can’t risk it anymore," Alex instructed.

What if Joanna saw this dark side of him and changed her mind about the contract? She had already secured her company and would have nothing to lose if she decided not to show up at the wedding.

"I was thinking the same thing," Aiden sighed with relief. Even if Alex had wanted to handle it himself, Aiden would have stopped him by any means.

"I will leave now," Aiden stated as he prepared to depart. Alex did not try to stop him. "I hope nothing else comes up soon," Alex remarked thoughtfully.

Aiden sighed in response. "I hope so too," he replied. Even if another issue arose, he planned to handle it with Dario’s assistance before informing Alex.

After Aiden left, Alex closed the exit and changed his dressing before heading downstairs for breakfast. As he wheeled himself out of his room, he noticed Violet about to enter Joanna’s room.

"Alex, have you seen Joanna? She ran upstairs as soon as I mentioned hearing voices in the room next door," Violet inquired.

Alex realized the source of the problem and understood Joanna’s actions. "She must be sleeping in her room."

"Sleeping? She was going to make me breakfast," Violet remarked, puzzled.

However, upon seeing Alex navigating the stairs in his wheelchair, she felt a surge of compassion. "Do you need my help? Those stairs are so steep."

Alex was about to call for Ike when he heard Violet’s offer. Grateful for the assistance and hoping it would keep Violet occupied and away from Joanna for a while, he accepted.

"Sure thing, thanks a lot."

Violet helped him down the stairs before hurrying back to Joanna’s room, where she found Joanna asleep with her phone in hand.

A few minutes later, Joanna woke up, disoriented, and asked, "How did I get here?"

Confusion clouded Violet’s mind as she inquired, "Joanna, are you okay?"

"Alex," Joanna muttered, her thoughts in disarray as she rushed out of the room.

Observing this, Violet followed her and caught up with her outside Alex’s door.

Joanna attempted to open it, but it was locked. "Where is Alex?" she questioned, feeling bewildered.

Violet, feeling lost herself, replied, "He’s downstairs."

Without another word, Joanna hurried downstairs and found Alex in a wheelchair in front of the TV, with the chef serving his meal.

A mix of chaos and confusion overwhelmed her as she exclaimed, "Alex, you can walk. Why are you in a wheelchair?" Alex tensed up immediately.

 

Chapter 97: Chapter 97 – There is a problem

Surrounded by onlookers, Alex had higher expectations of Joanna.

He wished she had taken him aside to a more private setting, considering he was still confined to a wheelchair.

However, he couldn’t fault her too much, especially when he remembered the shock on her face upon seeing him standing on his own two feet.

As the effects of the alcohol wore off, he realized he had forgotten to take his painkillers, and the discomfort from his bullet wound began to resurface.

Enduring the pain, Alex found it challenging to focus on Joanna’s behavior. Despite his desire to confide in her about his intentions, the presence of other people complicated matters.

Being his contract wife, Joanna had certain privileges that other staff members did not. Therefore, he hesitated to share his secret with her while surrounded by others, including Violet.

Perhaps she would have to wait until he was ready to disclose the information to everyone.

"Excuse me? What are you talking about? Are you dreaming or wishing me well? Or are you just tired of being married to a cripple?" Alex fired off questions, causing Joanna to become increasingly confused and doubtful.

While Joanna wasn’t overly concerned about Alex’s physical limitations, she began to question his honesty for reasons she couldn’t quite pinpoint.

Violet, witnessing Joanna’s unusual behavior, found herself equally perplexed by the unfolding situation. Joanna was always composed and rarely raised her voice.

"Are you okay? You’re acting strange," Violet said softly. Joanna felt like she was losing her mind, recalling everything she had seen before darkness enveloped her.

Alex was standing with a man Joanna didn’t recognize. They weren’t in a compromising position, but she was curious about what was happening.

The memory now blurred in her mind, causing her to question whether it was all a dream or reality.

"I thought..." Joanna started, feeling confused, but then stopped. "I think it was just a bad dream."

Internally, Alex released a breath he didn’t realize he was holding, unable to say more as the chef announced, "Brunch is served, sir."

The announcement brought Joanna back to the moment when she was about to cook for Violet.

"You said you were hungry. I have to cook for you," she said to Violet in a sudden panic.

Alex knew that the more she tried to carry on as if nothing had happened, the more likely she was to realize that everything she had seen was real. This is more than enough for all of us," Alex countered.

However, seeing the look of disappointment on Joanna’s face, he added something to brighten her mood. "You can cook dinner if you insist."

With a smile, Joanna agreed. "Okay, but I’m sorry for misjudging you." If he asked her to cook dinner, it meant he was going to eat it too, and that made her happy.

She had already secured everything she was looking for in this contract, so it mattered to her that Alex got his as well.

Alex felt guilty for winning her sympathy for something she was innocent of, but he knew that the truth would come to light at the right time.

Violet admired the relationship between them. Within a short while, the confusion had already cleared from the air.

During dinner, Joanna reminded Alex, "Can you call the designer? I need to see my gown before the wedding."

Alex nodded, a small smile lifting the corners of his lips. "Don’t worry about the gown. I will take care of it. But if you can’t stop being nervous, write down the number."

Joanna didn’t have her phone, just like Alex, but seeing Violet’s phone in her hand, she snatched it.

"I’m ready."

She expected Alex to realize it and retrieve his phone from his bedroom, but he mentioned the number off the top of his head, stunning her.

"Don’t worry. Your wedding gown is as important to me as it is to you."

If only she knew the lengths, he had gone to secure everything to ensure that nothing goes wrong.

The remaining days flew by quickly, with only Alex going to work as usual and returning home punctually until the night of their wedding.

They had moved from the mansion to a luxury hotel close to the venue.

From their room, they could see the plush and luxurious venue just a short distance away.

Joanna’s wedding dress had not been delivered yet, but Joanna was not bothered as she had already tried on the dress without the special stones Alex insisted on adding.

It had been a challenge to obtain them, and they were only delivered last night, so the designer was working diligently to have it delivered tonight.

"Have you thought about your honeymoon?" Violet asked. Joanna froze for a moment as she stared out of the large French windows.

"We don’t have control over that. His extended family is going to handle it." She did not like Alex’s extended family, but this was not real anyway, so why did she have to worry about them?

"I wish it weren’t a contract. You would have returned with twins," Violet said casually, leaving Joanna in disbelief.

Although Joanna felt a certain attraction towards Alex, she doubted it had progressed to the point where she would want to have his children.

"I thought you were my friend," Joanna expressed her disappointment.

Violet smiled knowingly and replied, "I am, and that’s why I always tell you the truth."

Joanna smiled back but didn’t fully agree. "Well, to disappoint you, nothing like that is going to happen. We’ll just spend time together as a couple when we’re out and as friends when we’re indoors."

"But you’ll be sharing the same bedroom," Violet pointed out.

Joanna had spent a night in the same room with him before, but that was at her father’s house, so it felt different from being together in an unfamiliar place.

"Can we not talk about this?" Joanna shook her head, trying to change the subject. Violet was about to respond when Joanna’s phone rang, and she answered it.

It was the wedding dress designer. "I’m very sorry, miss, but there is a problem," the designer informed Joanna, who paled instantly.

 

Chapter 98: Chapter 98 - I Promise

"What’s the problem? Alex spoke so highly of you, so if you don’t deliver, then you have failed him and not just me," Joanna found herself yelling out of frustration.

She, who hardly raised her voice, had transformed into someone else because of Alex.

This whole wedding was not part of the initial contract, and to add to her nervousness, she was informed that there was a problem.

"Miss, please let me explain. The diamonds are numerous, and with the design, we have to hand-stitch each of them. The tiny bits are the problem, and if you can give us tonight, we can have the wedding gown delivered before you wake up in the morning."

Joanna took a deep breath to calm herself since all was not lost. It was just a matter of her being patient.

The wedding gown was stunning even without the diamonds, and she couldn’t help but imagine the final outcome of it.

"Alright. Please get it to me first thing in the morning."

"Thank you, Miss, I won’t let you down," the wedding dress designer, Lily said before ending the call.

If she dared to disappoint Joanna, she knew that Alex would deal with her squarely.

"What’s the problem?" Violet asked after Joanna ended the call. Joanna explained everything to her, and she sighed.

"Don’t worry. What you need now is your beauty rest, so don’t allow anything to disturb your mind."

Joanna was reluctant, so Violet reminded her. "You have to make it real and remember that this man helped you secure not only your mother’s shares but also the entire company."

"You’re right," Joanna said with enough motivation to sleep. The next morning, there was nothing like a bachelorette party for them, but they found comfort in each other’s presence.

On the wedding day, they were woken up by the makeup artists and hairstylists.

Violet answered the door and received them, then woke Joanna, who was still groggy.

"Wake up, Joanna, it’s your wedding day," Violet announced. Joanna, confused, looked around at the people in her hotel room.

"Where is the designer? Where is Lily" she asked, feeling a sense of unease.

A man with a fashionable hairstyle informed her, "I’m Jay, and I’m here with my team to transform you into the most beautiful bride in the world."

From the king-size bed to the luxurious items in the room, Joanna felt like a princess, but the surreal nature of the situation began to sink in.

Not seeing her wedding dress made her nervous, so she picked up her phone and redialed the number that had called her last night, only to find that the phone was switched off.

Tears welled up in her eyes. "It can’t be. Her phone is switched off."

Violet, usually optimistic, was also nervous this time. "Why don’t you call Alex? I believe he might have some connections."

Joanna, who had not grown up in an affluent home and had always done things for herself, was somewhat naive when it came to breaking protocols.

How? No one can design such a gown in two hours," she said, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye as Violet suggested.

"But there are stores with ready-made gowns. It might not be what the family wishes for, but we can’t call off the wedding."

Joanna replied, feeling helpless and not wanting to disturb Alex at a time like this.

"What about you get me a nice wedding gown?" Joanna suggested.

Violet shook her head. "I could, but there is traffic and all, and I might not be able to make it back on time. You have no idea what the rich can do with their power."

Joanna had not told Violet that Alex was from the King’s family, but she spoke so highly of him as if she knew.

"How do you know all this about him? Just because he’s rich doesn’t mean he has that kind of power," Joanna questioned.

Violet scoffed. "The mansion in which you live isn’t an ordinary one. Only powerful people can afford it."

Even her father’s mansion was not up to such a standard. Joanna forced a smile, understanding the reason for Violet’s confidence.

Jay and his team were patient, as they had been paid for the whole day.

"Okay, let me try," Joanna said, dialing Alex’s number. It went through, but no one answered. She tried again, but it was the same.

"I think he’s busy. He’s not answering my calls," Joanna said in frustration.

"Why don’t you go shower and call him again? Who knows, he might be in the shower," Jay suggested. It made sense to Joanna.

"You are right. I will go shower."

After coming out of the shower, Violet headed to shower as well, since Joanna had tried calling Lily’s number again but it was still switched off. Just as she was about to dial Alex’s number, her phone rang. It was Alex, so she smiled and answered.

"Hello, Joan? Sorry, I missed your call. I was in the shower," Alex said.

Joanna smiled, impressed by Jay’s timing, knowing he had experience with weddings.

"I’m not doing well, Alex. I don’t have my wedding dress, and Lily’s phone is off."

Alex’s expression shifted, but he reassured her gently, "Don’t worry. I’ll have someone else deliver the gown to you."

Confused, Joanna asked, "But if I can’t reach her, how will you?"

Alex hesitated, suspecting someone might be trying to sabotage the wedding. "Just trust me. Your wedding gown will be there in an hour."

Joanna trusted him and was relieved, though she wondered if the design would be different. She had fallen in love with the dress and even dreamt of wearing it.

"Will it be the same design, or will it change?" she inquired.

"You will have the exact wedding dress you chose. I promise," Alex assured her earnestly, bringing a smile to Joanna’s face over the phone.

"Thank you, Alex."

At the end of the line, Alex’s expression darkened as he instructed Aiden, "Dial Lily’s number."

"It’s switched off," Aiden replied after two attempts. "I wonder who’s behind this because Lily wouldn’t do this."

"I have a plan," Alex began, but his phone rang. It displayed a strange number, prompting him to answer. A distressed female voice pleaded for help.

"Sir, please help me. I was kidnapped on my way to deliver the gown to your wife."

"Lily?" Alex inquired, only to be met with a deep, unfamiliar male voice.

"Alex King, if you want the wedding gown, be at the location I’m sending you in the next twenty minutes," the voice demanded before abruptly ending the call.

Aiden questioned, "Are you going to rescue her? Your family doesn’t tolerate tardiness." He paused, noticing a peculiar smile on Alex’s face.

Chapter 99: Chapter 99 – Who is that woman

Aiden inquired, "Are you planning to rescue her?" as he adjusted Alex’s suit. "Your family doesn’t tolerate lateness." He paused, noticing a peculiar smile on Alex’s face.

"What makes you think I would allow them to deceive me?" Alex scoffed.

Aiden was intrigued. He would be upset to see Alex fall for such a trick, but they needed the gown for Joanna. What was Alex’s plan?

"What do you mean?" Aiden asked, prepared to offer his full support for whatever Alex had in mind. Alex responded calmly.

"Redial the number."

Aiden held back his questions and complied due to time constraints. They needed action, not words.

The same deep voice from earlier answered the call, and Alex spoke immediately, asking, "Why do you think I care about the woman you kidnapped?"

"I know you don’t care about her, but you do care about the wedding gown," the man replied from the other end of the line.

Another mysterious smile crossed Alex’s face, replacing the earlier look of doubt.

Aiden couldn’t comprehend why Alex was so composed while speaking to Lily’s kidnapper until Alex said,

"My wife is beautiful and doesn’t need a gown to prove it. She has plenty of dresses in her closet and can wear any of them."

Aiden chuckled inwardly, wondering who Alex was trying to fool. Did he think he was talking to someone else? Aiden was already aware of all the arrangements and the fact that the marriage was going to be annulled in five months.

"Are you sure about that?" Aiden teasingly asked, referring to Alex calling Joanna a beauty.

Alex, thinking Aiden was talking about the wedding gown, glared at him while waiting for a response from the man on the other end of the line.

Aiden realized that Alex’s words were not directed at him but at the man on the line. He might be playing mind games, but Aiden heard the man reply,

"I know you are joking. A man like you wouldn’t allow his wife to walk down the aisle in just any kind of dress."

Alex’s expression turned stern at the remark, asking seriously, "Do I sound like I’m joking?" His voice grew indifferent.

"I don’t care about Lily, so do whatever you want with her. I’m getting married with or without my wife wearing a wedding gown, and I will not meet you anywhere."

He ended the call abruptly after that. At the end of the line, the man was greatly upset and dialed a number.

Logan, who was anxiously waiting for a response, paced back and forth in his bedroom. His phone buzzed, and he answered it, hearing,

"Sir, he refused to show up. He said he doesn’t care about Lily, and his wife would still look beautiful in any dress."

Logan was seething. Joanna was indeed a gorgeous woman and would look fabulous in any dress, be it a wedding gown or not.

However, he had a nagging feeling that Alex was playing smart or using some kind of reverse psychology.

It wasn’t easy for Logan to pull this off, and if Lily were released right now, there was no doubt that she would rush to the hotel to deliver the wedding gown to Joanna.

Logan was bent on making sure that did not happen. "Still, wait until after two hours before allowing the woman to go."

"What about Alex?" the abductor asked. Logan was greatly upset, wondering what the abductor wanted to do with Alex.

He already knew that any direct attack on Alex would only prove futile. "I don’t know. Just get off my line, but I’m not paying your balance," he replied rudely.

The kidnapper was outraged, but indeed, the work was not done, so he could not ask for his balance.

At the hotel, Aiden was disturbed, especially when Alex had refused the help of the extended family wedding planners. This situation could have been avoided if they had handled it differently.

"What do we do now? You wouldn’t want your wife to wear just any dress to the wedding, would you?" Aiden inquired, Alex glared at him with a disappointed expression.

"You don’t know me very well, do you?" Alex asked.

Aiden sensed that something unexpected or exciting was about to happen, so he wanted to be informed firsthand.

"What are you referring to?" he asked. Alex shook his head and dialed a number on his phone.

"Edmund, we’re moving to plan B."

Edmund understood the coded message and promptly replied, "Consider it done."

Aiden was puzzled by what was unfolding, feeling uneasy about Alex keeping something from him.

"Alex, I’m confused," Aiden expressed with a hint of frustration, but Alex just smiled. "We can’t be late for my wedding."

He straightened his bow tie, looking incredibly dashing. Aiden didn’t press for more information, anticipating a surprise, but he was eager to see Joanna’s wedding dress.

An hour later, Alex was on his way to the venue with Aiden as his best man. Ike was his all-time favorite driver, but the distance between the venue and the hotel was not far to begin with.

Alex waited in his luxury car until it was time to walk down the aisle. Aiden walked down the aisle first, amazed by how packed the venue was.

This was a strictly invitation-only ceremony, and he doubted everyone seated had received an invitation, wondering what Alex would do.

He could not help but guess that the extended family had their own list of invitees.

He didn’t attract as much attention as when Alex wheeled himself through the aisle to the altar. "Is that Alexander King?" Most of the people he had rapport with, including managers and CEOs of top companies, were stunned to learn this.

"How is that possible?" someone else asked from among the guests, but Grandpa sat proudly in the front row.

The extended family members, already envious of the classy setup, felt equally ashamed when Agnes spoke from the crowd.

"If only he wasn’t in a wheelchair." Alex forced a smile, but Grandpa glared at her, causing her to fall silent.

The next person to walk down the aisle was the maid of honor, and Aiden whispered to Alex,

"I don’t think she will come. She’s too respectable to wear just anything for this special occasion."

"Wait and see," Alex replied calmly. When the maid of honor appeared at the entrance, Aiden froze instantly, his heart stopped.

"Alex, who is that woman?"

Chapter 100: Chapter 100 – We Kings Don’t Do Fake

Alex felt a sense of confusion, partly blaming himself for not introducing Aiden and Violet earlier. He motioned for Aiden to lower himself as he explained the situation.

"That is Joanna’s best friend and Logan’s ex. What connection does she have with you?" Alex asked in a hushed tone as Violet walked down the aisle, looking spectacular in a champagne bridesmaid dress that accentuated her sexy and elegant appeal.

Aiden was visibly nervous. "She’s the one," he whispered, still reeling from the events of that night.

Despite his efforts to move on, Violet’s presence brought back memories he tried to forget.

As Joanna’s best friend, Aiden couldn’t avoid Violet, at least until after the divorce.

Violet, holding a small, classy bouquet, smiled shyly amidst the beautiful decorations and the crowd.

Alex, still puzzled, inquired, "Who are you referring to?" Aiden hesitated but decided to confide in Alex to ease his own anxiety.

"The one who paid me two hundred dollars for sex," Aiden admitted, averting his gaze. Alex was taken aback by Aiden’s uncharacteristic shyness.

The media representatives at the event marveled at the stunning maid of honor, prompting Joanna’s colleagues, Julliet and Vida, to express their amazement at the occasion.

"So, Joanna’s husband is Alexander King? Did she hide it from us because she was ashamed? Wasn’t Alexander King supposed to be bedridden?" Vida asked Julliet, who was just as clueless as she was, both of them feeling disappointed that Joanna kept it from them.

"Well, he seems to be getting better and is still handsome and powerful, even in his wheelchair," Vida acknowledged. Julliet shook her head. "I still can’t believe that Joanna kept this from us."

From another side of the auditorium, Logan was seated with a woman, but no one knew the relationship between them.

His anger boiled at the mere sight of Alex, and he recognized the best man as the one who threatened him the last time at his house.

Not only was Alex dangerous, but it extended to his best friend as well.

There were many jealous faces, but none of them could ruin the classy décor. Everything screamed luxury, and everyone who wished for Alex to be replaced as the acting CEO forcefully swallowed their desires.

Alex was the same as Alexander King, who was rumored to be the rightful heir of the Kings multinational and all its assets and finances.

Alex wanted to laugh at Aiden’s confession but held it in. What a coincidence for Violet to be the mysterious woman who paid Aiden for sex? Alex began to see her differently.

She appeared wild and untamed as Violet approached the altar, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of Aiden, who happened to be Alex’s best friend.

Among all the people who could have known about their past, why did it have to be Alex?

A spark ignited within her when their eyes met, but she quickly averted her gaze, focusing on the entrance instead.

As the bridal procession song played, everyone stood up in applause, except for Alex.

When Joanna made her entrance with her mother, Cole tried to conceal his face.

"I heard both parents are alive, so why is her mother walking her down the aisle?" someone from the audience whispered.

Juliet wanted to expose Cole but feared the consequences.

Mia’s fingers clenched into her palms as she observed Joanna’s wedding dress.

It should have been her in that gown if things had gone as planned, and she was certain it was the most expensive wedding dress in the world.

"Are those real diamonds?" she blurted out, unintentionally drawing attention to herself.

"We Kings don’t do fake," Grandpa proudly declared, as their business partners began speculating on the gown’s price, with business ideas swirling in their minds.

One of the men seated behind the old man made a business suggestion. "After the wedding, you could auction this gown. It would fetch you a lot of money."

Most of the other partners nodded in agreement to the suggestion. It seemed like a waste that the gown would not be worn again and kept away after today.

Grandpa glared at him, "We Kings are not broke. My grandson bought this gown from his own pocket without the King family’s support."

The businessmen, holding prominent positions in their companies, were left speechless.

If they were to cough out money from their company coffers, it would greatly affect their finances.

However, Alex did not even need his family’s cash, paying for the gown himself.

This revelation left them speechless. Grandpa was very proud of Alex, and aside from the gown being an object of interest to everyone present, Monica looked stunning, appearing much younger than her age.

Clad in a champagne gown, designed differently from Violet’s, she almost stole the spotlight from her daughter.

"I see where Joanna got her beauty," Pascal remarked from the extended family side, with Agnes agreeing, "Indeed. Joanna is as pretty as her mother."

Rene couldn’t help but feel jealous of the way Cole’s eyes were glued to Monica. It’s embarrassing the way you look at her. Am I not prettier than her?" Her eyes held a deep loathing for the two women walking down the aisle.

It was as if everything she stole from them was being taken back from her.

Cole did not want to miss this beautiful moment. This was the best he had ever seen Monica look.

She had changed so much since he last saw her at the hospital, looking more youthful than ever.

What exactly had changed? Unable to take his eyes off her, he found a perfect excuse to tell Rene.

"If you want me to stop looking, then please go ahead and pluck out my eyes. Joanna’s gown is stunning, and you don’t want me to admire it? I’m only thinking about how the cost of that gown could have been used to save the company."

Rene seemed satisfied that his attention was not on Monica as she had thought earlier.

"It’s still ours because Joanna didn’t meet her target," Mia waved dismissively. Joanna had reached the middle of the aisle when someone yelled behind her,

"Miss, please don’t go yet. I have your wedding gown."

Lily ran into the auditorium panting, with a white wedding garment bag in hand, almost toppling over from the weight.

The voice caught Joanna’s attention, forcing her to turn around, and as soon as Lily saw her, her jaws dropped. "How is this possible?"