Ch. 76..80: Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire Chapter 76-80
Chapter 76: He Met His Match
Only those who hadn’t heard of Owen’s recent scandals missed the hidden message in Olivia’s vow. She had promised him that, however he treated her, she would return it, "a hundredfold."
In other words, if Owen strayed again, she wouldn’t hesitate to repay him in kind. If he betrayed her, she would be just as cold and ruthless.
At first, Owen smiled, oblivious to her words’ deeper meaning. But when he met her eyes and saw the steely look there, his smile faded, and his face tightened as understanding dawned.
In the front row, Adam and Stella exchanged a tense look, while Adam drummed his fingers on his leg. Seated beside them, Aurora fought back a chuckle, a knowing smile lighting her face as she took in the whole scene.
’You both deserve each other without a doubt. Go ahead and hurt each other without holding back,’ she said to herself as she folded her arms below her chest without taking her triumphant gaze off the altar.
On the other side, Patricia and Richard traded worried glances. "Encouraging this relationship was a mistake," Patricia murmured, regretful.
Richard gave a small nod. "Completely agree. But I’ll be damned if anyone drags our family name through the mud. We’ve worked too hard to get here."
Behind Owen’s parents, Asher leaned toward Xander. "Good thing your parents didn’t come," he whispered with a grin.
"They would have fainted," Xander replied dryly, his focus still on the ceremony.
With the vows exchanged, the priest blessed their union, and applause swept through the crowd. Owen let out a shaky breath and met Olivia’s blank stare. With the photographers snapping away, he reached for her hands, forcing a stiff smile. But when he leaned in for a kiss, she coolly turned her face, so his lips landed on her cheek instead.
"Don’t even try it," she murmured through a fake smile.
A pang of humiliation jolted through Owen, the message crystal clear: their relationship, strained beyond repair, would never be the same. For the guests, he maintained the facade, but inwardly, he felt his composure slipping.
Aurora barely contained her chuckle as she watched. She knew Adam and Stella could hear her reaction, but she didn’t care.
’Owen, if you hadn’t gotten together with Olivia behind my back, I might have been the one embarrassed and dealing with your excesses—the lies, the cheating, the scandals today. Fortunately, you met your match well deserving of your humiliation. And I hope she enjoys every bit of it.
When the applause died down, a live band began to play softly. Owen and Olivia moved behind a table to sign their marriage certificate, with their parents stepping forward to witness. Afterwards, they posed for photos with the priest, then with both sets of parents, and soon more family members joined in.
Richard waved Xander over to join the family photos. Buttoning his jacket, Xander glanced at Aurora before heading to the stage. Aurora stayed seated, but a familiar voice sounded from behind her, grasping her attention.
"What are you doing sitting here instead of joining the family photos?"
She turned quickly, recognizing the familiar voice, and looked up to see her aunt, Stephanie. "Aunt Stephanie," she greeted, a trace of surprise on her face. She had thought her Aunt wouldn’t come since she didn’t arrive before the ceremony kicked off, especially after Owen’s scandal that broke the internet.
Stephanie’s gaze slid over to the group on stage, her expression thoughtful. She took a seat beside Aurora, folding her hands elegantly in her lap. "I imagine you’re relieved that Olivia ended up with him in the end," she said.
Aurora didn’t deny it. Pretending was a luxury she rarely indulged in, especially not today. She looked over at the couple on stage and replied, "Olivia got exactly what she deserved. It’s only fair I enjoy this." She raised her brows slightly, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Don’t you agree?"
Stephanie studied her niece for a moment, then gave a small, approving nod. "I can’t argue with that." They sat in comfortable silence for a moment before Stephanie continued. "You were once blind, Aurora, I’m glad you can see now. Let’s see what you can do now"
Aurora watched as Stephanie rose gracefully and strode toward the stage to join in the family photos. Her aunt’s words lingered, heavy with a meaning she couldn’t quite decipher. As she pondered Stephanie’s words, Adam called her name from the stage, motioning for her to join the photos.
Aurora climbed onto the stage, and after a few group shots, turned to leave, but her father reached for her hand, his grip warm and steady. "Dear, let’s take one together," he said with a rare smile. "It’s been a long time since we’ve had a photo together."
Aurora wanted to remind him of the ones they took at the launch of her champagne, but she reconsidered the current strain between them.
She allowed the photographers to capture a few images of her with her father, savouring the unexpected moment. When they were done, she stepped away, nodding to him with a polite smile as the family returned to the main house while the guests moved to the west wing for the reception, their chatter filling the air.
The reception hall was beautifully arranged, with tables draped in soft linens and adorned with fresh flowers. Polished dinnerware caught the light from elegant chandeliers, adding a gentle glow to the room.
A breeze carried in the scent of the sea through open doors, filling the hall as guests took their seats. The band began to play, the atmosphere carefully arranged to mask any strain or tension beneath the celebration’s polished covering.
Olivia quietly returned to her room with her mother to rest and prepare for her reception dress change. Meanwhile, Adam caught Stephanie’s attention, signalling her to step aside.
"I know you said there was something important to discuss," Stephanie said, a curious edge to her tone as she walked beside him. "But you have a reception to attend, don’t you?"
"This can’t wait," Adam replied with a quiet urgency, his face resolute. "The guests can carry on for a few minutes."
They continued in silence down the hallway until they reached his study, where Adam paused, opening the door and gesturing her inside. With a resigned shrug, Stephanie stepped inside, and Adam followed, closing the door softly behind them.
Chapter 77: Stella’s Bait
As soon as Olivia and her mother stepped into her bedroom, Stella closed the door behind them and turned to her daughter, her brows furrowed with irritation. The silence in the room was thick, broken only by the faint murmur of music from the reception at the other wing of the house.
Stella’s sharp gaze fixed on Olivia, her voice low but piercing as she spoke. "What were you thinking with that vow, Olivia?" she demanded, crossing her arms tightly. "Do you have any idea how you embarrassed our family in front of those guests?"
Olivia’s lips tightened as she turned away, giving a dismissive shrug. "I didn’t embarrass anyone, Mum," she replied, her tone flat.
Stella’s eyes narrowed. "Oh, really? And you think our guests are fools who wouldn’t understand the meaning behind your words? Most of them must have seen that article about Owen by now, so I have no doubt they caught on quickly to the real message in your vow."
Olivia’s silence spoke louder than words. She glanced at her mother from the corner of her eye, her posture stiffening as she looked away again, refusing to engage. Stella shook her head, her disapproval weighing heavily in the air.
"Your attitude is reckless, Olivia," Stella continued, her tone more severe. "Do you realize that stunts like that make us look small in the eyes of the other powerful families? Our reputation doesn’t end with you and Owen—it affects all of us."
Olivia let out a huff, her arms folding across her chest. "Well, someone had to get back at him for what he did. No one else seemed willing to help me with that, so I did it myself."
A small, knowing smile crept onto Stella’s face. She leaned in, her voice dropping to a murmur. "And what makes you think no one avenged you?"
Olivia’s eyes narrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"If I didn’t care about what happened to you, do you think Owen wouldn’t have come alone yesterday instead of with his parents?" Stella’s gaze darkened, a hint of pride in her tone as she watched Olivia absorb her words.
For a long moment, Olivia was silent, processing her mother’s statement. Then she tilted her head slightly, her curiosity piqued. "What did you do to him?"
A sly smile curved Stella’s lips as she replied, "I sent a few men to teach him a lesson. Nothing he would be proud to report of course."
The disbelief in Olivia’s eyes quickly turned to admiration, though she tried to hide it. "You... you actually did that?"
"Of course," Stella said, unfazed. "No one crosses my daughter and walks away unscathed."
Olivia’s face softened for a moment before her mother’s expression shifted, more serious now as she issued her warning. "But Olivia, remember this—you can’t take your revenge out in the open like you did earlier. Do you want to make a mockery of our family?"
Olivia’s gaze dropped slightly, her jaw tensing as Stella continued, "If you want to keep your dignity and control, you have to learn to move quietly, without announcing your every intention. That’s how you stay one step ahead."
Olivia nodded, and a faint sense of calm settled over her. She knew her mother was right, even if she resented hearing it. Just then, a knock on the door broke the tension, and Olivia’s team entered to get her ready for the reception. Stella slipped out with a final approving nod, leaving her daughter in their capable hands.
The stylists worked swiftly, changing Olivia’s look with practised ease. Her hair was let down into loose waves that cascaded down her back, while a fresh layer of makeup brightened her features. When they helped her into the red ball gown, Olivia felt every bit the star, its rich crimson hue perfectly complementing her skin as it swayed with each step.
An hour later, Olivia descended the staircase and walked down the long hallway connecting to the East Wing making a grand entrance into the hall, where a wave of applause rose to greet her.
The guests turned to watch, enchanted by her radiant appearance, while Owen stood near the dance floor, his expression unreadable as she approached.
The soft notes of a waltz began to play immediately, signalling the first dance. Without speaking, Olivia took Owen’s hand, letting him lead her across the floor, his hands firm around her waist.
Owen tried a few times to catch her eye and start up a light conversation, but she kept her gaze fixed elsewhere, forcing a polite smile as they swayed in rhythm. It was as though a glass wall separated them—close in proximity, yet distant in every other way.
As the dance ended, they turned to the crowd, a smattering of polite claps echoing around them. The master of ceremonies raised his glass to announce a toast, and the guests followed suit, raising their glasses high.
When the toast concluded, Owen and Olivia linked arms and began moving from table to table, offering pleasantries and polite smiles as they clinked champagne glasses with the guests.
Stella had been meticulous with the reception’s arrangements, and only Vintage Cella’s exclusive champagne was served—a subtle jab at Aurora, whose Fruit Punch Champagne was notably absent, a choice overseen by Stella herself.
As Olivia moved through the room, offering forced smiles and empty words, she suddenly caught sight of a familiar face lingering in the back of the hall—Victor, the notorious playboy. A wave of annoyance crossed her face, and her smile faded instantly. Owen, noticing the change, leaned in with a puzzled expression.
"What’s wrong?" he murmured, but she simply handed her champagne flute to him and slipped away, ignoring his question entirely.
Olivia found her mother chatting with a few friends and pulled her aside to the balcony, her displeasure clear. "Mum, what’s that playboy doing here?" she hissed, gesturing back toward the hall. "Why would you invite someone like Victor to my wedding? Are you trying to ruin it?"
Stella glanced at her daughter calmly, unruffled by her outburst. "Calm down, Olivia. I have my reasons. Victor’s presence here is for a purpose."
Olivia arched a brow sceptically, crossing her arms. "What reason could possibly justify him being here of all places?"
Stella leaned in, lowering her voice. "Relax, I invited him here to use him as bait to lure the man behind your sister out. If Aurora doesn’t remember Victor’s face at all, surely that man who saved her on the night of your engagement would recognize him and confront him. But if that man doesn’t recognize him first, Victor will."
The explanation did little to ease Olivia’s frustration. "You’re certain this won’t cause us any trouble?"
Stella’s expression softened into a confident smile. "Trust me, Olivia. I’ve thought this through. We’re safe. The only thing you should worry about is your father accidentally spilling the secret about Aurora’s biological father. He nearly did so earlier, and if I hadn’t interrupted, your sister would have his name by now."
"What? He almost told her?" Olivia’s eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. "Mum, Aurora had indeed come to find out about her biological father’s identity because Dad had finally agreed to give the information. We can’t let them be alone."
"I won’t," Stella promised, her eyes narrowing into splints.
Chapter 78: Stumbling Upon a Payback Opportunity
Owen spotted Olivia as she stepped back into the hall and approached her with a glass of champagne. "Where have you been?" he asked, offering her the glass.
Olivia took it with a cold smile, her tone dismissive as her hand tightened around the stem. "You’ve lost the right to ask me that."
Without another word, she tried to walk past him, but Owen caught her arm, his grip firm. He leaned in close, his expression neutral but his tone mocking. "All this because I made one mistake?"
Her gaze held his, barely concealing her fury. "Not one mistake, Owen. But it’s because you chose a significant night—and my best friend—to shatter what we had."
Owen clenched his jaw, his tone sharpening as his grip tightened. "I told you, I drank too much. I wasn’t thinking clearly. But I’m already paying the price. My conscience has been eating me up, Olivia. Do you really need to punish me more?"
Olivia’s lips twisted into a cruel smile as she yanked her arm free. "Oh, I’ll punish you until I’m satisfied, and let me make this clear—I may never forgive you."
Owen’s face hardened, his voice rising despite the guests glancing their way. "Then why did you go through with the wedding if you hate me so much? You should’ve called it off instead of acting like this!"
Olivia glanced around, catching the attention they were drawing, then pulled him toward the balcony, letting her facade drop as they reached the secluded area. "Did you think I wanted this?" Her voice was a fierce whisper. "My parents wouldn’t let me call it off, and that’s why we’re here. So don’t expect any second chances, because there is no ’us.’"
Owen’s mouth twisted into a bitter smile, his eyes glinting with resentment. "If I’d known how completely unforgiving you’d be, I would have thought twice before leaving your sister for you."
"Let’s be honest, Owen," she sneered, voice cold. "You didn’t leave her because you loved me. You left her because I told you she wasn’t my father’s biological daughter. You couldn’t wait to dump a ’fake heiress’ for the real deal."
Owen’s expression darkened, his voice now laced with contempt. "Now that I see the kind of person you really are, I’ve lost any desire for you. A woman who’d steal her sister’s boyfriend out of petty jealousy is vile."
Olivia straightened, her gaze unyielding. "And a man who would betray his fiancée with her best friend deserves nothing but contempt," she shot back, her voice icy.
Owen’s fists clenched, and he leaned in close, his eyes narrowing. "At least I can admit my mistakes. But you? I wonder if your father knows how you and your mother have tried to ruin Aurora’s champagne brand."
Her face paled, as his threat registered. She pointed a shaking finger at him. "If you ever try to use that against me, I will make you regret it. Mark my words. You should know me better than to mess with me."
Olivia spoke with the confidence she had in her mother. If Owen dared to expose her, she would immediately ask her mother to deal with him. After all, the hate from the disgrace, betrayal and embarrassment he caused her was still burning wildly in her chest. So, he shouldn’t even think of messing with her.
Owen chuckled, stepping back. "Do you think I have time to play your dirty games? Remember, you drew the line today. I won’t touch you from this day forward and I don’t care what you do from here on out. Have all the fun you want with whoever you want." His tone sharpened, each word like a dagger.
"I simply don’t give a fuck. Just know that you are worth nothing more to me. After all, you are cheap enough to use your body to get what you want. The only slight difference between you and the regular slut out there is that you are a heiress of a million-dollar empire."
Olivia’s face flushed with anger, her eyes wet with fury as she lifted a hand to strike him, but he caught her wrist mid-air.
"Don’t even think about it," he warned, his voice as hard as stone. "And don’t forget, I’ll return every bit of affection you show me. A hundred-fold."
He let her hand fall, adjusted his suit with a mocking smile, and turned to leave. "We should get back. Wouldn’t want our guests worrying, now would we? Or better still, you can stay here for a few more minutes to catch your breath."
Olivia clenched her fists, watching as he disappeared through the door with a self-satisfied wink. "Bastard," she muttered, turning to face the breeze in a desperate attempt to cool her rage.
She hadn’t thought that her relationship with Owen would crumble so fast, yet here she was, her marriage fractured beyond repair within minutes. Puffing out a sigh, she dusted her dress and left the balcony to return to the hall.
Unbeknownst to Olivia, a shadowy figure slipped out from a hidden alcove. Casey, phone in hand, tapped the screen to save the recording of the entire confrontation, a small, sinister smile curving her lips before she stowed her phone back in her purse.
Casey smirked as she watched the entrance back to the hall, murmuring to herself, "Well, I didn’t expect to stumble upon a gem like this, all from stepping out for a bit of air."
The bitter satisfaction she felt was undeniable. After Olivia had slapped her in front of Owen and that popular social media influencer, Susu, at her bachelorette party and stripped her of her chief bridesmaid duties, Casey had been seething with resentment.
Olivia’s cold indifference and blatant flaunting with their circle only added fuel to the fire burning in Casey’s heart. She’d wanted payback, and now the perfect opportunity had practically fallen into her lap.
"Olivia," she whispered with a glint of malice, "I wonder how you’ll feel when your own sister and I team up to bring you down."
Chapter 79: Beat Him To A Pulp
At Xander and Asher’s table, Asher’s gaze moved across the room, habitually observing his surroundings as he took in the elegant setup and glittering crowd. But a certain figure caught his eye—Victor, sipping his champagne, his focus unwavering as he stared across the tables.
Following his line of sight, Asher was surprised to realize that Victor’s gaze was locked on none other than Aurora.
With a quick nudge to Xander, Asher leaned over. "Looks like you’ve got some competition," he murmured, his tone light but meaningful.
Xander’s brows knitted. "Competition? From who?"
Asher inclined his head subtly toward Victor. "That troublemaker, Victor. He hasn’t taken his eyes off your wife for a while."
Xander’s gaze followed, darkening as it landed on Victor, who sat a few rows back with his champagne glass raised.
"I didn’t know the Swift family kept company with people like him," Asher muttered under his breath.
"It’s not the entire family," Xander corrected, still watching Victor. "It’s just Stella. She’s had her hand in his schemes for a while now." Then, with a low tone, he filled Asher in on what Victor had done to Aurora during Olivia and Owen’s engagement, ending with Stella’s involvement in an "accident" that nearly took Victor out after his failure.
Asher shook his head, disbelief flickering in his eyes. "Is she really not worried that Aurora might recognize him and go after him?"
Xander shook his head. "I doubt she remembers him clearly from that night. She was drugged and disoriented."
He pulled out his phone, typing quickly before sending it to Aurora "Do you remember the man from that night at your sister’s engagement? Could you identify him now?"
Aurora, distracted by the performance on stage, noticed her phone light up. Reading Xander’s message, she furrowed her brows before replying, "No. Is he here?" She began scanning the room, and Xander shot her a reply. "Yes, but don’t look around. Stay put, and don’t come to our table until I give the all-clear."
Aurora glanced down, her hand tightening slightly as she obeyed his instructions. But curiosity gnawed at her. "Can I at least see what he looks like?" she texted back.
With a resigned sigh, Xander turned to Asher. "I need you to get a photo of Victor and send it to my wife."
Asher raised a brow, clearly less than enthusiastic. "You really want me to take a picture of that guy?"
"However you get it done, just make it happen," Xander replied firmly, passing the task to his friend, simply because he didn’t want to do it himself.
Shaking his head with a grin, Asher found a recent photo of Victor online and sent it to Aurora with a single caption: "Victor PLAYBOY."
When Aurora opened the image, her eyes widened in shock, instantly recognizing Victor from their unexpected elevator encounter at the hospital. Her mind raced, piecing things together as she realized she’d unwittingly come face-to-face with the man who had attacked her.
Her fists clenched as the full weight of the situation settled over her. She had been right there, side by side with her assaulter, unaware, and her stepmother had knowingly invited him here. "Damn... what a fool I was to think my warning scared her," she muttered, anger flaring in her eyes.
Meanwhile, back at the table, Asher took another look at Victor, who was still fixed on Aurora, oblivious to the consequences brewing. Asher leaned back, his voice low. "Are you going to let him keep staring at your wife, or are you going to do something about it?"
A calculating look settled on Xander’s face as he considered his options. "I want you to take care of him," he finally said. "Get him out of here. Beat him to a pulp. Find out what Stella’s plan for him is. Then, show him the evidence of her involvement in his accident. Make it clear he works for us now. I want to know every detail she shares with him—if he values his life."
Asher arched a brow and reached for a macaroon on his plate. "Evidence, huh? You have proof of Stella’s involvement in his accident?" He stuffed the yellow cookie into his mouth without taking his gaze off his best friend.
Xander nodded, pulling out his phone. "I’ll have Liam send it to you."
Xander had originally planned to go after Victor himself after learning about the incident with Aurora, but his team’s report had shown that someone else had beaten him to it. Following their investigation, Xander discovered the accident had been orchestrated by none other than Stella, desperate to cover her tracks after Victor failed his task.
Twenty minutes later, Victor’s phone buzzed, pulling his gaze off Aurora at last. His brow furrowed as he scanned the message along with the photos of the ruins.
"Your vacation home has been reduced to ashes, along with your ’pride and joy’—the yellow convertible."
The words struck him like a blow. That home, hidden in the dense woods of Wing City, had been his sanctuary—an ultra-modern escape adorned with lavish comforts with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the private forest view was nothing but ash. And with it, his beloved yellow sports car, the one that turned heads all over the city, had also been reduced to a pile of charred metal.
Fury boiled inside him, washing away any desire to remain at the party. Without missing a beat, he scribbled a note on a napkin, folded it, and flagged down a waiter. "Deliver this to Mrs. Stella Swift. No one else," he ordered discreetly, slipping a generous tip into the waiter’s hand before swiftly vanishing from the venue.
Noticing Victor’s abrupt exit, Asher smirked and leaned back toward Xander. "My men are on it. Sit back and relax. We’ll get good news soon."
Xander nodded, his gaze unwavering as he pulled out his phone to message Aurora. "Sweetheart, you can come to our table anytime. I have handled that fool."
A few moments later, Stella was handed the note. She unfolded it, her expression tightening as she read Victor’s scrawled message: "An emergency called me away. I will complete the mission another time."
Her fingers clenched around the note, crumpling it before slipping it into her purse, a cold glint in her eyes. "Idiot," she muttered under her breath. What happened to a simple text message?
Before her frustration could settle, the hall doors opened to admit a new arrival. The guest’s powerful presence immediately captured the attention of everyone in the room, necks craning and whispers rippling through the crowd.
Stella’s demeanour shifted instantly, her eyes lighting up with a thrill as she rose quickly to greet him, her face arranged into a warm, eager smile.
Not far off, Xander and Asher observed the scene, their brows furrowing as they recognized the man Stella was so enthusiastically greeting.
"How does Stella Swift know the Major?" Asher muttered, curiosity and suspicion lacing his tone.
Chapter 80: An Open Confrontation
Xander’s gaze hardened as he watched Stella fawn over the Major from across the room. "We will need answers when we meet him ourselves."
Asher huffed, folding his arms. "That woman is bad news, and anyone close to her can’t be any different." He shot Xander a knowing look. "Let me handle the questioning."
Meanwhile, two tables over, Adam’s eyes followed Stella’s movements, noting the Major’s arrival and the warmth in Stella’s greeting. His face darkened. Stephanie noticed his shift and glanced in the same direction just in time to see Stella and the Major walking over.
"Adam, about what we discussed in—" Stephanie began, but Adam silenced her with a stern look. "Whatever we talked about in my study stays there."
Stephanie met his gaze, offering a slow nod. "Understood. We will continue the conversation later."
Adam didn’t respond, his eyes never leaving Stella as she led the Major closer. He rose to his feet with Stephanie, donning a polite smile as Stella and the Major finally reached them.
"Thank you for coming to my daughter’s wedding, Major," Adam greeted him, extending his right hand.
"No need for the formalities," the Major replied, shaking his hand firmly.
Stephanie stepped forward with a polite smile, thanking him for his presence as they shook her hands. Then her gaze darted between him and Stella as she remarked, "I had no idea that someone of your rank was personally acquainted with the Swift family. It’s really an honour."
The Major’s gaze held Adam’s for a beat longer than necessary before he replied, "Stella did me a great favour a few years back. I’m here out of gratitude."
Adam’s gaze flickered to Stella, who kept her expression carefully neutral, offering nothing. "Strange," he said lightly, "My wife never mentioned it."
Stella quickly interjected, her tone nonchalant. "I didn’t think it was important enough to mention." Her smile remained fixed as she subtly directed the conversation elsewhere, cutting off any further questions from Adam before he would drag the situation out of hand with that temper of his.
Stella gestured for the Major to take a seat with them, but he politely declined. "I’ll join some acquaintances at the Scott family’s table for a bit," he said. "Just to say hello before I leave."
Stella’s smile widened. "That’s fine. I’ll make sure my daughter comes to greet you. She’ll be thrilled." Though clearly disappointed, she nodded and watched him cross the room.
The moment he was out of sight, Adam gripped Stella’s wrist tightly and hissed through clenched teeth, "Come with me." He led her away without another word.
As the Major approached Xander and Asher’s table, both men rose to their feet. They shook his hand instead of saluting, given the public setting. Xander’s older brother, Richard, and his wife exchanged polite pleasantries with the Major before excusing themselves, leaving him alone with Xander and Asher.
Asher poured a fresh glass of champagne and offered it, but the Major didn’t touch it, merely letting it sit in front of him. "Sir," Asher began, his tone casual yet probing, "We didn’t know you were on such good terms with Stella Swift."
The Major’s expression remained unreadable. "She once saved my son Leo’s life after a car accident a few years back," he replied, recognizing their curiosity.
Almost immediately, Xander and Asher exchanged subtle glances.
At that same moment, Aurora who had personally gone to the dessert table to grab herself two blueberry muffins and a pint of yoghurt, was surprised to see the Major at Xander’s table when she came over. She nodded politely at him, and he reciprocated with a nod.
"I brought you both some blueberry muffins," she said, setting the plate down, trying to appear casual and hide the awkwardness. "They’re not too sweet, so you’ll probably like them."
Xander squinted at her slightly, though Asher accepted a muffin with a grin, thanking her. Xander had been about to pull out the chair beside him for her, but seeing her stand back—a subtle indication she planned to return to her table—he decided against it.
He could already understand that she wouldn’t sit with them with the Major at their table.
Aurora turned to the Major. "Would you like something to eat?"
The Major’s stoic aura softened momentarily. "No, thank you. I won’t be staying much longer."
Aurora nodded. "All right, then," she replied, glancing at Xander and Asher one last time before heading back to her table. Spotting her father and stepmother’s absence, she turned to Stephanie. "Where did they go?"
"They stepped away for a private discussion," Stephanie replied, swirling her glass thoughtfully. "But I couldn’t help noticing you’re acquainted with Owen’s uncle."
Aurora glanced back at Xander’s table before looking back at Stephanie. "Yes," she admitted. "He saved me from a bad situation at Olivia and Owen’s engagement party."
"I see..." Stephanie mumbled, her gaze thoughtful as she took another sip.
---
Meanwhile, Adam led Stella down a hallway, his grip on her wrist tense until they were out of sight. Only then did he let go.
"Why invite Major Walker to our daughter’s wedding without telling me?" Adam demanded, his eyes hard.
Stella arched a brow, unfazed. "I wasn’t aware I needed permission to invite guests to my own daughter’s wedding." Internally, she savoured the tension in his gaze, knowing exactly why Major Walker’s presence unnerved him. Elevating her status through such a connection was a perk, but seeing Adam’s discomfort was the true reward.
Ignoring her defiance, Adam fired back, "And I suppose it slipped your mind to tell me about the ’favour’ you did for him?"
Stella’s expression remained disarmingly innocent. "Adam, you’re already overburdened, keeping Vintage Cella successful and making sure your daughters have everything they need. I didn’t want to trouble you with trivial details."
Adam’s eyes narrowed, suspicion clouding his features. He didn’t buy her explanation and knew she was hiding something. "I don’t know what game you’re playing, Stella, but our family shouldn’t have any ties to Major Walker."
Stella lifted her chin defiantly, placing a hand on her hip. "And why is that? You seem overly concerned about this. Are you hiding something about the Major?"