Ch. 81..85: Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire Chapter 81-85
Chapter 81: Striking A Deal
A muscle in Adam’s jaw tightened as he glared at Stella, irritation simmering beneath his gaze. "What sort of nonsense question is that?" His tone cut through the air like a blade.
Stella took a step back, momentarily thrown off by his sudden outburst. She hadn’t expected such a sharp reaction.
"I am the head of this family, Stella," Adam continued, voice laced with cold authority. "What gives you the right to question my decisions?"
Realizing he was on the edge of a full-blown tirade, Stella stayed silent, enduring his scolding without a word. Only when he finally turned on his heel to leave did she dare breathe again. But just as Adam rounded the corner into the main hallway, he collided with a passing waiter. The tray rattled, and a splash of leftover cocktails and champagne drenched his white shirt.
"Can’t you watch where you’re going?" Adam growled, his face twisting into a scowl as the waiter stumbled back, bowing repeatedly, words of apology spilling out. But the apologies did nothing to quell Adam’s anger.
Seeing the commotion, Stella stepped forward and took in the sight of Adam’s now-stained white shirt, entirely splattered in the vibrant colours of spilt drinks. But before she could step in, Adam glowered at the waiter, his tone venomous. "If you can’t do the simplest part of your job, you’re not needed here."
Without another word, he fired the waiter on the spot and stormed off, leaving the waiter gaping in shock.
With a sigh, Stella watched Adam disappear down the hallway, his anger trailing behind him like a dark cloud. She then turned her attention to the unfortunate waiter, who was now crouched on the floor, gathering the shattered glass pieces. "Look at me," she ordered quietly.
The waiter paused, setting down the tray before rising to face her, his expression tense.
Stella studied him for a moment, her eyes sharp. "I have a job for you tonight. Are you interested?"
---
Back at the reception hall, Major Walker leaned closer to Xander, giving him a scrutinizing look. "It appears you’re rather close to that young woman."
"Yes," Xander replied, meeting the Major’s gaze without hesitation. "I rescued her from a dangerous situation her stepmother set her up with a few weeks back. Since then, our connection has grown strong."
Asher stifled a chuckle, glancing away to hide his amusement. Xander had painted Stella in the darkest colours for the Major’s benefit, just so he’d understand the true character of the woman he was associating with.
The Major took the hint, his expression unreadable as he nodded in understanding. After a moment, he checked his wristwatch. "I’ve been here ten minutes too long," he muttered, glancing back to Xander. "I think you have recovered well enough. Come in on Monday. We will need your report on your recent assignment."
"Yes, sir," Xander responded, rising to his feet alongside Asher as they offered their farewells.
Once the Major had left, Asher resumed his seat, picking up a dessert spoon to sample the blueberry muffin Aurora had brought over. "Seems like he got your message loud and clear."
"He’s the Major; he’d better," Xander murmured, his eyes drifting across the room to where Aurora was now leaning in to whisper something to her aunt.
"Aunt Stephanie, I’m just taking a short bathroom break. I’ll be back soon," Aurora murmured before slipping away from the table. She glanced discreetly over at Xander’s table, noting that the Major had indeed left, and caught Xander’s eye with a subtle, reassuring smile before heading toward the restroom.
From the far side of the hall, Casey had been waiting for an opportunity to speak with Aurora privately. Seeing her leave, she quickly followed.
Aurora emerged from a stall in the restroom and approached the sink to wash her hands, only to notice Casey emerging from another stall to stand beside her. "Hello, Aurora," Casey greeted, a pleasant smile fixed on her face.
Aurora caught her reflection in the mirror and nodded curtly, recognizing her as Olivia’s best friend—the one who’d been caught in that compromising photo with Owen. Aurora’s silence spoke volumes, and Casey seemed to pick up on it, though she continued washing her hands, notwithstanding Aurora’s cool demeanour.
As soon as Aurora dried her hands and exited the restroom, Casey rushed after her, calling out, "Aurora, I have something for you." Hearing the unexpected offer, Aurora paused, turning around to meet Casey’s gaze.
Just as this exchange took place, Olivia was on her way to the restroom. Rounding the corner, she stopped short when she heard Casey’s voice addressing Aurora and instinctively stepped back, positioning herself just out of sight to listen.
"You have something for me?" Aurora asked with a touch of doubt, raising an eyebrow. "We have no business together. Are you sure you aren’t mistaken?"
Casey smiled confidently, stepping closer. "No mistake at all. I do have something for you—and I’d like us to strike a deal."
Aurora narrowed her eyes. "I’m not interested in any deal, but if I must hear it, tell me what you have before I consider anything."
Casey nodded, lowering her voice as she opened her purse and took out her phone. "Earlier, I went to the balcony for some air," she explained, her eyes glinting with intent. "While there, I happened to overhear a rather intense argument between Olivia and Owen. They discussed some things... things involving you that I thought you’d want to hear."
Hidden behind the wall, Olivia’s breath hitched as her heart hammered in her chest. Casey had been on the balcony during the argument? She heard everything? A chill of realization washed over her.
Aurora’s expression shifted, hinting at a spark of interest. "What exactly did they say?"
Casey’s gaze was calculating as she continued, "For starters, I recorded the whole confrontation. Olivia revealed exactly why Owen left you and chose her instead. She said something to him—something that pushed him to make that choice. And there’s more."
Aurora’s gaze grew colder as Casey raised her phone, waving it slightly as she dangled the offer in front of her. "This recording could be very useful to you. Imagine your father learning the truth about what Olivia and her mother did... What do you say, Aurora? Do we have a deal?"
Chapter 82: Disrupting the Deal
Aurora held Casey’s gaze, searching her expression. "I thought Olivia was your best friend. Why would you betray her?"
Casey let out a faint, knowing smile, though a flicker of disappointment crossed her face. She had hoped Aurora would jump at the chance to bring Olivia down, but she answered calmly.
"That bond is long gone," she replied with a shrug. "You saw what happened at her bachelorette party. I messed up, sure, but I apologized. Olivia slapped me, refused to forgive me, and even cut me out of her bridal party entirely. And now, she has turned our other friends against me."
Aurora’s eyes narrowed slightly. "So, you’re betraying her over that?"
"It’s not just about that," Casey replied quickly. "Olivia’s not exactly the friend I thought she was. I know I made a mistake, but her punishment was too harsh. So, since she’s done with me, I’ll take the chance to turn things around... and do something that actually matters."
Aurora nodded, weighing her words. "And what do you want from me in return?"
Casey’s eyes sparkled with renewed interest. She leaned in, lowering her voice, but just as she began to speak, a familiar voice cut through the conversation.
"What’s this nonsense about me?" Olivia sneered, stepping out from behind the wall, her face contorted in anger as she walked towards them in quick heavy steps.
The sudden appearance of Olivia made Casey tense, her hand slipping into her bag to hide her phone. She couldn’t tell how much Olivia had overheard, which left her feeling exposed. Meanwhile, Olivia’s gaze flicked to Casey’s bag, then settled on Aurora.
"Is she here, explaining how she snuck around with my fiancé?" Olivia’s voice dripped with venom.
Casey stood her ground, glaring at Olivia. "Why aren’t you with your guests? You’re the bride, yet you’ve been all over the place since the start of this reception. What do you think people will say?"
"Mind your own business!" Olivia snapped, her gaze sliding over to Aurora, her tone softening slightly. "I’m about to cut the wedding cake. Both families are expected on stage."
Aurora cast a glance between the two ex-friends, her expression unreadable as she took in their tension. Without a word, she turned and walked away, indifferent to Casey’s offer. She didn’t care what Olivia might have said to Owen to drive him away from her. But knowing what Olivia and Stella had planned against her? That might hold some value.
As soon as Aurora’s figure disappeared into the hall, Olivia’s gaze zeroed in on Casey. She took a step closer, seething. "What video were you planning to send my sister?"
Casey raised her brows, challenging. "So, you heard our entire conversation. How very sneaky of you."
"Shut up!" Olivia slapped her hard across the face, her voice icy. "You’re the sneaky slut who tried to seduce her best friend’s fiancé."
Casey pressed a hand to her stinging cheek, her gaze darkening as she tasted blood from her lip. "Don’t ever lay a finger on me again, or I’ll return the favour."
"Oh, I’d like to see you try," Olivia hissed before whirling around and stalking back to the hall, her heels clicking against the floor.
Inside the hall, she went straight to her mother and leaned in to murmur about what she had overheard. Stella gave her a reassuring smile, patting the back of her hand. "I’ll handle it," she assured, instantly calming her nerves.
A moment later, Stella discreetly took out her phone and sent a text. As she slipped it back into her clutch, the MC’s voice echoed, announcing the cake-cutting ceremony. Olivia made her way to the stage, joining Owen as he approached from the crowd.
After the cake-cutting, the MC called both families up for photos. Xander seized the opportunity to pose with Aurora, pulling Asher in to join them. Adam, now wearing a freshly pressed suit, noticed and strode up to join the photo, which soon pulled in Stephanie and Owen’s parents as well. Olivia’s gaze darkened, jealousy brewing as she watched them pose together.
"Mum, have you handled Casey? We need that video deleted," Olivia muttered under her breath as she forced a smile for the camera.
Stella leaned in, her tone soothing. "Consider it done. Stop worrying over such trivial things, especially when I’m here. Casey may think she’s clever, but she’s no match for me. And remember next time, don’t air personal matters where anyone can listen."
Olivia managed a genuine smile for the first time in a while. "It’s a shame I didn’t get to meet the Major," she mentioned, changing the conversation.
"You will next time," Stella assured her with a proud smile. "He had a state meeting, but everyone still felt the weight of his presence at your wedding, and that’s all that matters."
---
Meanwhile, Victor was on his way to his secluded villa in the woods, seething as he replayed the news he got.
Just as he approached the final stretch, he was forced to slam on the brakes. A massive tree trunk blocked the road, the heavy branches sprawling across the dirt path. His face twisted with irritation, and he reluctantly got out of the car.
But as he approached the fallen tree, still fuming over the fire that had destroyed his villa, six shadowy figures emerged from the bushes. They moved silently, encircling him.
Victor froze, his eyes darting from one man to the next. "Who are you?" he demanded, stepping back as his pulse quickened. He turned to retreat, but one of the men lunged forward, grabbing his collar and driving a fist into his gut.
Pain exploded through Victor’s torso, and he staggered backwards, only to be met with a punch to the jaw from another man. His vision blurred, and before he could recover, a rough sack was shoved over his head. Disoriented and weakened, he felt his body being dragged across the ground and hoisted into a vehicle’s trunk.
As the car door slammed shut, his muffled shouts and thrashing faded into silence.
Chapter 83: A Shocking Realization
Victor jolted awake as a torrent of icy water splashed across his face, snapping him out of unconsciousness. Gasping, he tried to rise, but his body screamed with pain—his stomach bruised, his jaw throbbing.
Blinking rapidly, he struggled to focus on his surroundings. The dimly lit tent was sparse, and as he stumbled outside, a chill ran down his spine.
The scene before him was worse than any nightmare. Seven hulking men sat around a campfire, guns slung casually at their sides, each of their cold gazes following his every move. He froze, his heart hammering in his chest.
"Finally awake?" one of them sneered, a smirk twisting his lips. He glanced at another man—the one who had punched Victor into oblivion hours before. "Guess you didn’t know your own strength, huh?"
"Serves him right," the other muttered, his gaze locked on Victor with unsettling intensity. Victor felt panic clawing at his chest. These men didn’t look like they were interested in giving him answers. Instead, they looked like they were waiting for something.
Desperately, he weighed his options. If he ran now, maybe he could slip into the dark forest unseen. With his heart in his throat, he bolted toward the tree line. But the moment he took his third step, a bullet whizzed past his face, splintering a tree trunk just inches away.
The sound, muffled by a silencer, made his heart drop. He collapsed onto the ground, paralyzed by fear as he glanced back at the men, who hadn’t even risen from their seats.
One of them chuckled. "What’s the rush?" He stood, along with the others, who moved forward like predators closing in on their prey.
"Who are you people?!" Victor shouted, his voice trembling as he backed away. "What do you want from me?"
"Questions, questions," one of the men mocked as two of them grabbed him roughly by the arms, hauling him back toward the tent. Victor struggled, but it was useless.
Within moments, fists rained down on him, every blow intensifying the pain wracking his body. By the time they were finished, he was slumped on the floor, barely able to hold himself upright, his face swollen and his entire body aching.
One of the men set a folding chair in front of him, and another sat down, looking him over like he was assessing damaged goods. "Tell us, what kind of arrangement do you have with Stella Swift? What’s her game?"
Victor’s lips parted, but his pride flared up despite the pain. "Go to hell," he spat, his voice barely a whisper.
The men exchanged glances, then erupted into laughter. Before he knew what was happening, two of them lifted him up, and another landed a brutal punch to his stomach, forcing a strangled scream from his lips. He gasped for air as he was dumped back on the ground, the pain like fire tearing through him.
The man in the chair leaned in, calm but with a deadly gaze. "I’ll ask again—what’s your arrangement with Stella?"
Victor’s laboured breathing slowed as he tried to gather enough air to speak. His voice came out as a rasp, his will to resist slipping. "She... she wants information on the man who saved her stepdaughter, Aurora, during her daughter’s engagement party. She asked me to report everything I learn about Aurora... and to keep sending her bouquets on Wednesdays."
"Good," the man nodded, barely acknowledging the broken tone of Victor’s confession. He gestured to one of the others, who handed him a tablet. He clicked through it, then held it up to Victor’s face. "Are you aware that Stella plotted your ’accident’? She wanted you dead, plain and simple. Here’s the proof."
The men hauled Victor upright, propping him up so he could look at the screen. His vision blurred, but he saw enough to recognize the details—the emails, the payments, all pointing back to Stella. His face twisted, a flood of disbelief and anger lighting up his bruised eyes. So, she’d tried to get rid of him all along, and still had the guts to use him for her schemes?
The man snatched the tablet away, reaching into his pocket to pull out Victor’s phone. He dialled a number, let it ring, then hung up and tossed it into Victor’s lap. "You’re working for us now," he said with a chilling smile. "You’ll answer on the first ring, and you’ll share every piece of information you get from Stella, down to the smallest detail. Otherwise, you know what’ll happen. The consequences of disobedience or betrayal will be too dire."
Victor nodded numbly, the rims of his eyes red with unshed tears, and his voice came out as a strangled whisper. "I... understand."
His mind swam with both physical and emotional agony. A dark bitterness twisted inside him—he, the powerful, envied socialite of Wing City, was now nothing more than a pawn, forced to spy on another and trade information. How had it come to this?
The man questioning him rose, folding his chair back up as he gave his comrades a nod. "Patch up our new friend’s injuries, feed him, and drive him back to his villa in the woods. He will need a few days to recover."
Victor’s gaze hardened as the realization set in. His villa hadn’t burned down after all. The call he had received, the panic that had led him here—nothing but a trap to pull him into this nightmare he would never forget.
---
After the cake-cutting ceremony, Casey wove through the crowd until she spotted Aurora standing off to the side, her expression unreadable amidst the celebration.
Seizing her chance, Casey approached, flashing a practised smile. "Aurora," she greeted smoothly, voice low. "Have you given any thought to our deal? I’m only asking a small price."
Aurora raised a cool eyebrow. "Oh? And what’s that?"
"$100,000, and I’ll send you the video," Casey replied, her voice shifting with urgency. "I can’t stay in Wing City; Olivia’s made sure of that. I need to leave." She took Aurora’s silence as interest and reached into her purse.
Her fingers fumbled, digging deeper into the bag. Seconds passed, and then her expression shifted to frantic disbelief as she rummaged through every corner.
Her heart sank as reality set in—her phone, her only leverage, was gone. And as for how it disappeared from her bag, she would never be able to tell.
Chapter 84: A Tragic Turn of Events
Aurora’s gaze sharpened as she watched Casey rifling through her purse, panic etched across her face. It took only a moment for Aurora to realize who was likely behind the missing phone. Choosing not to involve herself in the matter, she quietly excused herself, leaving Casey to her frustrations.
With the wedding celebrations winding down, Aurora made her way to Xander’s table. He looked up with a familiar warmth, his fingers finding hers beneath the table as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "You holding up all right?" he asked, concern lacing his gaze.
Aurora sighed, the slightest hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Honestly, I’m more bored than tired," she confessed. Xander’s mouth twitched into a playful smile as he leaned in, lowering his voice.
"Wish I could just kiss you right here," he teased, his gaze softening as he took in her beautiful face.
At this, Asher cleared his throat rather loudly, raising his glass to distract himself. Aurora and Xander exchanged a quick glance before breaking into laughter, the tension of the evening momentarily forgotten.
"Xander, I am likely to spend the night here as I’m yet to speak with my father," Aurora suddenly announced. Though reluctant since he wasn’t expecting this arrangement, Xander agreed. "I will let your father steal you just for tonight. But call me if anything comes up."
"I will," she promised and squeezed his hand one last time before standing to her feet. She bid him and Asher a goodbye before leaving.
---
Across the room, Casey now seething with suspicion, wove through the remaining guests until she reached Olivia and Owen’s table. Without asking, she pulled a chair from a nearby table and set it down at theirs, ignoring their stunned looks.
Olivia’s irritation flared. "What do you think you’re doing here?" she demanded.
Casey raised her champagne flute, forcing a smile. "Just wanted to toast the happy couple," she said, her gaze flicking to Owen, who clinked glasses with her despite Olivia’s glare. He took a sip, hiding a smirk beneath the glass.
"Casey, enough games," Olivia’s jaw clenched "Why are you here?"
Casey’s smile faded as she looked straight at Olivia. "I want my phone."
Feigning innocence, Olivia raised an eyebrow. "Your phone? Why would I have it?"
Ignoring Olivia’s pretence, Casey turned to Owen. "Olivia walked in on me talking to Aurora earlier—I was going to give her some... evidence against Olivia, and suddenly my phone has gone missing. Coincidence? I don’t think so." She shot Olivia a withering look. "You took it, didn’t you?"
Olivia sneered. "Maybe you should be more careful with your things if they’re that important to you."
Casey smirked, glancing back at Owen, her voice low and edged with sarcasm. "Good choice distancing yourself from her, Owen. You’ll be glad you did." Then her gaze lingered on Olivia for a moment, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "Retribution always finds its way," she said before walking away.
"As expected of you, always at the right places at the right time," Owen said in a mocking tone after Casey was gone.
Olivia frowned at him. "Is that supposed to be a praise or what?" Owen scoffed, completely ignoring her.
Minutes later, Olivia and Owen kept up appearances, sending off the last of their guests with smiles. Meanwhile, Aurora approached Adam as he rounded off a conversation with an acquittance.
"Dad, I have been patient enough and waited until the end of Olivia’s wedding. Now, I need the truth," she said to him, her gaze resolute.
A deep sigh escaped Adam’s lips. He knew he couldn’t get away from her now or feed her with any more excuses, so he led the way out of the hall.
"Come with me, we will talk in my study," he said to her as they took the hallway connecting the East Wing to the main house, but unknown to them, a shadowy figure was trailing behind them.
"Like I said to you before," Adam said, starting a conversation. "Your mother made me hide the truth from you to protect you after your father became a dangerous person, and both of your safeties were threatened."
Just then, they arrived at the study. Adam shut the door and led Aurora to the sitting area before gesturing for her to sit down before continuing their conversation.
Adam drew a deep breath, his gaze softening as he regarded Aurora with a mixture of regret and sorrow. "Before I hand over what’s left of your childhood—things your mother wanted kept hidden—I need you to understand something." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Your father... he had another family."
Aurora’s heart pounded, her mind racing with questions. "Was my mother... his mistress?" She dared to ask.
Adam’s silence confirmed it, and Aurora felt her knees weaken, thankfully, she was already sitting otherwise, her knees would have buckled.
"She loved him, Aurora," Adam whispered, assuring her that her mother wasn’t a villain. "They truly cared for each other."
Aurora barely registered his words, her mind spinning. "She broke up another family," she murmured, a bitter edge to her voice. "No wonder Stella has never said anything good about her."
Adam’s brows furrowed slightly. "Stella... she doesn’t know about your background."
"Yes, she does!" Aurora snapped. "Olivia even hinted at that you weren’t my biological father some weeks back. I’m sure they know everything." Her voice was steady but edged with quiet fury.
Suddenly, Adam realized something as he thought back to how Stella invited the Major to Olivia’s party tonight, and it finally dawned on him that she knew everything from the start and that her actions had been deliberate.
Just as Adam pondered and wondered when and how Stella found out about those things, the door creaked open as a shadow fell across the doorway.
A man in a waiter’s uniform stepped inside, and Adam immediately recognized him as the one who had spilt drinks on him earlier. "What are you doing here?" he demanded, irritation sharpening his tone. But then he noticed the man pulling a gun from his pocket, aiming it at Aurora.
"Get down!" Adam shouted, lunging forward and pulling Aurora from her chair as the gun fired. The bullet tore into the couch, missing her by inches.
Aurora screamed, ducking as the man stepped closer, aiming again. Adam threw himself in front of her, shielding her with his body as a second shot rang out, this time hitting his side. He grunted in pain, face contorting, but he didn’t budge, determined to protect her.
The assailant stepped forward, firing again. The shot hit Adam in the back, his body jerking as he shielded Aurora. She gasped, clutching her father’s arm as he collapsed against her, his breath ragged and shallow.
"Dad, no—" Aurora choked, trying to steady him as his blood began to seep onto her hands, her terror mounting.
Chapter 85: Thrown Into Unexpected Mourning
The waiter levelled his gaze at Aurora and aimed once more, but the sound of hurried footsteps outside the study door broke his focus. Swearing under his breath, he retreated into the shadows before slipping out the door.
"Stay with me," Aurora whispered, her voice trembling, as she held Adam close. She pressed his wound, desperate to keep him conscious.
Two bodyguards rushed into the study, their faces grim as they assessed the scene. One knelt beside Adam, checking for a pulse, while the other swiftly pulled out his phone to call an ambulance.
Aurora looked up at them, her voice trembling. "Is he...is my father going to be okay?"
The bodyguard’s silence spoke volumes. He couldn’t meet her eyes, only shaking his head as he continued to check Adam’s vitals, the bleakness in his expression confirming Aurora’s worst fears.
Meanwhile, panic rippled through the few remaining guests in the hall as distant gunshots echoed from the main house. Olivia, with wide eyes, looked at her mother, clutching her arm. "Mom, what’s happening?" she whispered, her voice laced with fear.
Stella’s gaze was just as alarmed, though she kept her tone even, masking her rising dread. "I don’t know. Let’s see," she replied, leading Olivia and the others toward the source of the disturbance. Owen followed, his face etched with confusion and concern.
At the same time, Xander and Asher’s car was just exiting the Swift estate when the sounds of gunfire reached them. They exchanged a tense look, and Xander immediately instructed his driver to turn around. "Back to the house, now," he ordered, while Asher pulled out his phone, quickly dialling the police.
As their car approached, they saw the Swift family’s black-suited bodyguards rushing toward the main building. Xander’s heart sank, an unsettling sense of dread forming in his stomach.
---
Several minutes later, flashing red and blue lights filled the driveway as an ambulance and four police vehicles pulled up outside the Swift mansion. Officers moved swiftly to secure the area, blocking any attempts by guests to leave.
In the hallway, paramedics emerged from the study, carrying Adam’s body on a stretcher, a white cloth draped over him. Aurora was left kneeling in a bloodstained dress, her hands and arms smeared with crimson red, trembling as she gazed at the spot where she’d last held her father.
Xander spotted her from across the room. Without a second thought, he crossed the distance, kneeling beside her in the pool of blood. Gently, he lifted her, guiding her to a nearby couch, not caring about the blood that now stained his suit. He held her close, his embrace firm yet tender as she buried her face against his chest.
"M-My dad...Xander," she sobbed, clutching his jacket. "He’s...he’s gone. That waiter, he...he killed him." Her voice was choked, barely audible through the tears that streamed down her face.
Xander stroked her back, his own expression shadowed with grief as he whispered reassurances, though he knew nothing he said could ease her pain. He tightened his hold on her, his heart breaking as he felt her shaking in his arms uncontrollably.
Across the hall, Stella froze as she caught sight of Adam’s lifeless form on the stretcher. Her eyes widened, her face paling in shock. "Adam, no! No! This can’t be happening!" She sank to her knees, reaching out as if she could pull him back, her cries filling the air. "My husband!"
Servants rushed forward, holding her back as she struggled against them, her sobs mingling with the disbelieving murmurs of the household staff. Meanwhile, Olivia’s face turned ashen. The weight of realization hit her like a blow, and she fainted on the spot.
A nearby guest caught her, and she was swiftly carried out by two attendants, while Stephanie, her face wet with tears, followed the paramedics outside, her hand clasped over her mouth to stifle her cries.
Once the scene had calmed, Xander guided a still-shaken Aurora to the sitting room where the remaining family members waited with the police. The detective offered her a sombre nod, his tone gentle. "Miss Aurora, I’m deeply sorry for your loss. Could you...could you tell us what happened?"
Taking a deep, unsteady breath, Aurora struggled to collect herself. With Xander’s steady hand on her back, she began to recount the events, her voice breaking as she described how the waiter had aimed his gun at her and how Adam had shielded her, taking the bullets meant for her. "My dad died...saving me," she finished, her words dissolving into a fresh wave of grief.
Stella’s head snapped up, her face streaked with tears, anger flickering in her gaze. "You killed him!" she shouted, rising to her feet, her voice filled with venom. "After everything he did for you—!"
"Ma’am," the detective interjected firmly, glancing at her with a stern look. "Please, quiet down."
Xander’s jaw clenched, his hand continuing to rub Aurora’s back in quiet support as he levelled a fierce glare at Stella, who shrank back under his icy stare.
Just then, another officer entered the room, approaching the detective with urgency. "Sir, we’ve apprehended the suspect. He was trying to escape."
The detective’s expression turned grim. "Bring him in."
Moments later, the waiter was dragged into the sitting room by two officers. His head hung low, his uniform stained with sweat and dirt from his attempted flight. Stella’s eyes darkened with rage, and before anyone could react, she lunged forward, clawing at him, her fists striking his chest as she screamed, "Why did you kill my husband? Tell me!"
The officers quickly restrained her, pulling her back. The detective took a steadying breath, then turned to Aurora. "Miss Aurora, can you confirm—is this the man who attacked you and your father?"
Aurora’s eyes locked onto the waiter, her face going pale, but she nodded. "Yes. He...he’s the one."
The detective gave a curt nod. "Take him away." He turned to two other officers nearby. "Escort the remaining guests out, and take the catering staff to the station for questioning."
Finally, the detective approached Stephanie, who had been watching in silence, her face streaked with grief. "Ma’am, please accept our condolences," he said, his voice gentle. "We’ll need you to come to the station tomorrow with your lawyer and the rest of the family to make a formal statement."
Stephanie nodded, barely finding her voice. "Please...keep the cause of his death private. For our family’s dignity and reputation."
"We’ll do our best," the detective promised. "But I can’t guarantee others won’t speak."
She nodded, understanding the limitations, and watched in silence as the police filed out, leaving behind a shattered family.