After news of Catherine and Svarga's wedding plans spread across the country, Arsila's face became a trending topic in various news outlets. Arsila wasn't a small-time businesswoman; she was equally influential as Svarga, though not on the same level as Catherine.Arsila's reckless behaviour at the bakery sparked heated discussions among many, including her hitting Svarga, slapping Catherine, and firing her. This led Arsila to face criticism and pressure to apologize to the victims."This is insane!" Dhira exclaimed, her eyes turning towards Catherine, who was reading a book in the corner of the room. "You're really daring, Catherine."Catherine merely smiled faintly. "I hate it when she calls me an adopted child. It must be Keenan who told her that, because during our marriage, neither Keenan nor his family ever knew mine."Dhira shook her head in amazement. "Now tell me, what's your next move?"Catherine closed the book and then looked out the window of the room. Her brown eyes scan
"Sit down, dear," Jericho insisted.Dinner continued, with food prepared for Svarga and Catherine upon Noel's prior order before the soon-to-be-married couple arrived."We heard about Arsila attacking both of you at Louvre. Her actions were truly shameful, and now she's clarifying and apologizing. She slandered you by saying you were an adopted child of the Chandara family and a lowly widow," Samantha said, instantly tensing Catherine's body."So, they don't believe that I am indeed a widow?" Catherine thought to herself."Don't worry, dear. We don't easily believe in instigation and baseless news like that. Your parents said you went to America for years to study at a modeling school, and you've proven it now. You're a professional with millions of fans," Jericho reassured her.Catherine looked at her parents, noticing their slightly anxious expressions, yet it seemed they were prompting Catherine to follow along with the drama they were creating."Thank you. I'm glad you weren't swa
The wedding, which was held on such short notice, was surprisingly simple considering it was between two wealthy families. Only important guests, family, and famous field dignitaries attended the event."Mama, I'm nervous," said Catherine, repeatedly taking deep breaths."Calm down, dear. Everything will go smoothly today," replied Keira."Where's Papa?""Papa is in the waiting room, busy applying a cold compress to his swollen eyes because he's been crying about your wedding.""Mama, this isn't my first wedding—""But it is the first wedding for Mama and Papa."Catherine sighed, her heart still unsettled. Today was not a day of happiness for her because marrying Svarga resulted from a formal agreement they had both agreed upon, and she was determined not to develop any feelings for the man.Catherine had never asked or considered how Svarga felt about her. She hoped that Svarga felt the same way she did about the wedding. She hoped Svarga had no expectations for her.Catherine wanted
Catherine moved slowly, her eyes squinting as she surveyed her surroundings. "Mama," she called out when she saw Keira asleep beside the bed."Cath, you're awake?!" Keira's eyes opened spontaneously upon hearing her daughter's voice."How long have I been here? Where is Svarga?" Catherine asked, quickly sitting up."Dear, are you feeling better now?"Catherine tried to remember what had happened to her, how long she had been unconscious in that room, what had occurred after everything went dark and she fainted. The only thing Catherine could recall was the voice of her ex-husband, that made her entire body ache."My medicine... Dhira keeps my medicine. Did she bring it for me?"Keira felt a pang of guilt hearing her daughter's words. She cursed herself for not knowing that her daughter was still taking medication. She then hugged Catherine, whispering apologies."Your father and I have failed as parents," Keira said. "We were too late to realize your suffering all this time, too busy
"I'm sure someone set us up," Svarga said. "That person deliberately made us fall asleep together there."Catherine didn't respond. Svarga and Dhira were still at fault to her, trap or not. Besides, Dhira hadn't said anything, and there was no clarification to defend himself. That meant the incident happened purely because they were driven by mutual desire.Catherine could understand if they had sex. Dhira was much closer to Svarga than she was; even behind the scenes, Dhira interacted more with people at the agency. An adult relationship like that was no longer an extended taboo if they wanted to do it. Dhira had his own life, and Catherine didn't need to control him about it. However, what was very unfortunate was that the careless act happened right before Catherine's eyes, as witnessed on her wedding day.Why didn't they do it another day if they wanted to do it? Had Dhira and Svarga harboured feelings for each other all this time and thought tonight was their last night together?
Keenan raised both hands, a sly smile accompanying his bowing farewell as his steps grew farther away. Catherine took a deep breath, her head turning to observe the people around her. They stared with curiosity, whispered, and some even recorded the incident without permission."Cath, let's get out of here," Svarga whispered while helping her from the ballroom area.Catherine walked weakly, and Svarga swiftly carried her bridal style, pressed the elevator button, and entered the room prepared for them on the sixth floor.Svarga gently placed his wife on the soft sofa, removing her heels, crown, and accessories."Cry…." Svarga said.Moments later, Catherine cried loudly like a child abandoned in a quiet, dark place. Her chest heaved, and her throat and tongue choked repeatedly because of the intense sobs she had been holding back.Svarga quickly embraced her gently, his hands moving to stroke her bare back, and his lips kissed the top of her head with affection. Without realizing it, t
Biana laughed hard at every story that came out of Arsila's mouth. She laughed at the damage her children and in-laws caused at Catherine and Svarga's wedding."I am increasingly convinced that Catherine will be severely punished for all the falsehoods she has committed. She has used the Chandra family name and humiliated the family that raised and trusted her.""Not only that, but her new husband's family will also trample on her dignity. Ah, Catherine... she should have just died long ago rather than living as a parasite on others," Arsila said passionately."You're really clever, Arsila. After this incident... we don't need to worry about anything anymore because there is no longer that wretched woman threatening our lives using the Chandra name as a shield.""That crazy woman is truly desperate. Who knows whom she sold her body to just to elevate her own status, but trash remains trash!" Biana cursed while imagining Catherine's sad face in the past.Keenan arrived with a bottle of
Before opening the attachment, Svarga scrutinized the unfamiliar email address. The domain wasn't even domestic; it looked like an illegally purchased domain used for private and confidential purposes."Is this a scammer?" Svarga wondered, but he downloaded and opened the attachment containing around 25 pages anyway. He was utterly shocked, leaping from his chair upon seeing the attachment's contents.Svarga clutched his head, covered his mouth, clutched his head again, and covered his mouth again, pacing back and forth with his mouth wide open, almost screaming."Oh God, the universe truly protects good-hearted and sincere people," Svarga whispered. He approached Catherine, who was sound asleep, and stole a quick kiss from her forehead.The document contained complete information they needed about Keenan's past crimes, including the corruption case Jericho mentioned earlier. Whoever sent the document had signed it anonymously as Asasemation in the bottom right corner of each page."W
After three days of being hospitalized, Keanu was allowed to go home. The doctor also provided several therapy schedules to ensure he received optimal care until his shoulder was fully healed.As for the house gifted to him, Charlotte and Jarvey gave Keanu a house in Les Halles and another to Karletta in Louvre so she could be closer to Glass Glory for her work.On Charlotte’s advice, Devon accepted Keanu as his business partner. He had known Keanu for a long time and recognized his integrity and outstanding intelligence.“My heart is pounding,” said Karletta as she helped Keanu button up his jacket.“Why?”“Tomorrow is my first day as a grade A trainee at Glass Glory. I thought Mrs. Catherine would put me in grade C with the other newcomers. I didn’t expect her to assess my performance and all the awards I’ve received,” Karletta said.“That means you’ll debut faster, right?” Keanu asked.“Exactly, which is why my heart is racing. But what makes it beat the fastest is… Mrs. Catherine
Svarga visited Keanu after Easton mentioned that Keanu was awake and ready for visitors. Svarga's smile made Keanu lower his head, and he felt embarrassed in his presence."I thought you'd be asleep again," Svarga said. "How are you feeling now? Did Easton mess with your head after talking to him?"Keanu nodded. "A little. He almost confused me."Svarga didn't press further. "Charlotte and Jarvey will visit you this afternoon. They had to go to the police station to settle some matters from last night.""Will Emily be imprisoned?" Keanu asked, lifting his head slightly."With all the evidence you provided, it's inevitable. Emily and her family will face punishment in the Netherlands, not in this country," Svarga replied.Keanu sighed with relief. "I thought they might use their power to cover up their crimes.""It's not simple, son. You have given us a lot of information, much of which we don't even know. The evidence you presented shows there were many flaws they were trying to hide,
Keanu slowly opened his eyes. He had just woken up after eight hours, his first time regaining consciousness since the operation. His gaze immediately shifted toward the window, where he saw Devon and Karletta talking with their arms crossed.Keanu smiled softly, straightening his body, which felt sore and painfully stiff. The sound of the creaking bed drew Devon and Karletta's attention toward him. They both rushed to his side, their faces beaming with relief because Keanu was finally awake."Hey," Karletta greeted as she wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye.Devon adjusted the bed's headrest to a 45-degree angle to make Keanu more comfortable. "Should I call the doctor?""No need. I'm fine," Keanu replied. "I just want something to drink."Karletta quickly grabbed a water bottle and handed it to her older brother. "I've heard everything. How are you feeling now? I've been avoiding a lot of people outside asking about your condition. Thankfully, Mrs. Catherine has been watchi
"HEY!" Jarvey shouted a bit loudly. "YOU'RE AWAKE?!""Annoying...." Keanu replied, then shifted his aching body. "Ah, this is such a hassle." The man slowly opened his eyes and looked at his shoulder wrapped in thick bandages.Charlotte stood tall, her eyes shining with tears streaming down her face. She pressed the emergency button, and shortly after, a doctor and a nurse entered the room."KEANU IS AWAKE!" Charlotte shouted excitedly, then she and Jarvey were asked to leave the room at the doctor’s request.Outside, Catherine, observing them all along, smiled with satisfaction, relieved that Keanu had finally opened his eyes after hours of sleeping post-surgery."Mama, you were right! Keanu is so strong. Look, he's awake now!" Charlotte exclaimed.Catherine hugged Charlotte back, tears in her eyes, too, eager for the doctor to let them see Keanu.After 15 minutes of examination, the doctor permitted them to enter but on the condition that they be quiet, as the effects of the anesthe
Emily and her parents were taken into custody by the police, and their case will be forwarded to a Dutch court. Today, they are being held in detention and waiting to be collected. They have been stripped out of these clothes and put into detention uniforms, each in an isolated cell — comparatively more comfortable than those where other detainees are lodged.Lucius instructed some colleagues to stand guard until the Dutch legal team arrived for mediation. "I have to go and check on the other guests. Some people being questioned have confessed that they were paid by Emily to support their engagement event and to prepare the plans they had in place if the event had gone successfully."Lucius then said they were all still planning on setting Noah up to ruin his career as well, and he wanted Lucius there in case something went south with being able to pin a significant failing of Noah's that goes right back around through him onto Emily’s parents.“Liam, you take him, and the rest of us
Everyone screamed hysterically, including Charlotte, who instinctively shouted and hugged the person protecting her."KEANU!" Charlotte's voice trembled violently, one hand pressed against the blood gushing from Keanu's shoulder.Charlotte cried almost hysterically, calling out for anyone who would help. People rushed over to her; some hurriedly called for an ambulance while Lucius moved Keanu's body to a chair, using the thick fabric of his coat to cover the bleeding.The Chandra family guards restrained Emily, preventing her from escaping, and blocked access to ensure none of her accomplices could flee. About ten minutes later, the ambulance arrived, and Keanu was quickly rushed to the hospital.Charlotte, overwhelmed with emotion, held back sobs as she glared at Emily, her blood-stained hand pointing at her without saying a word, making Emily utterly terrified.Charlotte's gaze then shifted to Emily's parents, filled with an unbearable grudge, before she spoke, "I will make your da
Emily was terrified, and so were her parents. The couple accompanying Emily knelt before Catherine, begging for forgiveness like sinners fearing the gates of hell. Their actions, however, only raised questions among everyone present—what were they hiding that caused them to be so afraid?But Emily's reaction was different. She refused to beg Catherine for mercy like her parents had done. "You think you can do anything to me? I’m already engaged to Jarvey. Now ask my fiancé whom he will choose."Jarvey pulled Charlotte close, holding her hand tightly and showing everyone his answer. His actions naturally stoked Emily's fury even more."Fine, you're challenging me, huh? Then I’ll make your parents pay for everything!" Emily screamed in frustration. She grabbed Havella by the hair and dragged her away, prompting Noah to rush after his wife.Emily’s actions shocked many, including the media crew that Catherine had allowed to cover Emily’s event.The onlookers were horrified as they watche
All eyes were on the figure in the red dress, flaunting her beautiful curves. She wore matching red gloves that only covered her palms, and a black fascinator adorned her straight, flowing hair. Charlotte embodied the definition of luxurious beauty in the eyes of the wealthy elite. She smiled kindly at those who recognized her, while some deliberately hid, not wanting to be labelled as traitors for attending and supporting Jarvey’s wedding to another woman."Miss Charlotte, it's a pleasure to meet you," a man greeted her. He was the event moderator and a businessman whose company had Svarga as an investor."Hi, Karlos. Nice to see you, too. I guess you successfully united the couple today. Where are they?" Charlotte asked, her eyes scanning for Jarvey and Emily.Karlos didn’t answer. Sweat dripped down his body, his face pale. Soon after, Jarvey came running down from the second floor, tears streaming down his face upon seeing Charlotte. He rushed toward her and embraced her tightly.
Charlotte stood in front of the mirror, spending hours in this boutique, clearly excited despite her incredibly chaotic emotions. She could remain calm because Keanu and Devon were with her, offering comfort without hesitation.“Hey?” Devon greeted her as he entered the dressing room after the boutique staff called for him, allowing him to see Charlotte.For a moment, Devon was stunned by seeing the woman in a knee-length red dress. Charlotte had purposely chosen a bolder colour as a symbol of defiance against her heartbreak.“Devon, what do you think? Is my appearance enough? Do I look beautiful? I feel like the stitching around the waist makes me look a bit thinner,” Charlotte rambled.Devon exhaled and shook his head, feeling satisfied with Charlotte’s appearance. The undeniable aura of wealth radiated from her; Charlotte always looked luxurious in whatever she wore.“You’re beautiful,” Devon said, a simple sentence that never seemed to satisfy Charlotte.“Ah, I’m not sure.”“You’r