As Gina saw that her insults were pointless, she strode up and shoved at Frank, "Get out of here! Helen's not home—your shouting doesn't mean a thing!"Frank simply braced against her meek fists and scratching as he kept shouting into Lane Manor. "Helen! I'll definitely crash your wedding and take you with me—whether you like it or not! I'm always that stubborn and impulsive, and nobody can stop me! Not your family, not Chaz Graves… Not even the Lionhearts!" Having said his part, Frank quietly waited for Helen to respond.However, there was only silence aside from Gina's shrieking and cursing.Still, it did not discourage Frank.Then, just as he was about to leave, the doors opened and Helen strode out in her pajamas.Gina turned frantic when she saw her. "What are you doing, Helen?! You're marrying Chaz Graves soon. For the sake of us Northstream Lanes, don't fall for his pretty face!""Mom," Helen said calmly and quietly. "Let me talk to him.""No!" Gina summarily refused, s
Frank quietly said: "I know you, Helen. You avoid looking into my eyes when you lie.""Don't act like you know me. You don't—and I'll be very clear." Helen smiled. "I'm different now. A person should be realistic and give up on pointless ambition. What's life for a woman, if not to find a man she could depend on and serve? Why deal with all the problems in a corner and shareholders instead of being a housewife? It's an easy life and good for everyone.""Is that what you really think?" Frank asked, looking searchingly into Helen's eyes."It is." Helen met his gaze without flinching this time. "It doesn't matter what you think or how highly you think of yourself—I'm not leaving with you, so just give up. It's getting late and I'm tired… It's time you leave."With those words, Helen quietly returned tinside Lane Manor, and Gina immediately leapt up to chase off Frank again. "What are you spacing out for?! Helen told you to leave, you delusional fool! Who do you think you are?!"Frank
Countless rich and powerful individuals and groups arrived, with hundreds of prestigious cars lining the parking lot outside Graves Mansion. Naturally, there were many others forced to park by the curb.Chaz was wearing a black tuxedo, his hair combed neatly as he stood and received all the guests filing through the parlor.Naturally, he was only greeting the top elites of Riverton—his retainers would handle the modest families and small business owners.Even as he appeared bright and pleasant, raising his champagne flute to salute the guests around him, one of the servants came to him with a report, "Everything's in place, sir… but the Salazars didn't send anyone, citing unforeseen circumstances."Chaz shrugged. "Never had much hope in Donald Salazar anyway.""That's not it, sir," the servant said, before leaning in to whisper into Chaz's ear, "The Salazars' factory was retaken by Kurt Stinson. At this point, they have no leverage for a partnership with us… though someone from Mr
Seeing that Helen frowned from what she said, Gina quickly assured her, "Don't worry—that bastard was just exaggerating. He was trying to trick you into eloping with him. He definitely won't try barging into this wolf's den… Who knows, he might have fled Riverton by now!"Helen was at once disappointed and hopeful—all she wanted was for Frank to be safe, and she could only hope that he refrained from causing things to spiral out of control.Cindy entered just then, and promptly grabbed the jewelry box, gaping at it and then at Helen, "Wow… Did Mr. Graves give these to you? Can I have a few of these necklaces? I've never worn anything so expensive…""Yeah, you can have it." Helen forced a smile.She had zero interest in the jewelry box and pushed it toward Cindy."Thank you, Helen!" Cindy was jubilant and tried on everything from the jewelry box while looking at herself in the mirror repeatedly.Gina sighed nearby—it was Frank's fault that Helen was like this.But those days were
However, Helen's ears burned at those words as she only found irony in themTrue love? Loyalty? All lies.Chaz was clearly coercing her and using her to control the Lane family.She suddenly found herself weary and wanting nothing more than to throw away all the burdens weighing down on her shoulders.At the same time, she could not help wondering to herself if Frank would come to save her, and she was suddenly caught in her fantasies…What if Frank rallied all the bigwigs of Riverton? Would she not be able to follow her heart and escape this wedding filled with despicable lies and deception?The emcee then continued, "Thank you, Mr. Graves—I'm sure everyone is touched by your loyalty. And now, let's invite Ms. Lane on stage!"Nonetheless, silence ensued and lasted for a while.It was not until Gina stepped up and shoved Helen that she came to her senses and realized that she should be going onstage.Amidst the hesitant applause, everyone was left gawking at her, mesmerized.
Eventually, the priest spoke up. "Helen Lane, do you take this man as your beloved husband?"Chaz was grinning ear-to-ear as he and Helen turned toward each other.Then, making sure everyone else was out of earshot, he whispered under his breath, "Don't worry, Helen. I've discussed the favor you asked for with Titus Lionheart, and he said yes.""Really?" Helen did a double take but soon appeared troubled.Her reaction left Chaz's gaze flashing coolly as he smiled. "But he had one condition.""What is it?" Helen's heart skipped a beat, feeling a foreboding sensation.Chaz's grin broadened. "His brother Wilbur will be the one having your first night.""What?!" Helen gaped in shock and disbelief. "Chaz Graves, you're a—""What, is that a no?" Chaz shook his head, chuckling. "Don't worry. I'll only record a video and use it appropriately—rest assured, my lips are sealed.""You're a sick pervert!" Helen growled through gritted teeth under her breath."You flatter me." Chaz grinned
"Helen!" Gina yelled. "Go on! Say yes! It's over for our family if you get cold feet!""Yeah, Helen!" Cindy shouted as well. "Do it!""Do it!" The audience urged Helen as well, and she looked around, but that familiar face was not there.And if she said yes now, there would be no turning back.Even Chaz was glowering at that point. "Are you deliberately embarrassing me, Helen? You'd better take the deal I'm offering, or Frank is a dead man! No, it won't just be him—your mother, your cousin, and everyone serving the Northstream Lanes would all rest in pieces! Make up your mind… No, there's no changing this even if you refuse!"Chaz's threat left Helen trembling all over, and she eventually closed her eyes and relaxed her knuckles as she gave in."Okay…" she said, her eyes filled with misery.But before she could, the front doors of Graves Mansion were suddenly kicked open resoundingly!"Argh!!!""What?!"The guests turned in time to find one of the Graves' bodyguards landing a
"Frank Lawrence? Never heard of him.""Who's he? How dare he mess with the Graves family, one of the top four families of Southstream?""Is he crazy? Suicidal, even?""Oh, this is getting really interesting! I have my headline ready for tomorrow now!""We're in for a show!"The peaceful wedding was first interrupted with the crowd's whispers, and eventually, pandemonium ensued.All at once, the crowd was discussing Frank's background, the arranged marriage between the Lanes and the Graves, and what on earth could have led to this wedding interruption."Oh, this plot came to me in a dream…" an heiress suddenly murmured with twinkling eyes. "The princess is marrying a prince, but her one true love comes to their wedding to take her away…""Wake up. This is reality, not a fairy tale—and the bastard is getting himself killed.""Yeah. Let's see how Chaz Graves deals with this.""How else would he deal with this? The brat is dead either way."Helen, however, was completely oblivio