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
Seeing the security guards sitting among the guests get to their feet, Helen looked so nervous that she could cry. "Why did you come, Frank? You have to leave before the Graves family's guards come for you!""Leave?" Frank smiled. "Then I will bring you along with me.""You're still joking around now?!" Helen could cry as she stamped her feet in frustration."I'm not joking," Frank said, holding her gaze as his expression turned solemn. "I know that Chaz forced you into marrying him, by threatening my life at that."The room was left in an uproar at Frank's words, as Chaz's fabricated persona of a devoted lover crumbled.So Helen was coerced by Chaz into this wedding when she did not want to marry him?!There was not one soul who didn't like gossip, especially the drama and intrigue involving rich and powerful families.Even as the guests were sent abuzz with excitement and listened attentively for more juicy details, Helen shook her head and smiled miserably. "So what if he d
'Helen, there are times when you shouldn't be rational. You're a woman and you should trust your instincts more and be stubborn! Know how to follow your heart when you face a dilemma, or you'd be left with a lifetime of regret like me.'Helen's confused gaze turned sharp as she remembered her grandfather's will.It was thanks to her wit and rationality that Lane Holdings became so successful.However, it was also her wit and rationality that kept her only relieving what she saw, doubting everything Frank said.She used to think about it and regret it but ultimately stayed rational and dispel those regrets.And the same thing was happening, as her rationality kept telling her not to go with Frank, or the consequences would be severe. Her heart kept resisting that, however, because she really wanted to take Frank's hand… to the point she could lose her mind."Haha… Hahaha!!!"She suddenly laughed as everyone looked on, innocently and without a care. "So that's what it was. I've
Helen never broke character as a strong and independent for as long as Frank knew her and would stay stoic even with him.Her raving outburst actually left his heart skipping a beat, and he held her firmly in his arms, his eyes flashing. "Don't worry. I won't let you die here… absolutely not!""Yes!" Helen nodded in his arms—she had decided to trust him, and she would do so to the bitter end!"Do you know what you're doing, Helen?!" Chaz shrieked, his face contorted in fury as he revealed in true nature.His own bride-to-be was spurning him on the altar.No, forget that—what she just did just made him lose face. She could well have cut it off!Exposing him in public and slapping him, then running to another man?! His reputation was being trodden on—how would Southstream rich and important see him now? Or his own family, for that matter?!This was not even an insult. It was a declaration of war, one that would be fought to the bitter end!Chaz would rather die than let those t
"That's enough!"Gina sprang to her feet and yelled at Helen, "Can't you just stop already?! Cindy is your cousin! Are you really so bent on pushing her over the brink?!""Me, pushing her?!" Helen laughed miserably. "I'm your daughter, Mom! Forget running to me after you split up with Dad—you even had to burden me with a dead weight like Cindy! And you know all too well how many terrible things she's done—do you think I'm that stupid?"Then, glaring at Gina, she continued, "Also, I welcomed you with open arms since you and Dad went your separate ways, but I never had a day of peace ever since you came! You complain because you can't live like a trophy wife in Northstream, and blame Grandfather for being strict with you—you even tricked me into divorcing Frank! You made me an enemy of Frank and drove Grandfather to his death!""You and Cindy are certainly satisfied, but what about me?! Have you ever treated me like a daughter?! You're just treating me like leverage against Dad!"Gi