Chapter 15

Laird raised an eyebrow at his friends, already piecing it together. Gideon really didn’t have a clue.

“Dude, just see for yourself.”

He pulled out his phone, opened a video, and handed it to Gideon.

Gideon, a bit puzzled, glanced at the screen.

As soon as the wedding video started playing, his expression shifted.

In the video, Calliope was breathtaking in her wedding gown, moving with an effortless grace, almost otherworldly.

He had to admit, she looked stunning.

But something was off. He hadn’t been there that day, so who was the man she was holding onto?

The camera angle shifted, and his stomach twisted.

Calliope was arm-in-arm with Silas!

Gideon’s brows furrowed slightly, but he shrugged it off, glancing at Laird. “What’s so odd about that? I wasn’t there, so Uncle Silas walking her down the aisle is no big deal—just keeping the ceremony on track.”

“Keep watching. They exchanged rings, took vows up there… Plus, the wedding setup was changed. Your photos? Gone. Every wedding picture was of her and your uncle. I think they planned this all along.”

“Oh, and they even got the marriage certificate. Your uncle announced it on Twitter. That’s not like him. I heard he even handed out chocolates at the company.”

His friends were buzzing, throwing him glances filled with pity.

Gideon was in disbelief, chuckling dryly. “Come on, you’re pulling my leg, right? No way!”

Even as he said it, Gideon couldn’t stop himself from checking Silas’s Twitter on his own phone.

When he saw that marriage certificate, it felt like his heart skipped a beat.

Silas had only posted two words: [Got hitched.]

The photo was of a marriage certificate.

Gideon’s heart pounded as he took in the image—Silas and Calliope, dressed in matching outfits against a red backdrop. Despite the candid shot, they looked effortlessly dazzling, like movie stars.

Especially Calliope… Her striking features, those captivating eyes, and that slight, enchanting smile cut straight through his heart.

For a moment, the world tilted.

What was going on?

What was happening here?

His exceptional uncle and that hopeless romantic Calliope ended up together?

Had the world lost its mind?

He was supposed to be the one marrying Calliope.

But she’d had a wedding with his uncle. So what did that make him?

Wait… what about Grandpa? Wouldn’t he have objected?

And Calliope, what was she thinking?

And his parents?

Why was he the only one left in the dark?

The hunger from earlier had completely vanished. A storm of confusion surged through him as he frantically scrolled through trending topics and company messages on his phone.

As he silently absorbed the shock, Laird and the others fell quiet too. No one spoke, understanding the magnitude of the blow Gideon had just received.

After reading everything, Gideon’s face was set in determination as he suddenly stood up.

“Gideon, where are you going?” Laird asked hurriedly. “I mean, maybe let it go. No one in your family objected during the wedding. It looks like they’ve accepted it.”

“Your uncle’s a powerhouse. If he wants your girl, it’s just a snap of his fingers. Honestly, I think Calliope planned this from the start. Maybe her heart was never with you.”

“No. My uncle wouldn’t do this!” Gideon sneered, knowing full well his uncle’s nature.

Silas had always been indifferent toward women. Rumors had even spread that he preferred men instead.