Chapter 268: Shocking Revelation!
Rumors have always been a part of human nature. The crowd buzzed with hushed conversations, creating a lively and tense atmosphere.
“Honestly, we can’t entirely blame Mrs. Bolton. Mr. Bolton has his own limitations. It’s just that Mrs. Bolton couldn’t hold back, given the circumstances. I can only imagine what they’re like behind closed doors.”
“Am I the only one who respects Mr. Bolton? Despite everything, he stays calm and collected in a situation like this.”
“Mr. Bolton, you don’t need to hold back. It’s perfectly fine to cry. It’s not a weakness for a man to shed tears.”
Anna pretended like nothing was wrong. “How could this happen? Mrs. Bolton, she…”
“Ms. Sander, it’s clear you care about me deeply.” My voice cut through the murmurs of the crowd, and immediately, all eyes turned to me. Anna’s expression stiffened; her gaze fixed on me in shock. “How did you get here?”
Alisa gently linked her arm with mine, offering a calm smile. “Anna, Aunt Zoey just got her dress dirty, so I took her to change. Why is everyone staring at her? Did something happen?”
Seeing the shock on Anna’s face, a sense of satisfaction washed over me. How could she have anticipated that Alisa had already caught on to her using Melissa? Alisa wasn’t naive. Even though she didn’t fully understand why Anna had gone this far, she certainly wouldn’t let anyone jeopardize the bond between the Boltons and Hudsons.
Dale and Melissa had been eyeing their property for a long time, and now, seizing this chance, she and I collaborated to craft a plan. She intentionally referred to me as “Aunt Zoey” in front of everyone, completely crushing Anna’s expectations.
“Luke is taken!”
The crowd began to murmur. “Mrs. Bolton, if you’re here, who are those people inside?”
“People? What people?” I feigned confusion and glanced behind me, only to be stunned by the dramatic scene unfolding. “Oh my god, this is… one of…”
The performance inside continued with great energy, and as if to confirm everyone’s suspicions, one of the figures shifted, unveiling the woman’s face. Dale had been silently criticizing Melissa for her foolishness, but in the next moment, he froze as his wife’s face appeared on the screen.
“Oh my god! Isn’t that Aunt Melissa?” Alisa pressed her hand to her lips in shock. “How could she do something like this? Uncle Dale, please don’t blame her. She must have had her reasons.”
Only then did Anna realize she had fallen right into my trap. Her entire plan had backfired, and she had lost in every way. What she didn’t yet know was that this was just the beginning, the prelude to the real drama. Melissa’s impact on her had never been significant, and I was merely returning the favor for what she had done to me.
Dale charged forward in a fit of rage, shouting, “Turn it off! Who switched it on? Turn it off right now!”
“Mr. Hudson, our system has been compromised. We can’t turn it off!”
“Then just unplug it!” Dale fumed, cursing under his breath. “That b*tch, how dare she pull something like this behind my back.”
In a rage, he stormed off, furious. I signaled to Damian, and he slipped away quietly. Melissa could never have imagined that after locking me in, a few burly men would approach me with smirks on their faces. But I stayed calm, knowing that this room had been under my watch the whole time. The moment Melissa stepped out, Alisa opened the door, and the tough guys she had brought in immediately went to work, taking down those men. She pulled out a knife, demanding that they follow her instructions. I didn’t have to lift a finger; I simply threw the wedding dress on the floor, letting Anna enjoy herself for a while before pushing her into a deeper, darker pit.
With slow, deliberate steps, I approached Anna. “Ms. Sander, why would you think the people inside were me? Do you truly believe that? Or was all of this part of your plan?”
All eyes shifted to her. “That’s right, Ms. Sander was the one who led everything from the start, and she even arranged for this projection. Could this have been her plan all along?”
Anna’s attempt to pull off the trick backfired, and in her panic, she stammered, “How could I do something like this at my wedding? This… this is all a misunderstanding; that wedding dress… it confused me.”
Fiona shot her a harsh look, and it was clear to everyone that Anna was behind this. By then, Dale had barged in, scattering the men, and immediately started attacking Melissa. Someone kindly switched off the camera, but just before the screen went dark, Melissa’s piercing screams echoed, sending a shiver down everyone’s spine.
To regain control of the situation, Fiona swiftly instructed the emcee to fix the equipment and prepare for the wedding ceremony, attempting to smooth over the previous disaster. Anna shot me a furious look. Once again, my interference had completely sabotaged her plan!
Ashley, with a stern expression, leaned in and murmured in her ear, “Enough of the chaos. Follow through with the ceremony properly, and once it’s over, go back where you belong.” He had no idea the real storm was still brewing.
Carter and I settled into our seats, his hand gently clasping mine. “Are you nervous?” he asked softly.
“Not at all,” I replied with a calm smile. “Everything is going exactly as planned.”
The elegant melody of the wedding music filled the hall, marking the beginning of the ceremony. Anna, holding onto Ashley’s arm, put on a display of romance and tenderness for the crowd.
The emcee soon posed the timeless question: “Do you, the groom, vow to cherish the woman beside you for the rest of your days? Whether in riches or poverty, health or illness, do you pledge to remain by her side forever?”
Ashley opened his mouth to respond, “I…”
The tightly shut doors of the hall suddenly swung open, flooding the room with bright light, and in walked a figure—Sadie, making her long-awaited entrance.
“He doesn’t want to.” Bill shot to his feet in alarm. He had taken precautions, assigning someone specifically to monitor her movements, yet she still managed to turn up unexpectedly.
“What are you doing here? Leave at once!” Ashley’s face darkened as he tried to maintain his composure. “Ms. Gardner, we are over. If you’ve come to offer your congratulations, you’re welcome. But if you’re here to—”
Sadie cut him off mid-sentence, her tone sharp and disdainful. “You idiot! Do you really believe she loves you? Or that the baby she’s carrying is even yours?”
The mention of the child sent shockwaves through the crowd, triggering a flurry of hushed whispers and startled glances.
“Oh, so they’re tying the knot because of the baby. That explains why it all felt so hurried,” someone in the crowd murmured.
“Yeah, it’s pretty common these days—getting on the bus before buying the ticket,” another chimed in, nodding knowingly.
Anna put on a sorrowful expression and spoke softly. “Ms. Sadie, I understand that you don’t like me, but what’s done is done. It’s time to let it go.”
Fiona stepped in to calm the situation. “Sadie, why don’t you sit down and enjoy a glass of wine? We can discuss this later.”
Sadie, however, wasn’t about to back down. “Mrs. Hudson, isn’t the reason Ashley is marrying her because of the baby? What if the child she’s carrying doesn’t even belong to Ashley?”
“Sadie, stop making baseless claims!” Fiona snapped.
“Sadie, get out of here and quit speaking nonsense!” Ashley barked angrily.
Sadie stood tall, locking eyes with Anna. “Ms. Sander, are you going to come clean, or should I spill the truth? The child you’re expecting isn’t Ashley’s, and the person you’re cheating with is standing right here!”