Chapter 19

"Twenty minutes are up!" Lucy, intently watching the time, immediately reminded Trevor as the 20-minute mark arrived.

Trevor nodded and signaled the Loughs' bodyguards to proceed. To his astonishment, however, Mrs. Shanahan had reached the second floor just as he was about to raise his hand. Her two sons and several other Shanahan family members accompanied her, followed by more than a dozen bodyguards in black suits. The sheer number of people present was surprising.

Despite their relatively small numbers, the Loughs' bodyguards consciously yielded to the Shanahans. The Shanahans were a third-tier upper-class family, their influence far exceeding the Loughs', who couldn't afford to antagonize them.

Several guests gossiped at the Shanahans' arrival.

"The Shanahans came? Guess they're still going to help Diane."

"At the end of the day, she's still family. Her family benefited greatly from her contributions. Looks like the Loughs won't be able to do anything to Diane and Severin today!" Disappointment filled Lucy's eyes. "They're really here!" Severin had ruined her wedding, and she desperately wanted to avoid repaying the money he demanded. She hoped the Loughs would kill Severin, or at least cripple him, preventing future harassment of her family.

Trevor, though unhappy, stepped forward with a smile. "Madam Catherine, Mr. George. What brings you all here?"

He wiped cold sweat from his forehead. He wouldn't have been so scared if Diane's father had arrived; the man was a useless nobody with no influence within the family.

After Catherine's husband's death, she managed the Shanahan affairs, delegating some duties to George, the elder brother of Diane's father. Diane, known for her business acumen, had originally handled the company's affairs and was rumored to be the heir. However, having a child out of wedlock five years ago soured the situation, and her duties were transferred to William's son, Stanley.

Catherine glanced around and asked faintly, "What's going on here, Mr. Trevor?"

Trevor immediately cupped his hands. "My son is getting married today. This man, Severin, unexpectedly arrived and caused trouble. He's my future daughter-in-law's ex-boyfriend and the same man who was imprisoned for attacking my son with a beer bottle five years ago. He was recently released…"

After explaining the situation, Trevor added, "I didn't expect Severin was Miss Diane's former boyfriend. It's a complete surprise that she was involved with an ex-convict! That's the source of this misunderstanding!"

He emphasized Severin's background and his disappointment in Diane's choice. Glancing at Catherine, he saw her displeasure, as he'd anticipated.

"Grandma, you're here too!" Diane exclaimed.

(The final paragraph is unrelated to the narrative and is likely an advertisement. I have removed it.)