Chapter 4

The fifteen-story cruise ship, replete with entertainment facilities, hosted hundreds of guests invited by the Sandberg and Porter families for the weddings. Over a thousand people, including staff, witnessed the groom mix-up. With the internet's reach, Jorstone City's elite were well aware; the Sandberg and Porter families were now the subject of much ridicule.

Consequently, the parents waited anxiously in the tenth-floor living room. Upon Eleanor and Sebastian's arrival, they found Brenda weeping in her mother Sheila Bronson's arms, expertly playing the victim while Maurice knelt before the parents.

Linda Greene, Maurice's mother, spoke first. "Someone teach him a lesson! Show him the consequences of his drunken folly!"

Two attendants, each wielding a thin cane, stepped forward. Linda commanded, "Hit him!"

They struck Maurice's back repeatedly. The blows, while painful, weren't life-threatening. He clenched his fists and jaw, enduring the punishment. Brenda then threw herself before him, shielding him. An attendant struck her, eliciting a cry of pain.

Maurice immediately embraced her. "Bren!"

She sobbed dramatically. "I'm at fault, too. I didn't realize what was happening. But it's done. Mo is my husband; a couple stands together. Punish me, too!"

Maurice, visibly moved, held her close. Eleanor nearly burst out laughing; Brenda's acting was terrible, yet entertaining. Linda's punishment was a performance—she couldn't bear to truly hurt Maurice. While Brenda's defense didn't instantly win Linda's affection, it made a good impression, and Maurice was completely swayed. They already had pet names for each other.

Linda's tone softened upon seeing Eleanor. "You're here, Elle." But her anger flared at Sebastian. "Get on your knees! Mo is tonight's groom, and the guests intoxicated him. His drunkenness is understandable, but not yours. Did you do this deliberately?"

She implied Sebastian was an illegitimate son using the Porters.

Sebastian remained coldly detached, his lashes casting shadows, seemingly unconcerned. He appeared to be merely observing.

Eleanor glanced at him. Could he truly be unaffected? She expected fear, a meek apology... Was he a spineless weakling or not?

Linda, already prejudiced against him as an illegitimate son, was about to rebuke him when Eleanor stepped before Sebastian. She was shorter, causing him to stiffen as she said, "Let's focus on resolving this, Linda."

Philip Sandberg, Brenda's father, interjected. "Elle is right. Let's address the situation. It seems we must accept what's happened."

He and Sheila had never approved of Brenda marrying Sebastian, reluctantly consenting only due to her protests. They were secretly thrilled with this outcome and determined to maintain it.

Philip announced, "We'll tell everyone this was the plan all along. Brenda was to marry Maurice, Eleanor, Sebastian. No mistakes—everyone was simply confused. You might feel wronged, Elle, but you and Sebastian look well together. I'll give you a house as compensation—your marital home. What do you think?"

Eleanor gave him a withering look. He was her uncle, her parents, Francis Sandberg and Melanie Eastwood, having died in an accident when she was young. As a minor, Philip, her legal guardian, had seized their assets, claiming temporary management. This transitioned into ownership. Even after she came of age, he used excuses to retain them.

He'd claimed she was too young, then too inexperienced. Having replaced Sandberg Group's staff with loyalists, Eleanor couldn't forcibly reclaim the company; she needed a different approach.

Fortunately, she'd inherited her parents' acumen. Within two years of joining Sandberg Group, she'd achieved success and secured the support of senior employees. Philip had resorted to his final gambit: Francis's supposed requirement for his successor—an impeccable image and demonstrable capability. The most straightforward proof of capability was a soaring stock price.

A strategic marriage was the quickest way to meet both criteria. Coincidentally, Henrietta White, Maurice's grandmother, had proposed a match between Maurice and Eleanor. Henrietta adored Eleanor and wanted her as a granddaughter-in-law, exploiting their childhood friendship (though neither liked the other).

Maurice disliked Eleanor's strength and pride; she disliked his womanizing. Yet, the Porters were Jorstone City's most prestigious family, with Henrietta controlling their finances. Maurice needed marriage for real power.

They'd struck a deal—a contractual marriage. She wouldn't interfere in his personal life; he'd play the loving husband. He'd initially succeeded, but his affair with Brenda and betrayal of Eleanor constituted a fatal breach of their agreement. Eleanor had exposed his infidelity and Brenda's actions after securing control of the Sandberg family and Group.

Brenda had swapped husbands—likely motivated by a desire to be Maurice's wife and emulate Eleanor's success. Eleanor, knowing Brenda's rebirth, held the advantage of awareness, planning to remain hidden and bide her time. How could she act to mask her own rebirth?

Eleanor chuckled. "You're blatantly stealing my marriage, Uncle Philip. Do you think a house compensates for this? Do you think I lack a house?"