The wedding had been delayed by an hour, and it was almost time to start.
Grace could faintly hear Patrick frantically searching for someone. And the person he was looking for was right behind Grace.
"I'll head out first; make your own way out when you find a chance," Grace told the man behind her.
Then Grace left, leaving Xavier alone in the makeup room.
Xavier stared at the firmly shut door, his eyes glinting with a touch of malice.
He couldn't forget the way he was driven out of Skigeth, nor could he forget the circumstances of his mother's death.
He was an outcast, despised by all as a bastard. The Montgomery family viewed him as a threat to their fortune, wishing him ill.
His mother, a victim of his father’s drunken assault; bore the true innocence in their tragic tale.
Leaving Skigeth behind, Xavier’s memories of the Lewis family's role in his mother's demise fueled his resolve, He harbored no desire to see Lewis or the Montgomery clans find happiness.
Given their mutual aversion to marriage, uniting them by force seemed fitting.
Xavier stepped out of the room, hiding his hatred and once again donning his cool, detached demeanor.
Patrick didn't dare ask Xavier where he'd been. All the polite and respectful words Patrick had offered, Xavier didn't take to heart.
Xavier walked into the foyer where the engagement ceremony had already begun. Onstage, the bride-to-be and the groom-to-be looked as if they harbored some deep hatred toward one another. Ryan, especially, had a grim expression on his face.
Grace, on the other hand, was looking down, seemingly waiting for something. Xavier sensed that something was off. If Grace didn't want to marry Ryan so badly, would she really go through with the engagement without any form of protest?
Even though he had only known Grace for a short while, Xavier felt certain that she wasn't one to acquiesce that easily. Her schemes had likely started from the night she climbed into his bed — or perhaps even earlier.
Narrowing his eyes, Xavier fiddled with his bracelet, his gaze piercing as he watched the woman onstage. Feeling his stare, Grace looked up at him and her lips curled into a smirk.
Just as the two families were about to exchange engagement rings, the big screen suddenly lit up.
"Ryan… Ryan, gently," purred a seductive voice, and the video that unfolded in a scandalous manner. Clearly depicted in the footage were Ryan and Kelly, engaged in intimate acts meant for private settings. The woman seemed to cast a suggestive look at the camera, while the man appeared oblivious, his actions becoming more intense as he spoke words unsuitable for public consumption.
The video clip was brief yet abundant, and exceedingly explicit. The footage sent a wave of shock through the crowd. "Ryan's been keeping a mistress all this time; poor Ms. Lewis to marry him under such circumstances," guests murmured among themselves.
"Who's that woman? She must've known that Ryan was about to get married, right?"
"Did you see just now? Ryan's package seems a bit on the small side," another snickered.
The room buzzed with conversation.
Ryan was in shock, then bellowed with rage. "Stop watching! Who the hell played this?"
Patrick was also stunned by the footage before him, his gaze shifting to the composed man beside him. Xavier responded coolly, "Isn't this embarrassing enough for you?"
Patrick immediately stood up. "Turn the video off now!"
The video was promptly halted, but the damage had been done. The Montgomery and Lewis families were furious, their faces dark with anger. Grace looked as if she was on the verge of tears. "Ryan, why would you do this to me?"
Ryan lashed out. "Stop crying. Who would want to marry a freak like you? The person I love is Kelly. You can't compare to her."
"If you don't like me, let's just call off the engagement right here in front of everyone," Grace retorted.
"Shut up!" Patrick interjected, stepping forward and slapping Ryan across the face. "I don't care who you like, the engagement will proceed as planned today."
"Dad!" Ryan roared back, the room descending into chaos.
Seeing Ryan struck, Kelly moved forward. "Don't blame Ryan. This is my fault. I’m deeply in love with him."
Seeing Kelly in such a state, Patrick grew even more livid and kicked Kelly with force. "Get out!"
Staggered by the kick, Kelly couldn't keep her balance and fell to the ground, subsequently losing consciousness.
Ryan, witnessing the scene, rushed to Kelly without a second thought. "Kelly, Kelly!" he called out.
He scooped Kelly into his arms and headed out of the banquet hall. "Call an ambulance, now!"
With the main character gone, the chaotic engagement party could no longer proceed.
Patrick preoccupied himself managing the aftermath, apologizing to the guests, and explaining the situation to the Lewis family.
He conspicuously refrained from addressing Grace, who stood on the stage like a jester.
Grace silently made her way backstage and had just shed the cumbersome gown when a chilling voice reached her ears.
"You did this on purpose. You want to ruin Ryan," the voice accused.
Grace turned around. "Mr. Montgomery, why would you say that?" she asked, feigning innocence.
"That video was of your doing, wasn’t it?" Xavier probed.
"Of course not. Didn’t you see the angle it was shot from? It's clear it was an intimate video filmed by the parties involved," Grace rebutted.
The video had no connection to Grace; it was solely Kelly's doing.
Eager to marry into wealth, Kelly wouldn’t just watch Ryan marry someone else—not even if it meant tarnishing her own reputation.
Grace had simply offered some advice, suggesting Kelly release the video herself.
"You think this will call off the engagement?" he probed.
Grace looked down, having believed it would indeed work. But she had underestimated matters.
With a faint smile, she lifted her gaze. Her long eyelashes were striking, her eyes captivating. When she fixed her gaze on someone, they often overlooked her otherwise ordinary face.
"Mr. Montgomery, you’ve seen it yourself. Ryan doesn't care for me. Why don't you help me out and call off this engagement?" she suggested.
"And why on earth would I do that for you?" he replied sarcastically.
"Consider it a favor you can call on in the future. I'll be there when you need help," she offered.
Xavier scoffed, "What do you have that I could possibly want? You'd better prepare yourself to marry Ryan."
"I'm simply seeking to break off the engagement. Aren’t you worried about last night's events becoming public knowledge?" Grace pointed it out to him.
"Do you really think anyone would believe you? That I’d be interested in your face?" Xavier retorted.
Grace touched her cheek self-consciously. "I may not be the prettiest. But you didn't seem to mind last night."
"So, it was indeed all part of your plan last night!" he exclaimed.
The woman had guts. She hadn't just sought the warmth of any man for the night; she had deliberately chosen him.
Grace didn't deny it. "Does it really matter? Mr. Montgomery, can you honestly say you didn't enjoy last night?"
Xavier remained silent.