Chapter 177 The Groom Didn't Show Up
The other women at the table leaned in with obvious curiosity. Rachel seethed internally but kept her smile plastered on, lowering her voice. "Mrs. Green, you've got it all wrong. We're absolutely not eyeing the Green family assets. It's just that my brother's company hit some serious trouble lately. He desperately needs those projects to stay afloat. We're about to be family anyway, right? If the Watsons go under, it reflects badly on the Greens too."
Evelyn snorted dismissively. "You think I don't know how you social climbers think? Marrying into the Green family and immediately trying to prop up your birth family so they can feel superior? Please. Ethan might be marrying you, but you'd better remember the gap between our families. Focus on being a good Green daughter-in-law. Stop obsessing over your parents. It's embarrassing."
Rachel froze.
Those words... they sounded weirdly familiar.
Oh right—that's exactly how she and her mother used to talk to Arabella after she married into the Watsons.
And now she was the one getting talked down to.
First time in her life anyone had called her a "social climber." Even with everything the Watsons were going through, they were hardly some desperate social climbers, right? In Majestic City, they still ranked as one of the top families, just below the absolute elite.
But in Evelyn's mouth, she was trash. Just like Arabella had been.
Rachel swallowed her resentment. She couldn't talk back to Evelyn—just had to sit there and take the lecture, head bowed, anxiety building. Where the hell was Anthony? Dealing with this old hag was exhausting. If Anthony were here, she wouldn't dare act so superior.
Come to think of it, why hadn't he come in yet? She'd entered nearly half an hour ago. What could he and Arabella possibly be discussing for this long?
Just as irritation peaked, Rachel glanced up and spotted Arabella at the front table, chatting and laughing with some old woman.
She shot to her feet.
The abruptness drew stares from the other women at the table. Evelyn's face darkened. "What's wrong with you? No manners sitting or standing! People who know you might recognize you as a Watson daughter, but strangers would think you're some country bumpkin!"
The insult stung viciously, but Rachel forced herself to stay docile. "I'll be more careful. I just saw a friend. I'm going to say hello."
Evelyn snorted coldly, not even bothering to respond.
Under the judgmental looks of the other women, Rachel had no choice but to leave with whatever dignity she could scrape together.
She headed straight for Arabella's table.
Getting closer, she realized this table had only the two women—completely empty otherwise. Compared to the packed tables everywhere else, this was clearly some kind of super VIP setup.
According to normal seating protocol, the most honored guests would fill an entire table, not just... two people.
She looked at the old woman sitting with Arabella.
Her again?
At David's birthday party, this same old woman had backed Arabella up and made Rachel look like a fool.
Now she was an honored guest of the Tuckers again?
Rachel didn't want to offend someone whose identity she couldn't pin down. She stopped in front of Arabella instead, tone curt. "Arabella. Come here a second."
Arabella had been telling Chloe about a cat she'd had as a kid when she heard the interruption. She turned to find Rachel looking imperious as always.
Frowning slightly, she asked, "Do you need something?"
Rachel was annoyed that Arabella didn't immediately obey. Just come over when told, for god's sake.
"There's something I need to discuss," she said stiffly. "Come over here."
Arabella studied Rachel's angry face and figured whatever this was, it wasn't going to be pleasant. "If you have something to say, you can say it here."
Rachel glared. "If I could say it here, would I be asking you to come over?"
Arabella regarded her coolly. "I don't think we have anything to discuss, Ms. Watson. If you're just planning to insult me, save it."
Rachel hadn't expected her to be so blunt. She glanced reflexively at the old woman beside Arabella. The woman's expression remained placid as she sipped her water.
Rachel relaxed slightly. Guess the old lady wasn't going to protect Arabella after all. Not such a big deal then.
She was about to continue harassing Arabella when the old woman suddenly slammed her glass down on the table.
The porcelain cup hitting the glass surface made a sharp CRACK that echoed through the nearby space. Rachel's heart jumped.
What the hell did that mean?
Chloe turned cold eyes on Rachel, voice icy. "Watson, right?"
Before Rachel could answer, someone rushed over from the side. Evelyn stared at the old woman in shock, her expression a mixture of fear, disbelief, and extreme deference. "Are you... Lady FitzRoy?"
The loud sound had attracted attention from multiple tables. Evelyn had initially assumed some tacky poor relation of the Tuckers was making a scene. But when she actually looked over, the old woman seemed familiar!
She looked exactly like the Lady FitzRoy she'd had the privilege of meeting three years ago!
And she was sitting at the most prestigious table in the entire venue—that table empty except for her and some young woman Evelyn didn't recognize. What else could that mean?
So even though she phrased it as a question, Evelyn was already certain. This was Lady FitzRoy.
Hearing the title, Chloe shot Arabella a guilty glance.
Seeing no reaction, she relaxed slightly. Maybe her granddaughter-in-law was slow on the uptake and hadn't caught the implication.
She studied Evelyn, not recognizing her. "And you are—?"
Evelyn answered quickly. "I'm from the Green family in Seaside City. You probably don't remember me. Three years ago, I attended the old Mr. FitzRoy's funeral. We met briefly."
At the mention of her late husband, Chloe's expression softened somewhat. "Ah, yes. What a coincidence. You're here for the wedding too?"
Evelyn explained eagerly, "Yes! Shelly's technically my niece. Her wedding—of course I had to come as her aunt. Lady FitzRoy, what a pleasure running into you. This is such an honor."
Chloe smiled and nodded. "Running into each other is fate. Why don't you join us at this table?"
Evelyn's face lit up. "Really? I can sit here? I wouldn't be... imposing?"
Chloe waved dismissively. "Not at all. Sit. This table's too quiet anyway. You'll liven things up."
Evelyn practically glowed. "Then I'll take you up on that..."
She glanced at Arabella, her usual superior expression morphing into something almost fawning as she gave a respectful nod in greeting.
Then she sat down on Chloe's other side—though not too close. She positioned herself three seats away, maintaining a respectful distance. Even so, she looked thrilled.
The commotion had drawn eyes from surrounding tables. The wealthy wives who'd witnessed the exchange were stunned.
Though the Green family was based in Seaside City, they had significant operations in Majestic City too. Plenty of people wanted partnerships and connections with them. Evelyn's status was unquestionable.
Yet here she was, acting subservient to some old woman. Everyone was buzzing with speculation about Lady FitzRoy's identity.
The problem? Nobody had ever heard that title before.
The sharper ones were already pulling out phones to search. They found nothing.
Who the hell was Lady FitzRoy?
Meanwhile, Rachel stood there completely ignored, watching her future mother-in-law show deep respect to this mystery woman. Total confusion washed over her.
This was the Green family matriarch. To the Watsons, the Greens were like an unreachable mountain. And now the woman who commanded that mountain was treating this old lady with such deference?
Rachel didn't dare speak again. She just shot Arabella one warning glare—she'd settle this later!
Arabella barely noticed Rachel's reaction. She was too busy reeling from the words "FitzRoy family matriarch."
She wasn't stupid. The woman fawning over Chloe was obviously wealthy and powerful, yet she was treating Chloe with extreme respect. Clearly there was way more to the story than Chloe's earlier explanation.
Trying to build rapport, Evelyn turned to Arabella and asked Chloe, "Lady FitzRoy, who is this?"
Chloe couldn't bring herself to look at Arabella anymore. She was starting to regret inviting Evelyn over—she'd completely forgotten about maintaining her cover. Now trying to hide the truth was basically impossible.
Part of her almost felt relieved. Screw it. Arabella would find out eventually anyway. If they stuck to Alex's plan, who knew when this secret would finally come out!
Worst case scenario, Alex would have to apologize. She'd been wanting to openly support Arabella for ages anyway!
Despite her internal panic, Chloe's expression remained warm. "This is my grandson's wife."
Evelyn shot to her feet, extending her hand to Arabella enthusiastically. "Mrs. FitzRoy! What a pleasure! I'm so sorry, I didn't prepare anything—normally I'd give you a proper greeting gift. How about we exchange contact information? We should stay in touch!"
Her calculation was transparent. She didn't dare ask Chloe for her contact info—that would definitely get refused. But Alex's young wife was different. Young people had thin skin, and expanding her network could only help the girl.
Arabella smiled awkwardly, shaking Evelyn's hand and adding her on WhatsApp before exchanging phone numbers.
Rachel watched with eyes practically shooting flames.
Since getting engaged, she'd been kissing up to Evelyn constantly, bending over backwards trying to please her. Even now she only had Evelyn's phone number—and she'd had to beg for that. No WhatsApp.
But here was Evelyn, eagerly collecting Arabella's contact info?
Alexander was just some low-level insurance salesman! She couldn't believe Arabella had somehow become someone important overnight.
It had to be a scam. The old woman and Arabella were running some con together, right?
Yeah, there were fraud rings that specifically targeted wealthy families like this.
Rachel felt smug for seeing through it all. After the wedding, she'd definitely tell Evelyn the truth. Maybe Evelyn would be so grateful she'd throw some projects to the Watsons.
After chatting with Arabella, Evelyn turned and noticed Rachel still standing there like a statue. Her displeasure was immediate. "Why are you planted there like a boulder? Go sit at your own table. Stop embarrassing me!"
Arabella hadn't bothered keeping up with Watson family drama after the divorce, so she had no idea what was going on with Rachel. Hearing Evelyn's words, she blinked in surprise before realizing—wait, was this Rachel's mother-in-law?
Rachel, who'd always lorded over Arabella, now stood there like a scolded child. She bit her lip and reluctantly left.
Evelyn turned apologetically to Chloe and Arabella. "That's my son's fiancée. No manners whatsoever. I apologize for the disturbance."
Chloe's expression was meaningful. "Indeed, no manners at all. Standing around while her elders are talking—people who know her might think she's trying to be attentive, but people who don't would assume she's eavesdropping on secrets. And leaving without even saying goodbye, just turning and walking off like that. Mrs. Green, you've set quite a standard for your future daughter-in-law. Which family is she from?"
She'd wanted to put Rachel in her place earlier. Finding out the girl was Evelyn's future daughter-in-law was unfortunate timing. If she'd known, she wouldn't have invited Evelyn to sit.
Guilt by association—Chloe's favorable impression of Evelyn evaporated instantly. Anyone who'd choose that kind of daughter-in-law couldn't be worth much.
Right now Evelyn absolutely despised Rachel for making her lose face in front of Lady FitzRoy. "You're absolutely right. I'll make sure to discipline her properly when I get home."
Chloe made a cold sound of acknowledgment and stopped engaging.
Evelyn had no idea what she'd done wrong to make Lady FitzRoy turn so cold so quickly. Thinking it over, she decided it had to be Rachel's fault. Her resentment toward her future daughter-in-law intensified.
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The ceremony started shortly after.
The grand doors opened slowly. Bride Shelly appeared like an angel in the doorway. She began her walk down the long red carpet, her father guiding her toward the stage.
But the groom, Sawyer, was nowhere to be seen.
At first, guests assumed this was part of the ceremony's choreography. But when the emcee called for the groom to take his bride's hand for the fourth time with still no appearance, people started realizing something was wrong.
The emcee cycled through his backup script over and over, sweat rolling down his forehead. This wedding was supposed to be a career highlight—if the groom was a no-show, what ceremony could there even be?
"Ha ha! Looks like our groom's feeling a bit shy!" the emcee tried for the fifth time. "Maybe he's preparing a surprise! Though I wouldn't recommend pulling one at this particular moment!"
The band played harder, the wedding march swelling with warmth and happiness.
Sawyer still didn't appear.
Onstage, the bride's expression had turned ugly. Her father was visibly suppressing rage.