Emily was chatting with Elizabeth and Natalie.
A staff member knocked on the door and informed them, "Miss Jones, it's time. The bride should make her entrance; the ceremony is about to begin."
Emily nodded, and Elizabeth lowered the white veil over her face.
Natalie walked behind her, helping to carry the train of her dress.
At that moment, Deanna had just stepped out of a taxi.
She looked up at the bustling hotel in front of her.
She wore a simple green dress, not even a formal gown.
Compared to the elegantly dressed guests, she looked quite inconspicuous.
Deanna clutched the invitation in her hand and took a deep breath.
She told herself: Just retrieve my mother's belongings and leave immediately.
She took the elevator up to the banquet hall.
The wedding march was playing softly in the background.
Emily, dressed in a pristine white wedding gown and high heels, was gracefully descending the spiral staircase.
With a victorious smile on her face, she caught Deanna's eye, stirring up feelings of resentment.
"Miss Jones is coming out!"
The sound of cameras clicking filled the air, and the flashlights were almost blinding.
At the foot of the stairs stood a tall man in an elegant tailcoat, gazing at Emily with deep affection.
His look was as affectionate and devout as a knight gazing at his princess.
Emily reached the bottom of the stairs and elegantly extended her hand, which he grasped tightly.
The couple walked hand in hand down the red carpet.
Watching this scene, Deanna recalled years ago when that same man had promised her, "Deanna, I will hold your hand and walk down the red carpet. We will be together forever."
But now, he was holding someone else's hand.
Deanna felt both disgusted and amused.
How foolish she had been to believe such words back then.
Fortunately... she felt nothing now!
"Miss Jones is truly beautiful. She and Mr. Howard make such a perfect couple. They are a match made in heaven," whispered one guest.
"Indeed, Emily is a big star! Imagine how good-looking their children will be," another responded, watching with interest.
Their conversation shifted to Deanna.
One person looked around mysteriously and lowered their voice, "Actually, Raphael's first fiancée wasn't Emily."
"I know, it was Deanna, the eldest daughter of the Jones family. She slept with another man before marriage-how disgraceful," someone else said curiously. "Why isn't she here? Isn't today her sister's wedding?"
A mocking voice replied, "Emily's not her real sister. Why would she come? Raphael is her ex-lover; coming here would only embarrass herself. Besides, she was kicked out by Garrett. She's no longer a lady of status."
Many people were comparing Deanna and Emily.
The scandal from years ago was well-known among the guests.
"Emily's mother, Mia, wasn't Garrett's first wife. He had an affair with Mia and gave birth to Emily," someone said slyly, glancing at Mia and Garrett.
"To be fair, even though Emily isn't the child of his first wife, she's successful, beautiful, and a star. She brings honor to the Jones family, while that eldest daughter is indeed a disgrace," another guest remarked disdainfully.
"That's why Garrett kicked her out. She hasn't been heard from in years," came a wistful sigh from another corner.
To these people, the lives of noble families were merely gossip fodder.
Their voices grew louder as they forgot their manners.
Sitting in the front row, Garrett heard their discussions too.
He felt a mix of pride for Emily and shame for Deanna.
Garrett's face turned pale with anger as he clenched his teeth.
How could he have fathered such a disgraceful daughter as Deanna?
Mia, sitting beside him, also heard the comments but maintained a gentle smile as if she hadn't heard a thing.
What did it matter if she wasn't descended from an honorable family?
The wealth and glory belonged to her and Emily now.
She nudged Garrett with her elbow and whispered, "The Cole family has arrived. Would Deanna show up? If she's absent, how can we explain it to the Cole family."
Garrett frowned and said, "I'll call her after the ceremony. Let's first let Emily and Raphael complete their wedding."