Trailing behind Zach, Grace caught sight of the man surrounded by a crowd.
Standing tall at approximately 6 feet 2 inches, he commanded attention within the bustling crowd. His striking features exuded an aura of aloofness and restlessness.
Rather than approaching him, Grace held back, observing the familiar face from afar.
Just the night before, they had shared an intimate moment, allowing her to recognize him immediately.
During their previous encounter, sweat traced a path down his cheeks, over his collarbone, and across his chiseled chest and abs as he exerted himself with intense vigor. Clad in a sharp suit, meticulously styled hair, he exuded an air of detached sophistication and a captivating charm, appearing entirely unapproachable .
Notably, the dark bracelet adorning his wrist added a touch of nonchalance elegance to his demeanor.
When Grace saw him again, there wasn't a hint of surprise in her eyes. She had intentionally sought to approach Xavier the nigh before.
Sensing Grace's presence, Xavier's brows furrowed slightly as he glanced in her direction.
Their eyes met briefly—his gaze was so intense, it felt as though he sought to see right through her.
Unable to withstand the scrutiny, Grace slipped away into the crowd.
"Xavier, it's been too long. I hope you'll stay a little longer this time in Skigeth," said Patrick Montgomery, the current head of the Montgomery family and Grace's future father-in-law, with utmost respect.
Xavier responded coolly before being ushered into the VIP room.
The Lewis family, impatient, were eager to jump into the conversation. Zach followed them to the back.
"When does the wedding start?" Xavier glanced at his watch, a piece so valuable it rivaled the price of two downtown apartments.
Patrick wiped the sweat from his forehead. "You might have to wait."
"Why?" Xavier spoke with brevity, yet each word held significant weight.
Patrick had dispatched many individuals to locate Ryan, but to no avail. It was nearly noon and the groom had yet to appear.
"We're waiting for Ryan," a clear voice rang out. "He doesn't want to marry me, so he's run away."
Xavier's gaze found Grace among the crowd.
Her countenance was not conventionally striking—rather unassuming, To be precise. However, her aura, especially when she spoke, exuded an undeniable sense of authority.
Their union had been arranged since childhood, a decision personally endorsed by. Ryan's disappearance was a source of shame to Xavier.
"No, no. Ryan will be here shortly. He's just... occupied at the moment," Patrick hurried to explain.
Grace looked at them icily. "You still haven't found him yet, have you? Should I provide you with an address?"
After disclosing the location of an apartment—a friend's residence where Ryan was likely hiding—Patrick promptly dispatched individuals to retrieve the elusive groom. Before long, a weary Ryan stood before them all.
"You idiot! Go get dressed. The engagement party must go on!" Patrick commanded.
"Dad, I told you I'm not marrying Grace. She's so ugly, it makes me sick just to look at her. If my friends found out I married someone so unattractive, they'd laugh at me. How am I supposed to hang out with them?" Ryan reasoned.
Ryan's eyes were filled with disgust as he looked at Grace, blaming her for his predicament.
"Take him to get changed. You must get engaged today!" Patrick ordered.
No matter how much Ryan made a fuss, Patrick's decision was not swayed.
Grace was also rushed off to the fitting room to get dressed. She struggled with the zipper of her wedding dress, which seemed to be stuck. She was at a loss.
Just then, the door opened. Grace didn't see who came in, leaned forward, flipped her hair to the side, exposing her neck.
"Can you give me a hand?" she asked.
A large hand rested on her back and with a firm pull, the stuck zipper glided up.
"Thank you," Grace said gratefully as she turned around. Upon seeing the handsome face of the man, her composure visibly faltered.
The man in the suit should have been among the crowd. How could he have quietly made his way to her?
"How did you get in here?" she inquired.
"What do you think?" he advanced closer, the force of his presence making it hard to breathe.
He reached out and grasped Grace's neck. "You have some nerve, trying to scheme against me!"
Grace's neck was delicate, and it seemed that with a little more force, she could lose her life in his hands.
The night before, Xavier hadn't held back, leaving several marks on Grace's neck which she had covered with a thick layer of makeup.
"Mr. Montgomery, I only found out recently that you are Ryan's uncle," Grace said, her gaze steady as she looked at Xavier.
Her countenance was unremarkable, but her eyes held a remarkable depth of emotion.
"People who deceive me face dire consequences!" Xavier's hold grew firmer.
Grace found it difficult to catch her breath in the grasp of this ruthless individual.
Despite the fact that the night before had been part of her own plan, Grace was not about to admit it, saying, "Ryan can play around, why can't I? Today he just got out of another woman's bed, and he's been unfaithful multiple times."
Her somewhat aggrieved tone caused Xavier to loosen his grip slightly.
Ryan's philandering was no secret. It was common for affluent young men to engage in such behavior. Xavier understood that last night had marked Grace's first foray into such actions.
"I don't care what you think, the wedding between you and Ryan cannot be called off,” Xavier said, tersely.
Grace blinked, a sardonic smile laying on her lips. "Mr. Montgomery, you're well aware the wedding between Ryan and me cannot is irrevocable. Why then are you here with me in private, risking potential misunderstandings?"
If others saw Grace and Xavier alone together before the engagement party, they would certainly misconstrue it.
Avoiding Grace's eyes, Xavier warned her with a cold tone, "I hope you're smart enough to know what should and shouldn't be said. Otherwise..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his eyes grew fiercer.