Chapter 103

The wedding preparations were in full swing, but something gnawed at Rita's heart.

She couldn’t put her finger on it, but a shadow seemed to hang over their happiness — faint whispers, glances, odd mistakes piling up one after another.

It began subtly.

First, the florist called in a panic, apologizing profusely about a "mistake" — the order had been changed last minute, switching their white roses to black lilies.

Rita had brushed it off with a small laugh, not wanting to burden Adrian.

But then, during her final dress fitting, disaster struck.

Just as she twirled in her gown, glowing with happiness, an assistant — one Rita didn’t recognize — stumbled toward her and splashed red wine all over the delicate white fabric.

The deep crimson spread like blood over silk, and for a moment, Rita froze, a sick feeling twisting in her stomach.

The assistant stammered apologies, but Rita saw it — a flicker of cold triumph in the woman’s eyes before she hurried away.

By the time Adrian rushed into the fitting room, Rita was pale and trembling.

"Rita, what happened?!" Adrian demanded, his voice sharp with worry as he cradled her trembling hands.

"My dress," Rita whispered, tears threatening to fall.

"It’s ruined."

Adrian’s jaw clenched so tight it looked painful.

He scanned the room, noticing the spilled wine, the panicked employees — and the fear in Rita’s eyes.

That was it.

He had been patient long enough.

That evening, back at their home, Adrian sat with Rita on the couch, pulling her close.

"Listen to me, Rita," he said, voice low and fierce.

"I don't care what they try. I don't care about dresses, flowers, rumors — nothing matters to me except you."

He pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"You are my family now. And I will protect you, even if it means standing against the whole world."

Rita’s eyes shimmered with tears, not of sadness this time — but of deep, aching love.

She believed him. She always had.

But a small part of her still worried.

Whoever was doing this — they clearly weren’t done yet.

Adrian sensed her fear and tightened his embrace.

"We'll move the ceremony location," he said firmly.

"I'll personally oversee everything.

Whoever's trying to ruin our happiness — they’ll have to go through me first."

Meanwhile, across town, Sophie and James met again, smug and satisfied.

"So far, so good," James smirked, sipping his coffee.

Sophie twirled her phone between her fingers, her lips curling into a cruel smile.

"This is just the beginning," she said darkly.

"On the wedding day — we’ll tear them apart for good."

Neither noticed the quiet figure sitting nearby — someone who had been listening to their conversation intently.

Someone who had just recorded everything.

Someone who was about to turn the tables on them.

Sophie sat alone in her room, wedding invitation crumpled in her fist, her mind a storm of rage and desperation.

Her father’s threats hadn’t worked, her tantrums hadn’t worked, and now — Adrian, the man she had wanted all her life, was slipping through her fingers for good.

But if Rita’s babies — those cursed twins — were out of the picture, maybe Adrian would finally see reason.

Maybe, just maybe, he would come running back to her.

A twisted plan began weaving itself in her mind.

"I’ll just... borrow them," she whispered, her eyes glinting dangerously.

"Long enough to stop this ridiculous wedding."

The more she thought about it, the more justified she felt.

She wasn’t hurting them — just... helping Adrian realize he was making a mistake.

Determined, Sophie made several calls — shady, secretive calls.

It wasn’t easy to find someone willing to kidnap infants, but money spoke louder than conscience.

Soon, a rough-looking man named Kyle, recommended by James’s shady contacts, agreed to help — for a very steep price.

Meanwhile, back at the Drakes' estate, preparations were reaching fever pitch.

Adrian personally oversaw everything, doubling security without telling Rita the real reason — he didn’t want her stressing over "minor incidents" right before their big day.

But he knew deep down something was wrong.

Too many accidents. Too many near-misses.

Rita was glowing, cuddling the twins in her arms, unaware of the brewing storm.

"I can't wait for you to be my wife," Adrian whispered against her temple, his voice thick with emotion.

"You've already made me the happiest man in the world."

Rita smiled, but a shiver of unease passed through her — motherly instincts sharpening like a blade.

Something was coming.

She could feel it.

Elsewhere, Sophie met Kyle in a deserted parking lot, handing him a thick envelope of cash.

"You know the targets," she hissed.

"Two baby boys. Get them tomorrow morning. They’ll be at the garden photoshoot before the wedding."

Kyle tucked the money away, nodding.

"Easy job," he smirked.

"Consider it done."

But what Sophie didn’t know was that someone had been tailing her since her earlier outburst at the Drakes' mansion.

And this time, Adrian would get the full truth — before it was too late.

Later that night, Adrian received a call from a private number.

"Adrian Drake speaking."

A disguised voice replied coldly:

"Someone's planning to take your sons.

Tomorrow.

Be ready."

The line went dead.

Adrian stared at the phone, his blood turning ice-cold.

He immediately called his private security team and gave strict, chilling orders.

"No mistakes. No mercy."

Adrian sat in his study that night, his mind sharper and colder than it had ever been.

This time, he wouldn’t react blindly.

This time, he would finish it properly.

He couldn't believe Sophie — the woman he once thought of as a family friend — had fallen so low.

But now it wasn’t just about betrayal.

It was about his sons’ lives.

He dialed his most trusted security chief.

"Prepare everything," Adrian ordered.

"We're going to let them think they won — and catch them red-handed."

By early morning, everything was ready.

The real twins were taken secretly to a highly secured, hidden location under the protection of top private bodyguards.

Adrian and Rita acted naturally, pretending nothing was wrong.

Meanwhile, two incredibly realistic fake babies — weighted dolls crafted to look exactly like newborns — were placed in the stroller at the garden where the pre-wedding photoshoot would take place.

Hidden cameras and microphones were placed all around.

Every leaf rustled with silent watchers.

Every tree had eyes.

The moment finally came.

Kyle, looking nervous but determined, slipped through the side gates disguised as a delivery man.

Sophie, dressed in a simple black hoodie and sunglasses, followed closely behind, her face twisted with fury and desperation.

They reached the stroller.

No guards in sight — or so they thought.

Sophie bent over the babies, her hand trembling slightly as she touched the fake bundle.

"You... you ruined everything..." she hissed under her breath.

The hidden microphones captured every venomous word.

"I was supposed to be Mrs. Drake! You filthy little pests stole him from me!

But don’t worry... once you disappear, he'll realize he belongs to me.

I’ll make sure you’re never found!"

She gripped the fake babies tightly, hatred burning in her eyes.

Suddenly, a loud voice echoed across the garden.

"That's enough, Sophie."

She froze.

Slowly, she turned to see Adrian — not in a suit, not in a relaxed posture — but standing there like a storm incarnate, flanked by a dozen men in black.

Behind him, Rita stood holding the real twins in her arms, their tiny fists curled in peaceful sleep.

"You... you tricked me!" Sophie screamed, dropping the fake babies in horror.

Kyle immediately tried to run, but within seconds, Adrian’s men tackled him to the ground.

Sophie, realizing she had been caught, broke into desperate sobs.

"Adrian, I only did it because I love you!" she cried hysterically.

"You’re supposed to be with me! I did it for us!"

"For us?" Adrian’s voice was cold as steel.

"You just tried to harm innocent babies.

There is no 'us,' Sophie.

There never was."

His words cut deeper than any slap.

Sophie collapsed to the ground, weeping as the security team handcuffed her and Kyle, preparing to hand them over to the police.

"You’re done," Adrian said simply, turning his back on her forever.

Rita, cradling the twins protectively, met Adrian halfway.

He gently kissed her forehead.

"I’m sorry," he whispered. "You and the babies will never be in danger again."

They held each other tightly as the sun shone down, finally piercing through the dark clouds of betrayal.

Little did they know, this was just the beginning of even more surprises waiting at the wedding.