"Thank you, but I can manage on my own!" Natalie's face drained of color, her hands clutching the gown with a vice-like grip.
Suddenly, Emmett's voice echoed from the doorway, disrupting the tension. "Alice!" He noticed Adrian standing there too. "Oh, Adrian is here as well. You all..."
Adrian pulled back his hand, casting a glance at Natalie before speaking in a calm, measured tone. "Alice had an unfortunate accident with her dress. I was merely offering assistance."
"I'll take care of her," Emmett interjected, stepping between Adrian and Natalie, effectively blocking his view. "I was about to touch up Alice's makeup anyway. Adrian, why don't you go and entertain our guests?"
Adrian, not one to argue, turned on his heel and left the room.
As soon as he was out of sight, the smile on Emmett's face disappeared. She turned to Natalie and gave Natalie a harsh slap. "You insolent little wretch, remember your place. You're nothing more than Alice's stand-in!" He was seething at the audacity of Natalie, flirting with Adrian behind her back. It was a good thing she had discovered it early.
Natalie's cheek burned, but she had no opportunity to defend herself.
She scoffed in response, "If you're so concerned about it, why did you even bother having me substitute for Ms. Cullen?"
Emmett's eyes narrowed dangerously at her retort. "How dare you talk back!" If it weren't for Natalie's uncanny resemblance to Alice, she would never have taken such a risk.
"Enough of this," Emmett finally said, her voice laced with suppressed anger. "Change back into your clothes and leave through the hotel's back door. I've arranged for someone to escort you home." She tossed Natalie's worn-out white dress at her dismissively.
Natalie didn't resist. Adrian's earlier reaction had been off, and she was unsure whether he had seen through her disguise.
With her back turned to Emmett, she changed into her own clothes. Emmett watched her, a thoughtful expression on her face...
As the wedding reception neared its conclusion, Natalie slipped into the car waiting to take her away from the hotel.
Her task was complete. After tonight, there would be no more ties between her and Adrian...
Meanwhile, Emmett and Curtis were in a mad rush to the hospital.
Emmett paced the hospital room, her face twisted in anger as she stared at her unconscious daughter. "Of all the times to pull a stunt like this!" she muttered under her breath. Her daughter had managed to pass out during her own engagement party, and hours later, she was still unconscious.
Curtis approached the doctor, his face etched with worry. "Doctor, when will my daughter wake up?"
"She has an alcohol allergy," the doctor explained. "I expect she'll be awake by tomorrow. But you need to have a serious talk with her about her reckless behavior."
Emmett, somewhat relieved to hear that Alice would recover by the next day, wasted no time. She discreetly handed the doctor a wad of cash, a bribe to ensure the incident remained a secret. It was crucial that no one else found out about this mishap, especially not Natalie—who couldn't be trusted to keep her mouth shut.
With that thought in mind, Emmett pulled out her phone and dialed Renee's number. "How are the arrangements I asked you to handle coming along?"
"Everything is proceeding as you instructed," Renee's voice came through the phone, steady and reassuring.
"That's good," Emmett responded, her voice firm. "Handle it smoothly. Make sure she stays quiet, or her sick mother will pay the price."
"You can count on me," Renee promised before ending the call.
In the dimly lit, rundown clinic, Renee hung up the phone and turned to face Natalie, who was bound and gagged on a bed. "Heard all that, did you?" he sneered. "Are you going to cooperate, or keep resisting?"
Natalie was horrified at the lengths Emmett would go to get her way. All because she remembered how Alice had accidentally been scarred by a burn on her back, and now, Emmett wanted to brand a matching scar on Natalie as punishment.