All heads turned.
Every breath in the room caught.”
Standing at the entrance was a man everyone believed to be dead.”
Tommy Whitmore, Demi’s youngest son, the one who supposedly gone for years.”
Alive.
Very much alive.
He walked to the center of the room, calm and steady. Demi didn’t flinch. As if she had known all along.”
Tommy smiled faintly at the crowd.
“Long time no see.”
Gasps followed. The room came alive with murmurs and stunned faces.”
Andrew was the first to find his voice.
“Uncle… you–weren’t you dead? How are you…?”
Tommy turned to him, his expression cool.
“And since when did I need permission to handle my own affairs?”
There was sharpness in his words. Everyone heard it.”
Chloe suddenly stood up, shielding her belly with practiced innocence.
“You’ve been gone so long, Uncle,” she said sweetly. “They were just worried. Why be so harsh?”
He laughed, low and cold.”
“And you? What’s your status here, exactly? Who gave you the right to speak at a Whitmore Family banquet?“} Everyone stiffened.”
Chloe flushed. Even now, many disapproved of her–pregnant and unmarried, tangled in scandal. She shrank under the weight of their stares.”
Daniel stepped forward again.”
“She’s just a foster niece,” he said quickly. “This is her first time here. Please forgive her lack of etiquette.“}
The words might have been sincere, but Tommy wasn’t buying it.”
“This is a family banquet,” he said coldly. “Anyone who doesn’t belong–get out.”
He gestured for the bodyguards to start clearing the room.”
Andrew stepped forward quickly, raising his hands in mild protest. “Uncle, your return should be a joyful occasion. We were just confused–there was no need to hide it from us. That’s all.”
“And Chloe’s still pregnant,” he added, casting a glance at her. “Don’t take it out on her.“”
Daniel chimed in, trying to smooth things over. “It’s a good day for you–and for your new bride too. I’m sure she’d feel compassion, seeing Chloe in this state.”}
Just then, a voice rang out from the hall entrance.
“Compassion? I wouldn’t go that far.“”
Gasps followed.
I stepped into the room, shielding my injured hand as I crossed the threshold. All eyes turned toward me.”
Andrew and Daniei froze when they saw me, clearly startled. Relief flashed in their expressions–for a moment–until their instincts kicked back in.”
They rushed toward me.”
“What are you doing here?” Andrew demanded. “You shouldn’t be here. Leave now.”
I side–stepped their grasp. “Why shouldn’t I be here?” I said calmly. “Today is the day I officially join the Whitmore Family.”
Confusion flickered in their eyes.”
“Join the family?” Daniel echoed.
Chipe let out a low, mocking laugh. “Of course. I always knew you weren’t content with your place. Desperate to climb your way up, huh? Thought if you sucked up to Granny Demi long enough, she’d take you in as her daughter?”
Andrew and Daniel’s expressions darkened. Clearly, they remembered the conversation we’d had before–when they accused me of trying to integrate into the family’s main branch.
They thought their warnings had worked.”
They thought I’d backed off.
They couldn’t believe I had dared to show up here tonight.”
10:55 AM U
mey mayiiu valeu vi.
They couldn’t believe I had dared to show up here tonight.”
Without another word, they moved to drag me out.”
But Tommy’s voice cut through the tension.”
“Stop.””
G
I turned and met his gaze. He was calm, but something flickered behind his eyes. I looked away, uneasy.”
Andrew, sensing his uncle’s mood shift, stepped in quickly. “Uncle… this is Elise. She’s my fiancée. She’s been through some trauma recently–mentally, emotionally. Please don’t hold it against her. I’ll take her out right now.”
The word fiancée sent a visible ripple through the room.”
Chloe’s expression twisted with jealousy.”
But Tommy’s face darkened with something colder–displeasure.
I opened my mouth to speak, to correct them, but Andrew gave a subtle nod to Daniel. They moved to grab me again, to haul me out like baggage.”
My hand throbbed. I couldn’t fight them off.”
But then Tommy stepped forward, fast and firm and blocked their path..
“Where do you think you’re taking my wife?”
Gasps
broke out across the room.
He took me from their grip with quiet certainty, positioning himself between me and them like a shield.”
Andrew and Daniel both stared at him, stunned.[
“What did you just say?” Andrew’s voice cracked.
Tommy glanced at them, face blank. “You heard me.”
“She is my wife,” he repeated. “Which makes her your aunt.”
The hall went silent. No one dared to speak.
Except for Chloe, who let out a strangied laugh. “So… Aunt Elise got married?”
The word married came out like poison.”
Andrew and Daniel stood frozen, eyes wide and searching.”
“No,” Daniel muttered. “No. That’s not possible. Elise, tell us–you’re lying, right?”
Their voices trembled with desperation.”
They needed me to deny it. To take it back. To say it was all a mistake.
But I didn’t say a word.
I simply reached into my bag… and pulled out the marriage certificate they had once stomped on and discarded.
