Chapter 8:
Gerald let out a low, chilling laugh, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Ha, a blood debt must be repaid in blood. He doesn’t get to explain himself,”
The words were so soft that I almost thought I had misheard them, I turned my head sharply, my gaze locking onto his face. But his thin lips remained pressed together, betraying nothing. The only difference was his eyes–namowed, razor–sharp, like a predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
“Gerald, what did you just say?”
My heart pounded, I was afraid he’d act impulsively for my
sake.
But in the next second, he curved his lips into a lazy smile, his expression light and teasing. “Huh? I said you look beautiful today”
I rolled my eyes, exasperated.
After my brother finished cursing Jonah out over the phone, he was still fuming even after hanging up. His hands balled into fists, his face red with rage as he shouted about going to Hammerton that very moment.
Before I could stop him, Gerald reached out, placing a firm hand on my brother’s shoulder and pulled him aside. The two exchanged hushed words–too low for me to hear. It only lasted a few moments, but when my brother turned back around, his expression had noticeably shifted. Though his anger still simmered, it was no longer about to explode.
I blinked in surprise.
Aside from me and my parents, no one had ever been able to calm my brother down when he was like this. No one–except Gerald.
A strange feeling stirred in my chest. It was almost as if… he truly was meant to be part of our family.
After confirming all the necessary precautions with the doctor, Gerald finally took me home. The car ride was quiet, the city lights flickering past the window, casting fleeting shadows across his face.
I couldn’t hold back my curiosity.
“What did you say to calm Ronan down?” I asked, tilting my head to study him.
Gerald merely smiled, his fingers tapping lightly against the steering wheel. He didn’t answer.
For some reason, I felt a rare pang of sympathy for Jonah.
I had already made his life a living hell today. While I was walking down the aisle, he should have been doing the same- celebrating his own wedding.
But instead, chaos had erupted at his ceremony
The moment the officiant was about to declare them husband and wife, police officers stormed into the venue,
e: an arrest warrant in hand. Nadia’s mother was suspected of orchestrating a kidnapping. And Jonah–he was being charged with assault
Dressed in the wedding gown that was supposed to be mine, Nadia shrieked, her voice piercing through the grand hall. “What kind of nonsense is this? My mom is a frail woman–how could she possibly kidnap Arabelle?”
She whipped around, eyes blazing with fury. “How much did she pay you to come here and humiliate my mother like this?“2 And then, her gaze landed on Jonah.
*Jonah stabbed Arabelle because she was trying to kill my mom! He was only acting in self–defense in the heat of the moment!“?
“If you want to arrest someone, it should be Arabelle! Why are you coming after us?”! Her voice was laced with desperation, but no one in the crowd spoke up in her defense.& Then, as if to make things worse, the hotel staff I had bribed released all the evidence.
One by one, the damning clips played on the projector screen–video of Jonah and Nadia whispering in the hospital. Their entire conversation laid bare before the stunned audience.
Next came the forged medical records–Nadia’s mother had never been ill. Every single document she had used to fake her sickness was exposed.
Realizing the situation was spiraling out of control, Nadia lost all composure. She lunged at the projector, fists flying as she tried to break the machine, to shatter the screen, to erase the evidence.X
But no matter how desperately she struggled, the truth had already been laid bare for all to see.
The murmurs grew louder. Guests exchanged glances, whispering among themselves.
For the past six years, Jonah had refused to meet my parents. But our mutual friends had always known I was his girlfriend. They had watched our relationship unfold. And now, they were trying to make sense of why, after all this time, the bride standing beside him was someone else.!
is and bar mathar exonsmad danian sunndhinn. Than
Nadia and her mother screamed, denying everything. They claimed the evidence was fake, that I had framed them. But amid the growing whispers, Jonah suddenly froze
Something in his eyes shifted.
He turned to Nadia, his face pale. And then–without warning–he struck her.!!
The sharp crack of the slap echoed through the hall.!!
“All this evidence is real, isn’t it?” His voice trembled, his fury barely contained.
Nadia stood there, stunned, one hand clutching her cheek.!!
“Jonah… did you just slap me? Everything I did was just so we could marry! You went along with it. I didn’t hold a knife to your throat
She looked at him as if she couldn’t believe it.2
“You bitch, Jonah hissed, his entire body shaking. “How dare you lie to me!
Before anyone could react, his hands shot out, wrapping around her throat.X
“You tricked me! You-“I
The police had no patience for their theatrics. Without hesitation, they stepped in, yanking Jonah away from Nadia and restraining them both.
