However, Helen’s ears burned at those words as she only found irony in them
True love? Loyalty? All lies.
Chaz was clearly coercing her and using her to control the Lane family.
She suddenly found herself weary and wanting nothing more than to throw away all the burdens weighing down on her shoulders.
At the same time, she could not help wondering to herself if Frank would come to save her, and she was suddenly caught in her fantasies…
What if Frank rallied all the bigwigs of Riverton? Would she not be able to follow her heart and escape this wedding filled with despicable lies and deception?
The emcee then continued, “Thank you, Mr. Graves—I’m sure everyone is touched by your loyalty. And now, let’s invite Ms. Lane on stage!”
Nonetheless, silence ensued and lasted for a while.
It was not until Gina stepped up and shoved Helen that she came to her senses and realized that she should be going onstage.
Amidst the hesitant applause, everyone was left gawking at her, mesmerized.
The women especially appeared jealous since she barely had any makeup on, but she was a goddess incarnate with her natural beauty, matched with her slightly curled hair and her pure white dress.
“Whoa, so that’s Helen Lane?”
“I’m not surprised Mr. Graves would be so obvious. If I were to lose such beauty, my heart wouldn’t be able to take it either!”
“A match made in heaven… How envious.”
Nonetheless, as the emcee kept things moving, the wedding soon moved on.
The priest and emcee were grinning ear-to-ear as the latter announced, “And now, we shall proceed to the reading of vows and exchanging of rings.”
While Chaz smiled as he strode forward, Helen was hesitant as she glanced at Gina, who appeared more nervous than she was.
Still, she had no choice but to lift her skirt slightly as she moved to stand beside Chaz.
“Before we begin, do the parents have anything to say?”
At the emcee’s call, Helen and Chaz turned toward their respective elders.
Only Gina was there on Helen’s side—her father Mason Lane was staying with the Southstream Lanes and never came.
On the other hand, Chaz nodded at his father, Wyll Graves.
“Well done, son.” Wyll was rubbing his chin in approval of his son, since Chaz certainly had him beat in cunningness.
Still, Wyll was more than content—not only did his boy basically seize control of the Lane family, but their family was also riding the coattails of Morhen’s Lionhearts now. Soon, their family will devour the Lanes, and it would be inevitable for them to become top dogs of Southstream… no, perhaps all of Riverton!
“Oh, this is so wonderful…”
Gina was exceedingly pleased as well, and she was more excited than anyone that Helen was being this docile.
It seems that her daughter finally accepted reality—Gina could actually see the bright future as they became family with the Graves and returned to the fold of the Southstream Lanes as well!
On the other end, Cindy could not help being jealous at her cousin’s good fortune. “Helen’s always the lucky one, and now she’s even marrying Chaz Graves. It should have been me, though—it’s not like there’s that much difference between us.”
