#14

Without words, Emily’s eyes never left Lucian as he tugged her to the center stage. For a brief moment, she forgot how much she despised his kind. Lucian was still holding her hand when he squeezed it firmly, and that made her come back to reality.

That was when she realized that they were already standing on the stage, and the crowd, including the highly-ranked leaders behind them, were looking at them in confusion.

Swallowing hard, Emily could feel how the atmosphere immediately changed in the event hall. Her eyes went to the crowd and she saw Laura on the right corner, leaning her back against the wall while smirking at her.

Her gaze turned to Lucian when he cleared his throat. Seconds later, he finally announced that he had found her second-chance mate, whom he wished to marry. The crowd gasped in disbelief, and it was followed by whispers, which made the nervousness in her heart double.

"What is the meaning of this, Lucian?" an old man’s voice asked behind them.

When Emily turne