Chapter 4

Boom!

The thunder outside was loud. It was followed by a blinding flash of lightning.

I looked at Willa's fierce expression and the smug Hugo in her arms.

I slowly shook my head and laughed.

Willa froze.

"You–"

I didn't give her a chance to say anything else. I calmly wiped the corner of my mouth.

I then stood up, picked up my bag, pushed open the door of the villa, and walked out.

I opened the umbrella I had refused to lend Willa and stepped into the rain.

Half of my body was soaked within moments, and I shivered violently from the cold.

Even then, my steps never wavered.

Another bolt of lightning flashed across the sky.

Willa suddenly jolted to her senses. Listening to the pouring rain outside, she realized she might have gone too far with what she had said.

Besides, it was pouring outside, and I was sick.

Panic suddenly filled her heart. She wanted to chase after me.

But the moment she broke free, Hugo wrapped his arms around her again.

"Willa, don't go. It's thundering. I'm scared."

Willa put a hand on Hugo's arm and tried to pull herself free.

She gently reassured him, "It's okay. There are plenty of maids in the house.

"Stevie is still sick. I should go check on him."

Instead of letting go, Hugo only held her tighter.

His voice trembled, and his face was streaked with tears.

"Willa, do you not love me anymore?

"Back then, I was forced to marry your mother, but my heart has always belonged to you. You promised you'd take care of me. Stevie treated me like that just now, and you still want to leave me to chase after him?"

Willa hesitated for a long time. In the end, she stopped.

Instead, she lowered her voice and gently coaxed Hugo.

"Don't overthink it. I'm right here."

But her gaze remained fixed on the window.

Once Hugo had calmed down, Willa called me.

I didn't pick up.

She called three times in a row, but there was still no answer.

Hugo suppressed the smugness in his heart and rested his head against her chest. He was testing the waters again.

"Willa, do you think Stevie got really angry and won't come to the wedding tomorrow? He's sick, too. What are we going to do if he doesn't show up? Why don't you text him and apologize properly?"

Willa's gaze darted around with uncertainty, but she stubbornly refused to back down.

As if reassuring herself, she said, "Apologize? He's the one who was wrong. If I apologize, won't he start thinking he can walk all over me?

"Don't worry. He loves me too much. We're getting married tomorrow. There's no way he'd actually give me the cold shoulder and break up with me, would he? He probably just went to the new house to cool off."

Willa was wrong.

I was at the airport.

I had boarded a plane ten minutes earlier. I had no destination in mind.

I simply asked the airport staff for the next flight leaving as soon as possible.

It was twenty past three in the morning.

I had just gotten off the plane when I received two text messages.

The first was from the private investigator.

[Mr. Santana, everything is ready.]

The second was from Willa.

[I was a little too harsh earlier. Get some rest. I'll come pick you up at the new house tomorrow morning.]

I didn't reply to either one of them.

I was so exhausted I could barely keep my eyes open.

I checked into a hotel near the airport, collapsed onto the bed, pulled the covers over my head, and fell asleep.

At seven in the morning, everything at the Jenner family villa was ready. The bridesmaids were buzzing with excitement while urging everyone to get moving.

Willa kept staring at the text message that had gone unanswered. A sense of unease lingered in her heart.

Hugo noticed and asked worriedly, "Willa, what's wrong? You look terrible.

"Stevie still hasn't replied to you?"

Willa shook her head.

Her gaze landed on the formal suit Hugo was wearing, and her brows furrowed.

It was luxurious and eye-catching.

It looked good, but it wasn't appropriate.

"Hugo, why don't you get changed? Today is Stevie's and my wedding. If you dress like this–"

Hugo lowered his head. He looked hurt again.

He was about to use his usual trick and act pitiful until Willa gave in, but the bridesmaids weren't having it.

They immediately chimed in. "Hugo, you're dressed way too flashy. We know today is Willa's big day, but you're still technically a senior member of the family. You should dress more appropriately. This outfit is a little too eye-catching."

"Exactly. Willa is marrying Stevie today. You're her stepfather. What kind of impression would it give if you showed up in a suit like that?"

"There are several media outlets here today, too. Hugo, you'd better not keep your arm around Willa. If someone takes a picture and rumors start spreading, what will happen to the Jenner family's reputation?"

-

Everyone kept chiming in. Willa, meanwhile, remained distracted and said nothing.

Hugo had no choice but to angrily change into something more subdued before following the wedding convoy to the new house.

Fortunately, Willa's assistant called on the way.

"Ms. Jenner, the security guard said that around two or three in the morning, they saw quite a few people inside the new house. They were setting something up.

"He said Mr. Santana was the one who called them there. He's probably inside too."

The weight on Willa's heart finally lifted. She couldn't help but smile.

But once they actually arrived at the new house, the entire villa was eerily quiet. There wasn't even anyone putting up wedding decorations.

It didn't look like a wedding was happening at all.

Willa was confused, but recalling what the security guard had said, she forced a smile and waved her hand grandly.

"Let's go! We're going inside to decorate the new house!"

She never expected there to be no one inside.

The door was only slightly ajar. One gentle push was all it took. The bridesmaids and friends outside immediately paraded inside.

Bang!

Rows of confetti cannons exploded.

Countless photographs shot into the air like fireworks before scattering everywhere.

One high-resolution photo after another rained down.

There were pictures of Willa and Hugo embracing each other, kissing, and even being intimate in bed. They came down like a blizzard and covered the entire room.

Willa stood frozen in place. All the color drained from her face.

She stared at a photograph that had landed at her feet.

In it, she and Hugo were kissing passionately in the lounge at her mother's funeral.

Beneath the photo was a line of small print.

[Willa, congratulations to you and Hugo on your big day!]