Chapter 3

Daniel pressed his lips together, conflict flickering in his eyes. But with the guests chanting, "Kiss her," he finally leaned toward Camila's lips.

Camila closed her eyes and lifted her face, looking like a princess waiting for her prince to kiss her.

The cheering died down, and soft, romantic music began to play. The entire ballroom seemed wrapped in romance.

Then a burst of applause cut through the moment and shattered the mood.

"What a beautiful couple! Go on, kiss her." Allison clapped as she walked forward, the sharp click of her heels echoing with every step.

She stepped out of the shadows and onto the brightly lit stage.

The wedding descended into chaos as everyone stared at Allison, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

What was going on? What was wrong with this woman?

Her sudden intrusion struck them as rude and completely out of place. The ceremony was going smoothly, and no one could understand why she walked onto the stage.

"Hey, aren't you one of Daniel's relatives? What are you doing up here? Get down!" Brandon's friendly attitude vanished as he glared at her.

This wedding was supposed to make him and the entire Dixon family the talk of the town. After all, who wouldn't envy a man whose daughter married into wealth and power?

Daniel might already have a six-year-old son, but the boy adored Camila. Once she became Mrs. Hall, she would have everything she could ever want.

Brandon wasn't about to let anyone ruin this wedding.

Several members of the wedding staff hurried over and tried to escort Allison off the stage. "Ma'am, the ceremony isn't over yet. Only members of the wedding party are allowed up here."

Allison stepped around them and kept walking, her eyes fixed on Daniel. "I'm not some random guest. I'm family. Daniel, why don't you tell them exactly how we're related?"

The moment Daniel saw Allison, panic flashed across his face. Then his expression hardened, and he warned coldly, "This isn't the time or place to make a scene. Go home. I'll explain everything later."

Allison let out a quiet laugh. "Explain what? You already married her. What could you possibly have left to say?"

"I said I'll explain later! Now leave." Daniel lowered his voice, but the impatience and warning in it were unmistakable.

That tone had always been enough to make Allison back down before.

Not this time.

Allison turned to Camila, who stood frozen, looking shocked and helpless.

"You used to be Daniel's student, didn't you? He talks about you all the time. He's always going on about what a wonderful person you are. So tell me, what kind of wonderful person gets involved with a married man and destroys his family?"

The ballroom erupted.

Camila got involved with a married man? She was a homewrecker? And Daniel's legal wife showed up at the wedding?

The color drained from Camila's face. She stumbled back and hid behind Daniel. "I-I didn't know..."

"What didn't you know? That you were the other woman? That Daniel already had a wife? Or did you know all along and simply not care that you were stealing another woman's husband?"

"Allison!" Daniel snapped, his gaze turning cold.

"I..." Camila looked up at Daniel with tears in her eyes. Her knees buckled, and she fell into his arms.

Tears streamed down her face, ruining her flawless makeup. She covered her mouth and cried silently, looking completely devastated.

"Mommy! Stop being mean to Camila!" Philip ran over and shoved Allison again and again. "Go away! This is Daddy and Camila's wedding! Go away! Leave!"

Allison stared at her son in disbelief. Every frantic shove felt like another blow to her heart.

"Philip, I'm your mom..." Her voice trembled.

"I don't want you to be my mom! I want Camila! You're mean, and I don't like you!"

Allison's breath caught. She nearly died bringing Philip into the world, and now he was telling her he didn't want her as his mother.

Elaine walked over with a cold expression and pulled the distraught boy back. When her eyes met Allison's wounded gaze, a flicker of discomfort crossed her face, but her voice remained sharp.

"Did you really come all this way just to cause a scene? Go home before you humiliate yourself any further. I'm saying this for your own good."

"I'm embarrassing myself?"

Allison gave a bitter laugh. Her gaze shifted past Elaine and landed on Daniel.

Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

Seven years ago, everyone abandoned her. She believed that marrying Daniel and building a family of her own meant she would never be cast aside again.

As it turned out, she had been alone from the very beginning.

"Daniel, I want a divorce," Allison said quietly. She didn't yell, cling to him, or demand an explanation.

She turned and walked away.

As Daniel watched her leave without looking back, something tightened painfully in his chest. In seven years of marriage, he had never seen her like this.

"Allison..." He instinctively took a step after her.

A sharp slap rang out behind him. Brandon had struck Camila across the face.

"Camila, what the hell is going on?"

Camila clutched her cheek and looked at Daniel in despair. The whispers and condemning stares from the guests drained the color from her face. Her breathing turned shallow, and then her eyes rolled back as she collapsed.

"Daddy, Camila fainted!"

At Philip's cry, Daniel stopped and rushed back to her. "Camila!"

With everyone watching, he swept Camila into his arms and carried her straight to the hospital, ignoring the stares around him.

-

Night had fallen over the town, and the streets were nearly empty.

Allison walked on aimlessly, moving as if she were on autopilot.

Her mind was blank. It felt as though a thousand thoughts were racing through her head, yet she couldn't hold on to a single one.

Finally, the weight of everything became too much. Her stomach twisted violently, and she crouched by the side of the road and threw up.

Suddenly, the sharp screech of brakes shattered the silence.

By the time Allison reacted, a black sedan had stopped directly in front of her, less than two inches away.

She stared at the car, her face pale. She had no energy left to argue or deal with anyone. Without saying a word, she stood, walked around the hood, and kept going.

Inside the car, Luke Carroll stared after her, still shaken.

"Mr. Shaw, wasn't that Ms. Shaw who just walked past?" Realizing his mistake, he quickly corrected himself. "I mean, wasn't that Ms. Maxwell..."

In the back seat, the imposing man watched Allison walk away without a word. His dark eyes remained fixed on her, cold and unreadable.

Once Luke was sure he hadn't mistaken her, he turned to Victor Shaw. "She doesn't look alright. Should I go check on her?"

Victor looked away and slowly closed his eyes. Silence filled the car for several seconds before he said flatly, "Don't you have anything better to do?"

His voice was calm, almost casual, but the warning in it was unmistakable.

Luke immediately fell silent. He started the car and drove off, passing close beside Allison.