His voice was cool and distant, as if he had come only to deliver the bouquet with no other intentions.
Luana wanted to ask him to leave. Yet, seeing his pale face and bloodshot eyes, she found herself unable to utter the harsh words she had prepared.
Wasn't this cruel enough?
She stared at him, not taking the flowers, not speaking. The room fell silent.
Cline looked at her, then lowered his lashes and took her hand.
Gently, he pried open her clenched fingers and placed the bouquet in her palm. "I'll see you through," he said.
He picked up the wedding shoes from the floor and tried to put them on her.
Luana quickly drew back her feet. "Cline, don't do this…" she pleaded.
He smiled, a pale and joyless smile that didn't reach his eyes, making him look sorrowful.
Without a word, he grabbed her foot and forced the shoe on, then squatted and turned away.
He glanced at Luana. "You have no dad or brother to give y
A grand wedding was underway in the small garden. The master of ceremonies delivered a cheerful opening speech from the stage.The guests were few, but their presence didn't dampen the ceremony's spirit.The groom, Albion, dressed in a white suit and seated in a wheelchair, gazed at the girl in the white wedding dress at the end of the red carpet.This was the dream of his youth and the promise he had made to her—to marry her.If he hadn't lost five years to amnesia, she would have been his wife by now.Despite the twists and turns, he had married her, yet it all felt unreal, like a dream from which he hadn't yet awakened.From afar, he watched her, unable to discern her expression or emotions. The more he looked, the more distant and illusory she seemed.Only when the master of ceremonies prompted him to meet the bride did he slowly return to the moment.Stanley wheeled him to Luana, and only then did he see her expressi
Cline's clear and pleasant voice trembled slightly, yet he tried his best to keep it from showing.Luana's heart suddenly ached, and her eyes welled up with tears. She couldn't help but respond, "And I wish you happiness too."The last bit of light in the man's eyes behind her faded completely, replaced by despair. Slowly, he released his hold on her…Luana pushed open the car door and realized it had started raining. The fine and dense raindrops made her heart race for a moment.She suppressed the emotions welling up inside and stepped out, walking along the red carpet toward the villa.Seeing the rain, Cline quickly put aside his feelings and took out a black umbrella from the trunk.He rushed to her side, opened it, and held it above her head to shield her from the rain without saying a word.Luana stopped abruptly, looked up at the tall and upright man, and suddenly felt a wave of guilt.She couldn't bring herself to
His voice was cool and distant, as if he had come only to deliver the bouquet with no other intentions.Luana wanted to ask him to leave. Yet, seeing his pale face and bloodshot eyes, she found herself unable to utter the harsh words she had prepared.Wasn't this cruel enough?She stared at him, not taking the flowers, not speaking. The room fell silent.Cline looked at her, then lowered his lashes and took her hand.Gently, he pried open her clenched fingers and placed the bouquet in her palm. "I'll see you through," he said.He picked up the wedding shoes from the floor and tried to put them on her.Luana quickly drew back her feet. "Cline, don't do this…" she pleaded.He smiled, a pale and joyless smile that didn't reach his eyes, making him look sorrowful.Without a word, he grabbed her foot and forced the shoe on, then squatted and turned away.He glanced at Luana. "You have no dad or brother to give y
Luana's hand tightened around the wedding dress. Her small face turned pale, as if all the blood had been drained from it.Clarissa noticed something was wrong and quickly checked on her. "Luana, what's wrong?"Seeing Clarissa's worried look, Luana shook her head. "I'm fine, just a bit tired..."Clarissa gently hugged her. "If you're tired, rest on my shoulder..."Clarissa didn't mention Cline again. She knew such news would upset Luana.As her only family, all she could offer now was a comforting embrace.Luana rested her head on Clarissa's shoulder. Her dim eyes made her look lifeless.The wedding day arrived quickly.At nine in the morning, the makeup team hired by Albion arrived at the villa. The timing seemed considerate, allowing the bride extra sleep.Clarissa guided them upstairs. Upon seeing Luana, the stylists were amazed by her beauty.They worried an hour wasn't enough, but Luana's natural beauty meant
Albion always thoughtfully spared her life's worries.After Stanley finished his instructions, he swiftly left with his crew.No sooner had they gone than a black stretch limo pulled up before the villa.Ulrich, in a suit, stepped out and called out to Luana, who was about to head back inside."Miss Hammond..."Hearing that name, Luana's steps faltered, but she refused to turn around.Ulrich signaled two servants, who carried a diamond-embedded wedding dress to her."Miss Hammond, Mr. Moriarty asked me to give you this dress as compensation for the past."Luana glanced at the dress, her brow slightly furrowed. "Ulrich, please return this dress. I don't need his compensation."As she turned to leave, Ulrich's words stopped her."Miss Hammond, do you recall three years ago when Cline was abroad for three months? He bought this dress during that trip and planned to give it to you upon his return. But then some unexpe
Cline stroked the knife, his indifferent eyes coldly regarding Merlin. "Mr. Coburn, it's high time the public knew about the hit you ordered on Calvert three years ago."Merlin's face drained of color. He stared at Cline in disbelief. "You... how could you..."He wanted to ask how Cline knew but feared admitting guilt, so he kept quiet.Cline curled his lips slightly. "I also know that you were the mastermind behind the kidnapping of the Calvert family thirty years ago."Merlin's body stiffened. His heart sank, and a chill spread through him, making him tremble with fear.Back then, to secure the inheritance, he had plotted and ordered the attack on his eldest brother's family, letting his third brother take the fall.He thought the plan was foolproof, but this young man seemed to know the truth.Who on earth was he?Merlin's gaze turned from disdain to horror. "Who are you?"Cline glanced at him, clearly losing patience