All Chapters of My Best Friend’s Uncle… and My Baby Daddy: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

THE WEDDING VENUE - AFTERMATHThe day ended,with a slow, agonizing evacuation. The guests scuttled away like rats fleeing a sinking ship, whispering behind their hands, clutching their expensive gift bags as if they were compensation for the trauma they had just witnessed.The botanical garden, once a fairytale setting, now looked like a crime scene. White roses were trampled into the mud, champagne flutes were shattered on the stone paths, and the altar stood empty, mocking us.Both family heads—Elijah Kingston and the patriarch of the Hawthorne family—were huddled in a corner, speaking in low, furious tones. They were trying to salvage business deals from the wreckage of a marriage, agreeing to "address the issue at a later date" to avoid a public brawl.But not everyone was so composed."Let me at her!" Eleanor screamed, her voice shrill enough to crack glass.Two security guards had to physically restrain her. She was lunging toward the altar where Rebecca and Alex were hiding, he

It had been two days since the wedding fiasco. Two days of radio silence from the outside world.While the media was undoubtedly setting itself on fire—speculating about Chloe, Fin, and Kingston Dynasty—we had been tucked away in the safety of the Headinberg estate. Eric had decided to work from home to avoid the press swarming the Kingston Group headquarters. It was a strategic move, but it also meant he was here. All the time.I walked through the hallway, listening to the low murmur of his voice on conference calls in his study. He had told me earlier that the family was holding off on any major decisions—including legal action against Alex—until Chloe was found.I was worried sick about her. Every time my phone buzzed, I jumped, hoping it was her. But it never was.I will not lie, though—these past few days spent with Eric had been nothing short of... okay. Actually, better than okay. We hadn't gotten physical since that first night in the bedroom, but we had gotten closer emotion

The morning sun filtered through the high windows of the estate, casting long, golden rectangles across the breakfast table. It was the first morning since the hospital that the air felt light. "Chloe, this will help you feel better," I said, gently setting down a bowl of special steaming porridge in front of her. It was an old family recipe, packed with nutrients and easy on a stomach recovering. "But it looks disgusting," Chloe whined, turning her face away with a theatrical grimace. I couldn't help but chuckle. She was just like Finn when he didn't want to eat his greens. "Cousin, it’s not as bad as it looks!" Finn perked up from his seat, his face smeared with maple syrup. "It’s delicious. Mommy only makes it when I am sick." Finn had been confused at first about who Chloe was and why she was sleeping in the guest room in a hospital gown. But after much explanation about her being his 'cousin,' he had accepted her with the kind of pure, uncomplicated warmth only a child posses

"No, no, no!" the man shrieked, his voice hitting a pitch that probably had the neighborhood dogs howling. "Dear God, I am going to die of a heart attack from how unceremoniously ugly your taste is!" He began fanning himself dramatically with a silk-bound lookbook, his face twisted in a mask of theatrical horror.I blinked, feeling the heat rise to my neck. "But... there is nothing wrong with what I picked?" I asked, my voice small. I was holding a sketch of a simple, elegant A-line gown."You don't say anything! You know nothing about fashion!" he screeched at me.I bit my lip, deeply regretting ever agreeing to this party. I had wanted to say no, but when Eric’s stormy grey eyes had held me in place, my resolve had melted like wax. He has this way of looking at me—like I’m the only good thing in his world—and I found myself too weak to refuse him anything.Eric had hired this "top-tier" designer to create a custom dress, shoes, and accessories for the Kingston gala. He had left me i

The formal introductions had been made, the air in the ballroom thick with the weight of the Kingston name. Elijah had stood before the gathered elite, his voice resonating with an authority that had continuously built an empire, announcing his new daughter-in-law to all of London’s high society with a finality that brooked no argument.The reaction was a volatile mix of envy and disbelief. Many guests whispered behind their glasses, their eyes narrowing as they searched for a flaw in Autumn's poise. They saw the marriage as a convenient cover or a calculated move to mask some hidden scandal. Most of the men and women in the room watched Autumn with predatory curiosity, convinced this was merely a whim of Eric’s—a temporary obsession of a powerful man who had finally found a toy he liked. They sipped their champagne and waited for the moment he would grow tired of her, assuming she would eventually be discarded like yesterday’s news."Eric, congratulations on your marriage," Hannah sa