?Chapter 404:


    Richard and Alexander remained motionless, stunned by the turn of events. Around them, the other guests shuffled toward the reception desk, intent on retrieving their gifts.


    Katrina, who earlier had strutted around with a veneer of bravado, stood ck-jawed. The sight of the guests reiming their gifts had blindsided her. A wave of panic washed over her. She had been desperate to escape the clutches of poverty and had pinned all her hopes on profiting from this wedding.


    She abandoned all sense of decorum and dashed toward the gift table like someone possessed, frantically seizing the mostvish gifts.


    Her once immactely styled hair cascaded into chaos as she struggled to grip the wrapped treasures. Her cheeks flushed a deep shade of crimson from panic and frustration.


    “Are you actually reiming your gifts? Have you all forgotten about Dani?”


    “What the fuck does Dani have to do with this? She’s already put everything out there for the world to see. Stop being a dumbass and check it for yourself!”


    Before Katrina could muster a reply, a hand snatched a gift box right from her grasp. The other guests followed suit, reiming their offerings. With each gift retrieved, another guest departed.


    Within moments, the once-bustling wedding banquet hall was deserted, leaving behind nothing but a chilling silence.


    The waiter stood frozen, the tray of wine still in his hands. It took him a moment to process what was happening, but when he did, he wasted no time in snapping a photo of the stunned Harper and Bet families before uploading it online.


    Katrina’s wless hairstyle hadpletely unraveled, with strands of hair falling messily around her face. She stared, wide-eyed, at the disaster unfolding before her, before turning to Caiden.


    I@te$t ￠#@pter$ In g@!novel$.c0m


    A chill ran down Caiden’s spine as he pulled his phone from his pocket, his fingers shaking uncontrobly.


    Joyce stood there with her arms crossed, her voice dripping with disdain.


    “Huh! Who cares if they leave? Let them go! Do we really need their money? Right, darling?”


    She copied Katrina’s flirtatious tone, raising her voice on purpose and leaning against Alexander’s arm.


    Richard, witnessing the absurdity of it all, nearly choked on his anger. Was this woman out of her mind? Flirting with her husband in the middle of all this chaos—and in front of everyone? His stomach dropped with the ominous feeling that this woman would bring about the downfall of the entire Bet family.


    Katrina was devastated over the expensive gifts they had lost, not taking any responsibility for her own actions, but instead grumbling, “These people are so ungrateful. They can’t even recognize a golden opportunity when they see it. They’ll regret it.”


    Caiden was about to say something, but before he could get a word out, Alexander lost his patience.


    “Enough!” he shouted.


    A tense silence filled the hall.


    Joyce blinked in confusion.


    “What’s with all the yelling? Why are you so angry?”


    “Why am I angry?” Alexander’s gaze zed with fury as he fixed her with a heated stare. On their very first day of marriage, regret had already begun to settle in.


    “I’m angry because your family lied to me!”


    .


    .


    .