Chapter 79
“Mom, what’s he doing here?” On the stage, Jayden turned to look at Lainey in shock, only to find her face ashen, as if deeply stricken.
Lainey knew this feeling all too well. Wherever Theodore showed up, everyone else faded into the background. She’d only had a taste of the spotlights and now, was it already over?
“I invited Theodore,” Anthony said, and his words sent Lainey’s mind racing back in time.
Of course. He’d mentioned it before, but seeing Theodore’s grand entrance, Lainey seethed with jealousy. She thought, ‘When will Daniel finally notice Anthony?‘
“Anthony, what are you playing at?” Alice’s voice shook. Clearly, Theodore’s arrival was a complete surprise.
Anthony turned to look at her. To an outsider, it might seem like a loving gaze, but they both knew better.
When he didn’t answer, Alice pressed on, panicked. “Are you trying to humiliate me?”
“I just want Theodore to be part of our special day. Relax, okay? Just play along,” Anthony said, slinging an arm around Alice’s waist and pulling her close. He wasn’t giving her a choice but to face Theodore head–on.
As Theodore rolled onto the stage, it finally dawned on the audience just how awkward this was. After all, Alice used to date Theodore before getting with Anthony!
One murmured, “Mr. Theodore Russell isn’t here to ruin the party, is he?”
Nobody knew for sure.
Onstage, Anthony addressed the old man pushing Theodore’s wheelchair. “Merlin,” he said, his voice respectful.
Even Lainey chimed in with a reluctant “Merlin.”
She had to do that. Merlin Gellar was Daniel’s right–hand man. In many ways, seeing Merlin was as good as seeing Daniel himself.
Merlin gave them a quick once–over, nodded, and stayed silent.
Anthony didn’t bat an eye at his cold demeanor. He turned back to Theodore with a smile. “Theodore, we’re really happy you could make it. Right,
Alice?”
There they were, Theodore and Anthony–both devastatingly good–looking, but in completely different ways. Any other woman would have swooned if they’d been on the receiving end of those gazes.
But Alice felt nothing but humiliation. On any other day, this wouldn’t matter. But today, with everyone watching, she knew what they’d think–that she was some flirty mess caught up with both brothers.
Anthony’s arm around her waist tightened sharply. Wincing, Alice had no choice but to meet Theodore’s eyes. “Yeah. Me too,” she managed.
Theodore’s brow flickered. He thought, ‘Alice looks stunning today, but we’re done.’
Satisfied with his little show–off moment, Anthony/finally let go of Alice. “Carry on,” he told the emcee.
The emcee, who’d heard whispers about Theodore and Anthony’s rivalry, didn’t want any drama. So as soon as he wrapped up the intro, he announced, “Time for the engagement rings!”
Just then, Alice’s stiletto heel got wedged in a floor crack. She was stuck, unable to turn around. The male emcee couldn’t exactly kneel down to help, so he kept shooting Eliana desperate looks. Eliana was running the show today, after all.
“Mr. Hall, I need to handle this,” Eliana said to Nolan. She rushed onto the stage–this was make–or–break for her promotion, and she wasn’t about to
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Chapter 79
screw it up.
As she passed Theodore, Eliana’s steps hitched ever so slightly. Right, they were keeping their marriage under wraps. So she skipped the hello and went straight to Alice. “Ms. Powell, stay put. I got this,” she said, bending down.
“Hurry!” Alice gritted out. Her fake smile was starting to crack under the weight of all those stares.
As Eliana tugged at Alice’s stuck heel, a soft groan echoed from the ceiling light overhead. The creaking grew louder, masked by the booming music. By the time anyone caught on, it was too late.
Just as the heel popped free, a panicked scream pierced the air. “Look out!” Eliana’s gaze shot up. The massive light fixture hurtled straight down. She yanked Alice sideways, diving out of the way.
The impact shook the stage. Eliana landed awkwardly, but she seemed unhurt.
Alice wasn’t so lucky. Standing dead center, she took the brunt. The light crashed down on her left leg, and blood spread alarmingly across her white
skirt.
Staff swarmed the stage, heaving the mangled light off Alice. Eliana scrambled to help, but a familiar figure shouldered past her. Theodore scooped Alice into his arms and strode offstage.
Silence dropped like a guillotine blade. Every eye in the room snapped to the pair. Anthony, who’d been watching the chaos with icy indifference, suddenly went rigid, his eyes wide. He thought, ‘I knew it!‘
Eliana gaped as Theodore carried Alice away. She started after them, then froze at Alice’s weak question. “Theodore, your eyes?”
“Good as new.” His voice was steady. “Hang in there. We’re going to the hospital.”
‘Theodore? Good as new?‘ Eliana thought. Her heart skipped a beat in shock. The pieces fell into place, and a stunned feeling swept over her.
Nolan shot up from his seat in the audience when he saw Eliana stunned. But before he could reach the stage, Hannah latched onto his arm. “Nolan, please, let’s fix this,” she pleaded softly, pressing close.
His pulse spiked, but memories of Hannah’s past lies made him wary. “Not now,” he said, trying to peel her off. “Eliana needs help.”
Hannah held him even more tightly. “What about me? I’m your girlfriend! You can’t just run to her.”
“What are you getting at? She’s my employee,” Nolan snapped, his patience fraying.
ことり
“Employee? You’re so chummy with her!” Hannah’s voice turned bitter. “You care more about her than your own girlfriend!”
“She’s your sister! How can you be so cold?” Nolan wrenched free and sprinted toward the stage.
Onstage, Eliana swayed on her feet. Clutching her right elbow, she winced. The fall with Alice must have bruised it badly. Even breathing sent jolts of pain through her chest.
“Ellie, are you okay?” Nolan skidded to a halt beside her.
But Eliana barely heard him, She stared after Theodore’s retreating back. “So you can see again,” she murmured with mixed feelings.
Her gaze dropped to her throbbing elbow. She thought, ‘Why didn’t you tell me? Theodore, it hurts.‘
