Chapter 14
Rhett stared at her coldly, not saying a word.
Arabella finally sensed she’d said something wrong. She rushed to explain, her voice all sugar and nerves. “I didn’t mean to forget the stories you used to tell. I’ve just been so overwhelmed planning the ceremony…”
“Rhett, don’t be mad, okay? Once we’re married, you can tell me all over again, hmm?” She leaned in and tugged at his sleeve, trying to be cute.
But all he felt was disgust.
“Arabella,” he said sharply. “Are you seriously still lying to me?”
“You’re not the one who stayed with me back then. You’re not her!”
His voice rose with each word, and before she
react, he shoved her back.
Arabella stumbled, completely off balance. She tumbled down the steps and landed right t at the edge of the ceremonial platform. Gasps filled the room as she hit the ground hard. Her gown tore across the bodice, and she scraped her arms and knees trying to break the fall.
Flashes exploded from all directions–phones, cameras, whispers.
She winced in pain, but her first instinct wasn’t to cry.
It was to cover her face. To hide. To disappear.
She scrambled to her feet, ready to chase after Rhett, to explain–but he was already onstage, grabbing the mic.
“I’m calling this off,” he said, his voice echoing through the hall. “This ceremony
“Arabella is not my mate.”
Gasps turned to stunned silence.
is
over.
رف
Then he turned and walked out of the church without looking back.
He didn’t get far before running straight into Regis and Viviana.
“Rhett? Where are you going? The toasts are about to start-“Viviana began, confused.
He didn’t answer. He tossed the small box at their feet like it burned his hands.
“That’s why,” he said. “You know exactly why. You and your precious daughter have been lying to me from the start. And I don’t forget betrayal.”
He turned on his heel and left.
Regis and Viviana stood frozen. Only when they saw the box did realization dawn–and panic,
Viviana snatched it off the floor. “Come on. We need to talk to Arabella. Now.”
Inside the main hall, the murmurs were already bubbling.
“Wait, what just happened? They were halfway through the ceremony…”
“You haven’t heard?” someone whispered. “Alpha Rhett went blind a few years ago and lived outside the pack for a while. They say he met someone back then–someone important. He’s been trying to find her ever since.”
“Are you saying Arabella faked it? Oh, damn. No wonder he snapped like that. That’s brutal.”
“Honestly? She had it coming. Stealing someone else’s place like that? Disgraceful. What’s wrong with the Grayscale family–raising a daughter like that?”
The words weren’t loud, but Arabella heard every single one of them.
Chapter 14
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She clenched her fists so tight her nails pierced the skin. Blood welled up from her palm, but she barely noticed.
Viviana arrived just in time, throwing herself between Arabella and the cameras. “Back off! Stop filming!” she snapped before pulling her daughter into the hallway.
“Arabella, what happened? Did you slip up? Why would Rhett suddenly realize the truth?” Viviana’s tone was tight with worry.
“I didn’t say anything!” Arabella cried, her voice breaking. “It had to be Isla. She must’ve set me up–there’s no other way Rhett would’ve figured it out.”
“She’s always resented me. She couldn’t stand that I finally had something good. And now she’s made a fool of me in front of everyone.”
Arabella’s chest heaved, eyes wild with frustration. “You can’t just let her g
Viviana cupped her daughter’s face.❝eart,
know her place.
”
away with this. She needs to pay for what she did.”
okay. We’ll handle this. She’s your younger sister, not your equal. She should
Regis nodded. “Exactly. We’ve always done what’s best for you. We’ll make this right.‘
Arabella sniffled, tears finally falling. “O…okay… But what about Rhett? He knows I’m not the one now. He looked at me like I was a stranger.”
“We’ll talk to him,” Viviana assured her. “Worst case, we go straight to the Echelon Pack. This mating ceremony will go on. Grayscale’s reputation is on the line.”
Arabella smiled weakly. “You really are the best, Mom.
““)
She leaned into her mother’s arms, letting the warmth soak in. But as she did, box.
Her stomach dropped.
She recognized it.
Something ca
ht her eye–Regis was holding a small
It was the same box Isla had handed Rhett in the morning–the one she’d ordered thrown away.
Why was it stil! here?
“What’s that?” she asked.
Regis opened it casually.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
Arabella glanced at it–and froze.
Printed across the top in bold black ink were four words:
Legal Severance of Kinship.
Chapter 14
