Chapter 30
Chapter 30:
Upon hearing Raylan’s command, security guards surged forward to seize Elliana from the stage.
In that precise moment, Raylan’s grandfather, Lenard, appeared. Lenard, who had wielded authority over the Hudson family dynasty for decades, walked over with a presence that instantly silenced the bustling banquet hall. Every whisper died on tense lips.
Raylan moved to descend from the stage, but Lenard raised one commanding hand, freezing him in place. Lenard turned his penetrating gaze toward Elliana and declared, “Speak your mind freely, child, I stand behind you p>
“Grandpa!” Shock transformed Raylan’s features. He’d never understood his grandfather’s inexplicable affection for Elliana or his insistence on their union even after her disfigurement. Today should have cemented his future with Paige, yet here stood Lenard, apparently sanctioning Elliana’s disruption of everything they’d planned.
Sensing Raylan’s rigid posture, Paige felt her stomach plummet. While she desperately wanted to use this event to destroy Elliana’s reputation, she hungered even more desperately for marriage to Raylan. Any misstep now could prove catastrophic. Having reconciled herself to the zero chance of being with Cole, she clung to Raylan as her final opportunity to marry up. If Elliana demolished today’s celebration, she might never again capture a man of Raylan’s caliber.
Kiara and Darin felt the tension crackling in the air, reminiscent of that fateful day when Elliana had taken Paige’s place and wrapped up the wedding ceremony with Cole. Having already lost the chance to latch onto the Evans family, they couldn’t stomach losing the chance to connect with the Hudsons.
Both Kiara and Darin opened their mouths to intervene but wilted under Lenard’s formidable gaze, swallowing their protests.
Elliana acknowledged Lenard with a respectful nod before delivering her message to the public with deliberate grace. “As everyone present knows, Raylan and I are bound by an engagement. This arrangement was personally orchestrated by my mother and Lenard p>
Knowing glances ricocheted through the crowd. They’d expected Elliana wouldn’t release Raylan without a struggle. Her denial about disrupting the wedding rang hollow—she was merely employing more sophisticated tactics. Murmurs rippled through the gathering.
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“I originally believed Raylan would surely eject Elliana without hesitation. But now, with Lenard championing her cause, the outcome suddenly hangs in balance. She might actually derail this entire engagement p>
“Her audacity truly confounds me. If she succeeds, imagine the relational carnage that would follow p>
“I’m particularly curious about Cole’s reaction to all this p>
Just then, Elliana’s voice cut through the speculation. “I stand before you today to announce my intention to dissolve any past connection with Raylan Hudson!” A profound silence smothered the grand hall. No one had anticipated this stunning reversal.
After several heartbeats of stunned quiet, conversation erupted with renewed intensity.
“It appears we misjudged Elliana’s motives entirely. She never intended to disrupt this engagement party—we’ve wronged her p>
“Wasn’t she supposedly obsessed with Raylan? How could she relinquish him so casually p>
“Those rumors originated with the Jones family. Their reliability has always been questionable p>
“The naked panic on Paige’s and Kiara’s faces moments ago—truly laughable now p>
As these damning observations circulated, Paige’s and Kiara’s expressions soured visibly. They had failed to anticipate Elliana’s maneuver. Where was the dramatic disruption they had expected? Raylan’s features hardened into glacial fury. He had always despised Elliana, dreading her potential entanglement in his life. Yet now, she publicly announced their separation, cunningly repositioning herself as the one rejecting him. This humiliation burned like acid. In a surge of rage, he seized her wrist in a vise-like grip, forcing words through clenched teeth: “Who gave you the audacity to pull this stunt p>
Elliana laughed softly, effortlessly extracting her wrist from his grasp. “Mr. Hudson, please preserve what dignity remains to you. I am a married woman. My husband, Cole Evans, stands as the wealthiest man in Ublento—far superior to you in every measure. I harbor no desire to trade husbands p>
“You—” Raylan’s fury choked his words in his throat. Elliana’s calculated statement invited dangerous misinterpretation, implying he pursued her despite her resistance. Infuriating beyond measure! Ignoring his smoldering rage, Elliana turned to offer Lenard a respectful bow. “Sorry for this drama p>
Genuine disappointment shadowed Lenard’s weathered face as he sighed deeply and turned away without another word.
The moment Lenard disappeared from sight, Paige crumbled into genuine tears. As Ublento’s premier socialite, she expected to receive Lenard’s blessing and acknowledgment for her engagement to Raylan. Instead, Lenard had left without saying a word to her, exposing her to public humiliation.
Each passing second deepened Paige’s resentment, until it erupted in a raw accusation. “Elliana, you’re so miserable in your life that you can’t bear to witness my happiness! You deliberately orchestrated this humiliation, didn’t you p>
“How could I possibly be unhappy?” Elliana blinked in confusion. “My marriage brings me immense joy. I genuinely came to celebrate your engagement p>
“Is that so?” Paige’s lips curled into a vicious sneer. “Then let’s show everyone exactly how ‘happy’ you truly are!” With that, Paige lunged forward, violently tearing away the label Elliana had carefully placed to cover the logo on her dress.