Chapter 12
The color drained from Jenna’s face instantly.
Steven was stunned. “Why not Havent you always had feelings for her?”
Marie didn’t look at Jenna, speaking instead with calculated calm.
“Tad, replacing the bride with Jenna might solve today’s immediate problem, hut what about the aftermath
“Our family has countless jolist venture
decision making power.”
Forbes estate. Even though Stella has managers handling the day to day, she holds all the
She may have shipped the wedding today, Inn Dad, do you honestly think she’d be happy if I married Jennis instead? If she’s just having cold feet and discovers I’ve replaced her, what then?
What if she pulls out of every business deal with the Gilbert name in retaliation
Beyond that, a last minute bride wap would make everyone question our family’s integrity. It would damage our business reputation for pearl”
Alaric laid out the pros and cons with cold logic. Steven was convinced.
You make good points, but today’s ceremony.”
“That’s easy to handle,” Alaric interrupted. “The Forbes mansion just burned down yesterday. We simply announce that Stella’s impuries espectady worsened, forcing us to postpone. We can hold another ceremony in a month.”
Camilla’s eyes lit up at this suggestion.
“Yes, yes! Trust me,
I’ve known Stella since she was a child. She would never truly walk away from Alarie!”
Steven was fully persuaded now.
“Fine. We’ll go with your plan.”
Steven and Camilla quickly left to explain to the guests
Drly then did Alaric turn his attention to Jenna.
Seeing her reddened eyes, he felt a pang of guilt. “Jenna..” he said softly.
Jenna looked up sharply
“Uncle Al, is it really just business between the Forbes and Gibert families? Is that the only reason you’re marrying Stella?”
Alaric’s eye twitched. “Of course, What else would it be?”
Jenna spoke quietly. “I thought maybe you’d actually fallen in love with her..”
“That’s ridiculous!”
The words escaped Alaric before he could stop them.
Je forced a weak smile. “Good to know.”
Alarie’s bands unconsciously clenched into fisty.
That was how I was.
He was marrying Salla solely for business and to keep his family’s promise.
That was all it was truly
Chapter 12
After canceling the wedding. Alaric immediately went searching for Stella
He checked several Torbes properties without finding her, eventually arriving at MIT where she worked.
Unlike other weahhy heiresses who studied Insiness management or hisury fashion, Stella had devoted herself to ser engineering.
After completing her undergraduate degree, she went straight into a graduate program, then stayed on an a research scientist after graduation.
Alaric had always looked down on Stella’s career chuire
The salary was too love, and it contributed nothing to either family’s kasiness interests
He had already planned that after they were married, he would make her quit this job.
Arriving at the university, be found Professor Lockwood and directly asked if he had seen Stella
The professer looked at him in confusion.
“Stella’s already gone. Didn’t you know?”
Chapter 131
Chapter 13
