Chapter 1

The Devereux wedding was supposed to be perfection.

Absolute perfection.

The entire city of New York had practically shut down around the event. News helicopters circled overhead. Luxury black vehicles lined the streets for blocks. Influencers, politicians, celebrities, athletes, and powerful underground figures poured into the massive cathedral-like venue covered in white roses and gold crystal chandeliers.

This wasn’t just a wedding.

It was a business merger.

A dynasty alliance.

A Mafia-connected union between two terrifyingly wealthy families.

The Brown family.

And the Devereux empire.

Soft orchestra music echoed through the enormous venue as cameras flashed endlessly. Guests whispered among themselves while giant floral arrangements decorated every inch of the aisle.

At the very back of the venue, the doors slowly opened.

And there she was.

Eloray Brown.

A collective gasp moved through the room.

Her massive wedding gown shimmered beneath the lights like liquid diamonds, the long train flowing behind her beautifully. Her bubble ponytails cascaded all the way down her back almost like a piece of art itself. Her makeup was soft, elegant, emotional.

And despite the beauty…

One thing was obvious.

She was heavily pregnant.

The curve of her belly rested proudly beneath the expensive fabric as she held her bouquet carefully in trembling hands.

Eloray kept her face calm.

Kept her breathing steady.

Kept walking.

Because that’s what obedient daughters did.

They walked.

Even when they were terrified.

Even when they felt sick.

Even when they knew deep down something wasn’t right.

At the front row, her mother, Clarisse Brown, dabbed her eyes dramatically with a silk handkerchief.

"Oh my baby looks beautiful…" she whispered emotionally.

Beside her, Eloray’s father, Terrence Brown, sat stiffly in his tailored black suit, already looking stressed out from the amount of important people surrounding them.

Meanwhile, on the Devereux side, the atmosphere was colder.

More calculating.

Vincent Devereux, Jason’s father, sat like a king observing a business transaction rather than a marriage. Beside him sat his wife, Alessia Devereux, dripping in diamonds and visibly impatient.

Then there was the eldest son.

Montavius Devereux.

Massive.

Dark-skinned.

Long dreadlocks hanging behind his tailored black suit.

Expression unreadable.

He leaned back silently near the front row, tattooed fingers resting against the armrest while watching Eloray approach the altar.

His sharp eyes flickered downward briefly toward her stomach.

Then back to her face.

Eloray finally reached the altar.

The officiant smiled nervously.

The orchestra softened.

Everyone waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Minutes passed.

Whispers slowly started spreading across the venue.

“Where’s Jason?”

“He should’ve been here already…”

“Did something happen?”

Clarisse’s smile started shaking.

Terrence looked toward Vincent immediately.

Vincent already looked furious.

Alessia grabbed her phone quickly.

Still nothing.

Eloray stood there alone at the altar while hundreds of people stared directly at her.

Humiliation slowly started crawling into her chest.

Her fingers tightened around the bouquet.

The baby shifted inside her stomach.

Then suddenly—

The giant decorative screen behind the altar flickered.

Everyone looked upward.

At first, static appeared.

Then a video loaded.

And the entire fucking venue went dead silent.

On the screen was Jason.

Half dressed.

Laughing.

Holding Laraine Brown against his chest inside a luxury penthouse suite.

Wine bottles scattered everywhere.

Clothes thrown across the floor.

Laraine sat directly in his lap wearing lingerie beneath one of his dress shirts.

Eloray’s adopted sister.

The camera quality was crystal clear.

Almost too clear.

Jason smirked lazily into the camera while Laraine kissed his neck.

“Fuck the wedding,” Jason laughed on-screen. “I should’ve married you in the first place.”

Laraine giggled.

“I told you she was too soft for you.”

The venue exploded.

“Oh my GOD—”

“What the FUCK?!”

“ARE YOU SERIOUS?!”

Clarisse nearly collapsed in her seat.

Terrence shot upward so fast his chair slammed backward onto the floor.

Alessia covered her mouth in horror.

Vincent looked ready to murder somebody with his bare hands.

Guests immediately started pulling out phones.

Somebody screamed.

The orchestra abruptly stopped playing.

And Eloray…

Eloray simply stared upward at the screen.

Still.

Silent.

The video kept playing.

Jason kissing Laraine.

Laraine mocking Eloray’s personality.

Jason laughing about the baby.

The entire venue watched the destruction of her dignity in real time.

Everything she sacrificed for.

Everything she tolerated.

Everything she endured for her family.

Gone.

Just gone.

Her throat tightened painfully.

Her eyes watered instantly.

But the tears never fell.

Instead…

Something darker happened.

Her expression changed.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

The soft obedience disappeared from her face.

The entire room noticed it immediately.

Even Montavius sat forward slightly.

Eloray lowered her bouquet carefully onto the altar.

Then she lifted the bottom of her massive gown slightly.

And started walking back down the aisle.

Not crying.

Not panicking.

Walking with purpose.

“Oh shit—” somebody whispered.

Clarisse hurried after her immediately.

“Eloray! Baby wait—!”

Terrence stormed behind them furiously.

“WHERE THE FUCK IS MY CAR?!”

Vincent stood up roaring.

“JASON IS A DEAD MAN!”

Alessia grabbed her purse.

“That little bitch Laraine—”

The guests immediately started following behind like a damn parade of chaos.

Security scrambled everywhere.

Phones recorded everything.

Meanwhile, Montavius slowly rose from his seat.

Towering over nearly everyone instantly.

His face remained terrifyingly calm.

Too calm.

One of the Devereux guards swallowed hard.

“Sir…?”

Montavius adjusted the cuff of his black sleeve slowly.

Then spoke in a low voice.

“Find my brother.”

The guard nearly sprinted away.

Outside the venue, rain had started pouring heavily across the city.

Eloray climbed into the front vehicle without waiting for anyone else.

Her breathing finally started shaking.

Clarisse entered beside her quickly.

“Eloray baby please don’t stress yourself out—”

“Don’t,” Eloray whispered quietly.

Her voice cracked.

Clarisse froze.

For the first time in years…

Eloray looked angry.

Not sad.

Not heartbroken.

Fucking angry.

Terrence got into the vehicle cussing loudly.

“I’M GONNA KILL THAT BOY!”

Behind them, the Devereux convoy began moving aggressively through Manhattan streets.

Meanwhile…

Inside a luxury penthouse across the city…

Jason finally noticed his phone ringing.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Laraine groaned softly beside him.

“Why the hell is everybody calling?”

Jason frowned.

Then looked down at the thousands of incoming notifications exploding across his phone screen.

His face slowly drained of color.

Because at the very top was a livestream.

THE WEDDING OF THE CENTURY RUINED BY AFFAIR SCANDAL.

The penthouse doors burst open so hard they slammed against the walls.

Security barely had time to react before the entire damn family stormed inside like a hurricane.

Rainwater dripped across the marble floors.

Voices echoed everywhere.

“WHERE THE FUCK ARE THEY?!”

“UPSTAIRS!”

“MOVE!”

The luxury penthouse that once looked peaceful now felt like a crime scene waiting to happen.

Terrence Brown was already rolling his sleeves up.

Vincent Devereux looked murderous.

Clarisse was crying and cussing at the same time.

Alessia had taken one heel off completely like she was preparing to physically fight somebody herself.

And in the middle of all of it…

Eloray moved the fastest.

Nobody even realized how angry she truly was until she reached the bedroom hallway.

The massive bedroom doors were closed.

Muted laughter could still be heard inside.

Jason hadn’t even realized the storm had arrived yet.

Eloray’s breathing shook.

Her hands curled tightly into fists.

Then suddenly—

BANG!

She kicked the damn bedroom doors open with enough force to slam them against the walls.

“YOU MOTHER FUCKER!”

The room went silent instantly.

Jason nearly jumped off the bed.

Laraine screamed.

Both of them froze like idiots caught under a spotlight.

The television still played softly in the background.

Wine glasses sat on the nightstand.

Their clothes were scattered across the floor like evidence.

Jason stared at Eloray in complete horror.

“Eloray—”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!”

Her voice cracked through the room violently.

Even Jason looked stunned.

Because quiet little Eloray Brown?

Never yelled.

Never cursed.

Never embarrassed people publicly.

But years of emotional pressure had finally snapped completely in half.

The rest of the family stormed upstairs seconds later.

And chaos exploded.

“YOU DISGUSTING LITTLE BITCH!” Alessia screamed at Laraine immediately.

Clarisse pointed directly at Jason shaking with rage.

“MY DAUGHTER IS PREGNANT WITH YOUR CHILD!”

Vincent grabbed a lamp so aggressively security had to physically stop him from throwing it.

“I WILL FUCKING END YOU!”

Jason finally stood up trying to explain.

“Everybody calm down—”

Terrence punched him directly in the mouth.

Hard.

Jason stumbled backward into the dresser.

“CALM DOWN?!” Terrence roared. “YOU EMBARRASSED MY FUCKING DAUGHTER IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE CITY!”

Laraine quickly wrapped a silk robe around herself dramatically.

“Oh please, everybody’s acting like this is only my fault—”

Before she could finish—

SMACK!

Clarisse slapped the absolute shit out of her.

The sound echoed through the room.

“You TRIFLING ass girl!” Clarisse screamed. “We took you in! FED you! LOVED you!”

Laraine held her cheek in shock.

Eloray stood completely still near the doorway.

Her chest rose and fell hard.

Then she walked forward slowly.

Jason instantly looked nervous.

“Eloray baby listen—”

She grabbed him by the ear so aggressively he yelled out.

“AHH—SHIT!”

“Oh NOW I’m baby?!” Eloray snapped.

And before anyone could react—

She dragged him clean off the bed by his damn ear.

Jason stumbled barefoot across the floor trying to pull away.

“Eloray STOP!”

“NO!” she screamed. “YOU GONNA LISTEN TO ME TODAY!”

Everyone froze watching her.

Even Montavius had finally arrived upstairs and stopped near the doorway silently observing everything.

Eloray shoved Jason toward the center of the room.

Her eyes were glossy with fury.

“Do you know how long I spent trying to make everybody fucking happy?!”

Jason swallowed hard.

“Eloray—”

“NO!”

She pointed directly at Laraine.

“Years! YEARS of me doing every damn thing everybody wanted me to do!”

Her voice broke violently.

“I stayed quiet! I stayed obedient! I carried your damn baby! I let these families arrange my whole fucking life!”

The room fell silent except for her breathing.

“And for WHAT?”

She laughed bitterly through tears.

“So SHE could ruin everything because she couldn’t keep her fucking legs closed?!”

Laraine scoffed immediately.

“Oh please like Jason even wanted this marriage—”

Eloray lunged forward so suddenly security grabbed her around the waist.

“LET ME GO!”

Jason stepped back quickly.

Clarisse covered her mouth crying harder.

Terrence looked seconds away from homicide.

Meanwhile Laraine rolled her eyes dramatically.

“Jason loves me. He always loved me.”

Vincent snapped immediately.

“AND LOOK WHAT THE FUCK THAT LOVE CAUSED!”

Silence hit again.

The massive tension in the room felt suffocating.

Then one of the family elders finally stepped forward.

Dominic Devereux.

Vincent’s older uncle.

Gray-haired.

Cold-eyed.

Still terrifying despite his age.

He slammed his cane against the marble floor.

“ENOUGH!”

Everyone quieted instantly.

Dominic looked between the families carefully.

“This scandal has already spread across every media outlet in the country.”

He pointed toward Jason and Laraine.

“You two have humiliated both bloodlines.”

Then he looked toward Eloray.

And for a brief moment, something softer crossed his face.

“An emergency family meeting will be held in two days.”

Nobody argued.

Nobody dared.

Dominic’s voice lowered dangerously.

“And all of you WILL attend.”

Jason wiped blood from his lip nervously.

Laraine folded her arms.

Then finally—

Montavius moved.

The room instantly shifted the second he stepped fully inside.

Massive.

Terrifying.

Silent.

His black suit looked untouched despite the rain outside.

Laraine’s entire expression changed immediately.

“Montavius—”

She hurried toward him desperately.

“Baby listen, I can explain—”

Montavius looked at her for exactly two seconds.

Then—

SMACK.

The slap echoed so loudly the room froze.

Laraine stumbled sideways onto the floor completely stunned.

Everybody went dead silent.

Montavius stood over her with an expression so cold it barely looked human.

“You filthy fucking embarrassment,” he said lowly.

Laraine stared upward holding her cheek.

“Montavius—”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP.”

His voice boomed through the room so hard even Jason flinched.

“You stupid, desperate ass bitch.”

Nobody moved.

Nobody breathed.

Montavius pointed toward the television still displaying screenshots from the affair scandal.

“You humiliated this entire family for dick and attention?”

Laraine burst into tears immediately.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen like this—”

“You think I give a fuck?!”

His voice thundered again.

Jason stepped forward carefully.

“Bro calm down—”

Montavius turned slowly toward him.

And somehow that was worse.

“Don’t call me your fucking brother right now.”

Jason immediately shut up.

Montavius looked between both of them with complete disgust.

“You destroyed a pregnant woman publicly.”

His eyes shifted briefly toward Eloray.

Still standing there shaking quietly in her wedding gown.

“And for what?”

Nobody answered.

Because there wasn’t a damn answer good enough.

Montavius looked away coldly.

Then spoke the words that made the entire room tense.

“This meeting in two days?”

He adjusted his cufflinks slowly.

“It’s not gonna end the way y’all think.”

The Devereux estate was unusually quiet that evening.

Too quiet.

Normally, the massive mansion buzzed with movement—maids walking through hallways, security speaking through earpieces, distant music from one of the lounges, business calls echoing through offices.

But tonight?

The entire estate felt heavy.

Like everybody was waiting for a bomb to go off.

Rain tapped softly against the enormous windows while the city lights flickered far below the hill the estate sat on.

Inside one of the guest suites, Eloray sat silently in front of a giant vanity mirror.

Still in pieces of her wedding look.

Her massive gown had been partially loosened, the corset untied enough for her to breathe easier. Her bubble ponytails had started falling apart from the chaos earlier, curls resting against her shoulders messily.

Mascara stained her cheeks.

Foundation smudged beneath her eyes.

The room smelled faintly like roses and expensive makeup.

And for the first time all day…

Nobody was around her.

No cameras.

No screaming families.

No Jason.

Just silence.

Eloray grabbed a makeup wipe with shaking fingers and slowly wiped under her eyes.

The second she looked at herself in the mirror—

Her face crumbled.

A broken sound escaped her throat.

“Oh my God…”

Fresh tears poured immediately.

She covered her mouth quickly, trying to stop the crying, but it only got worse.

Everything hurt.

Her chest.

Her pride.

Her heart.

Her stomach tightened painfully from stress.

“I did everything right…” she whispered shakily to herself.

Her voice cracked completely.

“I did every fucking thing right…”

She bent forward slightly in the chair crying harder.

“I listened…”

Another wipe smeared makeup across her skin.

“I stayed quiet…”

Tears dropped onto her bare thighs.

“I tried so hard not to embarrass them…”

The baby shifted inside her stomach again.

Eloray immediately held her belly protectively.

“Oh baby…” she whispered emotionally. “I’m sorry…”

A knock suddenly sounded at the door.

Soft.

Controlled.

Eloray immediately wiped her face aggressively.

“Go away.”

Silence.

Then another knock.

Her irritation snapped instantly.

“I said GO AWAY, Jason!”

The door opened anyway.

Eloray turned angrily—

Then froze.

Because it wasn’t Jason.

It was Montavius.

Massive as ever.

Still dressed in black slacks and a partially unbuttoned dark shirt, his dreadlocks hanging behind him slightly damp from the rain earlier.

But what caught her attention most…

Was the plastic bag in his hand.

Eloray blinked through tears.

“…What?”

Montavius shut the door quietly behind himself.

Then lifted the bag slightly.

“You didn’t eat all day.”

Her face twisted immediately.

“I’m not hungry.”

“That’s bullshit.”

His voice was calm.

Low.

Not judgmental.

Just factual.

Eloray quickly looked away wiping her face again.

“I said I’m fine.”

Montavius walked over anyway.

The massive room somehow felt smaller the second he entered it.

He placed the bag down gently on the vanity beside her.

Eloray glanced downward.

Snacks.

Not random expensive food either.

Her snacks.

Her pregnancy snacks.

The exact chips she liked.

Fruit candies.

Chocolate covered strawberries.

The mango juice she always drank during family events.

Even the crackers she kept craving lately.

Her face softened despite herself.

“…How do you know what I eat?”

Montavius shrugged once.

“You always pick the same things.”

Her throat tightened again.

Of course he noticed.

Montavius noticed everything.

Even years ago.

Especially years ago.

The room grew quiet again.

Eloray kept staring down at the snacks while trying not to cry harder.

Then suddenly she laughed bitterly through tears.

“This is humiliating.”

Montavius leaned one shoulder against the wall beside the vanity.

“No,” he said quietly.

“What happened to you today was humiliating.”

Eloray’s lips trembled.

“That’s not better.”

He didn’t answer immediately.

Rain continued tapping softly outside.

Finally, Montavius spoke again.

“You didn’t fail anybody.”

Eloray let out a weak scoff.

“Yes I did.”

Her voice broke again.

“I embarrassed my whole family.”

“You didn’t do shit.”

“They’re all talking about me online—”

“They’re talking about Jason.”

Eloray shook her head immediately.

“No. They’re laughing at me.”

Her eyes filled again.

“I looked stupid…”

Montavius’ jaw tightened slightly.

“You looked loyal.”

That made her cry harder instantly.

A small broken sound escaped her throat while she covered her face.

Montavius moved before thinking.

Before considering consequences.

He crouched slightly in front of her chair.

Huge hands resting carefully against his knees.

“Eloray.”

She kept crying quietly.

“Eloray.”

Slowly, she lowered her hands.

Her mascara-stained face looked shattered.

Montavius stared at her silently for a moment.

And honestly?

Something dangerous stirred in his chest.

Because she looked beautiful even now.

Soft.

Pregnant.

Heartbroken.

And somehow still worried about disappointing everybody else instead of herself.

It pissed him off more than he expected.

“You know what your problem is?” he asked quietly.

She sniffled.

“What?”

“You think love is something you earn.”

Her brows pulled together slightly.

Montavius reached up slowly.

Carefully.

Like she might pull away.

His thumb brushed beneath her eye gently, wiping away tears and ruined mascara.

Eloray froze completely.

“You spend so much time trying to make everybody else comfortable,” he continued quietly, “you forgot people are supposed to love you too.”

The room went completely still.

Her breathing slowed.

Montavius’ large hand stayed against her cheek.

Warm.

Steady.

Safe.

And suddenly—

Memories hit both of them at once.

Years ago.

Before the family swap.

Before Jason.

Before Laraine.

It had originally been Montavius and Eloray.

Everybody knew it.

The families planned it quietly for years.

Because unlike Jason, Montavius actually understood Eloray.

He noticed when she got overwhelmed.

He remembered tiny details about her.

He listened.

And Eloray had always looked calmer around him.

Too calm.

Too attached.

That was exactly why the families separated them.

People feared what would happen if the future Mafia king became emotionally attached to somebody soft-hearted.

They feared Eloray would become a weakness.

So they switched the matches.

Jason got Eloray.

Montavius got Laraine.

And now look where the fuck that ended.

Eloray swallowed shakily.

“You should hate me too.”

Montavius frowned immediately.

“For what?”

“This whole mess.”

His expression darkened.

“Eloray.”

She looked down again.

“I’m carrying Jason’s baby…”

Montavius looked at her stomach quietly.

Then back at her face.

And when he spoke again, his voice was frighteningly gentle.

“That baby didn’t betray you.”

Eloray’s lips parted slightly.

Neither of them moved.

Neither realized how close they were now.

Then suddenly—

The baby kicked hard.

Eloray gasped softly grabbing her stomach.

Montavius’ eyes dropped immediately.

“…You okay?”

She nodded weakly.

“He’s been moving a lot today.”

Montavius stared at her belly for a long moment.

Then looked back up at her.

And for the first time all day…

Eloray felt safe enough to cry without hiding it.

Two days later, Manhattan looked gray and vicious beneath the rain.

Black luxury vehicles lined the front of Devereux International Holdings, one of the largest corporate skyscrapers in the entire city. The building itself towered into the clouds like a warning.

Cold.

Massive.

Untouchable.

Security surrounded every entrance.

News reporters screamed questions from behind barricades.

Camera flashes exploded endlessly.

“MISS BROWN, ARE YOU STILL ENGAGED TO JASON?!”

“IS THE BABY STILL A DEVEREUX HEIR?!”

“WHAT ABOUT THE AFFAIR?!”

The doors immediately shut behind the families the second they entered the building.

Inside the private executive elevator, the tension was suffocating.

Nobody spoke.

Not even Laraine.

For once, even she looked nervous.

Eloray stood silently near the back of the elevator in a loose cream-colored dress that draped gently over her pregnant stomach. Her bubble ponytails rested over one shoulder neatly today, but her face looked different now.

Emotionally exhausted.

Numb.

Like she’d cried until there was nothing left.

Clarisse kept glancing toward her daughter worriedly.

Terrence looked seconds away from another blood pressure spike.

Jason kept trying to look at Eloray.

She never looked back once.

And Montavius?

Montavius stood directly behind her.

Massive.

Silent.

Like a wall.

Every time the elevator shifted slightly, his hand hovered near the small of Eloray’s back instinctively, making sure she stayed steady.

Jason noticed.

And hated it immediately.

The elevator doors opened onto the executive floor.

The families stepped into the private meeting hall where the Devereux elders already waited around a massive black marble table.

The atmosphere instantly turned ugly.

The second everyone sat down—

The arguing started.

“This entire thing could’ve been prevented!”

“Your son humiliated my daughter publicly!”

“Oh please your adopted daughter opened her damn legs too!”

“WATCH YOUR FUCKING MOUTH!”

“ENOUGH!”

Voices echoed violently around the room.

Lawyers shuffled paperwork nervously.

Security guards stood near the walls looking uncomfortable.

Jason rubbed his face irritably.

Laraine sat dramatically with folded arms pretending she was the victim somehow.

Meanwhile…

Eloray sat silently in one of the leather chairs near the center of the room.

Completely detached.

One hand rested over her stomach absentmindedly while the chaos exploded around her.

She didn’t even flinch anymore.

Montavius stood directly behind her chair watching the room carefully.

Watching everyone.

Especially Jason.

Every time Jason even glanced too long at Eloray, Montavius’ expression darkened slightly.

Dominic Devereux slammed his cane against the marble floor hard enough to shake the room.

“SHUT UP!”

Silence finally hit.

The old man looked furious.

Disappointed.

Exhausted.

“This scandal has already affected business relations, political contracts, family partnerships, and public image.”

He pointed directly toward Jason and Laraine.

“You two acted like reckless fucking teenagers.”

Laraine immediately scoffed.

“Well maybe if people stopped treating love like a business deal—”

“Love?” Alessia snapped. “You call screwing your sister’s fiancé love?!”

Laraine rolled her eyes dramatically.

“Oh my God here we go—”

“Girl shut the HELL up,” Clarisse hissed.

Jason suddenly stood up.

“Can we stop acting like I’m the only person involved here?”

Vincent looked ready to strangle him.

“You embarrassed this entire bloodline!”

Jason pointed toward Eloray.

“I never wanted this damn arrangement in the first place!”

The room went quiet again.

Eloray slowly lifted her eyes toward him for the first time.

That hurt more than the affair somehow.

Not anger.

Not screaming.

Just disappointment.

Jason immediately regretted saying it.

“Eloray I didn’t mean—”

“Then why’d you propose to her?” Montavius finally spoke.

His voice cut through the room like a blade.

Jason looked toward him immediately.

Montavius stepped forward slowly from behind Eloray’s chair.

Towering.

Cold.

“You had years to say no.”

Jason clenched his jaw.

“You think this whole arranged marriage shit is normal?”

“No,” Montavius replied calmly. “But humiliating a pregnant woman publicly isn’t normal either.”

Jason went silent.

Because there was no comeback for that.

Dominic exhaled heavily before speaking again.

“The elders have reached a final conclusion.”

Everyone looked toward him.

Even the lawyers stopped moving.

Dominic’s voice echoed coldly through the room.

“The engagements will be restored to their original intended arrangements.”

The room exploded immediately.

“What?!”

“You can’t be serious!”

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!”

Laraine’s head snapped toward Montavius instantly.

Meanwhile Clarisse looked stunned.

Jason frowned deeply.

Dominic continued anyway.

“Years ago, the families originally intended for Montavius Devereux and Eloray Brown to marry.”

Eloray slowly looked upward.

Her brows pulled together slightly.

Dominic pointed toward Jason.

“You and Laraine disrupted those original arrangements yourselves.”

Vincent rubbed his forehead exhausted.

“After extensive discussion, both families have agreed to correct the mistake.”

Laraine immediately stood up.

“You can’t just switch people around like fucking chess pieces!”

“You already did that yourselves,” Alessia snapped.

Laraine pointed toward Eloray bitterly.

“So she just gets rewarded now?!”

That finally made Eloray speak.

Quietly.

“I didn’t win anything.”

The room fell silent briefly.

Because the hurt in her voice sounded genuine.

Montavius looked down at her immediately.

Jason suddenly stood up harder.

“No.”

Everybody looked toward him.

Jason swallowed hard.

“No way.”

Vincent stared at his son dangerously.

“You don’t get a say anymore.”

Jason ignored him completely.

His eyes stayed on Eloray.

“She’s carrying my child.”

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

Jason pointed toward her stomach emotionally.

“That’s still my baby.”

Montavius’ face darkened immediately.

Jason kept going anyway.

“I’m not disappearing from my kid’s life just because everybody’s pissed off right now.”

Eloray looked visibly overwhelmed immediately.

Jason noticed and softened slightly.

“Eloray… I know I fucked up.”

Montavius moved before she could even answer.

He stepped directly between them.

Huge.

Terrifying.

Protective.

“You lost the right to stand near her the second you publicly humiliated her.”

Jason scoffed.

“Oh so what now? You’re gonna play daddy to my child?”

Montavius’ eyes turned deadly calm.

“If necessary.”

The room went dead fucking silent.

Jason stared at him.

“You serious right now?”

Montavius stepped closer.

Close enough to make Jason instinctively back up slightly.

“You think fatherhood starts and ends with blood?”

His voice lowered dangerously.

“That woman sat at an altar carrying your child while you fucked her sister on camera.”

Jason’s jaw tightened hard.

“You don’t get to act possessive now.”

Jason looked furious.

“That’s still MY baby.”

Montavius shut him down immediately.

“No.”

His voice boomed through the room.

“That is HER baby first.”

Eloray looked upward slowly.

Montavius pointed toward Jason coldly.

“And until she decides what role you deserve in that child’s life…”

His expression turned terrifying.

“You stay the fuck away from her.”

The meeting room had completely fallen apart.

Everybody was yelling again.

Lawyers argued with family elders.

Laraine screamed about being “humiliated.”

Jason kept trying to push past security.

Clarisse cried dramatically into tissues.

Vincent threatened to cut people out of inheritances every five minutes.

The atmosphere was loud.

Chaotic.

Embarrassing.

And right in the middle of all of it…

Eloray finally broke emotionally.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

Quietly.

She lowered her head slowly while gripping the arms of the leather chair.

Her breathing shook.

Too many voices.

Too many eyes.

Too much pressure.

The baby shifted hard inside her stomach again.

Her vision blurred slightly.

She suddenly felt exhausted.

So fucking exhausted.

“I can’t do this anymore…” she whispered.

Nobody heard her at first.

Except Montavius.

Of course he did.

His eyes dropped toward her immediately.

“Eloray?”

She shook her head weakly.

“I’m tired…”

Something inside Montavius snapped into place instantly.

The room was still screaming around them.

Jason pointed across the room aggressively.

“You can’t keep her away from me!”

“The HELL I can’t!” Terrence roared back.

Laraine slammed her hands on the table.

“This whole thing is insane!”

Dominic yelled for order again.

Nobody listened.

Then suddenly—

Montavius moved.

Without warning, he bent down beside Eloray’s chair and slid one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back.

The room abruptly quieted in confusion.

And before Eloray could even process it—

He lifted her into his arms.

Completely.

Effortlessly.

A soft gasp escaped her lips as her arms instinctively wrapped around his shoulders.

The entire room froze.

Jason’s face darkened instantly.

“Bro what the fuck are you doing?”

Montavius ignored him completely.

Eloray looked startled in his arms.

“M-Montavius?”

His grip tightened slightly beneath her legs protectively.

“We’re leaving.”

Dominic frowned.

“And where exactly are you going?”

Montavius looked toward the elders calmly.

“To fix this properly.”

Laraine scoffed loudly.

“Oh my GOD he’s being dramatic—”

Montavius shot her a look so cold she immediately shut up.

Then he spoke the words that made the entire room lose their minds.

“We’re going to the courthouse.”

Silence.

Then—

Clarisse blinked rapidly.

“…What?”

Montavius adjusted Eloray slightly against his chest.

“We’re getting married.”

The room erupted again.

“RIGHT NOW?!”

“Have you lost your damn mind?!”

“Montavius be serious!”

Jason stepped forward furiously.

“You can’t just marry her because you’re angry!”

Montavius finally looked toward his brother.

And honestly?

The hatred in his eyes startled everybody.

“No,” he said coldly. “I’m marrying her because she deserves better than you.”

Jason looked like he got punched in the chest.

Eloray stared up at Montavius speechlessly.

Her heart pounded hard.

Everything was happening too fast.

Too fast.

But somehow…

For the first time in days…

She didn’t feel scared.

Montavius looked down at her quietly.

“Do you trust me?”

The entire room waited.

Eloray stared at him for a long moment.

Then slowly…

Very slowly…

She nodded.

Montavius immediately turned and walked toward the doors with her still in his arms.

Jason exploded.

“ELORAY!”

She flinched slightly at the sound of his voice.

But she never looked back.

Not once.

Montavius carried her straight through the executive floor while employees pretended not to stare.

Security hurried after them.

The elevator doors opened immediately.

As soon as they entered, silence finally settled around them.

Just the two of them.

Eloray’s breathing trembled softly.

Montavius looked down at her.

“You okay?”

She laughed weakly through lingering tears.

“No.”

That almost made him smile.

Almost.

The elevator descended quietly.

Outside, reporters instantly lost their minds the second they saw them emerge.

“Oh my God—!”

“IS THAT ELORAY?!”

“MONTAVIUS!”

“ARE YOU TWO TOGETHER?!”

Camera flashes exploded everywhere.

But Montavius didn’t slow down.

Didn’t acknowledge anybody.

He carried Eloray directly toward the black SUV waiting outside while shielding her face against his chest from the cameras.

Inside the vehicle, Eloray finally exhaled shakily.

The rain hit the windows softly while the city blurred around them.

For a long moment neither of them spoke.

Then quietly—

“You really mean this?”

Montavius looked at her immediately.

“Yes.”

“You don’t have to marry me because you feel bad.”

His expression hardened slightly.

“Eloray.”

She looked down.

“I’m serious…”

Montavius reached over slowly.

His large hand covered hers gently.

“I don’t do anything out of pity.”

Her chest tightened instantly.

Because somehow…

She believed him.

—

The courthouse looked almost laughably plain compared to the chaos surrounding their families.

No flowers.

No orchestra.

No giant cathedral.

No audience.

Just gray walls.

Fluorescent lights.

Paperwork.

And exhausted workers who suddenly realized exactly who had walked into the building.

The entire place went dead silent.

One woman nearly dropped her coffee.

Another employee whispered aggressively.

“Oh my God that’s the Devereux family—”

Eloray suddenly felt nervous again.

She adjusted the sleeves of her soft cream dress awkwardly.

Montavius stayed beside her the entire time.

Close.

Steady.

Protective.

When the clerk handed over the paperwork, Eloray’s fingers trembled slightly holding the pen.

Montavius noticed immediately.

Without speaking, he rested one large hand against the small of her back.

Grounding her.

Helping her breathe.

The tiny gesture nearly made her emotional all over again.

The clerk cleared her throat nervously.

“So… uh… are both parties entering this marriage willingly?”

Montavius answered first.

“Yes.”

Eloray looked up at him briefly.

Then nodded softly.

“Yes.”

The clerk swallowed hard.

“Okay then…”

Papers shuffled.

Signatures filled lines.

Rings weren’t even ready yet.

Everything felt strangely quiet compared to the disaster earlier.

And somehow…

That made it feel more real.

Finally, the photographer appeared.

“Alright, we just need one photo for the marriage license.”

Eloray instantly looked embarrassed.

“My makeup is ruined…”

Montavius looked down at her calmly.

“You still look beautiful.”

Her entire face heated immediately.

The photographer awkwardly positioned them in front of the neutral backdrop.

Montavius stood behind Eloray slightly, one arm wrapped securely around her waist while she rested naturally against his chest.

The baby bump sat visibly between them.

The photographer smiled nervously.

“Okay… just look at the camera…”

Flash.

For a brief second—

Everything stopped.

No screaming families.

No scandals.

No betrayal.

Just the two of them.

And when the picture printed moments later…

Even the courthouse workers noticed something strange.

Eloray looked peaceful standing beside him.

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