Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown novel Chapter 79

"All along..."

As soon as Aaron began to speak, the room fell silent once more. Every eye was fixed on him.

Aaron was not only born into privilege but also possessed striking looks and a commanding presence. It was nearly impossible to look away from him, especially when he was about to announce something as monumental as his marriage.

"There have been countless speculations about my romantic life. To put a stop to the tabloids' endless gossip, today I've decided to..."

"Aaron..." A soft voice interrupted, laced with vulnerability.

The crowd turned to see Cynthia Lynwood, adorned in a flowing white dress, and a wave of surprise rippled through them. Cynthia’s arrival at such a critical moment made the atmosphere suddenly tense.

Aaron's eyes darkened slightly when he realized it was Vivian who had brought Cynthia in. He released Serena's hand and moved toward Cynthia. Serena watched his hand slip away, a faint smile playing on her lips. She had long abandoned any expectations. The only discomfort she felt was a slight ache in her chest—perhaps a remnant of past affections.

Standing in front of Cynthia, Aaron's eyes were stormy, though his face remained impassive. "Why did you bring Cynthia here?" he asked Vivian, who had changed into a new outfit.

Ignoring Aaron's question, Vivian cast a challenging glance at Serena and said, "Brother, I knew you were going to announce a marriage today. To surprise Cynthia, I deliberately didn’t invite her, so I brought her myself!"

Cynthia's cough intensified, each one sharper than the last. "Aaron," she wheezed, "who is the lucky woman to become your wife?"

Aaron's expression flickered with unease. Cynthia's coughing was grating, unsettling his thoughts. "Cynthia!" he said, his voice softening slightly. "You're too weak to be here. Let me take you back to the hospital."

Without waiting for a reply, he wheeled Cynthia out of the banquet hall, leaving the guests exchanging bewildered glances.

Mr. Vance’s last words seemed to answer Miss Sullivan’s question. After all, Mr. Vance left with Miss Lynwood.