Chapter 5
Soon, the ritual was complete.
Color returned to Vanessa’s cheeks, and, miraculously, her once–paralyzed legs regained strength–she stood up on her own.
Levi was beside himself with joy. A gorgeous, wealthy girl like her was about to become his bride.
Watching as the frail twins were carried away, I clenched my fists so tightly my knuckles turned white.
Levi didn’t care in the slightest whether the twins‘ bodies could survive another ceremony like this.
A man like him didn’t deserve to be called a father.
It wasn’t long before the Granthol family made good on their promise- Vanessa would marry Levi.
The next time I saw Levi was on their wedding day.
He showed up in the basement where I was being kept, dressed to the nines in a tailored suit.
“Evie, now you finally understand why I had to do it, don’t you?
“This is a once–in–a–lifetime chance to make it big–anyone in my shoes would’ve done the same!”
I shot him a mocking smile. “Do you really think it’s that easy to marry into the richest family in America?”
Levi scoffed, pulling out a check for 20 million dollars.
“As long as I hand over the kids, I get 20 million dollars! Even if I don’t end up as the billionaire’s son–in–law, I’ll still walk away with 20 million!
“Evie, ever since we got married, you have stayed home and don’t have to work. You have no idea how much crap I had to put up with at the office!
“But now, whether it’s the money or the status, I’ve got it all. I have zero regrets!
“You’re so short–sighted. You’ll never understand how much money and power mean to a man!”
Watching him walk away, I felt nothing but disappointment.
It was Levi who insisted I quit my job and be a full–time homemaker, promising he’d take care of me. I never hesitated–I resigned without a second thought.
It was Levi who said he wanted children of his own, so I ran from hospital to hospital for endless IVF treatments, wrecking my body in the process.
Just because he was good to me, I gave everything without limits.
Looking back, all those so–called acts of kindness were nothing but the cheapest gestures.
If I could, I’d slap my former self awake.
Taking a deep breath, I reminded myself–this isn’t over yet. There’s still a chance to set things right.
Meanwhile, the Granthol family wedding was a grand affair, overflowing with joy and celebration.
Levi, looking every bit the part in his sharp suit, strolled through the crowd with a glass of red wine, savoring every moment.
All those former bosses, coworkers, and clients who used to look down.
Cueter
on him now trailed after him, fawning and flattering, desperate for hist
attention.
Edward and Fiona, too, basked in the spotlight at the reception, their vanity fully satisfied.
Edward, especially, was surrounded by young women as glamorous as Fiona, his devotion to Daniela now nothing but a distant memory.
At that moment, a former supervisor who’d once punished Levi nervously approached, hoping Levi would let bygones be bygones.
Levi watched him with a half–smile, then, without warning, tipped his entire glass of wine onto his own leather shoes. “Oh, look at me–how clumsy! Tell me, Mr. Raffin, what do you think I should do?”
Kaleb Raffin, face pale, dropped to his knees and began frantically wiping Levi’s shoes with his sleeve, asking if Levi was satisfied.
He kicked him aside, sneering, and called for security to throw him out.
Kaleb shouted in anger, “You were skimming off the top! I only punished. you according to company policy–what did I do wrong?”
Everyone else at the party pretended not to hear, quickly smoothing over the awkward scene.
It was only then that Levi truly understood the power of status and authority.
He raised his wine glass high, basking in his newfound success, making grand promises to everyone around him.
Soon, the wedding began.
Levi stood at the bottom of the villa’s grand staircase, waiting for his
bride.
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When he saw her youthful, beautiful face, his heart soared.
Then, Dominic Granthol, the wealthiest man himself, stood on stage and announced that he was handing over all his businesses to Levi.
Edward and Fiona, too, were promised massive fortunes.
The three of them were so overwhelmed by the windfall that they could barely believe it was real.
Trembling, they accepted the deeds Dominic handed them, and only then. did reality sink in.
They nearly jumped for joy.
After barely containing their excitement, they shakily signed their names.
Once everything was settled, I finally appeared at the wedding.
This farce was about to end.
