Chapter 4
On the day of my birthday party, Dad threw me a massive celebration.[]
The entire ballroom was packed with Dad’s friends, all there to celebrate with me.[]
I scanned the crowd but didn’t see Dex anywhere.[]
He had to be here today.]
I called him, and the phone rang once before he immediately picked up.[]
“Where are you?“]
He let out a soft laugh.[]
“What? You really want me there to watch Dad announce you’re marrying Kieran?“[]
After a pause, his voice turned slightly hoarse.[]
“Riley, that’s pretty cruel.“]]
The emotions wrapped up in those words were too complex for me to untangle.]]
I gripped the phone tighter, my tone leaving no room for argument: “Yes, I want you there.“[]
“Are you coming or not?“]]
The line went quiet for a moment.[]
Finally, he spoke: “Fine, I’ll be there.“[]
Just then, commotion erupted at the ballroom entrance.[]
Kieran walked in with his arm around Mara, looking completely intimate.[]
The guests started whispering, their gazes bouncing between the three of us, full of curiosity and judgment.[]
I could feel several pitying looks directed my way, as if I were already some pathetic woman about to be dumped.[]
My second brother, Bryce, was the first to lose his cool, He strode over with a furrowed brow.[]
“Kieran, what the hell are you doing?” Bryce kept his voice low but it carried clear warning. “Today is Riley’s birthday party. Dad’s about to announce your engagement to Riley, and you’re still hanging all over Mara?“]
Hearing this, Kieran’s lips curved into a mocking sneer.]
Instead of putting distance between himself and Mara, he pulled her even closer, as if declaring his ownership to the entire world.
“Engagement?” He scoffed, “I came here today to tell Dad that I don’t love Riley Cortez at all!“[]
His gaze shot toward me like an arrow, filled with disgust and determination.[]
“I will never marry her!“]
His words caused an uproar throughout the room.[]
The smile on Dad’s face instantly froze, his eyes shooting daggers at Kieran.[]
Kieran added another blow, his voice ringing clear: “After Dad makes his announcement, I’m cutting all ties with the Cortez family!”
Hearing this, our brothers immediately got agitated and rushed forward to talk Kieran down, telling him not to be impulsive.
But he remained stone–faced: “Don’t bother trying to convince me. I could never marry someone I don’t love just to keep up appearances. I’d rather die!“[]
Mara nestled in Kieran’s arms, shooting me a triumphant look.[]
As if to say: “See? I won. Kieran chose me in the end.“]]
I just let out a cold laugh.]
Kieran, you really didn’t “disappoint” me.[]
For Mara, you’d really do anything.
Just as the party was about to begin, Dex finally showed up fashionably late.
His face showed obvious signs of drinking, but his eyes looked strangely clear.[]
As the lights dimmed, Dad walked onto the stage and solemnly thanked the guests.
“Thank you all so much for coming to my daughter’s birthday party. I also have an important announcement to make today regarding my daughter’s marriage.“]
“I hereby announce that after I step down, the Cortez family will be managed jointly by my tenth son, Dex North, and my daughter. He will also become my daughter Riley Cortez’s husband!“]
The entire room fell silent.[]
No one had expected Dex to be the chosen one.[]
After a long moment, we heard Kieran’s shocked voice: “What?!“]
