The silence that followed Gina’s announcement struck like a thunderclap in the lavish sitting room. For a moment, not even the ornate grandfather clock dared tick too loudly. Julius remained seated, still as stone, his phone slipping back into the inner pocket, a satisfied smile on his face. Meanwhile, Geoffrey Lemar looked like a man who had been shot point blank, left to deal with the reality of his death.“No…!”He whispered louder, more desperate. “No… no, wait!”He lurched forward, stumbling over the edge of the Persian rug before collapsing to his knees in front of Julius.“Please, please, you can’t do this!” Geoffrey begged, voice breaking as he reached out and clutched the edge of Julius’s coat.“I didn’t know. I swear to God, I didn’t know she was going to run her mouth like that! I wasn’t involved in those interviews, those statements. That was all Delilah! You know how she is—”Julius didn’t flinch. He looked down at Geoffrey with a cold, unreadable stare.“I’ve got emp

Delilah collapsed to her knees on the cold marble floor of her drawing room, shoulders trembling, cheeks slick with tears. Her sobs echoed off the high ceilings, sharp and pathetic.“Please, Julius,” she gasped, palms flat on the ground before him. “I’m sorry. I was stupid… I didn’t mean anything I said. I was just… angry. Scared. Please, don’t do this.”Julius stood above her, expression carved from stone. “Take responsibility,” he said coldly, his voice cutting through her pleas like a blade. “You wanted consequences? You’ve earned them.”Delilah opened her mouth to beg again when a calm but firm voice came from the doorway.“Is this what you’ve become?”Everyone turned.Miley and her mother stood in the archway.Delilah scrambled to her feet as if salvation had walked in.“Mom!” she cried, rushing over and gripping her mother’s hands. “Please, please talk to him! Julius can’t do this to us. We’ll be bankrupt! He’s cutting Geoffrey off… mom, please!”WHAM!Without a word, her mother

That morning, the estate buzzed with the quiet energy of anticipation. The final preparations for the grand reception were underway: florists moved through the hallways, arranging snowy white roses and gold-dipped orchids along staircases and hallways. The team of chefs were busy managing the kitchens, so that the rest of the evening would go over smoothly, while security measures had been doubled. Every corridor gleamed, as the cleaners were ready with mops every time someone walked past… in the heart of it all, Miley stood before her full-length mirror, glowing.Her skin was hidden under a layer of mud masks specially recommended by the esthetician for a beautiful bridal glow.Her assistant unboxed the tray of morning refreshments and held up her phone to show the trending page: fan edits, early guests’ photos, and admiration posts for her elegant public composure.There was a soft knock on the door. Two uniformed staff members entered with reverent care, holding a pristine white

Miley was standing beside Julius without letting any of the irritation or annoyance that she was feeling inside, appear on her face. As if Evelyn Roselake’s theatrics didn’t even graze her. Because while Miley might be affected by this inside… on the outside, Lady Miley Colton wasn't going to show the world her weakness. Her silence wasn’t submission, it was elegance wrapped in restraint. Julius, however, wasn’t in the mood for diplomacy today. Evelyn’s lips curved in a self-satisfied smirk. “Well, I couldn’t possibly come empty handed… even if you have made such a bad decision I must give my greetings.”At her cue, two assistants wheeled in a sprawling gold draped table, stacked with ostentatious gifts. Towering designer boxes gleamed under the crystal chandeliers, accompanied by ornate trays of imported accessories, a pyramid of rare wines, and a gleaming centerpiece bottle of Platinova Champagne nestled in ice.The crowd shifted with murmurs and awe-struck whispers.“She brou

The chandelier lights from the Colton estate reception still haunted Delilah’s mind long after the guests had gone home. The graceful swirl of Miley’s dove-gray dress, the way Julius had shielded her, kissed her forehead in front of everyone, and danced with her like they were untouchable, those images played on repeat, sharpening her fury like a knife against bone.She sat hunched at the dining table in their now-quiet estate, fingernails tapping against the cracked crystal glass in front of her. Across from her, Geoffrey looked like a man aging by the minute. His tie hung undone around his neck, and the hollowed look in his eyes spoke volumes of the night’s humiliation.“Do you think they’ll reverse the Colton contract?” Geoffrey finally asked, voice low and desperate.Delilah didn’t answer. She didn’t need to. The press conference had aired hours ago: clips of her forced apology, Miley’s mother’s slap, and Julius’s cold declarations had been dissected by every tabloid and podcast