2025-08-19 06:27:16
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Chapter Sixty Three
Cassandra approached with a velvet box. “The jeweler delivered the rings.”Eleanor gestured sharply. “Show us.”Cassandra opened the box carefully. Two bands rested inside—one gold, one platinum.“This is the final selection,” Cassandra said. “Simple, discreet, exactly as requested. No engraving, no personalization.”Richard leaned forward. “Appropriate. The symbolism is corporate, not sentimental.”Hayes inspected them briefly. “Approved.”Eleanor fixed Cassandra with a hard stare. “You’ll carry them to the registrar without question.”Cassandra nodded. “I will. The wedding rings are finalized.”The chandeliers blazed above the crowded ballroom as Mr. Hayes lifted his glass.“Tonight,” he said, voice cutting across the applause, “we celebrate not only family but progress. This pre-wedding reception marks more than our children's marriage, it marks the completion of the Hayes–Sterling merger, ensuring the future of Hayes Telecom.”Guests raised their glasses, murmuring approval. Eleano
Chapter Sixty Two
Cassandra stood by the long table in the drawing room, stacked with binders, lists, and sealed envelopes. Eleanor’s voice cut across the room.“Check the order of service again. Every page must align.”Cassandra picked up the sheet. “Processional, vows, registry, exchange of rings, signatures. I’ve confirmed each step.”“Reconfirm,” Eleanor snapped. “The registrar cannot see hesitation. This ceremony is discreet, efficient, and final.”“I’ll ensure it,” Cassandra said quietly. She marked the checklist with a pen.Eleanor nodded. “And the decorations?”“Minimal. White florals only. No excess. Discretion is preserved.”“Good,” Eleanor replied. “You’ll hold the line until the moment of signing.”At the far side of the drawing room, Marjorie tapped on her phone, then looked up. “The press has been fed. Every outlet now carries the same narrative—Nathan Kane excluded, merger secured, stability guaranteed.”Richard entered, hearing the remark. “And the tone?”“Negative toward Nathan,” Marjo
Chapter Sixty One
At a private exclusive club, Mr. Hayes placed a thick folder on the mahogany table. “Richard, Eleanor, this is the final outline. The ceremony logistics are aligned with the merger contract and nothing deviates.”Richard Sterling leaned forward. “Our political allies are briefed. Once the vows are exchanged, the government contract will flow directly to us. The timing is exact.”Eleanor adjusted her notes. “Cassandra has been directed to follow the script without resistance. She will not deviate from the lines Liam rehearsed.”Hayes gave a single nod. “Good. Once the signatures are exchanged, the financial press will be notified, and the Sterling-Hayes alliance becomes irreversible.”At the opposite end of the club, Marjorie leaned against the bar, speaking to two senior members. “Nathan’s absence guarantees everything. He’s not here for the wedding, not here for the board. It’s proof he no longer stands with us.”One member frowned. “So he abandoned the company?”“That’s what everyon
Chapter Sixty
At the Hayes mansion library, Mr. Hayes set the thick binder on the polished table. “Eleanor, everything would go smoothly. The merger is bound by the wedding. No delays. No second guesses.”Eleanor crossed her arms. “Cassandra has confirmed the final details. The florist, the legal witnesses, even the press blackout. Discretion is secure.”“Good,” Hayes replied curtly. “If anyone leaks, we lose our advantage with the regulators. I want zero noise.”Eleanor smirked. “Marjorie already did her part. She painted Nathan as a traitor. Half the staff won’t even take his calls. He’s toxic now.”Mr. Hayes glanced at her. “And the board?”“They’ve stopped considering him,” Eleanor said. “Marjorie spread the right whispers—that he questioned loyalty to Hayes Telecom, that he opposed the Sterling alliance. No one wants to be associated with him.”Hayes’s lips thinned. “Then we’re in alignment.”Marjorie stood at the far end of the library, tapping her tablet. “I spoke with four executives this m
Chapter Fifty Nine
“One week,” Eleanor said without hesitation. “No delays. The sooner it’s sealed, the sooner our empire expands.”Marjorie smiled thinly. “And the sooner Nathan is forgotten.”Mr. Hayes adjusted his tie. “Security will begin tonight. No one enters or leaves the circle without my clearance. Not even family.”Richard chuckled. “Excessive, but necessary.”Liam stepped back, admiring Cassandra. “You’ll stand beside me in that dress, and the world will see we were always meant to be.”Cassandra remained silent, her hands at her sides.Eleanor clapped once. “It’s settled. The gown is chosen. The timeline is fixed, the venue is secret, security arranged, this marriage will not fail.”Everyone nodded.Cassandra, still in the gown, gave her final word. “I’ll wear it."At the Sterling mansion ballroom, Eleanor snapped her fingers at the decorators. “The drapes go higher, the flowers stay white. This wedding will be discreet, but every photograph must scream power.”Cassandra stood at her side, a
Chapter Fifty Eight
At the city’s most luxurious bridal boutique, Eleanor snapped her fingers at the attendant. “Bring the ivory gown.” And the pearl-stitched veil. Cassandra will try both.”“Yes, ma’am.” The woman hurried off.Cassandra stood on the platform, still and obedient, as attendants fussed with pins and fabric. Eleanor circled her, eyes sharp. “You’ll wear the dress without question. This wedding must be perfect. Every detail reflects our family.”Cassandra gave a small nod.Richard entered moments later, adjusting his cufflinks. “So this is where billions are cemented. A bridal shop.”Eleanor smirked. “Don’t mock it, appearances control perception. The right gown, the right image—it convinces shareholders as much as contracts.”Richard shrugged. “Fair enough. As long as the profits flow.”Marjorie leaned in from the doorway. “Profits are safer if the venue is hidden. Public places invite interference. Rivals could use Nathan, or worse, scandal. I suggest a private estate. Something secret and
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