The Supreme Heir

Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

The silence lingered, but it only lasted for a couple of seconds.

Murmuring took over, whispers of uncertainty kept on hanging in the air.

Everyone was waiting, eager to hear what the lady was going to say.

“What if she chooses the peasant?” One of the guests asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she glared at Dante, appalled by the thought of someone being with a loser like him.

“Then she surely likes to suffer…” A low tone responded to the lady’s question, grabbing his champagne flute and taking a sip.

“I would rather die than see my daughter get married to a man like Dante.” Someone familiar with the Hart family whispered from the back, causing some of the guests close to him to turn to look at him.

He was confident with his words, and while he received a few nods of approval, some others were curious to know why he had gone extreme with his remark.

However, that was not enough to steal the entire attention that was initially focused on the stage.

Everyone soon returned their gazes to the couple, their eyes more focused on the future bride.

The officiant had drifted backward, awaiting the response from Jasmine.

At that moment, the wedding could wait. All that mattered was that everyone wanted to know if the lady in question was getting married to Damien Blackwood willingly, or if she was being compelled to.

“Miss Hart?” The officiant called out, and as soon as he was certain that he had Jasmine’s attention, he cleared his throat before he continued with a more audible tone.

“What is your response? Are you willing to continue with this wedding, or do you want to cancel it?”

“Why would you even ask her that?!” Dorothy sprang from where she was seated, rising with fury.

She walked up to the stage, her eyes sparking with rage as she glared at Dante.

Then she pointed him in the face, sparking with rage.

“What the hell are you doing here?! Who invited you to this wedding?!” She waited, but Dante didn’t look like he was ready to break his silence.

He soon withdrew his gaze from her, slowly returning it to Jasmine.

“My Dear?” He called out with a soft tone, and then he forced a smile amidst the pain and anger that burned inside him.

“What have you decided? Are you willing to throw away all the years we have shared?” He asked, and then he pointed to Damien.

“He is not worth it. I assure you. He will only make your life a misery, a living hell.”

“And you are the one who is supposed to make her life blissful, isn’t it?” Nadia asked, marching straight to the stage.

Her eyes were sparking with disdain as she approached, pointing at Dante in the face.

“Don’t you ever get tired of flocking around my sister? With your dirty self.” She rolled her eyes at him for the umpteenth time, unable to hide her disdain.

Dante scoffed, shaking his head while he held onto his wry smile.

“But I wasn’t talking to you, Nadia. What are you doing here?”

“I am here to make sure that my cousin doesn’t make the wrong decision.” Nadia retorted, her eyes still glowing with contempt.

“Jasmine, dear?” She turned to face the intended bride, drawing closer to her while she extended her hands,

Then she grabbed her while she looked into her eyes.

“Don’t make the mistake of losing a good and rich man like Damien. Remember who he is.” She whispered, and then she took a deep breath.

Damien raised his shoulders, and a smug smile appeared on his face.

Then he cleared his throat, turning to face Dante with a wry smile.

“Quit wasting your time, boy. He waited until Dante turned to look at him before he continued with his voice reeking of so much ridicule.

“You look like you need some help….” He remarked, looking down at Dante from hair to the sole of his shoes.

“Why don’t you come to my office and we will talk about how to make your life less miserable?” He pushed forward, but when he tried to touch Dante on the shoulder, he growled at him, causing him to retrace his steps.

“Wow…” Damien scoffed, taking another step backward.

“Feisty!”” He sniggered, turning to face Jasmine.

“Please get this loser to leave so that we can commence with our wedding.” He demanded with an angry tone, and then he checked the time on his golden and exclusive wristwatch.

“I have highly-profiled people flying in from different cities for this wedding. I don’t want to offend them…” He said with an impatient tone, looking Jasmine in the eyes.

Then he shifted his gaze to Dante, scowling at him.

“You shouldn’t have shown up, Dante. You should have remained in the past because that is where you belong…” His eyes were sparking with rage, his fists clenched as though he was about to throw a punch.

But he couldn’t. Dante didn’t look intimidated, nor did he look like he wasn’t going to retaliate if he dared to hit him.

“Leave this place before it is too late!” Damien sparked, pointing at the exit door.

“Why don’t you quit making a fuss and allow the lady to make her choice?” Dante suggested, causing the other man to remain silent.

It was the moment of truth and once again, all eyes had turned to Jasmine while they waited to hear what she had to say.

She was under so much pressure, her eyes turning from one man to the other.

Damien had a smile on his face, but Dante’s expression was plain and unreadable.

He wasn’t tense, but he was uncertain.

He couldn’t tell if the love he shared with Jasmine was reciprocated, and it was very surprising that she still hadn’t made a choice even after a minute was passed.

“Come on, Jasmine. Tell us who you want!” Dorothy was losing her patience, staring into her granddaughter’s eyes.

“Don’t disgrace the Hartwell family name in front of everyone in this hall. Look at all the people who have gathered…”

Sure enough, Jasmine looked around, almost overwhelmed as though she hadn’t seen the guests from earlier.

When she returned her gaze to Dante, she swallowed hard, and then she took a deep breath.

“Come on, baby! Tell the loser that it is me you want!” Damien said, holding onto a wry smile.

Jasmine nodded, and then she cleared her throat, looking Dante in the eyes with tears welling up in hers.

“I am sorry…” She whispered, causing Dante’s heart to sink.