"It was on our wedding day..." "Go on..." " "I wanted to see Mary before the ceremony..." "Don't you know that's bad luck?" "Grandma... are you going to listen, or do you already know where this is going?" "No, not yet." "When I was about to knock on the door, I noticed it was open, and you were inside." "Oh, now I remember! Yes, I went to give her a pair of earrings her grandfather sent for her to wear. They were her mother's." Maximus clenched his fists as he recalled what he'd overheard. Catherine was patient and said, "Go on, son. I want to hear the story." "You... you told her that she'd made a deal, and from now on, she had to makefall in love with her. That would bring her happiness and future grandchildren to the family. With our union, both families would becone again, and our businesses would prosper with our marriage. More or less, that's what you said. I never imagined you'd go so far to makeleave Alexia, but that day, I realized how much you hate the Levett family." "My dear, everything you've put Mary through is because of that? Do you really think I'm capable of something so childish? If I've allowed you to continue with Alexia, it's because deep down, I believed you'd eventually cto your senses and leave her. Yes, I hate the Levett family for what they did to us, but if I'd really wanted to go far, I would've sent your mistress to hell. But that's not the case. You know I'm not speaking figuratively, and you know it's true." "Ha, you're trying to distractwith your speech." "No, and I can prove it. Emma was there. If you want to torture her into confessing, go ahead. She'll tell you the sstory I'm about to." Your beloved mistress showed up just minutes before your wedding. She bypassed security and made it to Mary. She told her that you were only marrying her because you wanted your whore to stay at the company, and you didn't wantto interfere. She also said you'd spent your last night as a bachelor with her and that maybe you'd change your mind and leave Mary at the altar. Alexia would be waiting for you outside the church. Maximus, does this story sound familiar?" "Of course not! She would never do that. Alexia is a rational woman." "My dear, only to your eyes, only to your eyes. Now, letfinish telling you the story. I went to give Mary the earrings her grandfather had sent. Emma cwithbecause she wanted to see the bride before she walked down the aisle. When we got to the dressing room, I found a scene that infuriated me. Alexia was leaving, and as she walked out, she mocked Mary, saying that you would never leave her for +25 BONUS Chapter 10N someone as small and simple as her. Naturally, I threw her out and asked security to escort her out. They obeyed, but the damage was done. Mary was about to run away. She didn't want to marry you. So, we had a woman-to-woman talk, and she confessed what had happened the night of my birthday and what you had proposed the following morning. I was surprised by your cunning. Do you remember how the judge was late to the ceremony?" "Yes, what does that have to do with anything?" "Actually, the judge was already there. I just asked him to wait. The bride was indisposed and needed stto pull herself together. Mary wanted to return to Galea that sday, but I asked her not to. She'd made a deal and couldn't back out. You didn't deserve that. I told her that once you were married, just as you had told her, you wanted to be with her. All she had to do was keep making you fall in love. Before she knew it, there would be babies-my grandchildren and you'd have a great family. What happened that day would be in the past, and that woman would eventually be out of the company." Chapter 1054