Chapter 505 Fallen Altar
The unrestrained mockery in Jonathan's laughter made everyone's hearts clench. Then, his clear and measured voice echoed throughout the room.
"Ms. Maize's pregnancy is indeed something to celebrate, but who said the child is mine?"
The question rendered everyone speechless for a moment. Ignoring the numerous people present, Bella questioned, "Jonathan, why wouldn't it be yours? That night, you and Yara-"
A flicker of disgust crossed Jonathan's eyes as he cut her off. "Ms. Maize, haven't you informed them of what actually happened that night?"
All eyes turned to Yara, including those of the Maize family. The multitude of gazes intensified Yara's mounting unease, and a flash of uncertainty crossed her eyes.
Sensing something was off, Bella rushed to the stage and whispered urgently, "Yara, what does he mean? What haven't you told us?"
"I..." Yara's mind was reeling, unable to form a coherent response.
Her reaction confirmed Bella's suspicions that night wasn't as it seemed the next morning. But before Yara could speak, Bella offered a solution in a low voice. "Don't say anything. As long as you insist that the child is Jonathan's, he can't dispute it."
Her words sparked an idea in Yara's mind, offering a way out of her predicament. Yara thought, "That's right! As long as I insist the child's Jonathan's..."
She swallowed nervously and began, "Mr. Finch, that night-" She looked at Jonathan, but a voice suddenly echoed through the room before she could finish.This is from NôvelDrama.Org.
"Damn it! Why did you pass out? Well, even if you did, I'll have you tonight. Ugh, this isn't working. He's like a lifeless body. I can't even move him! What can I do? I can't just leave it like this...
"No worries, if he can't do it, someone else will. As long as I have his marks on me by morning, he'll have no choice but to acknowledge it!"
Despite emanating from an audio recording, the voice was unmistakably Yara's. Everyone present instantly recognized her distinctive tone.
"Hello? I'm at the hotel. I miss you. Will you come keep me company?" Yara's suggestive invitation, spoken in her own voice, continued playing for everyone to hear. The room fell into a stunned silence once again, with only the audio playing in the background. Struck by the realization of what was happening, Yara's body swayed. "This... this was from that night... But how?" she thought.
Her eyes darted instinctively toward Jonathan, only to find him coldly indifferent, his face an unreadable mask.
However, there was no mistaking the look of triumph on Leonard's face. He was standing behind Jonathan as if everything was unfolding exactly as he had planned. Before she could even begin to piece together how they had acquired the damning recording, the room's attention was drawn toward the next revelation.
"You're here." Yara's voice rang out once more from the recording, now accompanied by the sound of a door opening. However, this time, it wasn't just her voice.
New content appeared on the large screen at the front of the stage, where Yara's stunning bridal portraits and glamorous red-carpet moments had previously been displayed. This new development immediately drew in everyone in attendance.
The screen revealed a woman dressed in a scandalously revealing outfit. The moment the door opened, she breathed, "You're here", before pulling the man inside without hesitation.
In an instant, they were locked in a passionate embrace, the scene unfolding in explicit detail as the sounds and images filled the entire wedding venue, leaving little to the imagination.
The footage was crystal clear, and the faces of the two people were unmistakable. They were none other than the bride and groom on the stage-Yara and her fiancé.
The situation was evident, and it required little explanation. The guests had already pieced together the story.
Yara, the internationally acclaimed actress renowned for her pure and innocent image and an heiress to a vast fortune, had been hailed by the media as one of the cleanest stars in the entertainment industry.
Yet, no one could have fathomed that not only had she schemed against Jonathan, but the way she behaved in this video was a stark contrast to her public persona.
Whispers filled the air as the crowd began to gossip.
"Is this who she really is?"
"No wonder she's an international actress. She's always acting."
"What's her game? Mr. Finch never even touched her, and she claimed she was pregnant with his child... Talk about being ambitious!"
"Ambition is one thing, but she didn't consider who she was trying to manipulate!"
The once-adoring voices turned to
harsh criticism, and the guests began pointing fingers at Yara. Their mocking and disparaging comments cut through her like knives,
dismantling the carefully craftene
façade she had built over the years and shattering her dreams of becoming Mrs. Finch into a
thousand pieces.
This wasn't what Yara wanted. "It's not like that..." She attempted to defend herself.
However, Jonathan was unwilling to watch her continue making a fool of herself. "Ms. Maize, surely you don't expect me to marry a woman carrying another man's child? Not only would that be utterly foolish, but it would undoubtedly upset someone," he declared.
As he spoke, he briefly glanced in a particular direction.
Rose, who had been engrossed in the unfolding drama, found herself momentarily frozen. She couldn't shake the strange feeling that she had been indirectly called out, yet she had no evidence to support this intuition. She turned her gaze toward Jonathan. She had already heard the audio recording, but it came as a shock to her that Jonathan possessed a video revealing that the man Yara had invited that night was Yosef's illegitimate son. "Mr. Finch, Yara has been foolish to offend you. I beg you to be merciful..." Rupert interjected, seemingly ready to concede defeat.
"Rupert!"
"Dad!"
Yara and Bella exclaimed in unison. Yara stormed off the stage and headed straight for Jonathan, but her advance was halted as Rupert grabbed her by the wrist.
Without hesitation, he delivered a resounding slap to her face. The sound of it reverberated through the venue, and within moments, Yara's cheek reddened visibly. Yet, the pain failed to bring her back to her senses. "Argh!" she shrieked in despair, disregarding her appearance entirely as she shouted, "I am supposed to marry Jonathan! Jonathan Finch, you must take me as your wife!"
Another slap rang out. Yara recoiled, her hand flying up to cradle her stinging face.
"Yara, shut your mouth!" Rupert snapped harshly. "Haven't you brought enough shame upon us already?"
Their current predicament was already an utter embarrassment. If things were to escalate and provoke Jonathan's genuine wrath, the entire Maize family's existence could be at risk.
Rupert took a deep breath and addressed Jonathan, "Mr. Finch, please consider Yara's mortification today as penance for her past misdeeds. Rest assured, I will discipline her thoroughly afterward."
Jonathan dismissed the notion with
a wave of his hand. "There's no need
for discipline. Today marks the union of the Finch and Maize families, and what happened earlier was merely a minor hiccup. hope it hasn't dampened everyone's spirits."
He raised his hand slightly, and Leonard immediately understood the signal.
In an instant, the incriminating footage on the screen vanished, replaced by the earlier images of Yara in her beautiful wedding dress. The wedding music resumed, but what once felt romantic and perfect now seemed painfully ironic. Jonathan's words hung heavy in the air. It seemed that despite the tumultuous events that had unfolded, this volatile wedding was, against all odds, going to proceed.