The Billionaire’s Reluctant Bride (Elara and Victor) novel Chapter 26

Confrontation in the Spotlight

Confrontation in the Spotlight

Oh you’re still here,” Veronica mocked. “I am Veronica Jones, Damian Blackwood’s fiancée.”

“Haha,” Jack laughed out loud, his amusement ringing through the air and attracting the attention of nearby guests. “You’re what?”

Veronica’s eyes turned sour as her smile faltered. She didn‘ like how Jack was reacting to what she had just said, but she kept her head held high. She had promised Mrs. Blackwood that she would help destroy their marriage without making a single mistake.

A

“I’m sure you’re not deaf, Jack,” she said, folding her arms Her posture was regal, her confidence unshakeable, as she stood tall like a goddess. “I just said I am Damian’s fiancée. Only I am fit to be beside him. Only I am worthy of being Mrs. Blackwood,” she added, glancing at Elara. Elara’s face remained calm, but her eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and amusement, emotions she kept tightly suppressed in. “No one deserves that name better than I do.”

“I wish Damian were here to hear you say all this,” Jack smirked. “To see how proud you are while spilling lies.” He turned around to face Elara, grabbing her hand. “This is Elara, Damian’s only wife, and the only one who deserves the name ‘Blackwood‘–not someone cheap like you.” The hatred was visible in his eyes. Elara squeezed Jack’s hand gently, a grateful but composed smile forming on her lips.

“Cheap?” Veronica chuckled gently, without a hint of anger in her eyes. Her tone turned cold. “Are you indirectly mocking her?”

“Mocking who?” He flared up.

“Her.” Her eyes fell on Jack’s hand, holding Elara protectively. “If you think I’m cheap, then what is she? A low- life girl from a poor, mannerless background.” She slowly sipped her drink. “I don’t blame you, honey,” she added, moving gracefully towards Elara. “I blame your mother for birthing a desperate child like you.” By now, people had already surrounded them. “You should blame your family for being lazy wretches who couldn’t work hard for themselves. If it wasn’t for poverty, why would you deceive Damian into marrying you? I know you must have charmed him somehow.”

Elara’s composure wavered briefly, a flicker of pain crossing her face before she composed herself.

“Enough, Veronica!” Jack yelled, his voice barely containing his anger.

“Shut your trap and let me talk, idiot,” she fired back. “She stole my man, charmed him with her sob sorry stories, and forced him to marry her, and you think I’ll just stand here and watch?”

“Who told you I charmed Damian?” Elara asked, shaking her hand free from Jack’s. She moved towards Veronica, who had an evil smile plastered on her face. Veronica knew that whatever she was doing was getting to her. She just needed to push a little more to reveal Elara’s true colors in front of the guests.

“Everyone knows,” she said, her voice growing louder and attracting more people. “Why else would he marry someone without a good background? Why else would he marry an ugly toad like you?”

“Ha,

“Elara breathed, her eyes burning with anger. “How dare you insult my family?” she asked, rushing towards the proud Veronica. She grabbed the hem of her dress before slapping her across the face. The crowd gasped in shock, they murmur as they tried to process what had just happened. Some guests exchanged uneasy glances, while others pulled out their phones to record the escalating drama.

“What!” Veronica was shocked. She didn’t know Elara would go so far as to hit her.

Elara slapped her again. “This second slap is for calling me an ugly toad.” She could hear the guests muttering, but she didn’t care.

“Stop this b*tch!” Veronica screamed. “Someone, stop this crazy woman!”

She couldn’t endure the slaps any longer and began begging for help.

“What is going on here?” a familiar voice demanded. “Let her go now!” Elara turned around to meet Serena, Damian’s mother, who was glaring at her with intense hatred. Her sharp blue eyes burned into Elara’s skin.

“Mother,” Veronica called, after Elara had released her. Her cheeks were swollen, and she looked exactly like the ugly toad she had mocked Elara for being. “You must serve me justice.”

“Mother,” Elarascoffed. “How dare you call her that?” She grabbed Veronica by the hair. Serena’s eyes narrowed even further, a mix of fury and disbelief etched across her face. “Elara, have you lost your mind?” she spat, stepping forward with authority. “Release her this instant, or you’ll regret ever laying a finger on her.”

Instead of listening to Serena, she ignored her and continued hitting Veronica.

“Enough!” Serena screamed. “Vivian, teach her how to behave,” she commanded. Her assistant stepped forward, and without Elara realizing it, Vivian landed a hot slap on her cheek. Elara was stunned. The murmurs in the crowd grew louder.

“Serve her right,” one guest whispered. “How dare she behave like that? Even if she is Mr. Damian’s wife, she should learn how to behave.”

Another one said, “No matter how elegantly she dresses, her behavior will never change. I blame Mr. Damian for picking a low–class girl over the noble ones.”

“Did you just slap me?” Elara asked, pulling herself out of the shock she was in.

“Slap her again,” Serena commanded. “Teach that crazy woman how to behave.”

“Mother, if I may ask, are you referring to my wife as a crazy woman?” Damian asked, stepping out from the crowd. Damian hadn’t been aware of what was going on since he was busy dealing with business partners in his study. If it wasn’t for Jack running to get him, he wouldn’t have known that his mother was troubling his wife. She just wanted to spoil his plan and he won’t let her. He moved closer to Elara and pulled her into his arms.

His eyes fell on her red cheek. “Does it hurt?” he asked, rubbing her cheek gently, his tone soft.

“Yes,” she responded, hugging him. “It hurts a lot, honey, she whispered.

“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have left you here,” he replied, his eyes scanning the crowd. The guests were stiff, none of them daring to say a word for fear of him pulling away from their companies. “Who did this to my wife?”

“Who?” Damian asked again.

No one answered until Veronica stepped forward. “Damian, look at what your so–called wife did to me,” she complained. “How dare she do this to my beautiful face?” Veronica found it difficult to speak since it hurt a lot when she tried.

Her legs gave way when she met Damian’s cold eyes. They were icy and predatory. “You mean you’re the one who slapped my wife?” he asked, his tone filled with dread.

“I dare not…” she whispered. “I didn’t do it.”

“Really? So you weren’t the one who hit my wife? Then who?”

“No,” Veronica replied. “It was her,” she added, pointing at the now–terrified Vivian.