Chapter 171: Megan’s shock
Dimitri raised his glass. "We, the Beaumonts, welcome Augustine and his wife into our family." His voice rang across the grand hall. "I expect you all will bless them."
A moment of stunned silence hung in the air before Denis began to clap. One by one, the guests followed, applause swelling around Augustine and Anne as they stood at the center of attention.
From across the room, Megan stood frozen, her lips slightly parted in disbelief. Her eyes darted from Dimitri to Augustine, then to Anne, as though searching for some sign that this was a cruel joke.
"What the hell is happening?" she wondered, utterly bewildered. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest as she saw Dimitri smiling. Even Gabriel and Jeanne looked genuinely pleased.
"So, Anne is really Augustine’s wife?" Megan muttered, still stunned. "But when? How? And why did Dimitri send the marriage proposal to me if Augustine was already married?"
A wave of nausea rose in her throat, mixed with fury and humiliation. She felt as though the floor had been ripped from under her feet.
Jealousy ignited within her like a spark catching fire. She clasped the glass tightly and downed the wine in one long, bitter gulp. With a sharp clink, she slammed the empty glass onto the tray of a passing waiter and strode out of the room, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"Congratulations, Anne," Jeanne said with a polished smile. "The entire city now knows you are one of us. That means the family’s reputation is in your hands."
Her voice was sweet, her expression warm—but beneath that charming facade, Anne caught the unmistakable glimmer of contempt in Jeanne’s eyes.
Anne held her own, her lips curling into a graceful smile that gave nothing away. "Thank you, Jeanne," she replied smoothly. "I’ll keep that in mind."
Augustine’s arm slipped around her waist, drawing her close. His steady presence and quiet strength grounded her. With him by her side, she had nothing to fear.