Regina instinctively looked down but could only see theyers of her gown. The moment her stiletto heel began to sink into the tform, fear gripped her.


    She let out a panicked cry. "Help!"


    "It''s fine!"


    Serena rushed from the side of the backstage, steadying Regina by the arm. "I had them reinforce the tform underneath. The topyer might be cracking, but there''s anotheryer beneath it. You won''t fall."


    Regina''s face was pale with shock, but at Serena''s reassurance, she gradually calmed down. She clung tightly to Serena''s hand, hesitant to move.


    "I''m still scared..."


    "I got this!" Melissa suddenly said.


    The murmurs in the crowd sent a chill down her spine.


    Cole''s engagement ceremony was a once-in-a-lifetime event. It couldn''t end up bing a joke!


    She hurried over, lifting Regina''s gown while helping her step onto the tform. The sound of the outer ster breaking made Melissa break into a cold sweat.


    That was impossible.


    Before leaving for her trip, she had given strict instructions to ensure everything was built properly. Yet now, the structure was crumbling as if it had never been reinforced at all.


    Some guests murmured in confusion, wondering why she was the one helping Regina onto the tform. But Melissa couldn''t care less.


    All she wanted was for this engagement ceremony to go smoothly. Gritting her teeth, she tightened her grip on Regina and quickly led her up thest few steps. Regina stumbled slightly at the top, still shaken, unable to even look at Cole. Melissa, also in high heels, didn''t dare step back down in case she twisted her ankle. Instead, she remained standing by Regina''s side, acting as a support.


    A strange tension spread through the room.


    "What''s going on with this engagement ceremony?"


    "Does the mother-inw have to help her future daughter-inw this much?"


    "Why hasn''t Mr. Larson said his vows yet? What''s he waiting for?"


    The murmurs grew louder.


    Serena realized that things were spiraling out of control and quickly signaled the emcee to move forward with the ceremony.


    Realizing the situation, the emcee immediately said, "Mr. Larson, please recite your vows and ce the engagement ring on your fiancée''s finger."


    A flicker of ruthlessness shed in Cole''s eyes.


    Sarah couldn''t even handle something this simple. Now, he was the subject of gossip because of her ipetence. She was nothing but a fool.


    His gaze swept over Regina, who was still trembling beside him. The more cautious she was, the more repulsed he felt.


    But with so many eyes on them, he had no choice but to maintain his gentlemanlyposure. Smiling, he recited his vows and slipped the engagement ring onto her finger.


    Thunderous apuse erupted from the audience.


    Cole instinctively looked down, and there she was.


    Serena stood in the crowd, pping with a bright smile on her face.


    How ironic.


    If he could have chosen, the woman standing beside him on that stage wouldn''t be Regina. It would have been Serena.


    As the apuse died down, the couple was expected to step off the stage and ept their guests'' congrattions.


    Cole and Regina walked hand in hand to greet the guests.


    However, Serena immediately turned back toward the backstage area. "Pull up


    the surveince footage. There''s no way the ster on those steps should have crumbled so easily."


    Someone had tampered with it.


    "Serena!"


    Melissa quickly stormed over, her high heels clicking sharply on the floor like the sound of machine gun fire as she approached.


    "I actually thought that just this once, you''d handle things properly. I even gave you a big gift! But look what happened! You couldn''t even oversee something as basic as the stage construction?


    "Do you have any idea what kind of scandal this could''ve turned into? If anything had happened to Cole and Regina just now, I swear, I would''ve destroyed you!"