The voice took Esmeraldapletely off guard.


    Until that moment, her attention had been fixed on the man she''d hired to pull off this drama with her. He had just risen, barely gotten two steps away when out of nowhere—a voice she knew too well cut sharply through the silence.


    Her heart thudded in her chest.


    Stunned on the inside, she somehow managed to keep herposure on the outside.


    She turned and found herself face-to-face with Alexander, his expression as rxed and unhurried as ever.


    With one hand tucked casually in his pocket and dressed head to toe in the sharpest ck formal suit, he cut an imposing figure as he strode through the room—each step drawing him closer to Esmeralda, so utterly isted beneath the spotlight.


    The sight was utterly surreal.


    Alexander''s sudden words-whatever they''d been-barely registered to most of the guests, their minds too busy processing the unfolding tableau.


    None of this escaped Elodie.


    A flicker of shock passed over her usually mild features. Confusion clouded her gaze-she''d never suspected anything like this was going on.


    Beside her, Jarrod Silverstein leisurely crossed his legs, sping Elodie''s hand in his and idly tracing circles on her skin, as if Alexander''s appearance was the most natural thing in the world.


    "When did this happen...?" Elodie whispered, still floored.


    Jarrod tipped his head with a faint, knowing smile. "Why do you think Mr. Sterling mentioned being pressured into marriage by his uncle when Esmeralda refused to marry Fleming?"


    It was a pointed reminder.


    Realization dawned on Elodie all at once. She snapped her gaze back to the stage.


    Everyone else in the room was watching the same scene unfold.


    Alexander had reached Esmeralda''s side.


    His suit, striking and formal, seemed almost perfectly matched to Esmeralda''s wedding gown-as though, in some strange twist of fate, this whole day had been meant for the two of them alone.


    Esmeralda didn''t know how to react. She stared at him, dazed.


    Alexander lowered his gaze and gently took hold of her wrist.


    He could feel her trembling ever so slightly.


    She had stood up here alone, weathering snide remarks and open ridicule No matter how together she tried to look, there was no hiding how frightened and helpless she must have felt.


    Alexander nced at her, then turned and looked out at the crowd.


    "I''m sure all of you know what''s happening here today. With these business arrangements, it''s no


    secret that the children are rare et


    consulted. Fleming did, in fact, walk out on his wedding this afternoon. He didn''t want to go through with it, and he left Esmeralda to face aft of you on her own. That''s not the


    action of a responsible man. In fact, it''s the exact opposite-aplete abdication of character."


    He didn''t attempt to soften Fleming''s fault.


    Whatever gossip might follow, he''d made it clear who was to me.


    The room was still heavy with shock when Alexander spoke again:


    "They talked in private about breaking off the engagement, but true to form, Fleming chose to avoid the hard conversation and left Esmeralda to face all the me and public humiliation. Whether it''s Esmeralda or anyone else, no woman should have to waste the best years of her life on a man like that. I think you all know what the right choice is."


    His words cut deep, striking chords in hearts all across the hall.


    Esmeralda''s lower lip trembled, and a hot sting prickled behind her eyes.


    For the first time, someone had taken her side.


    All this time, she''d borne the brunt of everyone''s sarcastic jibes—when, in truth, she''d done nothing wrong.


    Even Adrian was left speechless.


    Fleming had time and again taken Esmeralda''s love for granted, convinced that she''d never leave him and emboldened by her unwavering devotion.


    But he''d forgotten that even the deepest love belongs to a living, feeling human heart-not a stone.


    Already, the room was starting to shift.


    "Yeah...whatever Fleming''s reasons, you don''t just walk out on a bride at the altar. That''s too much, isn''t it?"


    "If that were me, I''d lose my mind—I''d make sure nobody came out of that unscathed!"


    "Esmeralda hasn''t done a damn thing wrong!"


    "So where the hell did he run off to, anyway?"


    The mood was changing. The scorn that had been hurled at Esmeralda was now


    twisting around, homing in on the one who''d truly started it all.