BRAIDED BROOD

Chapter 6

Cars streamed into the Venus garage. A massive crowd of elites and everyday onlookers surged near the entrance, desperate to catch a glimpse of the Jupiter family and their exclusive guests. Cameras flashed, speakers boomed, journalists, bouncers, and screaming fans, etc were all over the arena.

Competing with the blaring music, a broadcast reporter raises her voice to address the crowd standing outside.

“This is the venue for Jupiter Group Chairman Kyle John's fifth wedding tonight. Rumour has it that every wealthy family in the country's about to be split into two groups: the ones who got an invitation, and the ones left out in the cold."

“However, here is the biggest question tonight. Will Kyle's cousins, who’ve never been seen together in public, actually all show up?”

Right on cue, Huxley's car swept up to the entrance. The moment he stepped out, his fans erupted, screaming louder until Emily showed up, clutching a single flower.

A barrage of camera flashes strobed across them. Emily flinched, overwhelmed by the light, shrinking into herself enough that Huxley noticed and steadied her with a hand on her arm.

“Lady-killer Huxley has officially made his entrance.” The broadcast reporter continued, her tone dripping with disbelief. “Oh my! He brought some bumpkin with him”.

Before the crowd could recover, another luxurious car drove in; it was musician ‘Kyle Skyler.’ He stepped out with a radiant smile, waving to the ecstatic crowd.

“Kyle Skyler, the youngest of the cousins and a huge star, has arrived!” the reporter announced. “The handsome Kyle cousins are about to come together at last. Now, if the rebellious Kyle Jeffery shows up tonight, then all three cousins would have made an appearance. Will Kyle Jeffery actually grace the wedding hall with his presence?”

Away from the frenzy. Huxley escorted Emily into an exclusive dressing suite inside the hotel so she could change her outfit. The staff bowed in immediate reverence the second they spotted him. Emily, however, was thrilled by what she saw. An array of expensive designer shoes, a breathtaking gown, and glittering jewelry sat laid out, neat as a museum display.

She spun around immediately to face him. “What’s all this?”

A smirk played on Huxley's lips. “You need to play the part of my fiancée now. Let’s have some fun.”

Before she could process his words, a firm knock sounded at the door. Then he crossed the room and pulled it open, his expression instantly darkening into a scowl the second he saw who it was.

It was Jasmine.

“What is it?” he demanded coldly.

Are you with someone? She asked softly, sidestepping his question.

“Yes.”

“Who?”

“Someone you don’t know,” he replied.

By then, Jasmine's face had turned completely pale, but she pressed on. “What kind of girl is she?”

“Don’t you get tired of obsessing over me?” Huxley scoffed. “This has nothing to do with you, so mind your own business.” He slammed the door shut and went back inside, leaving Jasmine totally heartbroken.

Meanwhile, Emily had been directed into a separate room so she could change. She stepped in, tossed her flower and her phone on the bed, completely unaware that Skyler was sitting on the floor right behind it, with his headphones on.

She picked up the dress and carried it to the full-length mirror. “He wants me to wear this? What a p*****t. Gosh, should I just punch his face and tell him to get something else? No, I can’t do that… his grandpa is waiting.”

The entire time she muttered to herself, Skyler sat frozen behind her, caught completely off guard. He couldn't look away, not until she started unbuttoning her school uniform.

Startled, he looked away instantly, but in his haste, his phone slipped out of his hand and landed on the bed. Scrambling to grab it before he was caught, he snatched up Emily's phone instead.

Oblivious to the swap, Emily beamed at her reflection in the mirror. Still wearing her school sneakers under the elegant dress, she grabbed the phone off the bed and headed out to meet Huxley.

The moment she stepped out, Huxley was waiting, holding a pair of stunning red heels. He knelt before her and gently slipped them onto her feet.

“All done,” he said, looking up with a cheerful smile.

As the music hummed through the speakers, the Chairman’s wife, Helen, sat gorgeously in the bridal suite, waiting for her cue. While she waited, a staff member brought in a bouquet and handed it to her. Looking at the flowers, Helen smirked to herself.

“I’m halfway there now.”

Meanwhile, Secretary York walked into the Chairman's private room, carrying two velvet ring boxes. “We’re ready now, sir.”

Beaming, the chairman rose to his feet. “It’s showtime. Let’s go.”

The wedding hall was beautifully decorated, and the guests were all seated, eagerly awaiting the couple. Somewhere in the crowd, Skyler sipped his wine as the choir filed onto the stage.

The lights shifted, focusing on the grand staircase where the chairman and Helen began their first celebratory dance.

Suddenly, a spotlight swept across the room and landed on the back doors. There stood Huxley and Emily, hand in hand, looking exactly like a couple. Every head in the hall turned at once. The guests stared in open shock, including the Chairman, completely blindsided by their sudden appearance.

Emily flushed instantly, shame and panic crashing over her under the burning spotlight. “What are we doing right now?” she hissed under her breath.

Huxley shot her a smug, teasing smile. “A wedding match. We’re getting married.”

“What? Hey, are you crazy?”

“No, I’m not.” He smiled, wicked and pleased with himself.

Her voice climbed, slow and dangerous. “Hey, this is completely different from what you told me!”

“It’s only a tiny bit different.”

“We can’t do this,” she insisted, trying to pull away.

“Everything is gonna be fine”

“What are you trying to pull here?” She dragged his arm backward, digging her heels in. “People are watching! Damn it, this isn't right.”

With her constant struggle, realizing she was going to fight him every step of the way, Huxley didn't hesitate. With no other choice left, he scooped her up into his arms. “Let’s go.”

“What are you doing?!” She whispered hoarsely, her voice dropping as the crowd's eyes landed on them. “Put me down, right now!”

“Shhhh! Quiet,” he cautioned, carrying her forward anyway.

Emily kept squirming, but Huxley held on tight until they reached the stage, stopping right in front of his furious grandfather and his new bride.

“My lovely grandpa,” Huxley announced loudly. "I present to you my fiancée as your wedding gift."

“Why, you little…” The Chairman's anger raged. Emily could only bow her head, wishing the floor would swallow her up in her shame.

Helen looked Emily up and down, her expression tight. “Where exactly are you from?”

Emily blinked, thoroughly lost. "Sorry?"

“If you’re someone that our Huxley would bring here…”

“I’m a senior at Model Girls’ High School,” she blurted, cutting Helen off. The staring crowd burst into a wave of hushed laughter.

Huxley smirked, leaning in to tease her further. “Hey, say hello. This is my grandfather’s fifth wife.”

The chairman finally snapped, shouting at his grandson. “How dare you speak so rudely!”

“I’m sorry,” Emily said quickly, terror cutting through her embarrassment. “It wasn't my intention to ruin your special day.”

“What are you doing?” Huxley asked her in a low tone.

“That’s exactly what I'd like to ask you.” She whispered back fiercely. “You’re rebelling against him, here of all places! What are you doing? Hurry up and apologize.”

“Why should I?”

“Hurry up and do it,” Emily whispered again.

“I don't want to…” he snapped.

Right in front of the entire crowd, Emily lost her patience. She grabbed his hand, twisted his arm behind his back, and drove a swift kick into the back of his knee. Huxley instantly dropped to the floor, kneeling right at his grandfather's feet.

“I’m so sorry, sir.” She apologized again, this time on his behalf.

Before he could recover, she smacked the back of his head. Huxley spun around in absolute rage, ready to retaliate, but he saw that Emily’s fist was already raised, ready to throw a punch.

After a while, Emily hurried out of the wedding hall, desperate to escape. She rushed through the reception area, trying to ignore the murmurs of Skyler, Jasmine, Jeffery, and the rest of the guests clustered in small circles.

“Emily, wait!” Huxley’s voice cut through the noise as he ran after her.

“Time out. I’m leaving.” She raged.

“What! Is she really your fiancée?” Skyler asked.

“Of course!” Huxley said smoothly, turning to Emily. “Say hello. You know him, right? He’s a singer, Kyle Skyler.”

“We’re cousins,” Skyler said, offering a warm smile and his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Emily froze, completely overwhelmed. “Oh…oh, yes. Nice to meet you too," she stammered, briefly shaking his hand.

“Aren’t you being too harsh on Jasmine?” One of Jasmine's friends stepped up, bold enough to confront him.

Huxley didn't flinch. “It’s not like I'm in a relationship with her.” He replied. “How about you stop overreacting in front of my girl?” He draped his arm heavily across Emily’s shoulder.

Jasmine's eyes were soaked with tears, but she pulled herself together to face it head-on. “So, are you Huxley's fiancée? I’m Paul Jasmine. I’ve been a friend of Huxley since we were kids. Nice to meet you.” She held out her hand.

Just then, Jeffery stormed in and yanked Jasmine's hand back before Emily could take it. “Nice to meet you? Have you no pride?”

“Jeffery, what are you doing?” Jasmine asked, flushing with embarrassment.

Jeffery ignored her, turning his venom entirely on Emily. “Did you come all the way here because of money? Are you that desperate?” He pulled a thick wad of cash from his pocket and tossed it at the feet of Emily.

The room went dead silent. Tears welled in Emily's eyes, and a violent shiver ran through her, like someone had poured ice water straight down her spine.

Huxley bent down and picked up the money, entirely unbothered. "Hey, Jeffery. Don't you dare mistreat my girl." He shoved a fistful of the crumpled bills back into Jeffery's breast pocket. The two of them stared each other down, both furious.

“My girl?” Jeffery asked angrily.

Huxley whipped his eyebrow. “Stop it, both of you!” Jasmine shrieked and walked away. Jeffery shot Emily one last look and took off after her. Emily didn’t hesitate. She grabbed the rest of the scattered cash from the floor and followed him all the way to a private subway entrance.

“What do you want?” Jeffery snapped, spinning around.