Chapter 2: The Slap
1358 Words
The back door of the hotel stood wide open. Being the live-in son-in-law, he had no choice but to enter through the back door.
The spotlight zeroed in.
A middle-aged man with a determined gaze, weathered features, and a touch of frailty appeared in everyone's line of sight.
"Haha, can you believe it? Cloud City's top goddess is marrying this shabby old guy. What a joke!"
"Exactly! Did you hear? They say this guy is a deserter from the battlefield. How pathetic!"
"It's like a rose in a pile of manure!"
A few young men below were whispering disdainfully, mocking him.
Chelsea, dressed in her wedding gown, instinctively rose on her tiptoes as the spotlight hit, trying to catch a glimpse of the husband she had never met.
After all, once married, they would officially be husband and wife.
Sean, unbothered by the crowd's jeers, walked straight towards the stage.
His gaze landed on Chelsea.
Girl, twelve long years!
We've finally met again.
Their eyes met, if only for a moment.
Sean ascended the stage in silence, quietly standing beside Chelsea.
"Now, let's invite the Old ladyship to the stage. The newlyweds will serve her tea!"
Old ladyship Davis ascended the stage, taking her seat of honor, and the tea ceremony concluded.
The Old ladyship said, "Sean, from today, you officially become the grandson-in-law of the Davis family, Chelsea's husband. I trust you will cherish Chelsea from this day forward."
With that, she gestured for Chelsea to come over.
Chelsea bit her lip and took a few steps forward.
Their first close encounter was breathtaking!
Sean found himself momentarily entranced by the stunning beauty before him. The little girl from twelve years ago had grown into such a stunning woman!
This moment symbolized their official union, and the guests erupted into a storm of applause.
Except for Charles's family, who frowned, knowing full well that everyone present was eager to see their family's embarrassment.
Once this wedding was over, word would spread throughout Cloud City that their daughter, the most outstanding and beautiful granddaughter of the Davis family, had married a deserter from the battlefield, a complete loser!
At that moment, Chelsea's mind was a blank.
When the emcee announced them as legally married, she nearly lost her balance, almost falling over.
She felt a surge of indignation and injustice at being married off so unceremoniously.
But faced with reality, what could she do?
She glanced at Sean. She didn't really blame this man; it was all part of her uncle's scheme!
Helpless!
Throughout the rest of the wedding proceedings, she forced herself to go through with it alongside Sean.
Though deeply unwilling, she had no choice but to comply!
The wedding banquet was nearing its end.
Not far away, Chelsea's father and mother began to argue.
"Well, there it is! Our daughter's lifelong happiness, shattered just like that!"
"Keep your voice down. There are so many people here. If my mom hears, it will be terrible."
"Your mom, your mom! Don't you know who's really behind this? How did I end up marrying such a useless husband like you?"
Quinn was overwhelmed with tears and, ignoring the guests at the banquet, rushed out of the wedding venue. Charles, seeing his wife's distress and fearing she might do something rash, quickly followed her out.
Their daughter watched her parents argue about her future, and finally, she couldn't contain her emotions any longer. She bolted out of the hotel and found a quiet bench in a secluded corridor and sat down. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
She didn't know how long she had been crying, but the breeze brushing against her cheeks finally brought her back to her senses. Only then did she notice a figure standing beside her.
Looking up, she saw him.
Sean!
The husband her grandmother had chosen for her.
Sean reached into his pocket and handed her a tissue. Chelsea accepted it with a vacant look and dabbed her eyes.
"Uncle, this isn't your fault..." she stammered.
Given that Sean was over a decade older than her, calling him "Uncle" felt more fitting.
Sean remained silent, just standing quietly by her side.
This girl before him was the same little girl who had given him a warm bun twelve years ago. She was still as pure and kind-hearted as ever!
Despite her overwhelming grievances, for the sake of her parents and her family, she gritted her teeth and accepted it.
"Hey, Chelsea, it's your wedding day! Why are you sitting here crying alone?"
"Haha, this is too funny. I should hurry and take a picture with my phone."
Mocking laughter echoed from nearby.
A young man and woman approached them. It was Calvin, the eldest grandson of the Davis family, and Chelsea's cousin, Catherine.
Both of them worked at the Davis family business, but their skills were mediocre, and Chelsea consistently outshone them! They resented Chelsea and frequently mocked and belittled her.
At the company, Chelsea, a graduate of a prestigious university, had outstanding abilities that always put her in the spotlight. They couldn't do anything about it because her performance spoke for itself!
But now things were different!
Despite her exceptional talents, she had married a worthless husband, and she probably wouldn't even have the right to inherit any family assets in the future!
Old ladyship Davis favored males over females, an old-fashioned mindset, and now with an outsider's useless husband joining the family, it was even more impossible!
Chelsea couldn't be bothered with them and stood up, intending to leave.
"Hey, don't leave, Chelsea. Aren't you thrilled to marry such an 'excellent' husband? My dad picked him out for you, so why are you crying?" Calvin blocked her path.
He didn't miss the chance to mock Sean too, "Sean, you better take good care of my sister, maybe have a child soon. Grandma might be very pleased."
"Yeah, have a child, haha..." Catherine suddenly let out a sneer, "Brother, what if they have a child who turns out to be a coward like him, running away from the battlefield? Wouldn't that be a disgrace to our Davis family?"
"Well, it seems so. Our Davis family is at least a second-tier family in Cloud City, with some reputation..."
The pair continued their mocking duet, taunting Sean and Chelsea with laughter and ridicule."Calvin, Catherine, haven't you two had enough?"
Chelsea's eyes burned with anger, her fists clenching tighter by the second.
"Oh, come on, don't get mad. Just look at you! Catherine and I are just here to celebrate your happy union," Calvin smirked, his face full of arrogance.
"I don't want to talk to you. Please, move aside!" Chelsea's eyes were swollen from crying. She knew Calvin was the eldest grandson, the future heir of the Davis family, and she couldn't afford to offend him, so she had to endure.
"Oh, Chelsea, let me tell you, even if you're capable, so what? Your dad's a deadbeat, and now you've married a deadbeat. What can you do against me? Believe it or not, I could say one word to Grandma, and your whole family would be kicked out of the Davis family!"
"Calvin, don't push your luck. Move!"
After enduring repeated humiliation, Chelsea's anger boiled over.
"I'm not moving today. What can you do about it?" Calvin taunted, escalating the situation as he tangled with Chelsea.
"Hold on!"
Sean, who had been calm all along, finally stepped in, gripping Calvin's shoulder with a firm hand.
"Let go, you worthless bum! A useless son-in-law like you should know your place," Calvin spat venomously.
Ha!
To Sean, handling the eldest grandson of a second-rate family was as easy as squashing a bug. He didn't take Calvin seriously at all.
"Chelsea, tell me, what do you want to do?"
Chelsea was furious, having been bullied and mocked by Calvin countless times in the Davis family, always forced to endure!
"I want to give him a good slap!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Sean swiftly turned, swung his arm, and slapped Calvin across the face.
Whack!
A bright red imprint of five fingers appeared.
- Writer
