Chapter 3
575 Words
Jack moved through the sea of elegant guests, his eyes locked on Emily Wilson. The crowd seemed to part instinctively, sensing something different about him. Despite the expensive suits and designer dresses surrounding him, he remained unintimidated.
"You're Emily?" Jack asked directly, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the crowd.
Emily Wilson stood perfectly still, her emerald dress a stark contrast to the marble staircase. Her eyes, cold and calculating, swept over Jack with unmistakable disdain.
"I don't know who you are," she replied, her tone sharp enough to cut glass. "But you need to leave. Now. You're causing a scene."
Jack remained calm. "I'm your fiancé," he stated matter-of-factly. "I've come to honor our arranged engagement. When can we go register our marriage?
A wave of laughter erupted from the crowd. Rich socialites covered their mouths, some pointing, others openly mocking. Ryan Brooks, a prominent businessman standing close to Emily, looked particularly amused.
These people think this is a joke, Jack thought. They have no idea.
Emily's face flushed with anger. "Stop lying," she hissed. "I've never seen you before in my life."
Without hesitation, Jack reached into his jacket and pulled out an old, carefully preserved document. The crowd fell silent as he unfolded the marriage contract, its edges yellowed with age but the signatures clearly visible.
"This contract," Jack said calmly, "was signed by our grandfathers decades ago."
Ryan Brooks stepped forward, his expensive Italian suit emphasizing his wealth.
"Security!" he shouted. "Throw this man out!"
But Emily's hand shot up, stopping the bodyguards. Her fingers trembled slightly as she took the contract, examining it closely. The signature was unmistakable—her grandfather's precise handwriting, complete with the Wilson family seal.
How is this possible? she thought. I've heard whispers, rumors, but never believed...
The crowd's laughter died down, replaced by confused murmurs. Jack stood perfectly still, watching Emily's reaction. He knew the document was genuine, a promise made long before either of them were born.
"This can't be real," Emily muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
The grand doors at the entrance burst open. Michael and Patricia Wilson, Emily's parents, swept into the room. The crowd instinctively moved aside, creating a path for Draconia's most powerful family.
Patricia Wilson's eyes immediately found Jack. Her designer dress and perfectly coiffed hair radiated wealth and status.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice dripping with contempt. "How dare you interrupt our family's event?"
Jack met her gaze without flinching. "I'm Jack Parker," he replied. "Your daughter's fiancé."
Patricia laughed—a sharp, cruel sound that echoed through the hall. "You? Fiancé to my daughter? Look at you! No family, no status, dressed like some common traveler."
Michael Wilson remained silent, studying Jack with calculating eyes.
"This contract is nothing," Patricia continued. "A trick. A forgery. My daughter will never marry someone like you."
The crowd nodded in agreement. Jack looked like an outsider—his clothes simple, his demeanor unusual. Next to Emily's polished appearance and the wealth surrounding her, he seemed completely out of place.
But Jack didn't move. Didn't react. The contract remained in Emily's hands, a physical reminder of a promise made long ago.
Old Joe prepared me for this, he thought. Nothing about this moment surprises me.
Emily stared at the document, her world suddenly feeling unstable. The contract was real. The engagement was real. But the man before her? He was nothing like she had imagined.
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