Chapter 3
After changing into the wedding dress, Avery returned with the spotlight on her. There were visible hickeys on her skin. The guests near her noticed and started to whisper among themselves.
“Do you see those marks? But wasn’t it the adopted daughter with Mr. Clyde in the video? So, why is her body…”
“Clearly, she cheated on Mr. Clyde too!”
“The daughters of the Sinclairs are shameless. The elder sister cheated on the groom on their wedding day, and the younger one seduced her sister’s fiancé on her wedding day. Talk about. having class!“!
Even though insults rippled among the crowd, they shamelessly ogled Avery. Some of the men’s eyes were fixed on her as they seemed to hope to become her lovers.
Clyde looked at the hickeys on Avery’s body and trembled with rage. Avery had never even let him hold her hand, but she had sex with someone else? How could he not be angry?
He strode forward like a mad bull and raised his hand, ready to strike Avery’s face. “Avery, you shameless bitch! I swear–if I don’t teach you a lesson today, I’m not worthy of the Smith family name!”
But before he could bring his hand down, a firm grip stopped him.
Clyde looked up furiously and met Joshua’s eyes, which held a faint glint.
“Hitting women, Clyde? That’s a bit beneath you, isn’t it?”
Joshua shook off Clyde’s hand with a disgusted look on his face, and the force made Clyde stumble and nearly fall.
The fierce arrogance drained from Clyde as he faced Joshua, but he couldn’t let go of his resentment. He grumbled in anger, “Uncle Joshua, why are you defending this woman? She cheated on me and humiliated our entire Smith family!”
Then, he turned to Avery and questioned her in fury, “Tell me, Avery! Who did you sleep with? I’ll hunt him down and break his legs!”
“Oh, really?” Joshua’s eyes glinted coldly.
Joshua’s expression sent a shiver down Clyde’s spine, and he fell silent.
Avery stepped forward and said to Clyde, “Since you’re so eager to marry Abigail, I’ll do you a favor and let you have her.”
She couldn’t help but laugh before adding, “I wouldn’t want anything that Abigail’s touched before. It’s dirty.”
Chaps
“Y–You
Clyde stammered. He was so mad that he couldn’t come up with a clear sentence.
Sandra looked even more enraged. Just when she wanted to say something, Molly cut her off,” Mrs. Smith, if Mr. Clyde has sullied my Abby’s reputation, then he’d better take responsibility. I’m not going to accept otherwise!”
She dragged Abigail toward them in an imposing manner. “Since everyone is here today, my Abby shouldn’t feel wronged. She can marry Mr. Clyde right here and now. Mrs. Smith, you don’t have a problem with that, do you?”
Sandra’s laughter was laced with fury. She rushed forward and landed a slap across Abigail’s face. “You shameless bitch! How dare you try to seduce my son! I’ll ruin your face!”
“How dare you lay your hands on my daughter!”
Soon, the two middle–aged women were entangled in a fight, hitting and scratching each other.
After watching them for a while, Avery grew bored. She turned to Joshua beside her and said in a flirtatious tone, “Mister, standing for so long is exhausting. My legs are getting sore.” Joshua’s eyes flashed with a playful glimmer. He lifted Avery into his arms and commanded the fighting women with authority, “That’s enough!”
The crowd suddenly went silent as all focus fell on joshua.
They couldn’t believe what they were looking at. Everyone in Starbury knew that Joshua disliked getting involved with women, but he was carrying Avery in his arms right now.
Could it be that the person who slept with Avery was… Joshua?
Sensing the gazes from the crowd, Avery smirked. She wrapped her arms around Joshua’s neck and whispered beside his ear, “Mister, they’re all looking at you.”
Smelling the jasmine scent from her body, Joshua’s gaze darkened slightly. He silently squeezed Avery’s waist and declared, “From today onward, the marriage between Avery and Clyde is officially annulled. As for Clyde…”
He turned to glance at Clyde coldly. “Keep him locked up at home and let him reflect on his actions until Mr. Smith Senior returns to deal with him personally.”
Then, Joshua began to leave while holding Avery in his arms. Just then, Molly boldly called after him, “Mr. Joshua, please wait!”
There was a flash of impatience in Joshua’s eyes. “Yes?”
Molly was frightened under his cold gaze. But looking at Abigail, who was sobbing beside her, she swallowed her fear and continued, “Mr. Joshua, the affair between Mr. Clyde and my Abby have been exposed in front of all these guests. He owes her the dignity of marriage-
Before Joshua could speak, Sandra spat out, “You want my son to marry this disgraceful woman? Never! A tramp who appeared out of nowhere wants to enter our family? In your dreams!”
However, Clyde was unhappy. “Mom, how could you talk about Abigail that way?”
Howard Sinclair, Avery’s father, who had been silently watching the whole scene, couldn’t help but see an opportunity here.
Even though Avery looked as if she had successfully seduced Joshua, he had a high status and was unlikely to have really fallen for Avery.
On the other hand, even though it was through disgraceful means, Abigail had Clyde wrapped around her finger.
With Avery and Clyde’s marriage called off, there was a chance Abigail could still align with the Smith family. If Howard played his cards right, the connection could help with the business venture he had in mind.
On that thought, he said in a deep voice, “While it’s true that both Abby and Mr. Clyde are in the wrong, we can all see that their feelings for each other are genuine. Since that’s the case, I don’t see the need to interfere. Isn’t that right, Mrs. Smith?”
Sandra rolled her eyes and smirked. “You want my son to marry Abigail? Fine. Just prepare a wedding gift of two million dollars and I’ll accept her as my daughter–in–law.”
Howard’s expression darkened.
Two million? He had just invested in a big project and didn’t have that much left for a wedding gift.
He remained silent, which made Sandra’s face break into a triumphant smile. “You don’t have two million? Then forget about marrying her into our family.”
Seeing her father falter, Abigail said in a choked voice, “Dad, Mom, it’s my fault for putting you in a difficult position! If the Sinclair family no longer wants me, I’ll just end my life right here!”
Saying that, she feigned a dash toward the hall. Molly quickly clutched onto her tightly. “Don’t be rash, Abby! I’ll find a way, don’t worry!”
Then, Molly turned to Avery and demanded, “It’s only two million dollars! It’s your duty to pay up after ruining your younger sister’s life!”
Joshua chuckled at her words. “Instead of holding your adopted daughter accountable for her shameful behavior, you’re trying to guilt your own biological daughter into paying for it. One might think Abigail is your real daughter and not Avery.”
Molly’s face paled, but Joshua paid her no mind. He left with Avery still in his arms.
