Someone entered the Groom's Suite. It was James's future brother-in-law."Chris, has anything interesting happened out there?" Frank turned to him."Hello, everything is perfect and up to standard," Christopher announced with a proud smile.The other groomsmen left, smirking.They had overheard James openly stating that he was marrying Katrina for power and money, and here was the future brother-in-law completely unaware of the groom's true intentions."By the way," Christopher continued, "Everything is as per the last-minute arrangements and changes ordered by Grandma Althea.""They're paid to handle it," James responded coldly and indifferently while adjusting his hairstyle and tie in the full-length mirror. "Is there a complaint?""No, no complaints, but I've been wondering if you're not overdoing it a bit," Christopher scratched his neck. "When I told you that the Pauper had arranged accommodations for my Luana, I wasn't trying to scare you.""We're not afraid of that damn leech!"
Briana and Luana walked through the interior of the Rocha Event Hall, amazed at the production involved in the wedding party."Bri, your cousin seemed pretty desperate, huh?" Luana teased. "It looks like she was afraid of losing the bet.""It doesn't just look like it; she was really scared." Briana smiled, feeling confident.So, Mark is a broke failure? How did they spend so much on the preparations, decorations, food, and drinks?Why so many important people from the most exclusive circle of Aurélia?Briana and Luana reached the area where more people were gathered, the main hall where the ceremony would take place.Upholstered chairs were arranged in two sections: one for the bride and one for the groom.At the altar, the priest was already in place, being served soda by a waiter.Sandro and Nadir interacted with each other as if nothing had happened. At another point, Gilson and Claudia were radiant, talking with journalists and columnists.Briana began to worry. Did Mark manage t
Briana felt like an animal led into a trap in the forest.Althea had purposely brought her to the Bride's Chamber, knowing that Katrina would be disgusted by Briana being dressed in white, an affront to wedding etiquette.Katrina didn't want to stand up to avoid ruining her dress or newly applied makeup, but it was evident she was trembling with wrath and restless in the chair."I can't believe this! Briana, I thought you hated me with all your might. I tried to deal with it, tried to ignore it. I admit I even felt a bit of pity when I heard you're still having troubles with your husband."But coming to my wedding dressed in white, with the clear and sole intention of offending me—""Katrina, the world doesn't revolve around you." Briana tried to defend herself."Don't you dare justify yourself, you insolent little hellion!" Althea roared, unable to take it anymore."Grandma Althea, did you call me here for this?" Briana turned to her with an indignant look. "Didn't you want us to enj
"Come on, Briana, answer me!" Katrina was overflowing with pride, reveling in the discomfort and embarrassment that Briana was feeling.After a few long seconds, Briana chose her words carefully. "There's no clear definition of the bet's outcome.""What? You still think you can beat me? Are you blind or didn't you see how we've set up the ceremony hall?""Yes, I saw." Briana frowned, feeling conflicting emotions but struggling to appear strong. "It seemed a bit excessive. If you were so confident that Mark wouldn't throw a great party, why the desperation?"Katrina was momentarily rattled by the obvious question but tried to hide it. "Well... It's never too much to add a bit of luxury for our guests. Grandma Althea helped with the preparations, and she has good taste."The issue is that I didn't even receive an invitation to your wedding. How are we supposed to know if your party was better than mine?"Briana shook her head. "Obviously, from the newspapers and the Internet, right?""A
Briana felt like a video game character, going through different levels until reaching the Boss.Now she needed to defeat one more stage, starring her cousin Christopher.But Christopher wouldn't be a dull opponent. Briana noticed how he first approached Luana, distracting her, only to attack her afterward.Luana wouldn't want to defend her anymore because of the truffle she ate."Don't tell me that this is the punishment my little sister imposed on you for losing the bet!" Christopher laughed and laughed.Christopher's loud laughter began to attract the attention of several guests."The bet isn't over yet." Briana decided to retort."Really? And where is your husband? Where's the party? Can I go to the Aurélia Cathedral?" Christopher provoked further, forgetting that he was a man and Briana was a woman."If you keep up with that attitude, it'll be extraordinary if you even make it past the parking lot," Briana responded with bitterness, "Doesn't it cross your mind that Mark didn't wa
Karl and the other friends noticed that something was wrong. "What's the problem, Briana?" Luana spoke on behalf of Briana, "Uh... There's a misunderstanding here, Karl. This place isn't for Bri and Mark's wedding." "But the transportation sent to pick us up brought us here!" Karl was surprised, taking a step back. The other former classmates also began to voice their concerns.Everyone was dressed up for an important occasion and wasn't pleased with this setback. "There must be an explanation." Briana scratched her head, trying to understand what was going through Mark's mind. "And now, what do we do with these gifts?" asked another young lady holding a package. Suddenly, Althea pushed through the crowd, standing out and entering the scene. "Excuse me, excuse me... Please take your seats, the ceremony is about to start." Karl refused to sit. "Excuse me, Madam. We've come to the wrong wedding party and we're leaving—" At a glance, Althea noticed she was dealing with young peo
The commotion in the Rocha Event Hall continued. Sandro, Nadir, James, and Christopher were anxious for Briana to come to her senses and sign the divorce papers. "It can't be." Briana shook her head. "This document won't be valid if Mark doesn't sign it." "We can claim abandonment, my granddaughter." Althea tried to convince her, daring to smile. "No, there's a period for that. Mark only disappeared for a day. No notary office will accept these conditions for a divorce." Briana frowned. Do they think she's an idiot? Althea insisted, "Briana, with the power of the Vasconcelos family, we can make it happen. We will find any loophole in the law, any chance we can to cancel this damned marriage that has only brought you losses." "I'm doing just fine with Mark, thank God!" Briana retorted. Althea was losing her patience. "Don't talk like that! Don't be deluded, pay attention to your reality! Living in an apartment with your parents, in a building below your status, enduring a mere
Feeling that the chance for reconciliation and a return to the Vasconcelos mansion was slipping through her fingers, Nadir approached Briana with unmistakable impatience."Briana, have you gone mad? What more do you need to understand that you lost the bet? The Pauper abandoned you before you even reached the altar! He knew he couldn't honor the commitment and ran away, leaving you alone to face everything!"What kind of man is he? And you continue to defend him in everything, becoming the laughingstock and indirectly humiliating your parents, huh?"Briana gave her mother a cold stare. "Mom, you need to be honest with yourself and with me. The only thing that matters to you is the mansion and the necklace you lost, right?"Nadir hesitated slightly before continuing. "Um... It's not just that. Yes, I miss my necklace, but it's not only that we lost. We lost respect, prestige, status, since you married the Pauper without telling us."And furthermore, our family life has been falling apa