The Charismatic Lucas Gray

Chapter 1

Today was the long-awaited wedding of Seth Miller, the heir of the prestigious Miller family, and Ariadne Brook, a third-generation descendant of the Brook family. At this moment, it was time for the pivotal question.

"If anyone objects to this union, please speak now or forever hold your peace!" the officiant, the bishop of St. Augustine cathedral, announced, his emotionless gaze sweeping across the room.

Instantly, the cathedral went silent as if a graveyard. Even the piano playing in the background stopped. The attendees exchanged silent glances before turning back to the bishop. No one opened his or her mouth, let alone made a sound.

Some of the attendees even stopped breathing normally, afraid that they might mistakenly make a sound and the bishop would assume they had something to say.

The Miller family was, after all, a powerful and influential family that had been around for over a century and was ranked second only to the top five families.

Only someone with a death wish would dare object to the wedding.

"Why ask anyway? You know no one here would dare object." Seth scoffed arrogantly, his shoulders raised high, making him look like a human peacock.

"Tradition," the bishop let out a dry laugh. "I'm simply following the protocol to avoid it being said I didn't. Anyway, since no one objects, I'll proceed." He looked down at the couple, prepared to continue.

"I object!"

BANG!

But at this moment, a loud voice bellowed, and the huge western door of the cathedral was kicked open. The enormous metal door, weighing over 20 tons, was sent flying into the nave, crashing into an empty mahogany bench before coming to a halt.

"Oh my goodness, did someone just object?"

"Not only that, he even kicked down the western door!"

"Who is that courageous?"

"Doesn't he love his life?"

The cathedral instantly erupted in cacophony as the stunned attendees turned their gazes to the western door to see who was so bold as to object to Seth Miller's wedding and even kick down the western door. There stood a tall young man clad in black pants and a coat, with a hat perched on his head. His face was expressionless, and his hands rested casually in his pockets. Looking at him, it was almost as if he wasn’t the one who had just spoken or sent the western door flying.

As the gazes of the attendees fell on him, their expressions instantly changed, and the cacophony grew louder.

"Isn't that Ariadne Brook's runaway ex?"

"He has been lost for six years, how did he suddenly come back today of all days?"

"Is he here to stop the wedding?"

"Didn't you hear his words? He said he objects!"

"Hah! He's just a country bumpkin. The groom today is Seth Miller, isn't he afraid of offending the Millers?"

"He must be tired of living!"

As they babbled, most of the attendees looked at the young man in disgust and contempt, while others in pity.

He was just a country bumpkin—how dare he object to Seth's wedding?

He was really tired of living!

Seth was beside himself in rage. He had just said a second ago that no one in the gathering would dare object to his wedding, yet almost immediately someone did! How infuriating! If it had been someone from the five top families, perhaps he would have felt a little better, but it was a mere country bumpkin. He couldn't help but wonder where he found the audacity!

But ultimately, he calmed himself down, not bothering to say anything. I’ve already set my eyes on Ariadne Brook and today is our wedding. Even if that loser objected, nothing can go wrong. After all, if the Brooks were smart, they would not dare to do anything that would offend me.

The bride, Ariadne Brook, on the other hand, was filled with mixed feelings—shock, anger, and something else she couldn’t quite explain. Six years ago, Lucas had suddenly left her without warning.

The only explanation he gave was a letter, saying he had to go away for a while but promised to return, though he didn’t know when. He assured her he would come back and make it up to her. He hadn’t mentioned the reason for his sudden departure. It wasn’t until days later that she found out the truth—her mother had paid him off!

He had probably been too ashamed to admit the truth. That betrayal hurt her deeply because she had loved him so much and believed he loved her too.

For years, she clung to the hope that he would return, and tell her it was all a lie, that her mother and the rest of her family had fabricated everything. But he never came back. Six years had passed.

She couldn't believe he was back now. And of all days to do so, it had to be today.

He even came to the cathedral and objected to the wedding. Though he had every right to, wasn't he afraid of offending Seth and the Millers? He was still as impulsive as ever! "Lucas," though angry with him, she couldn't help but whisper, nibbling on her lower lip anxiously.

In the face of all the murmurs and the numerous gazes cast at him, Lucas's expression didn’t change in the slightest.

He didn’t even bother to respond to them, making his way over to Ariadne.

His face remained expressionless, and his steps were so slow, almost as if he was afraid of walking any faster than that.

Everyone's attention followed him until he arrived in front of Ariadne.

Lucas looked at her from head to toe, taking her in. His woman was still as beautiful as he remembered, perhaps even more than he remembered, especially in that wedding gown, though there were traces of tears in her eyes—one a bride shouldn't have.

His heart clenched seeing that, and he opened his mouth to speak, but the bishop abruptly interrupted him.

"You are to speak to me. So out with it already, why do you object?" he asked coolly, his expression still emotionless.

It was almost as if he and Lucas were related as they both shared the same expressionless faces and had an aloof air about them, like they didn't take anything in the world seriously.

Lucas regarded the bishop calmly. "Why?" he met the old man's gaze squarely, causing the latter to feel a chill down his spine, "because we are married!"