Stand Me Up? I'll Marry His Billionaire Uncle novel Chapter 81

Annabelle and Magnus followed Father Benedict back to the old manor.

As they left, relatives and close friends kept bombarding them with questions about what had really happened at the wedding. They'd already announced the engagement between their son and their adopted daughter, and now—no matter how they tried to explain—it was impossible to find the right words. All they could do was swallow their frustration and shame.

"Father Benedict, Sunny was just too willful today," Annabelle muttered in irritation. "Even if she's angry at Tristan, she shouldn't have made such a scene at an event like this."

She'd planned everything for her own son and daughter. Even if Sunny was adopted, Annabelle had spoiled her since childhood—she was family, through and through.

She could complain all she wanted, but why should others get to pass judgment?

And the person everyone was gossiping about, the one who brought disgrace to the family, was none other than Sunny.

"Benedict, you're not still thinking of helping the Carringtons' company, are you?" Magnus asked, shaking his head with a heavy sigh. "We'll do the bare minimum to get by," he added.

So many distinguished guests had attended today, only for the Lawsons to be humiliated like this. How could he not be upset? That anger was directed not just at the Carrington family's daughter, but also at Sunny's father, Sean. They'd all agreed on the plan, and now it had fallen apart in public. Of course he was angry.

Father Benedict's brow furrowed in frustration as he listened to his eldest son and daughter-in-law. A vein throbbed on his forehead.

"So now you're saying this is all someone else's fault?" he snapped.

Zara, who had stayed by her grandfather's side, muttered under her breath, "Exactly."

"Uncle, Aunt Annabelle, I've heard Sunny say more than once that she wanted to call off the engagement."

"She told you, but you kept putting her off because of Grandfather's health. And just two days ago, her father had someone drug her and drag her back home—just to make sure she'd show up at the wedding."

"If Wendy hadn't gotten sick, Sunny would have told you herself, Grandfather."

"So really, you kept pushing her, step by step. How has this suddenly become all her fault?"

Zara refused to defend her relatives when they were clearly in the wrong—she wasn't about to let anyone slander her best friend right in front of her.

"Zara, you shouldn't say that," Annabelle hurried to explain. "I know you and Sunny are close, but we're your family too."

Zara just pouted, her disapproval obvious to Father Benedict.

"That's enough," Father Benedict said, turning back to his daughter-in-law. "You knew Sunny wanted to break off the engagement. Why didn't you tell me?"

Zara blinked her bright eyes. "Grandpa, didn't you ask Uncle Stellan to take Sunny to the hospital?"

Father Benedict finally remembered. "Tomorrow, you'll come with me to visit Wendy. She used to be so close with your mother and grandmother."

Magnus and Annabelle dared not object and quickly agreed, "Of course."

—

After storming out of the wedding, Tristan drove off with Luna in tow. His expression grew darker by the minute, the veins on his hands standing out as he gripped the steering wheel.

He kept pressing down on the gas, the car's warning system chiming to remind him he was breaking the speed limit.

Luna clutched her seatbelt, her face as white as a sheet. "Tristan, please… slow down."

But her words only seemed to agitate him further. The empty roads stretched ahead, and it wasn't until they hit a red light ten minutes later that Tristan finally began to calm down.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Luna. His gaze softened, just a little. "I'm sorry, Luna. Did I scare you just now?"