Jaw tight, eyes steady and unflinching at his accusation, Viviana gazed deeply at him and then at the audience.
"Wow…" A humourless laugh played on her lips. "You're far more shameless than I could've ever imagined, Fernando."
"Meaning what?"
Fernando lifted a single brow. "You don't have any evidence that proves I cheated. And the more you do this, the more it feels like you're trying to cover up the fact that YOU'RE the one who cheated."
"Am I right?" He turned to the crowd.
A lot of them nodded, agreeing with his statement. And that frustrated her. What exactly about Fernando was so believable?
Well, Savannah and Serena did speak up for him. And Savannah Di-grassi especially wasn't a woman known to tolerate nonsense. Surely something must not be adding up here.
"Evidence?
Viviana asked.
"That's what you want?"
Fernando glared at her, scowling.
"Fine. I'll give you evidence." She tilted her head just enough to show she wasn't afraid and that only made him uneasy. "I have plenty, and you cannot even begin to imagine."
She reached a hand out to Sabrina.
Sabrina nodded and took a phone out of her purse. She gave it to her. Viviana collected it, unlocked it, and swiped in.
A voice recording began playing.
But the startling thing was… the phone was connected to the speakers mounted near the function. And the recording could be heard, loud and clear.
"It's very funny what you've done. Exposing me?" Fernando's laughter resounded. "Sweetie, you're the one who's going to be embarrassed. You're the one who will be all over the news tomorrow, feeling humiliated. I'm a man after all. Who cares if I mess around?"
The guests glanced at each other, quietly sharing the same thoughts.
Savannah and Serena froze where they stood. Amadeo Di-grassi, on the other hand, flickered his eyes, fingers digging into the armrest of his seat.
"You want to know the best part?" The recording went on, "I'm not stopping, I'm never going to stop. Your father and stepmother? I'm not afraid of them, because if anything, they're going to keep covering up my mess. Why? The Di-grassi family can't afford scandals and speculations. Viviana, you're playing a losing game. And every time you fight back, it'll only bite you. Not me. This marriage, though, regardless of me cheating, it'll happen. So maybe, spare yourself some hurt."
The recording ended.
All eyes slowly diverted over to Fernando, judging, disgusted, and concerned.
Viviana turned to meet both Savannah and Serena, questioning, "Will you still vouch for him? Will you cover up for him over and over again? Are you still unwilling to believe this conniving little b**ch? Tell me!"
Savannah breathed, shuddering in boiling rage. This was beyond humiliation. She'd even had articles published, defending Fernando, and now with this…
'VIVIANA! Couldn't keep your mouth shut, huh?'
Slowly, she looked at her husband, who'd been watching silently the entire time, his legs crossed.
"Are you just going to sit there and let this nonsense continue? Are you just going to watch me be humiliated like this over and over again?"
She was screaming at him at this point.
Amadeo exhaled deeply, uncrossed his legs, and stood up. He walked past Savannah and Serena, toward Fernando.
Fernando gulped thickly, his gray eyes glinting with fear. "M-mr. Di-grassi—"
Amadeo backhanded him hard against the face, shoving the rest of his words down his throat. The slap came down so hot, Fernando staggered back, tripping over his own feet and falling to the floor.
"How dare you?" Amadeo questioned, gaze impassive. But anyone who knew him knew he was beyond pissed. "You filthy little thing. Who do you think you are? Didn't I tell you to behave yourself?"
Fernando knelt on the floor, ignoring the eyes on him. He cupped his hands together begging, because if he were to be honest, this man was more than capable of taking him out silently.
Mr. Di-grassi turned away and stormed up the altar toward Viviana. His eyes were cold and soulless, devoid of any form of warmth. Not that he'd ever looked at her with warmth in his eyes.
Nikolas watched him intently. While he may be at his weakest in the sun, he would end Amadeo right then and there if he tried any funny business.
"You and I… We'll have a long family talk later, Viviana Di-grassi," Amadeo said. And Viviana knew that whenever he spoke her name fully like this, she was in a deep mess.
The scars on her back itched. But she didn't let the fear crawling up her skin show on her face.
Amadeo half-smiled emotionlessly at her before gliding his eyes over to Nikolas. "You…"
"…You cannot be so delusional to think the dirt beneath the shoe of a man like me can ever marry my daughter, right?"
A slow lazy grin spread across Nikolas's lips and he pocketed his hands in his slacks. He gave a careless shrug, seeming to not really care.
And that irritated Amadeo. "You do not qualify to marry my daughter. Make yourself scarce, and don't force me to do it myself."
He turned away, stepped down, and grabbed his wife's hand. As he began to storm out, he announced, "You may all take your leave. This wedding is CANCELLED!"
Serena followed suit.
The guests all hesitated. But each and every one of them eventually began to leave their seats to file out of the event. A few more minutes and the entire place was completely empty.
The only ones left were Sabrina and one more person in the crowd.
A young-looking woman, brown-skinned with pretty gray eyes. She was seated with her legs crossed and a light smile on her face.
Francesca.
Oh. The priest as well was fortunately still present, looking nothing short of traumatized.
A deep breath fell from Viviana, and she moved over to stand opposite Nikolas.
She asked, "Can we still go ahead with the wedding?"
"Y-yes. Of course." The priest rapidly nodded.
"Then I'd like to proceed."
"Ah, yes, alright." The priest cleared his throat. "Do you-uh-sir, may I ask your name?"
Nikolas said, "Nikolas… Bastiani."
The priest's eyes grew wide. Nikolas Bastiani? As in, Nikolas Bastiani. But that couldn't be. The known Nikolas Bastiani looked nothing like this man.
It couldn't be.
"Do you, Miss Viviana Di-grassi, take Nikolas Bastiani as your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do," she said.
"And do you—" The priest turned. "—Nikolas Bastiani, take Miss Viviana Di-grassI as your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do."
Sabrina gladly walked over with the rings, which they exchanged with each other.
The priest smiled subconsciously. "I pronounce you both husband and wife."
Sabrina loudly began to clap, cheering while holding the biggest glee on her face. Francesca eventually joined.
"You may now kiss the—"
"There is no need for that," Viviana interrupted. She turned to walk away, uncaring for whatever the headline would speak of her by the next morning.
Nikolas, however, slipped behind her, looping an arm around her waist to draw her back against him. He leaned in.
She froze. "What are you—"
"Trying to abandon me at the altar, your highness? You haven't even paid me. Or are you perhaps trying to swindle me?"
"You! You!"
"Me what?" His tone dripped with amusement. "You're taking me with you. You can't dump me now."
Her pupils shrunk as she glared at him. "I wasn't going to! Quit it with the accusations!"
"I don't believe that." Nikolas caught her arm and tucked it securely under his.
She stared at him, stunned at his audacity.
He smirked, cocking a brow. "Shall we go home now, wife?"