Griffin let out a guttural scream, clutching his private part as he stumbled backward. His face flushed red and nearly purple, sweat pouring down his forehead.
“Griffin!” His mother, Judith Moreno, rushed over, her face etched with worry. “Are you okay?”
“Mom, it hurts. It hurts so much,” Griffin whimpered, his voice trembling.
“How dare you kick my son!” Judith shouted furiously.
Kaia looked down at them, her gaze icy and unyielding. “He deserved it.”
“What a wild, arrogant brat! You hit my son and still have the nerve to talk big!” Judith snapped.
‘Arrogant? Why don’t you ask what your precious son did first?” Kaia shot back.
As Kaia spoke, Tobias walked over and stood right by her side.
He didn’t say a word or lift a finger.
But just by being there, it was obvious to everyone that Tobias was backing Kaia up, no questions asked.
Hearing the commotion, the third Moreno brother, Jameson Moreno, squeezed in and looked at Griffin, who was still clutching his groin. “What happened?” he asked.
Griffin gritted his teeth, trying to hold back the pain. “It was her. She tried to seduce me. I called her out, and she took it personally and attacked me.”
As soon as Griffin finished talking, the crowd started throwing weird, disdainful looks at Kaia.
‘Seriously? Kaia was hitting on Griffin?” someone whispered.
‘Didn’t you hear what Griffin said? Plus, her engagement with Tobias is almost up. She’s gotten used to living large and doesn’t want to go back to her old life, so now she’s trying to hook Griffin,” another person added.
up with
“Makes sense,” someone else nodded.
“Shameless!” Judith spat. “I’ve met plenty of hicks from the countryside, but I’ve never seen a brazen little slut like you!”
Kaia didn’t hesitate. She strode right up and slapped Judith hard across the face.
Smack!
The noisy banquet hall fell instantly silent, the echo of that slap hanging in the air.
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No one could believe Kaia was that fierce. She’d just slapped Judith, the wife of Tobias’s Uncle Jameson, in front of everyone.
Judith clutched her face, eyes wide and practically popping out of her head as she glared at Kaia, utterly stummed and furious.
“You, you hit me? How dare you! How dare you hit me!” she screeched.
“And why shouldn’t I? You called me a hick and a slut. You act all high and mighty, but is this what your fancy upbringing taught you? To scream insults at people in front of a crowd without even knowing the truth?” Kaia’s voice was icy, her gaze sharp as a blade, and the aura she gave off was downright intimidating.
Judith was floored. Never in her life did she think she’d get schooled by some brat, especially after being pampered since birth. No one had ever dared slap her, not even her parents, who always treated her like their precious little princess.
“I’m Jameson’s wife, Tobias’s aunt by marriage! Striking your elder is absolutely unforgivable!” she shrieked.
Kaia just scoffed. “Please. I’m only engaged to Tobias, not married. Don’t try to shackle me with some made–up family rule. If you insist on pulling rank, then you’re the one abusing your status as an elder. You had it coming!”
Judith couldn’t get a word in edgewise, feeling more and more humiliated and upset. She collapsed into Jameson’s arms, bawling her eyes out.
“Honey, your wife and son just got slapped around! Are you just going to stand here and do nothing? After being slapped in front of everyone at my age, how am I supposed to show face again? I might as well be dead!” she wailed.
my
Jameson looked completely overwhelmed and turned to Tobias. “Tobias, what are we supposed to do now?”
“Griffin only has himself to blame,” Tobias said flatly, his face unreadable.
Kaia lifted her eyes to Tobias, uncertainty flickering in her gaze,
She was sure that after what she’d just done to Griffin and Judith, Tobias would take his family’s
side.
Maybe he’d even use this as a reason to break off their engagement and cut her out of his life for good.
But what caught her off guard was that Tobias actually stood by her.
“But, but, Tobias, you…” Jameson stammered, looking totally flustered.
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“Uncle Jameson, I might’ve been standing a little ways off, but I saw Griffin clearly up to no good as he went after my fiancée,” Tobias said, his voice steady and cool.
“Is that true?” Jameson’s eyes widened as he turned to Griffin.
Griffin’s eyes darted around, jaw clenched tight. “I just went over to Kaia to grab a bite, and she tried to seduce me. She told me her engagement with Tobias was almost up, and if I was willing to take her in, she’d do whatever I wanted. No limits.
“But come on, how could I ever do that? Even if she and Tobias broke it off, she was supposed to be my future cousin–in–law. That’s just messed up.
“And anyway, someone like her, who’d throw herself at anyone just to get ahead? I’d rather die single than ever lay a finger on her.”
Joel almost lost it and nearly went after Griffin right then and there, fists clenched and ready to beat
him down.
But Kaia shot him a quick look, silently telling him to hold back.
If it weren’t for Kaia’s signal, Joel wouldn’t have cared about the occasion or blowing his cover.
Anyone who dared to insult or slander Kaia–Joel would hunt them to the ends of the earth, and never let it go.
“Tobias, did you hear that? Your fiancée is the shameless one, trying to seduce my son! You should make her kneel and apologize!” Judith screeched, her voice dripping with venom.
She hated Kaia with every fiber of her being.
Kaia let out a cold laugh, scanning the crowd with a cool, detached gaze.
“Kneel and apologize? Not happening. Isn’t this exactly what you’ve been hoping for? To kick me out? Honestly, I don’t give a damn about this place. Later.”
With that, Kaia turned on her heel and walked away.
But before she could take another step, a strong, calloused hand clamped down on her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.
Kaia turned around, and her eyes locked onto Tobias’s handsome face. Confusion flickered in her
gaze.
‘Is he going to force me to apologize to his family?‘ Kaia thought, a hint of frustration in her mind.
But her gut told her that Tobias wasn’t just trying to make her apologize. Maybe there was something else behind his actions…
Before Kaia could process what was happening, Tobias gave a firm but gentle pull, released her
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wrist, and slipped his arm around her waist, holding her tightly against him.
Kaia stiffened, stunned by his sudden move.
Everyone was left speechless, not knowing what to make of it.
1255 vouchers.
Tobias swept his icy gaze across the room, finally locking eyes with Judith and her crew. He spoke up, his tone unwavering and full of authority.
“Kaia and I will be husband and wife. This is for life. Nothing and no one will ever come between
us.”
His declaration echoed through the hall, every word landing like a hammer. There was no mistake. He meant every syllable.
Everyone could see he wasn’t joking around.
Tobias was serious.
Kaia’s eyes went wide, totally stunned as she stared at Tobias. She just couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
Upstairs, Keaton was practically bouncing with excitement. “Finally! Tobias’s got some sense!”
He figured that after these days together, Tobias must’ve noticed Kaia’s talent and brilliance.
But Keaton couldn’t help but wonder if Tobias had realized who she really was–Dr. Bennett.
“Uh, are you serious?” Judith stammered, her voice trembling.
Tobias nodded, his expression dead serious. “This isn’t just what Grandpa wants. It’s what I want,
too.”
“Did you ever think of asking me first?” Kaia whispered in his ear, her tone laced with exasperation.
Tobias turned to her, his midnight eyes brimming with unwavering affection.
“Well, I’m asking you now,” he murmured.
“I don’t agree, Our engagement’s almost up, and when the time comes, I’m gone. You live your life, and I’ll live mine,” Kaia said, her voice steady and unyielding.
“That won’t stop me from going after you,” Tobias replied, his tone gentle but full of resolve.
Kaia’s brows drew together as she met Tobias’s gaze head–on.
When their eyes locked, an electric current seemed to crackle in the air between them–something neither of them could quite put into words.
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‘Is he just putting on a show?‘ Kaia wondered, uncertainty flickering in her mind.
And is he expecting me to play along?‘ she thought, her confusion deepening.
For a moment, she just couldn’t figure him out at all.
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Their voices were so low that nobody could catch a word, but the way they leaned in, practically whispering right into each other’s ears, looked way too flirty for anyone to ignore.
Slowly, everyone’s attention shifted to Griffin.
“Didn’t he just claim Kaia was throwing herself at him and that Tobias was about to dump her? But look at those two now–practically deeply attached, and after that earth–shattering confession from Tobias, why would Kaia ever leave him for a guy like Griffin?” someone whispered.
Yeah, that makes sense. Looks like Griffin was just making stuff up,” another person chimed in.
‘Seriously, why would Griffin make up stuff about Kaia? And what made her go off and slap him like that?” someone in the crowd whispered, genuinely baffled.
‘Come on, it’s not rocket science. Haven’t you heard about Griffin’s messy love life? The guy’s a total player. He probably thought he could get with Kaia. Too bad he had no clue Tobias is crazy about
ner.”
‘He tried to steal her from Tobias and thought he could get away with it, but he messed with the wrong couple and got burned,” another person snickered.
Griffin looked miserable as he listened to the crowd’s whispers. He clenched his fists, jaw tight, determined to double down on his lie no matter what.
He said, looking wronged. “Tobias, you have to believe me! Kaia tried to seduce me. I think she’s ust insecure and wants to keep me as her backup plan. I swear!
I swear to God, I’m telling the truth.
‘If I’m lying, may I never be a man again, may I never have kids, may I die a miserable death!”
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