In the hotel lobby, to the right of the stage, sat a group of people Georgia knew all too well.
Among them were her parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and even those distant relatives she hadn’t seen in over a decade. At a glance, the crowd seemed to number sixty or seventy people-a lively and chaotic scene. And at the center of it all was the family matriarch, the most respected elder. She was here, too.
The entire Adams family had shown up! Not just them, but their relatives and friends as well. Everyone had heard the news. Watching their laughter and joy, Georgia was overwhelmed. Her emotions surged with shock, confusion, and something she couldn’t quite articulate.
Looking at the dizzying scene, Georgia felt on the verge of breaking down. This was supposed to be a fake engagement. So how had it turned into this? Why were her family members, distant relatives, and even business partners all here?
Whose idea was this? Was it her mother’s doing? Or Luther’s? What were they planning?
The last thing Georgia wanted was for her family to find out about this arrangement. Yet now, they were all here. Everyone would know. It was over. The cold dread in her chest was unbearable.
“Georgia, what do you think? Satisfied with the arrangements?”
Luther’s cheerful voice called out as he entered the lobby, having just parked his car. Georgia turned to him, her gaze falling on the fresh wound on his face. She frowned slightly, but that wasn’t her primary concern. The scene before her was.
She rushed to ask, “Luther, what’s going on? Why is my entire family here? And why are my business partners here too? Did you arrange this? Or…”
Before she could finish, a cheerful voice interrupted her from the direction of the Adams family seating area.
“Georgia, Georgia!”
It was the matriarch’s voice. Supported by others, the elderly woman approached with a radiant smile on her face.
“I never would’ve imagined you’d do something like this,” she said, her tone a mix of reproach and joy. “An engagement is such a big deal, and you didn’t even tell me. If it weren’t for your mother, I wouldn’t have known you and Luther were getting engaged. What were you thinking, child?”
Though there was a hint of scolding in her words, the matriarch’s face was glowing with happiness.
“Mom!” Georgia turned to Scarlett, her mother, with an anxious expression. Scarlett, however, grinned and said, “Don’t blame Luther for this. I made the decision myself. I felt that something this significant shouldn’t be kept from the family. Everyone has the right to know.”
“You have no idea how sincere Luther is. Look over there-see that?” Scarlett pointed to a pile of something on the stage. The mound, faintly hued with bright colors, looked enormous.
Georgia squinted, unsure what it was, when the matriarch suddenly exclaimed, “Oh my, is that money?”
Money.
Piles of money.
Georgia was dumbfounded, staring blankly at the sight. She turned to Scarlett in disbelief.
Scarlett, still beaming, confirmed, “That’s right, Mom. It’s money! Falcon family’s gift for Georgia: $2. 88 million in cash, plus a townhouse in the capital, an $800, 000 car, and a villa in Hiphia.”
A collective gasp rippled through the relatives behind them.
“My goodness, such an extravagant dowry! This is incredible!”
“Even though this is Georgia’s second marriage, this is beyond lavish. $2. 88 million in cash-I’ve never seen anything like it. Truly amazing.”
“See that? That’s your cousin. Look how grand her wedding is! You should learn from her.”
“Yes, yes, it’s so enviable.”
“Georgia’s marrying into a wonderful family. She’s bound to be happy.”
The relatives buzzed with excitement, utterly astonished by the display before them.
This was precisely the reaction Scarlett had hoped for. Her daughter was getting married, and this was her moment to shine. How could she not flaunt it? In her mind, simply not broadcasting it to the world was already modest enough.
Listening to the envious chatter around her, Scarlett’s face glowed with pride. The more amazed they were, the more doubts swirled in Georgia’s mind. This was just a fake marriage! Why bring out all these gifts? Where had the money come from?
“Georgia, you’ve made us proud!” the matriarch exclaimed, her eyes brimming with admiration. “I told you before, you should consider Luther seriously. You kept refusing. Now, do you see? This is the Falcon family’s generosity. They’re truly unmatched. Nothing like this has ever happened in Hiphia!”
Scarlett eagerly chimed in, “Exactly, Mom. You’re absolutely right.”
Suddenly, Scarlett turned her attention to Luther. Seeing the cut on his face, she gasped, “Luther! What happened to your face?”
“It’s nothing, really,” Luther replied, lowering his head to hide the injury.
“Luther, did that bastard Kayden do this? Did he come after you?” Scarlett’s voice rose with indignation, her protective instincts flaring. She looked ready to tear Kayden apart to defend her new son-in-law.
Luther hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly. “He probably found out about the engagement. He wasn’t happy. Last night, he came to my house and told me to leave Georgia and cancel the engagement. I refused, so we argued. Then he hit me and threatened to crash the engagement party today.”
The matriarch’s face darkened with fury. “How dare he! That Kayden has gone too far. If he dares to show up and cause trouble, I’ll make sure he regrets it!”
Scarlett, equally enraged, crossed her arms and declared, “That scumbag! Pretending to be decent all this time-unbelievable. If he comes here today, I’ll make him sign the divorce papers on the spot. He owes my daughter that much!”
“Alright, it’s a joyous day. Let’s not waste time talking about that fool,” the matriarch said, calming the atmosphere. Slowly, the tension in the room eased.
Georgia swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she turned back to Luther. “Luther, what is all this? Why is my family here? Didn’t we agree this was a fake engagement? Where did all this money come from?”
Before Luther could respond, a booming voice suddenly rang out from behind her, accompanied by loud, boisterous laughter.
“That was my doing!”
The hearty voice echoed through the lobby, followed by the sound of raucous laughter.