Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption

Chapter 325: Family first...

Following Davis and his entourage’s arrival, the launching kicked off in earnest.

Sonia winked at Tricia. "Will you still be in the car while I go into the hall to have a good time?" Sonia asked.

Tricia glared at her. As much as she didn’t like the betrayal she had received from this friend of hers, there was no way she could return now.

"Why not stay back and witness the scene?" she murmured to herself.

Taking a deep breath, "I will go in with you, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t settle this score with her," she muttered angrily.

Sonia shrugged her shoulders. "Talk about that tomorrow," she smirked. Carefully, the ladies stepped out of the car and made their way into the hotel.

Tricia found herself inside the hall with dazzling décor. Her gaze swept over the hall as she took in the atmosphere.

The Master of Ceremony took the stage, welcoming the dignitaries that had come for the show. In his words, "You don’t have to feel shy. Like in every other year, the Angels’ Wears got you covered."

He called up the chairman of the group to offer his opening speech, which naturally fell on Richard. With the stress and troubles of the morning already gone, he was now refreshed and charming.

His gaze scanned through the audience in hopes of seeing the lady of the day, but surprisingly, she wasn’t among them, nor was the group that had come with her. A low smirk curled up his lips as a sentence crossed his mind: "He is really prepared."

He was grateful he had helped him out in locating the missing materials and the models. He was short of words because, despite his connection, he might not have been able to secure such top-tier models at such short notice of twenty minutes.

Recalling his dilemma as he waited on the rooftop for the arrival of these models, he blamed himself for having worried so much. Yes, he had been anxious about the sort of models Davis would find, contemplating the need to make plans ahead. But while he bothered, the humming sound and trailing tone of the helicopter as it landed on the rooftop...

Before he could understand what was really going on, the models slowly alighted one after another.

At that moment, he had murmured in wonder, "Top international models?" In his heart, he scored Davis 100 points for saving the day.

Clearing his throat lightly, "I want to appreciate everyone who has joined us in this annual event and to everyone who has helped us in weathering the storm over the years." noveldrama

"We really appreciate your effort." He went further to express the group’s intention to broaden their scope of operations and hoped that their partners would continue to support them further as they progressed higher.

At the end of his address, he stepped down the stage. An ovation thundered in the air.

The MC took the stage and, at this moment, called in the models. The beautiful and gorgeous models stepped onto the red carpet. Tricia, seated amongst the guests, clenched her fists.

Her breath came in gasps as she watched the models. She didn’t expect that after all the effort she had taken to disrupt their activities, yet they had succeeded in getting other models—and not just any models, but the top international models.

Within the time frame she had managed the Watts Group, she could tell from their appearance—their fees cost a fortune.

The waiters moved around the hall serving the guests. As one of the waiters got to her table, she took a glass of wine from him.

"Has Lady Bright arrived?" she asked.

"No, ma’am. From the information provided, Lady Bright wouldn’t be present," the waiter answered, taking another glance at her.

Tricia’s brow furrowed. She took a casual sip of her wine, her eyes narrowing into slits as her thoughts swirled around.

"If Jessica is Lady Bright and is married to Davis, then the woman beside her must be Lady Bright," she mused.

"It seems her identity is still hidden? I think I’ve got nothing to lose. With the escorts already in place, I think I have to search out where she is—then everything will fall in place," she thought.

Sonia, noting her countenance, shook her head lightly. "Tricia, if you love your life, I advise you not to try anything funny. The morning task might have been calmed, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be investigated."

Tricia looked at her sheepishly as she feigned ignorance of what she was saying.

Sonia opened her mouth to say more, but the atmosphere in the hall changed as the guests turned their gaze to the door at the entrance of Julian Anderson.

---

Meanwhile, in a special lounge provided for privacy, Davis and his group sat as they took in the scenes in the hall. Jessica’s brow furrowed at the entrance of the models. "These weren’t the models we signed in this year."

"Why do you say so?" Davis asked, his brow raised. He couldn’t help wondering why she would always notice a slight difference in anything.

"They’re the same," Davis murmured.

"You know what? Though I might not have taken care of the model hiring, I made every decision about that, and I’m sure Natasha, Benita, and even Amara weren’t among them," she said, her tone laced with conviction and finality.

Davis took a deep breath as he lowered his gaze to his glass. Jessica nodded in understanding. "You changed the models?" she asked.

Taking a glance at them again, "I assume it wasn’t just by choice but something had gone wrong," she said, her gaze daring him to deny her accusation. But then Davis only sighed.

"Well, you’ve won," Davis finally said, his voice calm but laced with weariness. "But, the models had to be changed due to some issues that came up last minute." He extended his hand toward the stage, gesturing toward the runway. "Now... everything’s fine."

Jessica’s brows narrowed. She wasn’t the type to let things slide that easily. "So, you’re telling me this is the urgent meeting you were rushing to attend this morning?"

Her tone wasn’t accusing, but it cut through the air like a sharp blade. Davis shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his eyes flickering briefly toward Becky.

Becky, catching the signal immediately, jumped in without hesitation—her voice light and teasing, trying to defuse the moment before it escalated.

"Hey babe," she said, flashing a bright smile at Jessica, "how about we just enjoy the show for now? Whether these were the models you hired or not, what matters most is that the event is happening and it’s flawless."

Jessica turned to her with a pointed gaze but didn’t reply immediately. The glimmer in her eyes made it clear she wasn’t entirely convinced. Just as she parted her lips to respond, Davis’s phone vibrated sharply on the glass table between them.

He glanced at the screen, and his entire demeanor shifted.

Jessica caught the tension in his fingers before he even said a word. "Who is it?" she asked, her voice now calm but alert.

"Alfred," Davis muttered, his brows furrowed.

Jessica straightened in her seat. "Pick it up," she said firmly. "Something might have happened."

Davis nodded grimly. That was exactly what he feared. The timing was awful right in the middle of the launch but instinct told him he couldn’t ignore the call.

Sliding his finger across the screen, he held the phone to his ear. Alfred’s voice came through immediately, strained and breathless.

"Sir, it’s your grandfather... he’s gone into shock. We’re on our way to the hospital right now."

Davis felt a jolt shoot through him, his hand tightening over the phone as the words hit him like a sledgehammer. His grandfather...?

His eyes clouded, his lips parting slightly, but no words came out. Jessica was already watching him closely and knew something had gone wrong.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice low, tense.

Davis slowly lowered the phone, staring blankly for a moment before speaking. "It’s Grandpa," he said, barely audible. "He went into shock. They’re taking him to the hospital."

Becky gasped. Everyone nearby paused as the weight of the moment pressed down on them all.

Jessica stood at once. "We’re leaving," she said.

"But the launch..." Becky started, her voice uncertain.

Jessica cut her off. "Family first."

Davis stood slowly, his movements stiff. "I’ll go ahead," he said, his voice tight. "You don’t have to come with me."

Jessica met his gaze with quiet intensity. "Don’t say that. Let’s go."

He didn’t argue further. He knew better than to try. Jessica’s loyalty ran deeper than words. Her strength, even in moments like this, anchored him.

As they made their way out of the private box, Davis handed his phone to Ethan with brief instructions. "Coordinate with Alfred. Get every detail. Make sure there’s a medical team waiting by the time he arrives."

"Yes, sir," Ethan nodded quickly, already dialing numbers.

As they exited through the private passage, Jessica slipped her hand into his. He squeezed it gently, grateful for her presence.

"I should’ve seen this coming," he muttered, the guilt slowly gnawing at him.

Jessica didn’t reply immediately. Then, in a voice calm and steady, she said, "There’s no point blaming yourself now. Let’s just get to the hospital first. That’s what matters."

And with that, they disappeared through the exit—leaving behind the applause, the flashing lights, and the show that, just moments ago, had seemed like the most important thing.