Chapter 13: The Wedding

Amaya blushed despite her usual calm demeanor as so many people stared at her.

Just when she felt at a loss, the door to the dressing room was pushed open from the outside, and Jaylan walked in.

If Amaya was the princess of the castle tonight, then Jaylan was the prince. His attire was elegant with a touch of medieval style, and his noble demeanor was evident as he stared at her without any reaction. She thought he was displeased since he hadn't seen her in the wedding dress before.

Jaylan cleared his throat but said nothing, actually wanting to hide her from anyone else so that he could appreciate her stunning look alone.

"Mr. Hancock is probably stunned by his beautiful wife," Jaida teased.

The way he looked at Amaya just now was clearly one of being mesmerized.

Men are indeed visual creatures.

Amaya's face turned red, blushing all the way to her ears after hearing Jaida's words.

"It's time," Jaylan whispered in Amaya's ear.

Since the bride had no father today, the traditional father-daughter entrance was canceled. Instead, the groom led the bride in, which might seem unconventional, but given the Hancock family's status, no one dared to question it.

The wedding venue was a romantic setting of feathers and flowers, with fresh roses flown in from France, creating a beautiful and romantic atmosphere.

As soon as the couple appeared, they drew everyone's attention. The groom stood tall and straight, exuding an innate nobility that seemed unattainable. The bride was beautiful and charming, her fair skin tinged with a blush that added to her allure. Just standing there, they looked like a perfect match.

Besides the bride and groom, the bridesmaid Jaida also attracted much attention.

It wasn't surprising since she was stunningly beautiful, elegant yet unpretentious. She had meticulously arranged the bride's jewelry, accessories, and wedding dress.

Unsurprisingly, Amaya's bouquet landed in Jaida's arms. Amaya winked at her playfully. Although she married for convenience, she sincerely hoped her good friend would find her own happiness.

With the ceremony concluded, there was a short break before the banquet. Soon, many young men approached Jaida, hoping to get her contact information and perhaps ask her out later.

Jaida, already tired from the day's events, frowned slightly. Even though she liked handsome men, she wasn't in the mood to deal with them now.

"The bride needs to change clothes. Miss Crawford, please assist," August, the best man who had been watching Jaida, suggested. Like others, he was inexplicably drawn to her at first sight. Despite being surrounded by wealth and luxury, she didn't seem ambitious or greedy.

However, August misjudged Jaida. She did desire money and power but preferred to achieve it on her own terms rather than relying on a man.

Realizing August was helping her out, Jaida winked at him in gratitude.

"Sure, I'll go right away," she said, seizing the chance to escape the crowd.

Meanwhile, a portly middle-aged man was making a phone call in a corner just after the ceremony ended.

"Kyson, your daughter married Mr. Hancock. Why didn’t you tell me the good news? I didn't see you here; are you feeling unwell? Not attending your daughter's wedding?" Zayne, Kyson's long-time business partner, asked over the phone.

“What nonsense are you talking?” Kyson was at home when he received Zayne's call and was utterly confused.

Jaylan's wedding had never been a secret; everyone knew about it. However, the bride had been well-protected by the Hancock family, and no one knew who she was until now.

Guests were not allowed to take photos at the wedding venue. Even media photos had to be approved by the Hancock family before release, showing how tightly they guarded this secret.

"I'm not talking nonsense. The bride is Amaya. I've watched her grow up; I can't be wrong. Plus, your ex-wife Lana is here as the bride's mother," Zayne insisted confidently.

There was silence on Kyson's end for a long time.

"You... didn't know?" Zayne finally realized and quickly hung up.

He knew Amaya and her mother had moved out of the Moreno family years ago. It was clear Kyson wasn't informed about the wedding.

Knowing how much Amaya and her mother hated Kyson, it was evident they didn't want him to know about it. The Hancock family must have deliberately kept it from him.

If the Hancock family found out Zayne leaked this information, he'd be in big trouble. He hurriedly slipped out through the back door.

"That ungrateful brat!" Kyson fumed as he slammed his phone against the wall, shattering it into pieces. His daughter had grown ungrateful indeed.

She got married without informing him, treating him as if he were dead. The study remained silent for a long time before Kyson got up with a dark expression and went downstairs.

"Prepare the car!" he ordered sharply.

Twenty minutes later, Kyson arrived at the hotel hosting the wedding.

Amaya, unaware of what was happening outside, had just changed into her reception dress and was greeting guests with Jaylan.

Kyson couldn't enter without an invitation and stood outside fuming. Madilyn and her mother started cursing loudly when they couldn't talk their way in. They had gathered most of the details on their way here and were furious that Amaya hadn't invited them, missing their chance to connect with high society.

The commotion at the entrance soon caught the guests' attention.

"What's going on?" Jaylan asked Talan impatiently as he hurried over.

"Kyson Moreno from Moreno Group is outside with his wife and daughter, demanding to come in. He claims he's Mrs. Hancock's father and accuses her of being ungrateful for not inviting him," Talan reported under great pressure. The boss's wedding being disrupted by such people was beyond stressful.

Amaya felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing "Moreno Group." So they found out after all.

Jaylan remained calm. "Invite them to the lounge," he said, leading Amaya inside.

"Jaylan," Amaya called softly. She hadn't wanted Kyson to cause trouble and felt a pang of guilt. Distracted by these thoughts, she almost tripped but Jaylan caught her in time.

"Watch your step," he said evenly, revealing no emotion.

Amaya wondered what he thought now—if he regretted marrying someone who brought such trouble.

Kyson entered with his wife and Madilyn, seething with anger as he saw Amaya standing elegantly beside Jaylan in her beautiful dress.

Feeling deceived and furious about being kept in the dark about such a significant event, he raised his hand to strike Amaya but was stopped by a firm grip before he could touch her face.