Chapter 512
“Alex.” Terrance cleared his throat with two sharp coughs before continuing, “Aliza is Elbert’s daughter, and now she’s your fiancée.”
Though Terrance spoke quietly, his words struck Alex like a thunderclap.
“My fiancée?” Alex’s shock was palpable; he looked from Aliza to his father, his face ghostly.
“Dad, what are you talking about? What fiancée? Why am I only hearing about this now?”
“This arrangement was made long ago between Elbert and me,” Terrance explained, his voice steady with authority.
“NO!” Alex responded instantly.
“No?” Terrance’s sneer was tinged with disdain. “Remember, Alex, you are a howe. You don’t get to choose your bride.”
“I…” Alex began, only to be interrupted by Aliza.
“Alex, please stay calm.” She stepped in front of him, speaking softly, as though she were placating a child. “I know you’re upset right now, but our families have decided this. We need to respect that.”
“Shut up!” Alex shot her an icy glare. “This is my personal business, nothing to do with you.”
He shoved past the servant who stood in his way and stormed out of the house without a single backward glance.
Behind him, Aliza’s cries and Terrance’s furious shouts echoed, but Alex didn’t care.
In the end, Aliza could only stand there in a daze, desperate tears streaming down her face. She had never imagined that Alex would cause such a scene at home—all for a woman.
“Aliza, don’t be upset.” Terrance walked up to her and patted her shoulder. “Alex is just confused at the moment. Once he cools off and thinks things through, he will come to accept you.”
“Mr. Howe…” Aliza looked up at him, her eyes brimming with fresh tears. “Do you really think so?”
“Definitely,” Terrance declared. “This marriage was decided between our families a long time ago. It’s set in stone, a done deal. Nothing can change it.”
“But…” Aliza trailed off and bit her lower lip.
“No buts!” Terrance’s voice rose slightly. “Look, don’t worry, all right? The Howe family will only recognize you as Alex’s future wife.”noveldrama
“Thank you, Mr. Howe,” Aliza choked out, though his reassurance did nothing to calm her heart. She knew Alex all too well. He wasn’t the type to relent once he made up his mind. If he was truly determined to be with Sadie, what was she to do? No. She couldn’t let that happen. She had waited so many years for this moment. She refused to lose to Sadie.
The thought brought a newfound determination to Aliza, and her eyes flashed with a surprisingly ruthless glint. Gradually, she calmed down and wiped away her tears.
“I’ll head back now,” she said. “Have a good night, Mr. and Mrs. Howe.”
“All right, my dear. Be careful on your way,” Terrance replied with a kind nod. Aliza left the villa and got into her car. However, instead of starting the engine, she took out her phone and made a call.
“Hello?” A nervous voice came through the line after just one ring.
“Something terrible has happened, Miss Perry!”
“What is it?”
“The people we sent to trash Sadie’s studio,” the other person said, their voice trembling with fear. “They were caught by Noah.”
“What?” All the color drained from Aliza’s face. “That can’t be true!”
“But it is, Miss Perry. None of our men escaped. Noah rounded them all up.”
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