Chapter 12
Chapter 12
The color drained from Jenna’s face instantly.
Steven was stunned. “Why not? Haven’t you always had feelings for her?”
Alaric didn’t look at Jenna, speaking instead with calculated calm.
“Dad, replacing the bride with Jenna might solve today’s immediate problem, but what about the aftermath?”
“Our family has countless joint ventures with the Forbes estate. Even though Stella has managers handling the day–to–day, she holds all the decision–making power.”
“She may have skipped the wedding today, but Dad, do you honestly think she’d be happy if I married Jenna instead? If she’s just having cold feet and discovers I’ve replaced her, what then?”
“What if she pulls out of every business deal with the Gilbert name in retaliation?”
“Beyond that, a last–minute bride swap would make everyone question our family’s integrity. It would damage our business reputation for years.”
Alaric laid out the pros and cons with cold logic. Steven was convinced.
“You make good points, but today’s ceremony…”
“That’s easy to handle,” Alaric interrupted. “The Forbes mansion just burned down yesterday. We simply announce that Stella’s injuries unexpectedly worsened, forcing us to postpone. We can hold another ceremony in a month.”
Camilla’s eyes lit up at this suggestion.
“Yes, yes! Trust me, I’ve known Stella since she was a child. She would never truly walk away from Alaric!”
Steven was fully persuaded now.
“Fine. We’ll go with your plan.”
Steven and Camilla quickly left to explain to the guests.
Only then did Alaric turn his attention to Jenna.
Seeing her reddened eyes, he felt a pang of guilt. “Jenna…” he said softly.
Jenna looked up sharply.
“Uncle Al, is it really just business between the Forbes and Gilbert families? Is that the only reason you’re marrying Stella?”
Alaric’s eye twitched. “Of course. What else would it be?”
09:35
Addio To The Stand In Past. This Time I Chose To Reclaim My Own Life
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Chapter 12
Jenna spoke quietly. “I thought… maybe you’d actually fallen in love with her…”
“That’s ridiculous!”
The words escaped Alaric before he could stop them.
Jenna forced a weak smile. “Good to know.”
Alaric’s hands unconsciously clenched into fists.
Yes.
That was how it was.
He was marrying Stella solely for business and to keep his family’s promise.
That was all it was… truly…
After canceling the wedding, Alaric immediately went searching for Stella.
He checked several Forbes properties without finding her, eventually arriving at MIT where she worked.
Unlike other wealthy heiresses who studied business management or luxury fashion, Stella had devoted herself to aerospace engineering.
After completing her undergraduate degree, she went straight into a graduate program, then stayed on as a research scientist after graduation.
Alaric had always looked down on Stella’s career choice.
The salary was too low, and it contributed nothing to either family’s business interests.
He had already planned that after they were married, he would make her quit this job.
Arriving at the university, he found Professor Lockwood and directly asked if he had seen Stella.
The professor looked at him in confusion.
“Stella’s already gone. Didn’t you know?”
09:35
