After the Secret Wedding Rise of My Queen
Secret Wedding 27

Chapter 27 A Blind Fate

"What?!" Morris exclaimed, a surge of panic washing over him. Tiffany felt her heart skip a beat as anxiety gripped her.

They shared a glance, a silent exchange of fear that their scheme might have been uncovered.

As father and daughter stood in tense silence, Xander entered with a commanding stride that seemed to drop the temperature in the room.

His presence was formidable, and Morris and Tiffany felt the weight of it, their nerves fraying under his scrutiny.

"Mr. Bennett, what brings you here at this hour?" Morris asked, trying to mask his unease with a veneer of ignorance.

Xander gestured to Leo, who nodded and signaled to the guards, "Bring them in."

Within moments, the vagrants were ushered inside, their faces bruised and battered, barely recognizable.

The sight of them sent a chill down Morris and Tiffany's spines, their skin growing pale with dread.

"Mr. Xander, please have mercy! We were coerced! They sent us! We didn't know she was your wife! Spare us!" the vagrants pleaded, collapsing to their knees in desperation. Tiffany, panicking, pointed at them, "They're lying! I never instructed them to do this! They acted on their own! What does this have to do with us?"

Her outburst caused Morris to break out in a cold sweat, stumbling back to clutch the sofa for support.

"Dad, what's wrong?" Tiffany asked, oblivious to the grave mistake she had made.

Xander's gaze, cold and unyielding, turned toward Tiffany. "They haven't revealed any details, yet you seem to know quite a lot."

Shock coursed through Tiffany's veins

Tiffany's eyes widened, her jaw dropping as she realized her error.

After a long pause, Tiffany attempted to deflect the situation, her tone shifting to one of feigned innocence.

"Xan, it's not my fault. We were meant to be engaged, but Isabel forced herself into the picture. She's the one to blame!"

She moved closer to Xander as she spoke, her silk nightgown clinging to her form, highlighting her curves.

Leo watched her with incredulity. He knew many had tried to seduce his boss before, but all met unpleasant ends.

"Leave!" Xander commanded, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. His eyes, sharp and intense, pinned Tiffany in place, rendering her too terrified to move.

III

1/4

Leo's expression was one of grim certainty as he thought, In this world, only Isabel could cross my boss and emerge unscathed.

Morris wiped the sweat from his forehead, his nerves clearly frayed. He stepped forward, his voice laden with desperation. "Mr. Bennett, please reconsider this. Your grandmother and the Perkins have a deep bond. If not for this connection, your nanny wouldn't have facilitated this marriage."

Xander's face remained an impassive mask. "You should count yourselves lucky. Without that link, the Perkins would be nothing but a memory in Solaria by dawn."

Morris gulped, the sound echoing his dread.

Xander's gaze swept over the disheveled vagrants before settling on Leo. "Get these people to the police

station."

"Yes, boss," Leo answered, his tone clipped.

With that, Xander turned and made his way to the door.

Tiffany, torn between fear and reluctance, gathered her resolve and hurried after him.

""Xan, wait-"

Xander halted but didn't turn. "From now on, the Perkins and the Bennetts have no further connection. If you harm her again, you will face repercussions beyond your worst fears."

Tiffany stood stunned, her voice caught in her throat as she watched him leave.

Fury and frustration churned within her, bubbling over into a tempest of rage.

She clutched her nightgown tightly, wrinkling and tearing it in her grip.

"Tiffany, stop. He's not someone you can manipulate right now," Morris said, his tone heavy with resignation as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I refuse to accept this! The position of Bennett family matriarch was mine by right! That interloper has not only belittled me but has also usurped everything that was meant for me. I will not let this stand! I will take back what's mine!" Tiffany's face twisted in rage, her eyes blazing with a searing intensity. Morris's expression darkened, his own frustration evident. "Didn't you hear Mr. Bennett's warning? If you make another move, you'll not only seal your own fate but drag the entire family down with you."

"I won't fail again. This mistake was a lapse, but next time, I'll succeed. Dad, help me. If we prevail, you'll be Xander's father-in-law, and our family will rise with us!" Tiffany begged, gripping Morris's arm tightly.

Morris hesitated, his face a mask of conflicted emotions.

"Dad, I've come up with a plan!" Tiffany's eyes sparkled with a new idea.

"What's your plan?" Morris asked, his intérest clearly piqued.

A mischievous grin spread across Tiffany's face. "We can have Grandpa step in. He could arrange a meeting with Xander under the guise of apologizing for the situation. While he's there, we'll slip something into Xander's tea. Once he's incapacitated, I handle the rest."

2/4

111

Morris hesitated, clearly torn.

"Dad, don't hesitate! If we let this opportunity slip, the Perkins will be entirely severed from the Bennets" Tiffany urged, her voice urgent and insistent.

At that moment, Albert walked in.

"Tiffany's plan isn't without merit, Albert said, his tone grave.

"Dad, why are you here?" Morris asked, bewildered.

"Can I really stay away when such a serious matter is unfolding?"

"What are you implying?" Morris asked.

Albert sighed deeply before speaking. "We were once a small, insignificant family. Our real growth began after Tiffany's engagement with the Bennetts. Many companies sought us out, eager to use our connection to the Bennetts for their own gain. This is how we grew to our current status. If our ties to the Bennetts are severed, many of our partners will likely withdraw and seek other opportunities. The Perkins could face a serious decline."

Morris absorbed Albert's words, worry etched on his face.

"So, you think we should proceed with the plan?"

Albert looked at Tiffany. "In my long life, I've encountered many types of people. My belief is that Xander's interest in that woman is likely a façade. If Tiffany can successfully execute her plan, we might propel the Perkins to new heights."

"I agree," Tiffany said, her enthusiasm growing. "I don't think Xander truly cares for that woman either?"

Morris looked from Albert to Tiffany, weighing their arguments.

"Alright, if you're both convinced, then we'll go all in and see this through!"

The next morning, Isabel slept late into the day, the sun already high in the sky.

"Mmm-" She stretched, trying to shake off the remnants of a restless night.

Despite a full night's sleep, she still felt the weariness from the previous day's events.

After a quick wash, she left her room and found Xander and Samuel already seated at the breakfast table.

Starving, Isabel had missed breakfast and now faced the prospect of lunch.

Just as she picked up her cutlery to start eating, her phone buzzed with an incoming call.

She had expected it to be Reggie but was surprised to see Colin's name on the screen.

Wasn't he the one who had cut ties with her in the hospital? Why was he calling now? She wondered. "What's this about? Speak," Isabel said, setting her phone on speaker so she could continue eating. "What kind of tone is that? Is this how you talk to your father? Did I raise you to be so disrespectful?"

3/4

Colin's voice was harsh and disapproving.

Xander glanced briefly at Isabel's phone but said nothing.

Samuel looked irritated, his appetite ruined by the interruption.

"You never bothered to teach me anything. You were too busy with your new wife's daughter to pay any attention to me," Isabel said, her tone as casual as her eating.

Colin fell silent for a moment, clearly recognizing the sarcasm in her voice.

"You treat her and her daughter as if they were your enemies, yet they genuinely care about you."

""Pfft-" Isabel choked on her food.

Samuel covered his bowl with a scowl, glaring at Isabel. "Can you be more careful? You're almost spitting food into my bowl."

"It's not my fault. This old man's comments are just too funny," Isabel said, wiping her mouth with a smirk. Colin's voice grew more accusatory. "Who is that man with you? Are you seeing someone else on the side?" "Pfft-" Samuel choked again, clearly shocked by the misunderstanding that he might be Isabel's lover. Isabel shot Samuel a sidelong glance. "You were just complaining about my eating habits, and now you're making a mess yourself."

"Just-"

"Enough," Xander cut in, stopping the bickering before it could escalate further.

"Are there more men in your life? Isabel, how many are you seeing?" Colin demanded, his tone rising in

anger.

Isabel rolled her eyes, her frustration evident. "Do you think I'm like you, cheating on your wife with multiple women? They're just friends."

How dare this girl speak to me like that!

But he wasn't calling to argue today.

"Anyway, your mother has found a potential match for you. She's arranged a blind date for you this weekend."