Avery stood near the stage, the soft glimmer of the chandelier above casting pale gold shadows across the now-empty hall. Only minutes ago, the grand ballroom had been filled with applause, whispers, gasps, and the relentless flashing of cameras,that Silas had prepared for wedding photos.
Now, it was silent—eerily so—as if the very walls had absorbed the chaos of the evening and were trying to digest it in peace.
Her fingers absentmindedly brushed the hem of her dress, the once-crisp fabric now slightly wrinkled . She exhaled slowly, her chest rising and falling like the sea after a long, relentless tide.
What a ride.
It felt surreal, like she had lived three lifetimes over the past few days.
Most of the guests had already left. Her brother was at the entrance, politely bidding farewell to the stragglers, while her father stood nearby, shaking hands and exchanging practiced smiles. The fallout from tonight's spectacle would ripple through society for weeks. But for now, there was a fragile stillness—a pocket of time where Avery could finally breathe.
She looked around the emptying hall.
No sign of Silas.
Just the thought of his name sent a strange shiver down her spine, as if her body remembered something her mind was trying to suppress.
Silas Blackwood.
She didn't want to think about him right now, because just his name takes her back to the moment he had kissed her.
She inhaled sharply and clenched her jaw, her heart still fluttering like a caged bird, confused and out of rhythm.
Avery's hand reached for her chest, as if to silence the thudding heartbeat beneath her skin. The memory was still fresh—his arms around her, holding her close ,too close. His lips, warm and demanding, brushing hers with a tenderness she had forgotten she could feel.
It had pulled at something buried within her. A girl she thought had died long ago and that scared her.
She turned away from the stage, trying to compose herself again, to rebuild the armor she had spent so long forging.
She didn't want to think about Silas. She didn't want to feel this… conflicted.
---
Far from the glowing chandeliers and the echoing silence of the empty hall, Silas stood under the shadows of the balcony, his back to the city skyline. The wind tugged at his coat, but he barely noticed. His phone was pressed to his ear, his voice calm and unreadable.
A voice on the other end spoke briskly. "Boss, you were right. Just like you suspected. After we dropped Cassian West on the roadside like you instructed, we kept our distance and followed him. He went straight to Laila Vale's mansion."
There was a pause. Then a quiet chuckle from Silas.
Silas wasn't surprised to find out this the outcome,it was just as he suspected,there was something going on in between Cassian west and Laila vale.
And the only way they can be safe from him is if his next suspension on them isn't proved true.
"Of course he did," he murmured under his breath, eyes narrowing on the distant traffic below. "He's like a cockroach—always scurrying back to where the filth is."
"Keep an eye on both of them," Silas ordered. "
"Yes, sir."
The line went dead.
Silas turned away from the balcony railing, sliding his phone into his pocket. As he stepped through the arched glass doors and into the now-dimmed banquet hall, his gaze drifted through the towering marble pillars that framed the edges of the room.
And there she was—Avery, standing near the stage, lost in thought, her fingers nervously playing with the hem of her dress. Her brows were gently furrowed, and the soft lighting kissed her features with a melancholic glow.
Just one look at her and something in his chest stirred.
His lips curved into a small, unguarded smile—the kind a child wears when they see their favorite candy after a long day. Without hesitation, Silas strode through the vast hall, dodging scatterd chairs and floral arrangements, the echo of his polished shoes bouncing off the high ceilings.
But just as he neared her, another figure stepped into view.
Declan Vale, stood before her with a disapproving frown and crossed arms. "I am very angry on you for not telling me before getting married!" he scolded, wagging a finger to make the scolding look a little more serious .
Avery winced, trying not to meet his eyes. "Dada, it's... complicated."
Before she could say more, Declan spotted Silas approaching. His expression instantly softened, replaced by a teasing grin. "Ah, there you are, Silas! Where did you disappear to?"
At the sound of his name, Avery turned around, and her heart stuttered.
Silas was smiling at her again. That same, unreadable, boyish smile that made something in her twist and tangle. Her face flushed involuntarily, and she quickly looked away.
"I just had to take a quick work call," Silas replied, smooth and composed.
Declan nodded. "Well, now that you're back, we should all get going."
Avery instinctively moved to stand beside her father and brother, ready to finally be away from the man named Silas "Alright, let's go home."
But Declan blinked, confused. "Home? Where do you think you're going?"
Avery furrowed her brows. "With you guys… of course?" She gestured between Declan and Elias, who had just joined them.
Elias chuckled, arms crossed. "Avery, you're married now. You're not coming home with us. You're going with your husband,silas."
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What? No—I mean… what about my things?"
"Don't worry," Elias said smugly, "your dear brother already took care of it. Everything's been delivered and arranged in your new home. I made sure of it."
Avery narrowed her eyes. "That sounds suspiciously like you just wanted to get rid of me."
Elias smirked. "Finally! Some peace and quiet."
"Dada! Did you hear what your son said?" Avery turned to her father, clearly offended.
But instead of scolding him, all three men burst into laughter. Silas covered his mouth to suppress his chuckle, while Declan and Elias laughed freely.
Avery huffed and stomped her foot. "Why are you all laughing? I'm serious!"
Declan laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and began walking with her toward the exit. "You'll be fine, darling. Besides,we both know your brother has… a few screws loose, so let's not take him too seriously."
Avery fought back a smile, though a small one peeked through.
Elias scowled dramatically. "Unbelievable. The betrayal. You guys always gangup on me. Guess I'm officially the family villain."
"You always were," Avery teased.
Silas followed quietly behind them, his eyes soft as he took in the moment—this odd, loud, loving family scene. He had never had anything like it. The teasing, the warmth, the easy banter. And now, somehow, he was being accepted into it.
"But," Declan continued, his tone sobering, "you being married is a fact. And I've had a car prepared to take you to your new home."
He gestured toward the entrance, where a sleek Rolls-Royce Phantom stood waiting under the circular driveway. The jet-black car gleamed beneath the golden overhead lights, its polished chrome accents shimmering like starlight. The back door was already open, revealing champagne-colored leather seats, fresh white orchids tucked into the armrest, and a welcome note with Avery's and silas's name inscribed in gold.
Avery froze when she saw it.
Something about that car made the reality of it all settle in her bones.
She really was married.
She turned back to her father, eyes glassy. "I don't want to leave you, Dada…"
Her voice cracked, and before he could respond, she launched herself into his arms. Declan caught her with a deep, protective embrace, his hand gently cradling the back of her head as she sobbed into his chest.
This was the moment he had dreaded for years.
He had once told his wife, back when Avery was a toddler clutching her favorite toy, that he never wanted this day to come—the day he'd have to let her go. And now, it had arrived, too soon, too suddenly, and without his wife here- the woman he once leaned on for strength.
Tears escaped his eyes.
"Don't cry, my sweet girl," Declan whispered. "There's nothing to cry about. You can call me anytime. I'll be there before the first ring ends, okay?" He said trying to sound strong for his little girl who was so dear to his heart.
"But you're crying too," Elias said softly, his voice less teasing now.
Avery and Declan turned to look at him. Though Elias tried to appear nonchalant, his glossy eyes betrayed him.
"You're right," Declan chuckled sadly. He kissed Avery's forehead and looked at her with pride. "It's just… I can't believe my little angel has grown up so fast."
Then, his expression turned serious as he faced Silas.
"Young man," he said, his voice calm but firm, "take care of her. If I ever find out she shed a single tear because of you… I will break your bones."
Silas, for once, didn't smirk or offer a witty reply. He nodded, straight-backed and sincere.
"Don't worry, Uncle," he said solemnly. "I would kill myself before becoming the reason for her tears."