hapter 11
Chapter 11
Despite the palpable tension in the air, everyone forced smiles and clinked their
glasses, echoing William’s toast with a half- hearted cheer.
Only his closest friend dared nudge him with an elbow, lowering his voice to a cautious
murmur.
“William, the banquet‘ s about to start. Shouldn’t you call Avery to hurry her up?”
William’s jaw tightened, and he snorted coldly, swirling the last of his wine before downing it in one swift gulp.
“What’s the point of rushing? She’s not
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the only woman in the world.”
As if to emphasize his words, he casually pulled Amanda into his arms.
“If anyone has her WhatsApp, tell her this: if she doesn’t show up in ten minutes, I’ll replace her.”
Amanda’s heart skipped a beat, her joy barely concealed behind a playful pout. Leaning into his chest, she murmured sweetly, “William, don’t say that. If my sister hears, she‘ ll be upset.”
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“I don’t care if she gets upset, he retorted, pinching her cheek with a smirk. Then, turning to his friends, he barked,
“Well? Have you sent the message yet?”
A ripple of awkwardness spread among the
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group as one of them raised his phone, his expression baffled.
“Uh… she blocked me.
99
“Same here,” another chimed in, holding
up his screen.
One by one, everyone checked their phones, confirming the same result.
“William,” one of them ventured cautiously, “why don’t you try messaging her yourself?”
His initial pride made him hesitate, but a growing knot of unease tightened in his chest. Gritting his teeth, he finally reached for his phone.
When the red exclamation mark appeared in
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the chat window, his eyes narrowed, and anger flickered across his face.
Without hesitation, he tried calling her, only to be met with a cold, automated message that her phone was disconnected.
The fury in his expression faltered, replaced by a shadow of unease. He dialed again and again, three more times, but the result was the same. Frustration gnawed at him, and a flicker of panic began to show in his otherwise composed demeanor.
“Everyone, try calling her,” he barked, his voice tense with impatience.
The group scrambled to obey, but it was futile. One by one, they shook their heads, their calls meeting the same dead end.
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Sensing his growing agitation, the crowd began offering to help search for her, though none knew where to begin.
William forced himself to pause, running a hand through his hair as he tried to think clearly. In San Jose, there was only one person Avery trusted, Savannah.
If she had truly been driven out of her home, she would undoubtedly turn to Savannah for help.
Grim resolve settled in his features as he
opened his phone and sent Savannah a curt message: “Warn Avery, if she doesn’t show up today, the engagement is over.”
Moments later, his phone buzzed with a reply.
It wasn’t a text but a video.
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Frowning, he tapped on it.
Under the glow of dazzling lights, a girl in a delicate princess gown adorned with a white floral headpiece stood in the arms of a tall man. As the man leaned down, their lips met
in a tender kiss.
For a moment, William stared at the screen, uncomprehending.
This couldn’t be real. He must have seen it
wrong.
But that unmistakable silhouette forced him
to face the bitter truth.
It was Avery.
The very same Avery who should have been standing beside him in her engagement dress,
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promising forever.
His face drained of color, and his hand,
clutching the phone, began to shake
uncontrollably.
After what felt like an eternity, he erupted, his voice thunderous and filled with fury.
“What the hell is going on here?”
The crowd startled, turned to him in confusion before inching closer to catch a glimpse of his phone.
When they saw the video of Avery standing with another man in a scene that screamed
engagement, Amanda‘ s voice broke the
silence.
“Oh my god!” she gasped, her
she gasped, her eyes wide
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with shock, though a glimmer of delight lingered in her tone. “Who is this man? He’s stunning!”
Her gaze shifted back to William, feigning innocence as she added, “Could my sister have fallen for someone else? Is that why she’s not here?”
Lucas had always been a man who thrived in the shadows, his influence spoken of in whispers.
Even in Riverdale‘ s elite circles, few could claim to have seen him in person.
But William knew him; he would recognize him anywhere, even if his image were
reduced to ashes.
It was Lucas.
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The uncle who loomed over his life with a
presence that demanded reverence and struck fear in equal measure.
The man destined to become the head of the
Spencer family.
He couldn’t piece together when Avery had gotten involved with his uncle or, more bafflingly, why they would choose this very day to announce their engagement.
“William, don’t be upset.”
Amanda reached for his trembling hand, her touch light and soothing. Her voice was gentle yet laced with an underlying venom.
“My sister has always been impulsive. She must have done this on purpose, to disgrace you in front of everyone.”
