"You really know how to work your way up, sis, clinging onto the Eldest Young Master Grant..." Crystal Shaw gently parted her red lips, her words stabbing at Miles Morgan's heart, intentionally or not.
One thought kept circling in Miles Morgan's mind: Lily Shaw, did you ever really love me? If it was true love, how could you so easily accept another man, even marry him?
Crystal's words were like a sharp dagger, stabbing hard into his chest. Just an hour ago, he'd been filled with guilt toward Lily Shaw. But now, all that remained was burning anger!
"Miles, where are you going? Miles..." Crystal called softly a few times, but when she tried to hold his hand, he tore her grip away, and she could only watch helplessly as he rushed toward the center of the banquet hall.
The black-suited bodyguards who had been watching Miles Morgan and Crystal Shaw emerged expressionlessly from the shadows the moment they saw Miles heading toward the center, and with a swift chop to the neck, knocked him out cold.
Then, with a threatening glare at Crystal, who was just about to open her mouth and scream, the burly man in black flashed a terrifying, menacing grin.
Before Crystal could scream, another muscular man in black, appearing like a shadow behind her, delivered an identical chopping motion and knocked her out as well.
The two bodyguards, front and rear, dragged this unwanted pair out of the banquet hall.
Even so, Lily Shaw, relying on her decade-long bond with Miles Morgan, instinctively turned around at that moment, just in time to see him being dragged away by the bodyguards. Her lightly made-up face instantly turned pale as snow.
She had no idea why Miles Morgan had shown up at the wedding banquet, nor did she care to know. She was already utterly hopeless about him, with zero expectations left.
And yet, the instant she saw him, her heart still couldn't help but tremble, and she forced herself to repress that unnecessary ripple.
Lily quickly forced a smile, and her deathly pale face slowly regained some color.
Standing by her side, Aiden Grant silently took in every nuance of her reaction, domineeringly wrapping her trembling little hand in his large, warm one.
"Remember who you are!"
"You're not allowed to grieve for another man!"
The man's imperious words rang in Lily's ears. She smiled faintly and nodded at him. "Alright."
Miles Morgan had made his choice. From now on, she would not shed another tear for the man who had so cruelly abandoned her.
After the wedding feast ended, Aiden Grant personally escorted Lily Shaw to Room 1312 of the Regal Hotel, where Lily's grandmother and her uncle, Raymond Lowell, were already sitting, waiting for them.
The Lowell Family was one of Silvercrest's four great households, holding equal status with the Shaw and Morgan families. Due to their intertwined interests, the three families were linked in a web of complex relationships.
Miles Morgan's breaking off the engagement had enraged the current head of the Lowell Family, Raymond Lowell; Lily was the only daughter of his younger sister, who had cut ties with the Shaw Family five years ago.
Now, her identity was as a Lowell. The Lowell Family was notorious for protecting their own. Back then, Lily's mother died at the hands of Justin Shaw's cruelty, and ever since, the Lowells and Shaws had been locked in bitter enmity.
To avenge his sister, Raymond Lowell had spent the past years fiercely suppressing the Shaw Family, nearly driving them to extinction in Silvercrest.
Because of this, Justin Shaw, desperate for support from the Grant Family, didn't hesitate to marry off his only precious daughter—Crystal Shaw—to Aiden Grant.
"Eldest Young Master Grant, Lily is still young, and her experience is limited. If she does anything wrong, I hope you'll be understanding." Raymond Lowell spoke bluntly, not forgetting to shoot a fierce glare at his headstrong niece as he did.