Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire - Chapter 79

Chapter 79: Is There Anything Wrong With My Dress?
Fury flared from Samantha’s heart, evidently expressed on her face as she clenched her jaw, trying to contain her rage. Her eyes darted from Lariette’s face to the Mermaid’s Heart necklace.

Despite wanting to scold Lariette and remind her of her place, Samantha couldn’t risk her reputation in front of the guests. Countless eyes were looking at them.

Doing so also would risk ruining Stephanie’s wedding when it hadn’t even started yet.

Clasping her hands together, Samantha tossed questions at Lariette, painstakingly trying to keep her voice under control.

“W-when did you get it? That necklace.”

Samantha had been wanting the Mermaid’s Heart but not for herself. She intended to gift the heirloom to Stephanie.

Unfortunately, Lariette was the inheritor of the Mermaid’s Heart, as stated in the will Samantha’s deceased mother left.

This necklace… and the rest of the set… should still be with her father!

Then… did this mean…

Samantha’s blood ran cold. She unconsciously shifted her eyes to Chairman Delaney who had just appeared. The elderly man stood alongside Declan and Rafael.

It was obvious this was her father’s doing!

Lariette was pleased seeing the troubled look on Samantha’s face. The woman who she called mother had to restrain herself from lashing out as usual because of the guests.

“Grandpa has kept it for me for a decade. I think it’s time for me to use it. It matches well with the dress my husband got for me.”

Lariette tilted her head, smiling sweetly as if she didn’t see Samantha’s infuriated look. She chuckled when Ruediger leaned closer to her, his chest shielding her back as he towered her from behind.

“That…”

Chairman Delaney cut Samantha off, not allowing her to continue bothering Lariette. His voice indicated the affection he had for this granddaughter of his.

“Eddy has a great taste. Your grandmother would be so happy if she could see you today.”

Lariette’s smile turned genuine as she shifted her eyes to Chairman Delaney, “Thank you, Grandpa. I was surprised by the dress too.”

“…how could you wear this? This color…”

The quiet voice didn’t escape Lariette’s notice. Looking in a direction, her sapphire eyes collided with Fridah’s face.

The blond’s eyes twitched, and so did her lips. She seemed to be utterly surprised to see how Lariette was dressed right now.

“Why?” asked Lariette, curving her lips into a light smirk, “Is there anything wrong with my dress color?”

The end of Lariette’s sentence startled Fridah while catching Declan’s attention. He moved his gaze to Stephanie’s maid of honor, his eyes sharpening as thoughts crossed his mind.

Fridah bit her lower lip, thinking something was wrong from the sneer on Lariette’s face. She clenched her fists hard, forcing herself to hold back from ousting herself.

But, Lariette didn’t intend to let Fridah go easily. She needed to say this one piece before retreating for now.

Running her free hand on the tulle, Lariette enunciated, “Are you surprised? Because I didn’t wear gold as stated in my invitation? The same color as the bride’s dress?”

“Pff! Seems like it.”

Madeline covered her mouth, sneering at the startled Fridah.

Fridah inadvertently parted her lips open and her eyes widened in horror. She wanted to speak but, only incoherent sounds came out of her mouth.

“What do you mean, Lari?” Sofia, Adam’s wife, asked with a frown on her face, “Your invitation stated the dress color the same as the bride’s?”

Tearing her eyes from the frightened Fridah, Lariette smiled kindly at Sofia. She ignored the surprised look from Samantha and the rest.

Some of the guests seemed to be more engrossed in this drama act. Murmurs of whispers spread all over the glass hall.

“It’s nothing to be concerned about, Aunt Sofia,” Lariette softened her voice, deliberately not explaining further, “The ceremony will begin soon, right? I’ll bring my husband and my friend to our seats.”

Nodding once at Adam and Sofia, Lariette turned on her heels, pulling Ruediger along with her. The voluminous tulle rippled gracefully as the longer back layers trailed after her.

Madeline side-eyed Fridah before quickly following Lariette and Ruediger. She lamented the fact she didn’t get the chance to capture any photos of Fridah’s stupid looks.

“Lariette…”

“Enough.”

Samantha wanted to stop Lariette but, Chairman Delaney did so to her instead. The warning was evident in his voice.

Samantha gulped, knowing more attention would fall on her if this went on. She also sensed the displeasure coming from Jonathan.

Her husband had been holding back from saying anything because her imposing father and elder brother were nearby. Not to mention the guests.

“…yes, Dad.”

Samantha lowered her chin, taking a step back toward Jonathan. The man exhaled a sigh.

‘This can’t be! I have to tell Phanie!’

As Lariette, Ruediger and Madeline moved further into the hall, Fridah had already left, running to Stephanie’s dressing room. She quickly disappeared among the crowd.

Fridah’s behavior earned a distasteful look from Declan whose mind was occupied with countless thoughts. He quietly shifted his gaze to Lariette’s back.

Did this mean Lariette knew about Stephanie’s plan?

But… how?

Declan remembered the closet full of dresses he got for Lariette, just in case she needed them. All of them were based on the size of the old gown that Helga, their grandfather’s housekeeper, found in his manor.

Whether Lariette still wore the same size or not, Declan didn’t know but, he still did such a thing.

A frown marred Declan’s forehead. Refraining from sighing out loud, he looked at Celina who had been quietly watching the scene. He smiled weakly, receiving a comforting one from her in return.

Lariette, Ruediger and Madeline continued walking as if they were not involved in the previous scene with Samantha and the rest.

The trio settled on the second-row seat for the Elsher family’s side, on the far end opposite from the aisle. Half of the seats had been occupied by relatives and friends.

“Are you that happy?” Ruediger lowered his chin, whispering in Lariette’s ear with a hint of joy in his voice, “But, don’t you think it’s not that dramatic?”

Ruediger’s teasing remarks earned chuckles from Lariette. Covering her mouth with one hand, she whispered back to the man.

“I don’t need that much drama. I just can’t wait to see her reaction more.”

Amused by Lariette’s cheeky reply, Ruediger laughed albeit faintly. He raised one hand, gently pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. The tips of his fingers grazed on her head.

Madeline stared straight ahead, pretending to admire the cascading rose garlands adorning the hall. She didn’t want to be caught in the newlyweds’ romantic bubbles.

Their intimate interaction was witnessed by many, including a towering figure clad in black who approached them from the back.

“Rudy.”

Recognizing the voice, Ruediger, Lariette and Madeline looked up, only to see Nathaniel standing on one side. Tristan was also there, eagerly yet silently waving hands at them.

“Seems like this will be the next dramatic moment,” Lariette couldn’t help but comment softly to Ruediger, “Don’t you think so?”

Ruediger let out a helpless sight. Arching his brows at Nathaniel, he silently asked what the man was doing. Once again more eyes were directed at them because of Nathaniel’s sudden presence.

The ebony-haired man curved a faint smile on his lips. Tilting his head, he said, “Just wanna greet my friend. Can’t I?”

The word ‘friend’ was audible enough for the nearer guests, leading some of them to gasp in shock.

The CEO of Faulkner Investment was friends with the outcast of the Alvord family?!