Marry My Billionaire Second Husband - Chapter 75

Chapter 75: Horace’s Announcement
Matteo tried to smile as yet another couple made their way towards him and Emmeline, champagne flutes in hand and words of congratulations on their lips. Emmeline, ever the graceful hostess, beamed beautifully and soaked up their praises and well-wishes, while Matteo tried to look less constipated than usual.

He tried to think of other things more torturous than being paraded around by Emmeline, but his mind drew blank. Pulling out all his teeth, ripping off his fingernails… Matteo found out, with dawning horror, that he would willingly endure all of it if meant Emmeline would leave him alone.

Unfortunately, painful as those thoughts were, they were nothing more than a fanciful daydream. Emmeline’s hand was wrapped firmly around his arm, her fingernails nearly digging into the fabric of his suit, as though she was afraid he would run off.

He discreetly craned his neck around the room, looking over the crowd. Emmeline had invited the whole of upper society to this event, and it was all too clear to Matteo why she did so. She wanted to stake her claim in front of everyone that mattered.

But the two people he wanted to see the most were not present. Where were Ronan and Amelia? Ronan had texted him in the morning, claiming that they would be there. Were they held up somewhere?

Matteo tried to pry his arm away from Emmeline’s hold, but her grip was iron-tight. She turned to him and smiled sweetly.

“Matteo, are you planning on going anywhere?” she asked, her voice, syrupy sweet. “You just went to the bathroom only half an hour ago. Is your stomach upset? I’ll send a doctor for you. Grandpa is about to give his speech, and I don’t want you to miss it.”

“No, it’s fine,” Matteo said, with a soft sigh.

“If you say so,” Emmeline said cheerily, but Matteo knew she would have followed him to the bathroom even if he claimed he had a massive intestinal upset. “Oh look! It’s Kelsie and Caleb! We have to say hello!”

This time, he couldn’t stop the pained expression from crossing his face as Emmeline made her beeline for her venomous snake of a best friend.

“Kelsie! I’m so glad you made it!” Emmeline gushed and she and Kelsie hugged, exchanging exhilarated squeals and air kisses.

“I wouldn’t miss this event for the world!” Kelsie said delightedly, giving Emmeline a once-over.

Emmeline didn’t notice it, but Matteo had spotted the jealous gleam in Kelsie’s eyes as she cast a covetous look at Emmeline’s couture dress and elegant diamond flower necklace.

“You look absolutely gorgeous! Matteo, you are a lucky man,” Kelsie said, and Matteo had to restrain his urge to snort. She had clearly forgotten about how he didn’t want her to use his first name, but before he could shut her down, the pest that was Caleb Walton opened his mouth.

“Hey Matteo, it’s nice to see you again,” he said with a practiced smile, holding out his hand for him to shake.

Matteo gritted his teeth. He would rather slather blood all over his body and throw himself into a tank of frenzied alligators. He glared coldly at Caleb, forcing him to withdraw his hand. Caleb played it off with a laugh, but his eyes narrowed, and he wanted nothing more than to slug Matteo in front of all the guests for his rudeness.

How dare he act like he was so much better than him? In the end, Matteo was a man cut from the same cloth. After all, Emmeline Hawthorne was the woman hanging off his arm now, and Amelia was nowhere to be seen.

He had used Amelia and abandoned her just as easily. What right did he have to judge Caleb?

Meanwhile, Emmeline tried to diffuse the sudden tension. She let out a tinkling laugh and spoke, “Don’t take it to heart, Matteo’s not the best with strangers. I’m sure he’ll warm up to you soon, Caleb, since we’ll be seeing a lot of each other in the upcoming days! I’m so excited for the wedding!”

“So am I!” Kelsie clapped her hands excitedly. “Finally, you’ll get the man of your dreams. And no one else would be able to get in your way. As your best friend, I’ll feel more assured― you have no idea how persistent that Amelia bitch is! She actually tried to show up with Ronan Sullivan in tow!”

“No, you’re joking!” Emmeline’s mouth fell open in shock. Next to her, Matteo was similarly stunned but for a completely different reason. “Where are they now? I cannot believe―”

“You don’t need to worry,” Kelsie said reassuringly, clasping Emmeline’s hands in her own. “Caleb and I have taken care of it. They won’t be bothering us again.”

“What did you do?” Matteo demanded, and the couple jolted. This was the first time since the conversation started that Matteo had addressed them directly.

“What we thought was necessary,” Kelsie said simply, trying to seem unfazed. Matteo’s irritation seemed to be rising fast. “Matteo, you really should look out for Ronan more. He’s your best friend! I know he’s a playboy and all, but you can’t let him be hoodwinked like this!”

Matteo’s face darkened in anger.

Kelsie let out a tiny squeak. She couldn’t help but take a small step back in fear, even though she knew there was nothing he could do to her in this event.

Matteo Montgomery was a terrifying man when pissed.

“It’s okay, Matteo, I’m sure Kelsie and Caleb wouldn’t hurt Ronan,” Emmeline said comfortingly. The omission of Amelia’s name had not gone amiss by Caleb and Kelsie, and they both smiled smugly.

Before Matteo could do something rash like lift Caleb up by his necktie and demand him to explain himself, the screeching sound of a microphone echoed through the room. Emmeline seemed to look even more delighted, turning to the makeshift stage in excitement.

“It’s time! Grandpa’s going to give his speech and his blessings!”

Everyone turned to see the Hawthorne patriarch standing proudly in front of the microphone, in a three-piece suit.

“First of all, thank you everyone for coming to celebrate such a special occasion. It is with great pleasure that I announce the union between our family with that of the Montgomerys in a marriage between the younger generation.”

Thunderous applause filled the room. Horace held out a hand, and the room fell silent again. Such was his power, old as he was.

“However, there’s actually another happy news I wish to inform you about,” Horace said, and the room hung on his every word. “It seems that the things we lose do have a way of coming back to us in the end, even if it’s not in the way we expect.”

“What is he talking about?” Kelsie whispered to Emmeline, and Emmeline shrugged in confusion.

“I don’t know, Grandpa didn’t say anything. Maybe he’s giving us a new house?”

But Emmeline could never have predicted his next words. No one would have, save for Matteo, who only had a small, growing smile on his face as he realized his gamble had paid off.

“Everyone, please put your hands together to welcome my dearest second granddaughter, Amelia Kentwood, to the Hawthorne family!”