Chapter 5
Kiera replied calmly, "Yeah, these are love bites. So what?"
Her nonchalant words swept through the press like a cold gust. Journalists fell silent, each one at a loss for words as they traded looks of pure disbelief.
Admission like that was the last thing anyone had expected from her.
For a split second, Danna froze. Any satisfaction she'd felt evaporated, overtaken by surprise at Kiera's calmness.
It did not take long for a new idea to spark in Danna's mind. She rushed to wrap the shawl over Kiera's shoulders once again, her voice trembling as she tried to sound heartbroken. "Please forgive me, Kiera. I ruined your wedding. I never thought you stayed out all night because..."
Her words faded, heavy with implication, and every onlooker finished the thought in their own minds.
Suddenly, the entire crowd buzzed with whispers, suspicion thick in the air as eyes darted toward Kiera.
Every sentence from Danna only stoked the flames, making Kiera wonder about her true intentions.
With her brow furrowed and her gaze hard, Kiera fixed Danna with a look that was all suspicion.
Danna looked back, feigning surprise and shrinking away before she spoke up. "Did I say something wrong again, Kiera?"
Then she stepped in front of Kiera, shielding her from the press, and snapped at the crowd, her words ringing with righteous anger. "Stop jumping to conclusions! No one knows Kiera like I do. Just because she didn't come home last night doesn't mean she'd ever cross a line!"
Of course, the visible marks on Kiera's skin only made things worse, turning every word Danna spoke into another reason for the crowd to doubt her.
Looking back at Kiera, Danna's face filled with regret. "I'm sorry I let you down..."
Nothing about Danna's face hinted at dishonesty; she looked genuinely heartfelt.
Eventually, Kiera's attention drifted away from Danna, and a tired breath slipped from her lips.
For a fleeting moment, she tried to convince herself that Danna meant well, unwilling to believe Danna would harm her.
Yet, the chaos swirling around her offered no room for hesitation. Accepting a microphone from one of the reporters, Kiera let her voice ring out, sharp and cold. "Whatever stories you may hear about my private life, none of that matters now. This wedding is finished."
She squared her shoulders, fixing a hard stare on Oliver. "Why would I ever settle for a man who chases after my sister? Now, I declare that all ties with the Harvey family end here. I intend to press charges against Oliver for dragging our family's name through the mud."
The announcement landed like a thunderclap, sending the crowd into chaos.
With a scoff, Kiera let her gaze sweep across the assembled guests. "If anyone here feels bold enough to spread more rumors, go right ahead. The Miller family won't hesitate to take legal action against every last one of you."
A heavy hush fell, journalists reeling from her unshakable confidence.
No longer did the Harvey family's relatives hold their heads high; every one of them wished to vanish from sight.
Oliver was struck as if by lightning, experiencing the highs and lows of life within a single day. Once flattered as Kiera's fiance, he now found himself utterly discarded by her, the weight of loss pressing down on him like a nightmare he could not escape.
"That will be all. You can go now." Warmth returned to Kiera's expression as her composure softened and a gentle smile took its place.
People wasted no time shuffling out, mumbling weak apologies as they went.
Suddenly, a dull thump broke through the commotion—Oliver had dropped to his knees right in front of Kiera.
"Kiera, please! I'm begging you. Don't destroy the Harvey family. We won't survive another collapse!" Oliver clung to the hem of her dress, shaking with fear. His voice cracked with desperation.
Kiera responded with a dismissive wave, and security didn't hesitate to move in. Two guards seized Oliver, hauling him away without a second thought.
The echoes of his pleading bounced off the walls long after he disappeared.
"Karma finds its way to those who cross the Miller family," said Kiera, her words soft but cutting, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present.
No one doubted the severity of Oliver's fate.
Gossip vanished from every corner, replaced by a hush of wary respect for Kiera.
Reporters shifted their attention entirely to Oliver's ruin.
After all, nobody in their right mind would risk angering the rising diplomatic star for the sake of a man discarded by the Miller family.
Just like that, Kiera had calmed the chaos as easily as if she'd snuffed out a candle.
Across the hall, Danna watched with clenched fists, frustration simmering beneath her composed facade.
All her careful schemes had been effortlessly unraveled by Kiera once again.
A chill ran down Danna's spine, not just from defeat, but from the sharp focus in Kiera's eyes—a look that felt as if nothing could escape her notice.
They left the wedding behind, but Kiera suddenly came to a halt. Turning, she faced Danna, forcing the latter to look away, unable to meet her gaze.
"Why did you say those things back there, Danna?"
Trust, once unshakable, had started to fray for her, making it impossible not to question Danna's intentions.
Each suspicious moment had slowly worn away the sisterly closeness that once seemed unbreakable.
Tears spilled down Danna's cheeks as she begged, "I'm sorry, Kiera. I let my mouth get ahead of me and ended up hurting you. If it'll help, you can yell or hit me—whatever it takes to forgive me!"
Without warning, Danna bit her lower lip and lifted her hand, ready to strike her own face.
Quick reflexes brought Kiera's hand up to catch her wrist just in time.
Staring at Danna, streaked with tears, Kiera's mind drifted to the day Danna had saved her life.
All those lingering doubts flickered and faded under the weight of Danna's tears.
Brushing a tear from Danna's cheek, Kiera spoke softly. "Enough of that. I haven't scolded you, so there's no need for these tears."
A warm smile broke through as Danna hooked her arm through Kiera's, her voice lightening. "I knew you'd never stay mad at me."
Light flashed from Danna's ring, scattering brilliant red reflections.
That ruby was mesmerizing, so much so that Kiera had to squint against its glare.
Such a rare and valuable ruby ring was hard to find. How did Danna come to possess it?
Curiosity stirred inside Kiera as she asked, "Danna, where did you get this ring?"
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