Beneath His Ugly Wife’s Mask: Her revenge was her brilliance

Chapter 28:

Every word from Paige dripped with sweetness, but her smile carried the weight of a challenge. She, much like Kiara, waited with thinly veiled excitement for Elliana to cause a scene.

Elliana wasn’t fooled for a second. With her voice calm but pointed, she said, “Paige, isn’t it a little eager to get engaged to Raylan when the arranged engagement promise between him and me still exists?”

Raylan’s face turned cold in an instant. “Paige invited you out of kindness. I only tolerate your presence for her sake. So, think twice before you make a scene, or you’ll regret it.”

He wrapped an arm around Paige like he was shielding her from something dangerous, making a show of his loyalty for everyone to see. A sly smile crept across Paige’s face. Without saying a word, she lifted her hand just enough for the diamond ring to catch the light—and Elliana’s attention.

From the crowd, someone exclaimed, “That’s the famous Emily’s signature ring! I saw it online—it’s worth two million!”

“Two million dollars? That’s insane! Paige must be living the dream with how much Raylan pampers her. With a ring that expensive, the wedding’s bound to be nothing short of a spectacle!”

All eyes darted to Elliana’s empty hands. The silence was brief, but the judgment in their eyes lingered.

Kiara’s heart practically danced in her chest, though she kept her face as gentle and understanding as ever.

Kiara said, pretending to be concerned, “Elliana, although you took a marriage that wasn’t yours and are clearly unhappy, it was your choice. You can’t blame anyone else. Honestly, I’d be upset too if I were in your shoes. Paige just got lucky with someone who actually knows how to love.”

Raylan gazed at Kiara. “Mrs. Jones, don’t waste your time on someone like her. It’s time to get this ceremony started.”

Raylan reached for Paige’s hand and guided her as they walked off together.

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Onlookers didn’t hesitate to put space between themselves and Elliana, treating her presence like something contagious.

“Elliana…” When Paige looked over her shoulder and spotted Elliana standing alone, something in her chest surged with smug satisfaction, though she kept her expression soft and sympathetic.

Raylan walked Paige to the center of the stage and gently took the microphone from the host. Flashing a bright smile, he said, “We’re so glad all of you could come to celebrate our engagement.”

The room hung on his next sentence, every eye fixed on him with eager anticipation.

Clinging to Raylan’s arm like she belonged there, Paige soaked up every ounce of the attention, her smile as radiant as her diamond.noveldrama

With everyone looking elsewhere, Kiara leaned close to Elliana and whispered, “Watching the guy you love dote on another woman—hurts, doesn’t it? Weren’t you planning to wreck the party today? Well, now’s your chance.”

Afraid Elliana might chicken out, Kiara pushed further, her voice dripping with cruelty. “You’re not scared, are you? I get it, though. You’ve never had the guts to shake things up. Just stand there and let Paige enjoy everything you lost.”

Elliana lifted her head slowly, and a quiet smirk formed as she met Kiara’s eyes. “Brace yourself. I’m about to turn this whole place upside down.”

Without another word, Elliana started making her way toward the stage, each step deliberate, steady, and unstoppable.

Kiara could hardly contain herself. Finally, the chaos she’d been craving was about to unfold—and she was ready to watch Elliana fall apart.

The crowd stirred as whispers spread. One by one, heads turned toward Elliana, dressed in blue, heading for the stage.

Elliana didn’t need designer labels to stand out. The dress she wore hugged her just right, turning heads with its effortless charm and drawing every eye as she passed.

The second Elliana stepped near the stage, Raylan’s expression hardened like stone. Back when they were kids, Elliana had been the picture of beauty in his eyes. He used to follow her around, certain she was the girl he’d grow up and marry. But everything changed after the fire. She had been left disfigured, her mother gone, and from that moment on, he couldn’t stand the sight of her.

Even if time had spared her face, he still wouldn’t have chosen her. The past had buried any chance she ever had. To him, a woman without power, connections, or status wasn’t worth marrying. At best, she might be good for a brief distraction—never a wedding band. Her nerve to show up like this, likely clinging to old feelings, only deepened the revulsion he already carried.

Raylan moved in front of Paige like a wall, eyes narrowing at Elliana as he said, “What are you trying to pull now?”

With a soft smile, Elliana turned to the host and asked, “Mind if I borrow that microphone for a minute?”

Once Elliana had the microphone, she walked to the center of the stage. She cheerfully announced, “Just a little reminder for everyone—Raylan and I have actually been engaged for quite some time.”

“No way!”

Gasps and whispers rippled through the hall like wildfire.

“So Elliana actually showed up to ruin the celebration. Things are definitely about to get entertaining!”

“Two women fighting over one guy? On stage? This is pure drama!”

“Sure, it’s juicy, but let’s be real—Elliana will only end up humiliated.”

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