Free Web NovelChapter 49: Chapter 49: Both Defenses Broken
Yvonne Sutton was the person Wendy Winters had walked all over for eight years, the one who had fed Wendy’s vanity and condescension. Wendy had thought she could keep trampling on Yvonne for a lifetime, so how could she accept that Yvonne had married into the Rhodes Family—and to the only man who had ever rejected her?
Vincent Reed’s breakdown had already stunned the guests, but Wendy Winters’s hysterics left them utterly speechless.
The Crown Prince of the Rhodes Family was getting married. His bride was beautiful and graceful, with an air of elegance. So why were Vincent Reed and Wendy Winters having such a complete meltdown?
Yvonne Sutton stepped out from behind Wyatt Shaw, her gaze cold as she looked at Wendy Winters.
"I seem to recall someone saying yesterday that they were going to slap their own face." With that, Yvonne Sutton gave a cold laugh, her eyes darkening. "Miss Winters, you have quite a few fans waiting outside, don’t you?"
Wendy Winters glared furiously at Yvonne Sutton. "Who do you think you are? You’re just a worthless piece of trash that Vincent threw away..."
"Say one more damn word and I’ll rip that mouth of yours apart!"
Just then, Rhodes stormed forward in a fury and stood beside Yvonne Sutton.
"My granddaughter-in-law is a wonderful girl! From now on, anyone who wants to bully her will have to answer to the Rhodes Family first!"
Yvonne Sutton looked back. Wyatt Shaw’s parents and Silas Rhodes had all come to stand behind her. ’So this is what it feels like to have family have your back. I don’t have to fight for myself. My family can’t stand to see me suffer even the slightest bit.’
All of Aethelgard’s high society was watching. The reporters’ cameras were flashing—CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!—and a crowd of fans was blocked at the entrance. Everyone was documenting this moment.
Wyatt Shaw held Yvonne Sutton’s left hand, and Rhodes held her right. The warmth spreading from their palms filled her with strength.
"I’ve never wanted to say much about what happened between the three of us. My silence doesn’t mean I was in the wrong; we broke up, and I just didn’t want any pointless drama. But you two have humiliated me again and again, and each time, I’ve put up with it. This is the last time. Don’t force my hand. After all, I know far too many of your dirty little secrets."
Wendy Winters gritted her teeth. Forcing herself to save face, she sneered, "Am I supposed to be afraid of you? Don’t think you’re hot stuff just because you married into the Rhodes Family. You—"
"Shut up!" Mr. Reed’s face darkened as he shot a look at Wendy Winters. He glanced at Wyatt Shaw across from them, then barked at her, "What is wrong with you today? Apologize to Mrs. Shaw, now!"
Wendy Winters’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Mr. Reed. "Mister Reed, you want me to apologize... to Yvonne Sutton?"
Mr. Reed took a deep breath, walked over to Wendy Winters, and hissed, "If you still want to marry into the Reed Family, you will apologize this instant!"
"I won’t!" Wendy Winters said, her eyes welling with tears.
Mrs. Reed stepped behind Wendy Winters and snapped at Mr. Reed, "Have you lost your mind? Making Wendy apologize? What will be left of the Reed Family’s reputation?"
"You’re the one who’s lost their mind! What’s more important, the Reed Family’s reputation or this business deal?"
"But..."
"Besides, after a scene like this, what reputation does the Reed Family even have left to protect?"
Mrs. Reed glanced at her son, who was still completely devastated, and could only give Wendy Winters a little push. "Wendy, just swallow your pride for a moment. Go on and apologize to Yvonne Sutton." freewebnøvel.coɱ
"Mrs. Reed, how can you ask me to apologize to that little bitch, too?"
"The Reed Group is trying to secure a partnership with the Sutton Group. The future of our company is on the line."
"That’s impossible!"
Mrs. Reed sighed. "I always thought you were a sensible girl. But if you’re unable to consider the bigger picture for the Reed Family, then perhaps you aren’t suited to be our daughter-in-law after all."
Wendy Winters bit her lip. She had hoped to rely on Vincent Reed, but he was still staring dazedly at Yvonne Sutton, his eyes completely empty of her. If the wedding didn’t go through today, her own reputation would be in tatters, and she’d become the laughingstock of the entire internet.
At that thought, Wendy Winters could only clench her fists and take two steps toward Yvonne Sutton.
"Mrs. Shaw, I apologize for my earlier rudeness."
Yvonne Sutton watched Wendy Winters bow her head. ’I don’t feel any satisfaction from this,’ she thought. ’It’s like stepping in something filthy. You don’t want to step in it again; you just want to get it off you for good.’
"Wendy Winters, remember my words. This is the last time."
With that, Yvonne Sutton turned away from them and looked at Wyatt Shaw. "Let’s go in."
Wyatt Shaw leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Okay."
Aside from that initial bit of drama, the rest of the wedding went smoothly. Wyatt Shaw held her hand as they accepted the well-wishes of all their friends and family.
And so, she went from being Miss Sutton to Mrs. Shaw.
On their wedding night, Wyatt Shaw’s passion for her burned long into the night, until the early hours of the morning.
He carried her to the bath, then held her as they fell asleep. She drifted off quickly, but sometime later, she turned and felt an empty space behind her. Her eyes fluttered open—Wyatt Shaw was gone from the bed.
Hearing a faint commotion outside, she quickly got up and went to the window. She saw that the crimson ’joy’ characters plastered on the gate and wall had been ripped to shreds, and the easel in the courtyard had been knocked over. The culprit was Vincent Reed.
He was obviously drunk, stumbling around and wrecking the place.
Wyatt Shaw went out in his slippers. Without a word, he walked up and threw a punch, knocking Vincent Reed flat. Then he started landing several vicious kicks.
Vincent Reed curled into a ball in agony, cowering on the ground.
Wyatt Shaw bent down, his face an icy mask. "Are you fucking sober now?"
Vincent Reed suddenly chuckled. "I was wrong... so wrong..."
"I don’t give a damn whether you were wrong or not. Just remember this: if you ever bother Yvonne Sutton again, I will kill you."
With that, Wyatt Shaw grabbed Vincent Reed by the collar, physically dragged him out, and then slammed and locked the gate.
Yvonne Sutton lay back down. A moment later, Wyatt Shaw came in. He took off his clothes and waited for the chill to leave his body before getting into bed and pulling her close.
She snuggled against his chest. "Where did you go?"
"Dealing with a rat."
Yvonne Sutton chuckled. "I’m guessing it was a big rat."
Wyatt Shaw laughed too. The top of her head was tucked under his chin, her forehead resting against his throat. She could feel the vibration so clearly when he laughed.
She tilted her head up and kissed his Adam’s apple.
"Not tired, are we?" he asked, his voice full of mischief.
It took her a moment to process his tone. "I’m tired!" she said quickly. "So tired!"
She even faked a yawn. But Wyatt Shaw had already rolled on top of her, his eyes filled with nothing but her. This time, he was gentle.
’His fists were hard, and he was never gentle with anyone else. But for her, he saved all his tenderness.’
「The next morning」
Yvonne Sutton woke up a little late to find Wyatt Shaw already out of bed.
When she came downstairs, Wyatt Shaw was just finishing up breakfast.
"Sorry, I should have gotten up to help you."
Yvonne Sutton walked over to him, and he naturally wrapped her in a hug, leaning down to kiss her forehead.
"I’ll make breakfast from now on. You don’t need to get up so early."
"Then I’ll do the dishes."
"Deal."
And just like that, the chores were divided. The two of them sat down to eat breakfast together.
Wyatt Shaw mentioned he had to go to the office in the morning but would be with her in the afternoon.
"If you’re busy, you don’t have to make special time for me."
Wyatt Shaw raised an eyebrow with a grin. "I’d much rather be in bed with you than at the office, of course."
Yvonne Sutton shot him a look. "Shameless."
After breakfast, Wyatt Shaw insisted she walk him to the door and send him off with a kiss.
She finally sent him on his way, only to turn and find herself face-to-face with a bruised and swollen Vincent Reed.
She had no intention of engaging with him, but his expression was openly defiant.
"Yvonne Sutton, you brought this on yourself."
Yvonne Sutton was confused. "What do you mean?"
A corner of Vincent Reed’s mouth twitched into a smirk. "Your parents’ house. I’ve already contacted a demolition crew. They’re going to tear it down today and rebuild, completely erasing every last trace of your family!"
