Nine months too late: After divorce by Baby Charlene

Lana's world came crashing down in a single, crushing moment. The word echoed in her head.

Chapter

78

"No." 0

Kage's refusal sliced through the silence like a knife, sending a wave of shock rippling through the congregation. A stunned murmur broke out as heads whipped around, eyes darting between the groom and the bride, unsure whether they had misheard. But the look on Kage's face made it clear: this wasn't a mistake. He meant it. Lana's fingers trembled around the bouquet, and her lips parted in disbelief. She blinked, as if the motion alone would change what had just happened. The priest, shifting uncomfortably, stared at Kage in bewilderment, his voice low and

unsure.

Mr. Hawkins, you... I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" he asked, his words careful.

"I said no," Kage replied, his tone firmer, carrying an unmistakable finality. "I won't marry her."

A wave of gasps rippled through the crowd. Whispers erupted, spreading like wildfire as people exchanged confused looks. The high-society guests, the reporters, even some of the family members-every single person in the room was utterly dumbfounded. Lana à felt a hot flush rise to her cheeks, mingling with the cool sensation of sweat prickling at her skin. The flowers in her hand slipped to the floor as her fingers went limp, her pulse roaring in her ears. "Kage... no, you can't... this can't be happening..." she whispered, her voice a shaky echo of itself.

I

But Kage didn't even glance at her. His gaze was distant, hard, and resolute. As if the decision had been made long before he ever stood at this altar.

Lana's chest tightened, tears stinging at the back of her eyes. She reached out, her hand trembling as it hovered in the air between them.

"Please, I

Kage," she pleaded, her voice barely audible. "This is our wedding day... we're supposed to be getting married!"

expression didn't soften. If anything, his resolve only seemed to harden.

"I'm sorry." He muttered.

a step, feeling the weight of every eye in the room upon her. Tears pooled and spilled down her cheeks as the reality of

please...!" she sobbed, reaching for him, but he took a

Without another

and walked away from the altar, not sparing a

feet, craning to see as he pushed

side, their faces pale and wide-eyed, trying to steady her as she collapsed onto her knees, her dress pooling

shaking her head. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't think. All she could feel was the suffocating

would he do

no one had an

1/3

Chapter 78

**********

clothes into the suitcase, zipping it shut with a

room, her heart aching with a strange mix of emotions. It had been a whirlwind of emotions - moving out of Kage's house, keeping her distance from him, preparing to leave the country-all while trying to convince herself that this was the

the bedside table. Sylvie paused, frowning, and picked it up. The screen

her eyes

what happened at

called off his wedding in front of

you know about

a

heart stuttered in her chest. Her fingers tightened around the phone as she opened

α

&

it was. The headline was splashed across

MARRY LANA HARPER AT

She blinked, staring at the screen, unable

clenched her phone tightly in her hand as she paced back and forth, her heels clicking sharply against

world!" 'Humiliate us?" Elizabeth repeated sharply. "That boy has disgraced the entire Hawkins family! We'll be the laughingstock of the city, the country-no, the entire world!" Her eyes blazed as she glared at Phoebe, her voice trembling with fury. "What kind of son did you raise, Phoebe? "Elizabeth, this isn't helping," Griffin interjected. "We need