Your Love Is But a Dream

Chapter 89

The engagement party was doomed from the moment it started.

Martha Doodwin, supported by a younger attendant, slowly made her way onto the stage. Her piercing gaze swept over Shirley and Ivy, landing on them with an icy tinality Herlipinunded into a cold, sharp smile.

"You've certainly mastered your tricks," she began, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. "First, you tried to seduce my son and failed. Now, you've taugh your daughter to sink het claws into my grandson. Like mother, like daughter-bathent from the same disgraceful cloth" "Mom!" Carlisle's voice snapped through the tension as he nished to intervene.

But the moment her steely pare tumed on him, Carlisle's bravado melted. His posture deflated, and his voice dropped into something meek.

"What are you doing here?" he whispered harshly, glancing nervously at the crowd.

He had gone to great lengths to keep the engagement a secret from the Zachman Mannt, losowing full well that his mother would disapprove. Yet somehow, she

exuded an unyielding authority. "My grandson is supposed to be getting engaged, and you thought you could hide it from

the surface. "If I told you, you'd do what you're doing

my grandson to marry the daughter of a woman I wouldn't even let set foot in this house. Have you forgotten the promises you made to your father and me? Or are you conveniently

guilt briefly flickered across his features, But it was quickly replaced with anger as the weight of her words made him feel comered. "Mom," he hissed, keeping his voice low, "there are dozens of guests watching

humorless, oh, I'm the one making a mockery? If you're worried about the Zachman name,

control, Carlisle turned toward Katrina, who stood quietly at the edge of the room. He gestured for her to come

you standing, there for?" he barked under his breath. "Help Mom to her room.

eyes glinted with something unreadable, but she complied. As she walked toward the stage, she passed Carlisle, who leaned in close, his words sharp and How wough for oily be

to Martha's side, offering her an

diamassive hand. "I told any of you, I wouldn't have caught you red-handed, would I? Forcing my

finger shot out like an arrow, pointing

this