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

her silver hair neatly plied into a severe bun. Her presence exuded an unyielding authority. "My grandson is supposed to be getting engaged, and you thought you could hide it from me? Do you

bubbling beneath the surface. "If I told you, you'd do

now she retorted, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "You're trying to force my grandson to marry the daughter of a woman I wouldn't even let set foot in this house. Have you forgotten the

"Mom," he hissed, keeping his voice low, "there are dozens of guests watching us right now. If you keep this up, you'll be the

I'm the one making a mockery? If you're worried about the Zachman name, maybe you shouldn't be trying to force my

stood quietly at the edge

"Help Mom to her room. Let

toward the stage, she passed Carlisle, who leaned in close, his words sharp and How wough for oily be to hear "When this is over, we'll deal with you, too," he

side, offering her an "You should've told me you

wouldn't have caught you red-handed, would I? Forcing my grandson into marrying

shot out like an arrow, pointing

this