Chapter 111 Can't Hide Anymore
Nicole felt like she'd been hit by a bomb. Her face burned as if she'd been slapped.
Patrick and Tiffany were just as shocked, while Debra smirked.
Debra had Nicole figured out. 'A woman who used me and thought she was clever doesn't belong in the Wellington family! Why wait? She should be taken down for good!'
"Edward, are you leaving me?!" Nicole clung to Edward's arm, tears streaming. "Just because Lily is from the Taylor family? Are you regretting it?!"
"It doesn't matter if she's Lily or Evelyn. That has nothing to do with our marriage," Edward said coldly, pulling her hand away. "I told you not to bother her, but you kept slandering her, spreading rumors. Why do you hate her so much?"
"It's not like that! Edward! I just wanted you to see Lily's true colors!" Nicole lunged forward, but Edward stepped back, making her stumble. "She's been deceiving you! For such a scheming woman, you're willing to throw away our years together. Doesn't your heart ache?!"
"She did deceive me, but she never harmed anyone," Edward's eyes reddened, his voice cold. "That's it. Let's separate and think about whether we're really right for each other."
Nicole watched Edward leave, feeling like she couldn't breathe. 'How did it come to this?! My dream wedding, gone? No way! I must marry Edward! Years of planning, I can't let Evelyn ruin it!'
"Edward is passionate but not a fool. He knows right from wrong! Ms. Adams, I thought you could at least keep up the act until after marrying Edward, but you couldn't even do that," Byron said, his nose red with anger. "You've brought this on yourself, distorting the truth, sowing discord, and bullying Lily!"
"Byron, Mrs. Wellington is called Evelyn now, not Lily," Tyler reminded softly.
"What's the difference! It's the same person!" Byron snapped.
Nicole's fingers turned red from clenching, her eyes filled with rage and shame. Debra, on the other hand, was shaking with laughter, feeling vindicated.
"Let's go, Tyler! Warm up some wine for me! And prepare a few dishes, I want to drink!" Byron said.
"But Byron, you've already had a lot today for your birthday. For your health, you shouldn't drink more."
"I'm happier now than I was on my birthday, just do as I say."
Byron prattled on, leaving with Tyler.
The living room was tense.
"Patrick, you have to persuade Edward! The wedding news is already out, how can he back out now? What about the Wellington family's reputation?!" Tiffany, frantic, shook Patrick's arm. "You're Edward's father, he'll listen to you! Nicole has waited for him for so many years, how can he just call off the wedding?!"
Patrick, usually patient with Tiffany, was now irritated. "Do you even know Edward? He never makes impulsive decisions. He thinks things through! He didn't tell me when he got divorced, and now he wants to cancel the wedding. He's not going to consult me!"
"How is that the same?!" Tiffany snapped. "Edward doesn't love Evelyn, but he and Nicole have a deep bond from childhood!"
"Then why can't Nicole just stay by his side without causing trouble for Ms. Taylor? Tonight, she embarrassed the Wellington family in front of Charlie by staging a fake affair! I can't help her with this. If the wedding happens, it happens. If not, there's nothing I can do!" Patrick said, recalling Byron's mockery and feeling a tightness in his chest. He shot a cold glance at Nicole. "Had I known it would come to this, I would have advised Edward not to divorce in the first place! Now, it's nothing but trouble for the family."
Tiffany's shoulders slumped, feeling everything slipping away.
"Tiffany, what do we do now?" Nicole sobbed, her eyes swollen.
"You deserve it!" Debra, no longer pretending to be sickly, clapped and laughed. "You used me! A two-faced, selfish woman like you wants to marry Edward? Dream on!"
"I didn't use you!" Nicole argued, wiping her tears. "The banquet was huge, with so many people. I asked you to help to ensure success. Besides, I never asked you to touch Mr. Clark. You tampered with his drink, making things complicated."
"You dare blame me? How did I not see through you earlier? I'll tear your mouth apart!" Debra lunged at Nicole, grabbing her hair and yanking out her diamond hairpin, causing Nicole to scream in pain.
"Enough! Stop it!" Tiffany roared. Nicole and Debra, red-eyed and panting, still clutched each other's hair.
"I'll count to three. Let go! One! Two! Three!" Tiffany commanded. Nicole and Debra reluctantly let go.
"Debra, go first. I need to talk to Nicole," Tiffany said coldly.
"Tiffany! Nicole set me up! If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have made such a fool of myself!" Debra protested, her hair a mess.
"Don't you bear any responsibility? I've told you not to rush things with Mr. Clark! You're only making him look down on you more! Now go and reflect!" Tiffany scolded.
Debra, always fearful of Tiffany, glared at Nicole before leaving.
Nicole, clutching her wrinkled dress, stood stiffly, feeling a chill in her heart. 'Debra had Tiffany's support, but I have to rely on myself. Tiffany only sees me as a pawn to control Edward!'
"Tiffany, about tonight—" Nicole began.
Tiffany's eyes widened in anger, and she raised her hand to slap Nicole without a word.
