Chapter 1047: Chapter 1047: Is This a Wedding Hijack?
The Swallow City in May was already quite hot, but Bertha Swift felt waves of cold coursing through her body, making her shiver uncontrollably.
"Dad..." Bertha tried to call cautiously, her voice low.
Milne Swift didn’t respond to this call, instead, he gestured to Uncle Service and another subordinate behind him, who then approached Bertha.
"Dad!" This time Bertha called out with all her strength, but Milne still ignored her, looking at her with a detached gaze.
Seeing the two approaching, Bertha glanced at the underground parking, realizing her hope of escaping was slim, yet she still clung to a sliver of hope with her father, testing, "Dad, I have something urgent, I must return to the set, you and mom will be enough at grandma’s birthday banquet."
"Don’t pretend to be foolish with me, I know you already know. Since you do, just come back home with me obediently." Milne unceremoniously exposed Bertha.
Bertha’s last hope shattered; looking at her father in the distance, she felt her emotions crumble, "Why? Dad, I’m your own daughter! Are you really willing to marry me off to Mr. Fletcher, an old man who’s been married twice before? Is money really that important? Besides, I can earn it too, Dad, just wait for me, let me finish Director Locke’s movie and make it big, I can bring the Swift family back to glory! Dad, don’t make me marry Mr. Fletcher, okay?"
By the end, Bertha’s voice was pleading, but it was a pity that Milne showed no sign of being moved.
He looked at Bertha sternly, "Wait for you? The Swift family can’t afford to wait that long! Besides, being Mrs. Fletcher sounds much better than being an actress, and the Swift family has raised you for over twenty years, it’s time for you to repay it."
"I will repay the family, but not like this! Dad, I don’t want to marry Mr. Fletcher, I don’t want to!" As Bertha spoke, she tried to run away, but Uncle Service and another subordinate had already anticipated her actions and immediately held her shoulders down.
Controlled, Bertha struggled angrily but stopped after a few futile attempts. Before two grown men, her strength was nothing.
For the first time, Bertha deeply regretted—she had spent years studying medicine and etiquette, yet hadn’t learned anything to protect herself...
Under the restraint of the two men, Bertha had no ability to resist and was taken directly to the elevator in the underground parking lot.
The two pressed Bertha into the elevator, returning to the room where her mother was supposed to take her.
Mrs. Swift hadn’t left the room; seeing Bertha brought up, her face turned white, "Bertha, this is..."
Bertha glanced at her mother, her voice trembling, "Mom..."
"What are you doing? Why are you grabbing Bertha! Let her go." Mrs. Swift shouted angrily.
Uncle Service spoke expressionlessly, "Sir asks you to change Miss Swift into a new outfit."
"Bertha..." Mrs. Swift called again, seeing the despair in Bertha’s eyes, she knew her daughter had probably been discovered.
She wanted to say something but seeing Uncle Service and another of her husband’s confidants beside him, she swallowed all the remaining words, knowing that nothing she said would help.
"You both go out first, I’ll help Bertha change clothes." Mrs. Swift said softly, her voice typically non-confrontational.
"Alright, we’ll wait outside, madam, please hurry." With that, Uncle Service and the other person went out and stood guard at the door.
Once they were gone, Mrs. Swift hugged Bertha tightly, "Bertha, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry..."
With red eyes, Bertha knew today that her mother was taking the biggest risk by even letting her go, unable to make things difficult for her mother. Besides, there was nothing her mother could do now.
She hugged her mother, "It’s okay, I’ll think of a way, I’ll definitely think of a way."
Even as she said this, Bertha knew Uncle Service was guarding outside, downstairs were all the guests, the Fletcher family was already there, and in twenty minutes the ceremony would begin, what way could she think of?
Her mind was hazy, overwhelmed by anger and shame!
She never thought her father would sell her for himself, for the Swift family.
The two embraced with red eyes, unsure how long it took, but outside a knocking sounded, urging, and it was Uncle Service asking if they were ready.
Mrs. Swift looked at Bertha with worried, uneasy eyes, and Bertha looked at her fragile mother, sighing deeply in her heart, "Alright, let’s change clothes."
"Bertha..." Mrs. Swift wanted to say something, but recalling her husband’s cold gaze, she finally gave up struggling and dropped her eyes helplessly.
This result, Bertha had long anticipated, said nothing more, took another backup long dress, changing out of the torn designer gown, and then forced a bitter smile at her mother, "Let’s go downstairs."
"Okay." Mrs. Swift nodded lightly, her eyes even redder.
The two held hands and walked out of the room, Uncle Service glanced at Bertha, then expressionlessly asked, "Madam, Miss, please."
The Swift mother and daughter said nothing, Bertha walked towards the elevator with no expression, while Mrs. Swift beside her remained anxious and timid.
When they arrived at the banquet, all guests were present, even Mr. Fletcher was there. Seeing Mrs. Swift and Bertha come down, a face quite similar to Mr. Swift’s broke into a smug smile.
It wasn’t Bertha’s first time seeing Mr. Fletcher, but today he seemed particularly disgusting. Seeing him smile at her only made her stomach churn, and thinking about marrying this man sent a shiver through her entire body.
Walking with Bertha, Mrs. Swift naturally sensed her daughter’s resistance, her heart aching sourly. Tears welled up, but when meeting her husband’s warning gaze, she could only obediently lower her head.
Like her mother, Bertha also perceived the change in Mrs. Swift, felt a twinge of pain, and unconsciously squeezed her mother’s hand tight. She always knew her mother feared her father but hadn’t realized it was to such an extent. She sighed inwardly; how could she expect such a mother to help her?
"Bertha, are you nervous? Don’t be scared, I’ll take good care of you," Mr. Fletcher stepped forward, speaking in a supposedly gentle voice, just as Bertha wished she could erupt with spikes.
Instantly disgusted, goosebumps covered her skin.
In the past, Bertha always disliked Adam Piers calling her Bertha, finding his manner too beguiling, scared such familiarity might sway her heart, yet Mr. Fletcher calling her by that name sickened her to the point of wanting to change it altogether.
She wanted to retort sharply but seeing her father’s warning glare and looking at the entire banquet of guests, including her Uncle’s family, even the old lady was there...
Bertha Swift tried hard to calm herself, knowing that if she couldn’t escape in one go, causing a scene would be futile, only becoming a laughingstock and looked down upon by the second branch of the Swift family.
She pressed her lips into a fake smile at Mr. Fletcher without speaking, while Mr. Swift was displeased that Bertha pretended not to see.
No matter how Bertha tried to pretend, the engagement ceremony she was unwilling to go through with had to begin.
As the time arrived, the host took the stage on time, "Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends and family:
Hello everyone! The sun is shining, music is soaring, there is laughter everywhere, and blessings are upon us. I am very honored to host the engagement ceremony between Mr. Fletcher and Miss Swift on this beautiful day..."
The host’s voice was loud and penetrating, and after a brief introduction of Bertha Swift and Mr. Fletcher, he started the various procedures. After the speech, he invited today’s main characters, Bertha Swift and Mr. Fletcher, who could be Bertha’s father, to the stage.
Bertha Swift stood on stage like a puppet on strings, only feeling that the man beside her and the Swift family members in the front row were each more repulsive than the other.
But feeling repulsed, Bertha had no idea what to do next. Once she got entangled with Mr. Fletcher, what hopes would her life have? She suddenly craved Adam Piers tremendously, the man she always claimed to hate but was now the one she most wanted to see.
Thinking of that man’s domineering declaration of pursuing her, she resisted on the surface, yet Bertha knew better than anyone else in her heart that she did not reject him, even secretly hoping he would try harder.
But now all this had become a distant hope...
Bertha Swift stood on stage with empty eyes, her mind a whirl of emotions just as she heard the host asking them to exchange rings.
A ring? Bertha Swift was just wondering where she would get a ring when someone dashed over and stuffed a ring into her hand. Bertha opened her mouth but no voice came out, and by then, Mr. Fletcher had already taken the ring from his hand to put it on her.
Bertha Swift’s fingers were stiff, and she could only feel nauseated by the other’s touch, not wanting to wear his ring at all.
Her hand was too rigid, Mr. Fletcher tried several times but couldn’t get it on, finally gazing at Bertha Swift with displeasure and lowering his voice to warn her inaudibly, "Bertha Swift, I paid thirty million for you, don’t be ungrateful!"
The warning from Mr. Fletcher made Bertha Swift’s body even stiffer, more resistant to him putting the ring on her.
The scene became a bit awkward, with Mrs. Swift already red-eyed now even redder, and Mr. Swift warned Bertha with a look while pulling Mrs. Swift into his arms.
Bertha Swift glimpsed her father’s actions towards her mother, knowing he was threatening her using her mother.
Seeing her mother so submissive and fearful, Bertha felt a deep-seated loathing yet had to admit she was her mother; she didn’t want her mother to be scolded by her father because of her, so she took a deep breath inwardly, forced herself to relax, and extended her index finger.
Mr. Fletcher was slightly satisfied upon seeing this and continued to put the ring on Bertha Swift.
But just then, a tall figure burst into the banquet, "Hold on!"
The man’s voice was filled with anger, breaking a bit, yet it didn’t stop him from shocking everyone present.
The action of Mr. Fletcher on stage paused, and his face turned grim when he saw Adam Piers suddenly barging in, "Master Adam, what is this about?"
"I was just about to ask you the same, don’t you know whose person she is?" Adam Piers asked angrily.
This unexpected event made the guests first freeze, then looked at the Swift family with either gossip or schadenfreude, especially those rich ladies who had fought with Bertha Swift in the restroom before.
They had never liked Bertha Swift, and her engagement was full of mockery too, but after that restroom scuffle, and with Bertha’s boastful words, they really thought Mr. Fletcher was something extraordinary. Seeing Adam Piers appear now, they assumed he came to ruin her wedding, because in high society, who didn’t know Bertha was the woman Adam Piers discarded.
Especially since Bertha was once pregnant with the Pier’s young master’s child, only to be kicked, and Adam had publicly canceled the engagement in the media.
Now, with Bertha’s engagement to Mr. Fletcher and Adam Piers arriving here, what could it mean? It surely meant he didn’t want Bertha to live well!
On stage, Mr. Fletcher’s face was displeased at Adam Piers’s arrogant question, "Today is my engagement ceremony with Miss Bertha Swift, of course, she is my fiancée."
"Your fiancée? An old thing with one foot in the grave like you has the nerve to say Bertha is your fiancée, are you worthy?"
High society has always been meticulous, and though the Fletcher family isn’t what it used to be, it’s still an old family in Swallow City; Adam giving Mr. Fletcher no face caused an uproar among the crowd, making the engagement banquet noisy with hustle and bustle.
Mr. Fletcher’s face changed drastically when Adam Piers insulted him as having one foot in the grave, further enraged by the remark "are you worthy?" He retorted, "Doesn’t matter if I’m worthy, shouldn’t a kid like you be lecturing me? Just because you’re a Piers, do you really think you’re a big deal?"
Bertha Swift stood on stage, and at the moment she saw Adam, she nearly let the tears she’d held back flow, but she held on. Now seeing him curse Mr. Fletcher and the other side retaliate fiercely, she couldn’t help but worry for Adam Piers.
She didn’t know the specifics of the Piers but knew that currently, Brandon Piers was managing the Piers, and as for the branches of Piers? It was somewhat disharmonious, with the main branch imprisoning some, some being disabled, and then the third uncle being imprisoned; one could imagine Adam had little status in the Piers, and now he was offending this serious future for her, without knowing how it would turn out.
"Whether I’m something or not is uncertain, but you’re definitely something—an old thing!" Adam Piers retorted insultingly, then looked at Bertha Swift with impatience, "Why are you dawdling there? Get down here!"
Bertha Swift was lost in thought, and upon hearing Adam Piers’s words, she hesitated, then a slight smile crept up and she slowly walked towards Adam.
Seeing this, Mr. Fletcher grabbed Bertha’s hand, "You dare go down, don’t forget, you were sold by the Swift family, sold to me!"
"Whoever sold you can get married to you, I didn’t sell myself and I won’t!" Bertha swiftly broke free from Mr. Fletcher’s grip and ran quickly towards Adam Piers.
"Bertha Swift, you dare!" Milne Swift shouted a warning.
But Bertha Swift seemed not to hear and accelerated her steps, running faster. As she almost reached Adam, she suddenly jumped.
Adam instinctively reached out both arms to catch Bertha, "What are you doing?"
She didn’t answer Adam, just tightly hugged him, her head nestling deep in Adam’s embrace.
Adam’s worry due to her reckless actions was instantly soothed. He lightly scolded her as a fool, picked her up horizontally, and walked outside.
"Bertha Swift..."