The moment Avey uttered the words, “Actually, the truth is… I’m pregnant,” a ripple of silence washed over the grand hall. It wasn’t just silence no murmurs, no whispers. It was the kind of silence that bore into the ears, heavy and suffocating, as though the air itself had frozen in disbelief.
Every head turned toward her, and every pair of eyes widened in shock. No one dared to breathe.
Pregnant?
The word lingered in the minds of the guests like an explosion still echoing. Slowly, the shock registered, expressions morphing from stunned disbelief to confusion and, finally, intrigue.
Someone in the crowd stammered, “P… pr… pregnant?” barely managing to whisper, as if saying it louder would make it more real.
Even Lucian, who had been doing his best to maintain his indifferent facade acting as though none of this had anything to do with him turned sharply to look at Avey.His calm mask cracked, his eyes betraying the storm within. Shock, disbelief, frustration, and heartbreak flickered across his face before he could gather himself.
He inhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling as he fought to steady his emotions. It wasn’t that he believed her words…but the impact they carried was undeniable.
“What… what do you mean by that?!”Arthur’s voice cut through the thick silence like a blade, shattering whatever was left of the room’s composure. Gone was his practiced elegance, his carefully cultivated image of control. His tone dripped with incredulity and suppressed rage, the sheer absurdity of Avey’s words shattering his royal demeanor.
This was supposed to be a grand moment, the pinnacle of his calculated plans. And now, his supposed fiancée the centerpiece of this entire event had just destroyed it with a single sentence.
Arthur hands clenched into fists at his sides, his knuckles white with tension. He could feel the judgmental stares of the crowd on his back, their whispers muted but incessant. His mind raced as he imagined the headlines.
“Crown Prince Engaged to Pregnant Heiress!”
“Royal Scandal Unfolds at Starline Mansion!”
“Arthur Valentino The Green Hat Prince?”
No. Absolutely not. He would not let this humiliation define him.
As if to confirm her words, Avey spoke again, her tone steady despite the faint redness creeping onto her cheeks. “As I said, Your Highness… I am pregnant.” Her voice wasn’t loud, but in the tense silence, every syllable hit like a thunderclap.
The gasps came this time, rippling across the room like waves.
Antonio and Melody froze, their faces pale, their mouths slightly open as though they had seen a ghost. Antonio looked like he wanted to speak, but no words came.Melody’s hands trembled in her lap, clutching the fabric of her dress. They had been prepared for the unexpected, but not this.
“Miss Starline,”Arthur said coldly, his tone now laced with venom,”this is not a joke to be made at such an event. Why didn’t you inform me beforehand?” His words were sharp, but his eyes betrayed the fury burning beneath.
The change in his demeanor was unmistakable. The familiar address of “Avey”was gone, replaced with the formal “Miss Starline.”
Avey didn’t flinch. Her gaze held firm, her chin raised slightly in defiance.”No one gave me the chance to say anything before now, Your Highness. Did they?” Her voice carried a calm authority, but her steady hands betrayed the effort it took to maintain her composure.
Arthur’s jaw tightened. His nails bit into his palms as he clenched his fists harder. His mind reeled.True or not, her words had set fire to the carefully constructed image he had built for himself.
Victor, who had been smugly silent until now, finally stirred. His eyes flickered with amusement, then darkened with something more calculating. A small smirk curled at the corner of his lips.
Interesting. Very interesting, he thought. So, this is how you want to play it, Avey?Let’s see how far you can take this bluff.
The tension in the hall became almost unbearable as Arthur stepped closer to Avey, his voice lowering but no less menacing”May I ask,” he said, his tone biting,”who this child’s father is?”
The crowd collectively held its breath.Every guest leaned in, their expressions ranging from morbid curiosity to outright shock.This was no longer just an engagement ceremony it had transformed into a full-blown scandal unfolding before their eyes.
Avey hesitated, her lashes fluttering as she took a steadying breathSlowly, her hand began to rise, pointing across the room.
The air seemed to thicken as every guest’s gaze followed the path of her trembling finger. Conversations died instantly, the silence so absolute that the faint rustle of her dress seemed deafening.
Lucian froze, His brows furrowed.
“Ahh, what the fuck?”Lucian blurted out, breaking the fragile silence. His voice cut through the tension like a whip, earning gasps and startled looks from those nearby.
All eyes turned to where Avey’s finger was pointing to him.
Lucian’s face twisted into a mix of shock and incredulity. “Why the hell is she pointing at me?” he muttered under his breath, but it was loud enough to reach the ears of those closest to him.
“What the hell?”Rose’s voice rang out sharply, snapping the room’s attention to her. Her expression was a storm of confusion and anger as she grabbed Lucian’s collar, her fingers trembling.”Is that true? Tell me, Lucian!” she demanded, her voice strained.
“Hey..Calm down, Rose!”Olivia interjected, rushing to Lucian’s side. She placed a firm hand on Rose’s wrist, forcing her to release her grip. “Let him speak!”Olivia’s own face was pale, her confusion apparent as she turned to her son.
But Lucian remained frozen, his mind racing. His frown deepened, his eyes darting from Avey to his mother and then back to Avey.”No… it’s not true,”he finally said, his voice low but steady. He shook his head, his bewilderment clear.
A cold silence fell over the group.
Celestia, standing just a few feet away, didn’t move. She didn’t speak.Her face was unreadable, but her clenched fists and the slight tremor in her fingers betrayed her barely restrained rage She didn’t even glance at Lucian.Instead, her eyes bore into Avey with an intensity that could have turned stone to ash.The killing intent in her gaze was palpable, sharp and unrestrained.
But Avey didn’t notice.Her own eyes were locked on Lucian. She seemed detached from the growing chaos around her, her gaze unyielding as if seeking something in Lucian’s expression.
“Lucy…is it true?”Olivia asked gently, her voice softer now. Her hand reached for his shoulder, trying to steady him”i’ll understand, just tell me. Maybe this is why Avey’s been acting so strange lately.”Her tone carried a mix of hope and confusion, tinged with a mother’s concern.
Lucian shook his head again, stepping away from her touch”No, Mother,”he said firmly, his voice growing sharper”Please, just… leave it.”
The words hit Olivia like a wave, and she stepped back slightly, startled by the edge in his tone.
Meanwhile, Arthur, who had been watching the entire scene with a frozen expression, finally moved.His face remained eerily calm, but his clenched jaw and stiff shoulders betrayed his inner turmoil. Without a word, he turned on his heel and began walking toward the exit.
His polished shoes clicked against the marble, a stark contrast to the chaos he was leaving behind.
“Your Highness?”one of his aides hesitated, but Arthur raised a hand without looking back. “Leave me,” he ordered coldly, his voice steady.
This is disgraceful, he thought, his mind a maelstrom of anger and humiliation To be shamed like this in front of everyone…
Victor, too, chose this moment to leave. Unlike Arthur’s silent exit, Victor’s every step radiated fury. His face was twisted with rage, and his hand instinctively brushed the bandages on his nose.
The crowd parted for him as he walked toward the exit, the whispers trailing behind him like a storm.
He pulled out his phone, his thumb flying over the screen. Your next chapter awaits on empire
Call the kill team, he typed coldly, his lips curling into a smirk.He sent the message without hesitation, slipping the phone back into his pocket as he disappeared through the grand entrance.
“You’ll pay for this, Kane,”Victor muttered darkly, his voice low but dripping with malice”For this…and everything else.”
—
Inside the Grand Hall
The air was electric, charged with tension and disbelief.
“What the hell is going on?”someone whispered loudly.
“I can’t believe this…Avey Starline?Pregnant? With his child?” another murmured, gesturing discreetly toward Lucian.
“Does that mean Lucian Kane is a scumbag? Running away from his responsibilities? Poor Miss Avey…”
“Maybe that explains why she’s been so desperate, chasing after him like that,”one woman speculated”Do you think it’s true?”
“Who knows?But if it is, what a disgrace to the Kane family.”
The whispers grew louder, a cacophony of speculation and judgment.
Lucian, still standing in the middle of it all, clenched his fists tightly at his sides.The voices around him felt like daggers piercing his skin, each word sharper than the last. He glanced at Avey again, his frustration boiling over.
Avey remained calm amidst the heavy silence that followed her revelation. Her gaze stayed fixed on Lucian, unwavering and serene.There was no hint of doubt in her expression, no sign of regret for the storm her words had unleashed. Instead, her lips held the faintest, most tender smile, a gesture so gentle that it seemed to be meant only for him.
Lucian, however, was anything but calm. The moment her words sank in, he stepped away from Olivia and Rose, their hands lingering in the air where they’d tried to hold him back.His expression was unreadable at first, but the faint furrow in his brow betrayed his unease.
Without sparing a glance at the crowd or considering their reactions, he began to move forward.His steps were deliberate, his shoulders tense. The whispers around the room quieted as everyone turned their attention to the unfolding scene.
“Is he going to confront her?”
“What is he thinking?”
“This is getting more and more bizarre,” someone muttered, their words trailing off into the oppressive silence.
Lucian’s face darkened as he approached Avey. The frown etched onto his features was subtle but unmistakable, and to those who knew him, it was a rare and unsettling sight. Avey’s heart clenched at the sight of it. She had seen Lucian wear many expressions over the years warmth, amusement, even indifference but never one of unhappiness directed at her.
The moment felt endless as Lucian closed the distance between them. Even the onlookers seemed to forget to breathe, their gazes darting between Lucian and Avey, searching for any hint of what might come next.
—-
Happy new year my lovely pumpkins
Yooo guys your lovely author… just came to announce something
Top three contributes for golden tickets…i don’t know if other authors di but i think i should
First-Collin_McCall(also super gifter)
Second-Unknown_6
Third-Samuel_Greyson
Thank ya all from heart …sorry can’t tell power rankings since there is no way to know
Thanks for ya all support and love…means world to me