Chapter 569

Wait!

Elsewhere at the gala.

Spencer Valentine was comforting Natalie Castillo.

Natalie's eyes were red-rimmed, her voice choked with tears.

"Does Grandpa really not want me anymore?

What am I going to do now?"

Spencer immediately said, "Come to my house!

Aren't you going to marry me?

Just move in directly!"

Natalie hesitated.

"That... doesn't seem appropriate."

Chloe Roland, standing nearby, quickly nodded in agreement.

"It really isn't appropriate.

I have an apartment in New York that's empty.

Why don't you stay at my place for now?"

If she moved into the Valentine house, wouldn't she see her savior every day?

Natalie paused, her gaze shifting back to Spencer.

Spencer immediately made the decision.

"What's inappropriate about it!

It's settled, you're coming to stay at my house!

My parents will definitely be happy!

Do you have any luggage to pack?

I'll help you."

Natalie lowered her head.

"I don't want anything from that house!

Since I said I wouldn't take anything from the Castillo family, I meant it!

I have hands and feet, I can find a job myself!"

Spencer nodded repeatedly.

"Right, right, and there's me!

I can support you too!"

Natalie looked into the distance, gritting her teeth.

"How did our family become like this?"

Her eyes hardened with resentment.

"It's all that Nicole Sterling's fault!

If only we could ruin today's engagement party!"

She looked at Spencer.

"What do you think?

What if I go knock my brother out and take him away?

Without a groom, how can the engagement proceed?"

Spencer's eyes lit up, about to speak, when an aged voice came from behind them.

"Without this brother, there's still your third and fourth brothers.

Our Castillo family is never short of boys!"

Natalie whirled around to see Old Mr. Castillo standing behind her.

Natalie snorted.

"My other brothers aren't as obedient as Anthony!"

Old Mr. Castillo lowered his gaze.

"Whoever marries a Sterling woman inherits the family business.

Do you think they wouldn't be obedient?"

Natalie was stunned.

"...There's such a rule?"

Old Mr. Castillo nodded.

"Correct.

So, don't think about causing trouble today."

Natalie was unwilling to give up.

"Fine, if I can't touch my brother, can I at least go after Nicole?"

Old Mr. Castillo scoffed.

"Do you think Nicole Sterling is someone you can touch?"

Natalie was taken aback.

"What do you mean?"

Ethan Valentine, standing nearby, spoke up.

"That Nicole Sterling is highly skilled in martial arts.

If you want to subdue her, forget about whether she has bodyguards around her.

Just dealing with her alone would probably require at least ten people."

Natalie was dumbfounded.

"What?"

Ethan said calmly.

"Earlier, when my little sister tried to snatch the photo, her move was fast and fierce, and it was when Nicole was completely off guard.

Guess why she didn't succeed?"

Anyone who could exchange blows with the First Senior Sister of the Cortez Sect was no ordinary person!

Natalie's eyes widened.

"She... she knows martial arts?"

Ethan looked at her.

"You should be grateful she's still considering cooperation with the Castillo family.

That slap she gave you earlier wasn't with full force."

Natalie: "..."

She fell completely silent.

Nearby, Evelyn Ross, holding Chloe Davis, was also deep in thought.

She kept glancing down at her phone, calculating the time.

Another twenty minutes had passed.

Had Alexander Vance finished restoring the photo over there?

Just as she was thinking this, there was movement from the direction of the lounge.

Both doors on the left and right opened simultaneously.

Anthony Castillo and Nicole Sterling, now wearing more formal attire, walked out.

At that moment, all eyes in the room focused on them.

Nicole walked to Anthony's side and linked her arm through his.

She gave Evelyn a triumphant look, curled her lips into a smile, and took two steps forward.

Anthony followed her like a puppet, his face expressionless.

Anyone could see Anthony's reluctance.

But no one spoke up for him, no one stood up for him...

Step by step, the two of them walked towards the raised platform...

Old Mr. Castillo stood next to Evelyn and said, "Grace, are you really not going to fight for this?"

Evelyn's jaw tightened.

She didn't speak.

Old Mr. Castillo sighed.

"To be honest, I prefer you.

At least you're reasonable.

Nicole is completely unreasonable...

If you step forward now, I promise I'll bring Anthony to your side immediately."

Evelyn looked at him.

"Sir, I have a husband."

Old Mr. Castillo said, "Isn't it just a fiancé?

Engagements can be broken.

Even if you're married, you can get a divorce.

That's nothing.

Grace, isn't Anthony your good friend?

Actually, I just need you to have a child.

I need a Sterling descendant with Castillo blood.

Do you understand?"

Evelyn shook her head.

"I don't understand your thinking, and I don't agree with this method of arranged marriage.

Women are not tools for bearing children."

"I never dared to think of you as tools for bearing children..."

Old Mr. Castillo said helplessly, "...Forget it, I won't force you.

Perhaps this is the Castillo family's fate."

Evelyn asked, "Why are you so insistent on an alliance with the Sterling Family?

What exactly is the Sterling Family?"

"I can't say."

Old Mr. Castillo said, "It's the rule."

Evelyn frowned.

"What does the Sterling Family have that makes your Castillo family so devoted?"

Old Mr. Castillo's answer was still those four words.

"I can't say."

Evelyn: "..."

The two of them could only stand there, watching helplessly as Nicole led Anthony towards the platform.

Evelyn clenched her jaw, her fingers tightening into fists.

She glanced at her phone again.

It had been half an hour since Alexander left.

Had the photo been pieced together yet?

She couldn't help but turn her head to look towards the entrance.

At that moment, Nicole and Anthony reached the platform.

Nicole directly picked up the microphone and said, "Today is the wonderful day of my engagement to Anthony Castillo.

Thank you all for gracing us with your presence.

Without further ado, we will exchange rings, symbolizing the completion of our engagement!

From this moment on, I am Mrs. Castillo!"

After speaking, she placed the microphone aside and took a box from the emcee, opening it.

Inside were two rings.

Nicole picked up one of them, smiling as she looked at Anthony.

Anthony didn't move, looking at Evelyn with a pleading gaze.

But he found Evelyn was still staring at the door.

He gave a bitter smile and slowly extended his hand towards Nicole.

Evelyn was frantic!

She checked the time again, then looked at the platform.

If he didn't come soon, it would be too late!

Once the rings were exchanged, everything would be settled.

Nicole grabbed Anthony's hand.

Just as the ring was about to be slipped on, a voice rang out.

"Wait!"

Everyone turned their heads.

At the entrance, Alexander Vance strode in!