He glanced at the black dog tied on the stage, then at Eric Collins, still in casual clothes, and slammed his cane angrily against the floor. “Nonsense!”
Eric faltered, guilt flickering in his eyes.
He looked toward his mother.
Margaret Collins stepped forward nervously. “Father… here’s what happened.”
“Before the ceremony, Lily used Tarot cards to read Eric’s fortune.”
“She said if Eric went through with the wedding, he’d attract misfortune.”
“I thought in such matters, it’s better to be safe than sorry. After all, Eric is the heir of the Collins family. If anything happened to him, the consequences would be too great.”
Robert’s face grew stern. “Absurd! Tarot cards? Superstitious nonsense—nothing but trickery!”
Lily Harper shrank back, not daring to say a word.
Margaret forced herself to continue, “And… there was another reason. I wanted to use this chance to put Sophia Bennett in her place. If she comes into our family too arrogantly, it will disrupt our household.”
I expected Robert to scold her further.
But instead, he fell silent.
Turning to me, he said, “Sophia, I know you’ve suffered today. But listen to me—just finish the ceremony, treat it as a blessing for Eric. I’ll make it up to you afterward.”
Shock and fury surged through me. “What?!”
When my father first went missing, Robert had invited me to live with the Collins family.
At that time, his attitude toward me was almost humble.
As the years passed, his humility faded, replaced by the kindly demeanor of an elder.
I had truly believed he cared for me.
But now… he was a different man entirely.
“Grandpa Collins,” I cried out in grief, “you’re asking me to marry a dog? How could you? You were my father’s old friend. When you meet him again one day, won’t you feel ashamed?”
To my horror, Robert gave a chilling laugh.
Smiling coldly, he said, “Your father? I received word just hours ago. They’ve found his body.”
“He isn’t missing anymore. He’s dead.”
The words struck like lightning. My head spun; I nearly collapsed.
No one moved to steady me.
Clutching a chair for balance, I fought to stand, then burst into sobs.
Robert offered no comfort. His calculating gaze even held a trace of glee.
“I originally insisted Eric marry you to secure an alliance with your family. But now that your father is dead, as his only child, you’ve inherited all the Bennett fortune.”