Chapter 2
The guests' expressions shifted from shock, to confusion, to utter disbelief, and finally, to a kind of reverence.
My mom was supporting my dad, who had just been pinched awake by the paramedics. Both of them stood there with their mouths agape, staring at the stage in a daze.
Robert didn't pay any attention to anyone's reaction.
He took my hand and strode up to the stage with unshakeable composure, stepping right into the spot Harry had just left behind.
He took the microphone from the host, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. The kingly presence he radiated made every bit of noise fall silent in an instant.
He announced, "Today, I, Robert Sutton, marry Evelyn Collier, the Collier family's only daughter. Thank you all for witnessing this."
There were no unnecessary words, just the most direct declaration.
Robert turned to me, his gaze intense and full of depth.
He asked, "Evelyn, will you marry me?"
The same question, but coming from him, changed everything.
I looked at this man. He was the one who gave me a ladder to climb out of my darkest moment.
I nodded firmly. "Yes, I will."
*****
The next day, every newspaper, website, and social media platform in Stuawell blazed with two headlines.
[Robert Sutton, Sutton Group Chairman, Marries Evelyn Collier, Collier Heiress]
[Sutton Group Announces: Harry Sutton Disinherited, Assets Frozen, Global Support Withdrawn]
I sat on the sofa in the Sutton mansion, staring at the marriage certificate in my hand.
Robert walked out of the study and placed a glass of water in front of me.
"Your father has been transferred to the best private hospital, and the Collier Group's stock price has stabilized," he said.
His efficiency was almost unreal.
"Thank you," I said, my voice a bit dry.
He sat across from me, seeming relaxed, but his presence was still overwhelming.
Robert said, "No need to thank me. You won all of this for yourself, with your courage and decisiveness."
He looked at me and suddenly asked, "Are you afraid?"
I shook my head. "No. I just care about one thing. Does the partnership between the Collier and Sutton families still count?"
Robert smiled. "Of course it does. And from today, you're not just a marriage pawn sent by the Collier family. You're the lady of the Sutton family now. You can take part directly in this billion-dollar project."
He slid a folder across the table to me.
"These are the key files for the project. You have three days to review them. In three days, you'll share your ideas at the board meeting," he said.
I took the folder, my heart pounding in my chest.
This was no longer just a lifeline. He was giving me wings to fly.
The first week as Mrs. Sutton was even more stressful than the days leading up to my exams.
I locked myself in the study for three days and nights, barely catching a wink of sleep, obsessively combing through hundreds of pages of core project files over and over.
Robert never disturbed me. He had the butler deliver meals and supplements right on schedule every day.
On the morning of the fourth day, with dark circles under my eyes and a report covered in notes and analysis, I walked into Robert's study.
He was reading the morning paper, but put it down as soon as he saw me walk in.
"Ready?" Robert asked.
I said, "Ready."
I laid out my analysis, covering everything from the project's potential risks, to areas where costs could be optimized, and even a few new revenue streams I thought we could pursue.
I talked until my throat was dry, but Robert just listened quietly, without interrupting me once.
When I finished, he was silent for a moment.
"Not bad," he said.
He picked up my report and remarked, "You caught a few things even the veterans on the project team missed. The Collier family really prepared you well."
I let out a sigh of relief.
"You're coming with me to the board meeting this afternoon," Robert said.
That sentence was more uplifting than any praise I'd ever received.
That afternoon, I was dressed in a sharp business suit. I followed Robert into the top-floor conference room at Sutton Group.
The moment we stepped inside, every eye in the room zeroed in on me.
There was curiosity, contempt, and outright disdain.
George Sutton was an elderly director and relative of the Sutton family. He was quick to throw his weight around as he spoke up.
He said, "Robert, this is the boardroom, not your private lounge. Why are you bringing outsiders in here?"
His voice wasn't loud, but in the quiet conference room, it cut through the silence like a knife.
The others stayed silent, but their expressions said it all. They were clearly on his side.
I clutched the folder in my hands, my fingers numb with anxiety.
Robert didn't get angry. He just walked over to the head of the table, sat down, and pointed to the seat next to him.
"Evelyn, sit," he said.
I steadied myself, walked over, and took the seat beside him.
George's face darkened.
He snapped, "Robert! What's the meaning of this? You're letting this clueless girl kid sit here? What does she know about any of this?"