Chapter 254
The grand opening of the entertainment center had finally arrived. Ambrose, the construction mastermind behind the project, should have been there, but Alaric hadn’t invited him. Instead, Ambrose watched the event unfold on the livestream, seeing Alaric and Stellan openly flaunt their affection for one another.
On the screen, Alaric spoke with obvious pride, “I’m most grateful to my wife. She gives me endless strength, and…”
Ambrose shut off his computer in frustration. In the living room, Marigold angrily turned off the TV and muttered to Joe, “Alaric is so ungrateful. I raised him, and now he thanks Stellan instead of me!”
Joe, ever the calm voice, handed her a cup of tea. “Mrs. Knight, calm down. They’re in their honeymoon phase. Over time, Alaric will realize who truly cares for him. A wife can be replaced, but a mother is irreplaceable. Don’t let Stellan upset you.”
Marigold’s eyes narrowed, but she nodded. “You’re right,” she said firmly. “I’m his mother, and that won’t change.”
Joe smiled gently. “Absolutely, Mrs. Knight.”
“Stop flattering me,” Marigold snapped, her mood souring again. “Let’s go for a walk. Seeing Stellan just makes me mad.”
Joe quickly agreed, walking beside her as they left the house for a much-needed break from the evening’s tensions.
Meanwhile, Alaric’s family had a busy evening ahead. After his speech, the grand party kicked off, attended by many celebrities.
Caspian, Harry, and Elisa were effortlessly charming, mingling with guests and enjoying the spotlight. They were naturally at ease, drawing attention without even trying.
In the center of the hall, Alaric and Stellan danced together, a perfect couple under the gleaming lights. Their chemistry was undeniable, and every onlooker agreed they made an ideal match.
“Are you tired?” Alaric asked, his eyes filled with admiration as he gazed at Stellan.
“No, I’m just so excited!” Stellan replied, her voice full of enthusiasm. “This place is amazing! You’re incredible, Alaric!”
Although Stellan’s words were meant to praise Alaric, she knew deep down that Ambrose deserved much of the credit for the center’s creation. Alaric, ever humble, simply smiled. “As long as you like it,” he said, planting a soft kiss on her cheek.
Stellan smiled and asked, “Did Rowena come today?”
“Rowena? No, she had a concert abroad,” Alaric answered. “She’ll be here tomorrow.”
“Performing abroad? That’s amazing. I’ve been listening to her songs lately; they’re really good,” Stellan said, genuinely admiring Rowena’s music.
Though Stellan wasn’t one to follow celebrity culture closely, she had come to admire Rowena’s work, especially after listening to her songs. They had never met, but Stellan already held a favorable view of the artist.
As the party continued, the night culminated in a spectacular fireworks display, so grand that anyone in Arizona could see it from a high vantage point.
Aurora excitedly dragged Cormac up to the rooftop, bringing along a telescope so they could get the best view.
“It’s starting, Cormac!” Aurora said, practically bouncing with excitement as she peered through the telescope. “Look, the fireworks are starting!”
Cormac, however, wasn’t in the mood for it. “I don’t need to look, Aurora. You enjoy it,” he said, handing the telescope back to her.
Aurora, too excited to be deterred, eagerly took it back and continued watching, her face lighting up at each burst of color in the sky. She had never seen fireworks before, and the experience was nothing short of magical.
Meanwhile, the grand opening of the entertainment center dominated the news. Headlines like “Alaric is the Real Rich Man” and “Alaric and Stellan’s Fairy-Tale Love” appeared everywhere, along with mentions of the celebrities at the party. The city seemed to be celebrating the center’s success, and few seemed to notice that today was also the day of Griffon’s trial.
Cormac checked his phone and saw the latest update. The verdict was in—Griffon was sentenced to twenty years in prison.
Twenty years?
At Griffon’s age, Cormac knew that might be a death sentence. It was a bitter kind of retribution for all the pain Griffon had caused so many. Cormac harbored deep resentment for Griffon and, had he been given the choice, would never have considered him a father.
Yet, despite all that, Cormac couldn’t shake the feeling of sadness that lingered. Why did he feel so conflicted?
Aurora handed the telescope back to him, her eyes wide with wonder. “Cormac, the fireworks are spelling out words in the sky! It’s incredible. Look!”
Cormac forced a smile as he took the telescope. “I don’t need to. You enjoy it, Aurora.”
Though he smiled, Aurora could sense the sorrow in his eyes. She lowered the telescope and gently asked, “What’s wrong? Are you upset?”
“No,” Cormac replied quickly, his voice betraying his unease. “We’re about to head to the entertainment center. How could I be upset?”
Aurora, trying to cheer him up, brightened and said, “Oh right! We need to line up outside the entertainment center. If too many people show up, we might not get in.”
Cormac smiled at her excitement. “Let’s go home and change clothes first. I’ll take you there.”
“Okay!” Aurora cheered, already eager for their adventure.
For days, Aurora had been looking forward to this trip, and Cormac had even bought her a new dress for the occasion. “Come on, Aurora. Try on this dress and see if it fits.”
Aurora stared at the dress in surprise. “Cormac, did you buy this for me?”
Cormac nodded with a gentle smile. “We’re going to the entertainment center, so you should dress nicely. Try it on.”
Aurora took the dress, her excitement growing with each glance. Yet, a little unease settled in her heart. “It’s beautiful. How much does it cost?”
“It’s not expensive. As long as you like it, Aurora. Try it on and let me see,” Cormac said.
Aurora beamed, grateful for the gesture, and hurried to try it on. She came back out, twirling in front of Cormac. “Cormac, does it look good?”
“It looks great,” Cormac said warmly. “Let’s go. I’ll take you to line up.”
With the new dress making her feel like a princess, Aurora was ecstatic. Cormac couldn’t help but smile at her happiness, though the weight of his own feelings still lingered. Together, they made their way to the entertainment center, where a long line had already formed. People were worried they wouldn’t get in if the crowd grew even bigger.
As they stood in line, Cormac found himself reflecting on their lives. This was the reality of living at the bottom—waiting for a chance at something better. He didn’t mind it so much, though. All that mattered was making Aurora happy, and this small moment of joy was enough for him.