Chapter 1716

Edmund’s lips were tight.

He said nothing as he pushed her back into her seat, disregarding her cries.

Flossie felt a chill as though she’d plunged into icy water, her body starting to tremble.

Seeing Flossie’s reaction, Stella instantly thought of the young man’s back she had seen earlier.

It clicked for her then.

She hadn’t been mistaken.

Indeed, Flossie’s boyfriend was Benny.

Stella was shocked that Flossie had kept such a significant secret from her for so long.

She felt a mix of dull pain and the sting of betrayal by her close friend.

Leaning on a cane, Waldo scolded Benny, “Matthew is the only heir to the Clark family.

You aren’t welcome here.

Leave with your people immediately!”

His face flushed with the force of his shouting.

Benny just laughed in response.

“You don’t get to decide that.

”

He turned to Matthew with a sneer.

“What a grand affair this is.

Let’s settle our scores once and for all today.

Think of it as a wedding present from your big brother.

”

With a wave of his hand, his men in black opened fire, causing chaos at the wedding.

Guests screamed and scrambled for cover.

Matthew, pulling Stella close, took cover behind a pillar and narrowly dodged a bullet.

He had come prepared, returning fire after the assailants made their move.

After several shots, he was down to his last bullet.

Matthew’s expression grew somber.

He was aware that Benny’s target was him.

Failing to show up meant Stella might soon be dragged into the mess.

He gently pressed on Stella’s shoulder and said with urgency, “Stay hidden here.

Don’t wander off.

I’ll be back for you in no time.

”

Stella shook her head, her mind flashing back to the vivid dream she had the previous night, making it feel all the more real.

She clutched Matthew’s hand, pleading, “Where are you off to? Don’t leave.

We should stay together.

With all this commotion, help must be on the way.

They won’t last long.

”

As Matthew moved to embrace her, two men in black approached from behind Stella, aiming their guns.

Matthew quickly turned around and pulled Stella into a tight hug.

In that swift motion, he fired at one of the men in black.

Gunshots echoed repeatedly.

Stella cringed and covered her ears, burying her head in Matthew’s chest.

As the noise subsided, she slowly uncovered her ears and heard a faint groan from above.

Matthew’s entire weight bore down on her.

Stella’s heart raced.

“Matthew?” she called out hesitantly, but received no answer.

“Please, don’t do this to me.

Matthew, talk to me,” she urged, her voice trembling with worry, yet she hesitated to move him.

Her back felt warm and sticky, but she couldn’t identify the substance.

Fear gripped her heart.