Going to their assigned seats at the family table located at the front, soft instruments were played as the scene was elegantly decorated in pretty lavender beads.

While Fanny shared a gentle smile with Michel, that was when she suddenly realized that this was their first time attending an official event as a couple.


There was no doubt about it as he made it very clear in front of everyone in attendance that she was his woman and must be respected.

And she was respected.

Everyone did the whole 360 ​​bows on her as soon as they understood who she was, which was unlike any party she'd attended before at the villa.


In the past, they only exchanged polite cheerful words with her, often only acknowledging her existence with a curt nod before moving on.

But now? Now, Fanny was bathed in top curses simply because the presence of the Black Roses leader by her side and his very visible arm around her strengthened her bond. Surname.


Really funny.

While she would assume it would make her uncomfortable, she was surprised that she actually enjoyed the sense of security it gave her.

It means that Michel and she are really together now and this fact alone means that people will think twice before messing with them.

For the first time in months, she welcomed the protective feeling she was receiving from her condition and breathed a sigh of relief when she felt Michel's gaze on her.

Taking a sip of wine, Fanny suddenly noticed he was leaning toward her as he pulled her chair closer to him.

"You look so beautiful..." He whispered in her ear, his hot breath brushing against her skin sending shivers down her spine.

Smiling at him, Fanny moved her face towards his and pressed a small kiss to the corner of his mouth.

"Do you want to dance?"

"Dance?"

A small chuckle escaped her lips at his expression as if he were completely unfamiliar with the concept until she mentioned it to him.

"That's right. You know, what they're doing there..." She pointed to the dance floor where Kaylin and Farrah's brother Boniface, as well as Carlos and Yashashree, were currently doing a move.

"That's right..." He frowned, receiving another chuckle from her.

"It's okay. We don't have to." She intertwines their fingers.

Michel shook his head. "Maybe later? A slow dance?" He brushed his lips against her temple, placing a small kiss there.

Fanny nodded and took another sip.

Looking around the reception hall, she saw the rest of the family enjoying the wedding, unlike those normally burdened with life-and-death problems.

While Andy and Farrah remained at the location next door for photos, Vengo and Audrey were coaxing their daughter, who was sitting in her little baby chair, rocking a small silver rattle.

Glancing to the other side of the hall, Fanny was intrigued to see Charles and Rosabella engaged in some sort of heavy discussion as Rosabella swung her arms while Charles leaned over her to say through stiff lips, hands on hips.

Strange. She knows that her best friend is quite objectionable, but she has never seen Charles show this kind of emotion.

Before she could grasp what they were arguing about, the two left her vicinity and disappeared into an interconnected room, leaving her questions unanswered.

Fanny was about to ask Michel if he had witnessed something similar when she suddenly noticed his body stiffening next to hers, jumped out of his seat, and grabbed her arm to pull her. He got out of the chair and pushed her behind him, shielding her with his form.

"Michel. What..."

Fanny immediately fell silent when she heard gunfire throughout the venue and loud screams.

"Michel."

"Hide behind me." He yelled as he pulled his own gun from inside his vest and began firing back.

Instinctively to protect herself, Fanny covered her ears and fell to the floor, frightened by what was happening.

She couldn't see anything, but from the sound of it, they were being attacked by intruders who she guessed must be members of the Phoenix.

She heard Michel shouting at someone, then another burst of gunfire with Carlos and Charles's voices filtering through the mess.

"Archibald, you bastard."

"And here I think my invitation to this wedding must have been misplaced in the mail."

That voice.

The feeling in her chest only got worse as she turned her head to look in the direction where Michel was shooting, instantly regretting her decision when she saw him.

The man Michel had called Archibald. Nausea and panic immediately manifested in her gut when she recognized the face.

There he was, the man who broke into her house and gave the order to kill her father.

---

"Are you really okay?" Michel was crouching in front of Fanny, who was currently sitting in a chair in the mansion's office, holding a drink in trembling hands.

She's not much of a drinker other than the occasional dinner drink or other light alcoholic beverage during festivals.

However, the incident left her so panicked and shaken that when Michel offered her some whiskey, she took it.

The attack in the reception hall lasted about ten minutes at most, Carlos, Michel, and Kaylin shot down five invaders, but three were missing, including Archibald, who had disappeared again.

All went into chaos, Vengo almost helpless as he watched Audrey shield Omorose with her body and Charles pushed Rosabella aside so she wouldn't be next to the gunners.

Thankfully, Andy and Farrah were still in the process of being photographed at another location at the venue so the danger was avoided but on the other hand, Eddie and Mark weren't so lucky as they were hit on the shoulder and femoral. Also, they all survived the day.

Fanny nodded, gulping in hopes of getting rid of the dryness that had settled in her throat.

She has nightmares about going back to her apartment and experiencing the same horrible day again, having to face the person who murdered her father only to then be dragged away to spend four next weeks in horror.