Others might not understand the weight of it, but as Zahn's childhood sweetheart, she knew him. She knew the foundations of his loyalty, the way he'd built his identity around duty and control.
And now, that foundation had shattered.
In the end, Lianna didn't argue anymore nor did she offer comfort. She knew no words could make him feel better.
Later that night, in his study, Zahn called Shin.
"I think I just made Xavier Song suspicious,"
There was a short pause on the other end.
Then Shin clicked his tongue, "Zahn Neri, I'm not your grandfather. When you said you'd handle it… is this what you meant?"
Zahn wiped a hand down his face, exhaustion clinging to him like a second skin.
It was a race against time. If Xavier Song realized Zahn had noticed something, then Xavier wouldn't drag this out.
Unfortunately, unlike the others, Zahn was a surgeon. He spent his days cutting through flesh, saving lives, controlling bleeding. He didn't spend his nights navigating corporate traps and boardroom wars.
However, if he let Shin Keir handle it, with his ruthless personality, Shin wouldn't spare his mother.
Even if she deserved it. Even if Zahn's heart was already splintering under the truth, he still wanted to give her a way out.
The line stayed quiet for a beat, then Shin spoke, voice calm and cold as steel.
"Work with the people I sent and expedite whatever is necessary," he said.
Nothing more. No lecture or unnecessary advice, just a solution.
Zahn didn't need to say it out loud. Shin understood what was holding him back.
---
That weekend, Yeri was supposed to attend Tiffany and Marco's wedding as a guest. But the moment her parents heard, they shut it down immediately. Absolutely not.
Even though she had already been discharged from the hospital, they insisted she focus on her health and recuperation.
And truthfully, they didn't like the Rhian family either, given Tiffany's long, ugly history of bullying.
Nina went instead, dragging Levi along like an unwilling accessory.
Other classmates attended too, curious to see the wedding that everyone had been whispering about.
Right on time, Yeri's phone buzzed with a video call.
She answered, and Nina's face immediately filled the screen, glowing with excitement. She waved dramatically, nearly shaking the camera.
"Hi, Yz!" Nina chirped. "How do I look?"
Yeri blinked, then smiled genuinely.
Nina was dressed up, and it was rare enough to feel like a historical event. Her dress hugged her nicely, her hair was styled.
"You look beautiful," Yeri said warmly. "Seriously, like you're the one getting married."
"Married? Are you still my bestie? Stop scaring me. By the way, we agreed, right? I'll livestream everything for you," Nina reminded her proudly, as if she were a war correspondent reporting from enemy territory.
The camera landed on Levi. He was in a formal suit, clean-cut and sharp, but his expression was pure boredom, he just stared at the screen with the dead-eyed patience of someone trapped at a social function against his will.
Yeri laughed softly. "Levi looks like he wants to file a complaint."
Levi didn't deny it. "I do."
Nina elbowed him off-camera. "Shut up and look supportive."
Levi just scoffed.
"Tiffany isn't here yet," Nina said, lowering her voice into a gossipy whisper while her eyes gleamed. "But guess what information I gathered? They said this whole wedding is just a formality since the two of them already registered their marriage the day before yesterday."
Yeri's eyes lit up. So the two of them had officially tied the knot.
Through the phone screen, she could see just how lavish the wedding banquet was.
The hall looked like something out of a luxury magazine, filled with flowers, glittering lights, and guests dressed in expensive suits and gowns.
On a raised platform stood two men. One of them was likely Marco Fabian.
Soon, music filled the hall, and the ceremony began.
The bride appeared.
Tiffany walked down the aisle in an overly grand wedding dress, sparkling and dramatic.
She looked like a picture of happiness, smiling brightly as if the whole world belonged to her.
As she walked, her eyes swept over the guests, searching. She saw familiar faces, including some of her former classmates.
But not the person she had hoped would be there.
Yeri that bitch, just because she had gotten close to Shin Keir, did she really think her wedding wasn't worth showing up for?
Or maybe Yeri simply didn't want to see her happy? Tiffany's lips tightened for a moment, then she quickly convinced herself it was better this way.
If Yeri had come, she might have caused trouble. She might even get jealous and try to steal Marco for herself.
That thought calmed Tiffany instantly. It was her long-awaited wedding, after all, and she was marrying the man she loved. Her mood brightened again, and she lifted her chin proudly as she continued forward.
The ceremony moved smoothly, one step after another, until it finally reached the vows.
"I do."
When Marco said those words, Tiffany's heart almost burst with joy. Tears gathered in her eyes.
"I do," she replied back, looking into his eyes with overflowing love.
The guests smiled warmly. Some laughed softly, sharing in the couple's happiness. The whole room seemed wrapped in celebration.
Then came the rings.
Tiffany held Marco's hand carefully, her fingers trembling with excitement as she lifted the ring.
Just as she was about to slide it onto his finger,
BANG!
The doors slammed open and a woman marched in.
"Marco Fabian, you dare fool me?!"
The woman's voice cut through the ceremony like a knife.
Before anyone could react, she stormed straight up the aisle, her heels striking the floor with furious purpose.
"You said this was just a dress-up wedding, so how do you explain this marriage certificate?!" She reached the platform and slapped the paper hard against Marco's chest.
Marco's expression darkened instantly as he grabbed her wrist.
"Ahhh! You!" Tiffany let out a sharp shriek, her eyes widening the moment she recognized the woman. "How are you here?! Didn't you go overseas?!"
The woman laughed, a mocking, bitter sound. Her gaze swept Tiffany from head to toe, full of contempt.
"Tiffany Rhian, what are you even being arrogant about? If not for your family blackmailing Brother Marco, would he be forced to marry you?" she spat. "The one he truly loves is me! If not for your obsession and meddling, we would've been happy together long ago!"
For a second, Tiffany stood stunned, as if her mind couldn't process the humiliation fast enough.
Then her face twisted, her hand flew up.
Slap!
The sound echoed through the hall.
Marco reacted instantly, stepping between them.
"Tiffany, are you crazy?!" he hissed, gripping her arm. "Why do you always turn violent instead of talking it out?"
Tiffany stared at him like she'd been stabbed.
"You…" she choked, "You're defending her?"
Below the platform, the guests stirred, shocked murmurs spreading like wildfire.
Parents from both sides rushed forward, faces pale with panic, trying to salvage the situation.
"This is a misunderstanding…"
"Let's not ruin the celebration…"
But with Tiffany's personality, calm was impossible.
Her eyes burned with rage as she pointed at the woman.
"Rita, how can you be so shameless and immoral?! I treated you like one of my closest friends! I gave you so many benefits!" she accused. "And you turned around and seduced my boyfriend!"
Tiffany's chest rose and fell rapidly as she continued, each word sharper than the last.
"Even then, I turned a blind eye! I didn't chase you down! But now you have the audacity to ruin my wedding? Can't wait for everyone to know you're the other woman?!"
Rita, standing behind Marco now, suddenly laughed out loud. She tilted her head, eyes glittering with mockery as she looked at Tiffany like she was pathetic.
"Friend? Benefits? What the hell are you pretending for? Do you dare say you never raised your hand against me? Threatened me? Criticized me countless times?"
"Tiffany," Rita hissed, "you're a vicious woman who enjoys seeing other people suffer! Rather than a friend, the better word was servant. That's how you treated me and Cherry back at school!"
Tiffany's face drained of color. She lunged forward, shaking with rage, but Marco stepped in again, holding her firmly in place.
"Besides," Rita's lips curled. "what do you mean by other woman?"
Marco's expression shifted. He could see the situation slipping out of control.
"Rita, that's enough. If there's something to discuss, we'll talk about it later. Do you really want to make a joke of yourself in front of so many people?"
Rita's eyes reddened.
"Are you just going to let Tiffany keep controlling you?" she demanded. "I know you don't love her!"
Tiffany exploded.
"You pathetic wretch! We wouldn't even have this wedding if Brother Marco didn't love me!"
She turned to the crowd, almost desperate for witnesses, desperate for validation.
"Look around you!" Tiffany shouted. "Don't you know?! Everything here was personally chosen and decided by him, all for my sake!"
Rita trembled slightly, but her smug expression never faded.
"What about it? You say I'm the other woman. But don't you know?" Her hand moved unconsciously to her stomach. "I'm already three months pregnant."
Gasps burst out across the hall.
All eyes darted to Rita's belly, now that she'd said it, suddenly noticeable beneath her dress.
The murmurs rose instantly, chaotic and scandalized, like a storm rolling through the crowd.
Tiffany stood there as if the world had just cracked open beneath her feet.