Chapter 318
From a distance, it looked like a sea of people, a hundred or more crammed together in the entrance. Carmen walked in with Daisy holding one hand and Davina’s little brother Neil clutching the other. She didn’t care about the mess in front of her. Like she owned the place, she swept an arm out wide and called, “Come on, everyone, just grab a seat p>
“Don’t be shy! It’s Davina’s wedding. From now on, I’m Barnard’s mother-in-law, I’m family now, I’m an elder! Sit where you want, make yourselves comfortable p>
After rounding up everyone else, Carmen gave Davina a look, impatient and sharp. “Why are you just standing there? Go get someone to serve tea to your uncles and aunts! This is your big day, can’t believe you didn’t even send a car to pick us up. You know how far we traveled to get here? It’s like you don’t even care p>
The Blair relatives stood out like a sore thumb among the tasteful decorations of the banquet hall. The atmosphere changed the second they walked in, suddenly turning the elegant space into something between a food court and a crowded bargain market.
Men were lighting up cigarettes without a thought, kids darted everywhere, yelling and tripping underfoot, and women were slowly circling the room, stuffing the decorative flowers into their purses as if no one could see.
It wasn’t just Calvin and the Carter family who stood there stunned. Even the seasoned journalists, who had seen everything, hesitated for a split second before hurriedly pulling out cameras and getting to work.
Was this really happening? This was headline material, the kind of chaos nobody would believe unless they saw it with their own eyes. Even if there was no big scoop, the scene alone would get more clicks than any gossip ever could.
Calvin came to his senses with a jolt. All pride and restraint disappeared as he shouted, “Security! Someone get security! Get these people out of here, every last one! Reporters too, tell them to go. This wedding is over! I’m done p>
He felt humiliated—flat-out embarrassed. If not for concerns about the Carter Group’s future, he would honestly have preferred to disappear on the spot.
The reporters were having a field day, cameras flashing as they filmed Calvin’s rage. Even as they were hustled toward the exit, a few managed to catch his furious face for the record.
The press had to think of their jobs in the end. Sensing how furious Calvin had gotten, they decided not to push their luck, picking up their things and slipping out quickly.
But Carmen and the rest of Davina’s relatives weren’t going anywhere so easily. As soon as Calvin finished shouting, Carmen put her hands on her hips and shot right back, “Call it off? Says who? Weren’t you the ones who insisted on marrying my daughter? Now you’re just walking away? Who does that? Don’t even think about it. We came all this way and we’re not leaving hungry. You better start serving the food and make sure everyone gets a gift to take home p>
Carmen held her ground, confident now that her daughter was marrying into money. She started making demands like she was doing the Carter family a favor.
All the relatives behind her nodded along, some even reaching toward Calvin as if expecting him to personally hand them gifts.
Now that there weren’t any outsiders watching, Calvin’s temper exploded outright. He turned on Davina with a glare full of disgust. “You’re useless. What do you do besides mess things up for me? I thought you and Barnard were soulmates? How could you not even notice he was planning to run off p>
Davina’s eyes filled with tears, her face a mess of ruined makeup. She looked pale and desperate, the kind of haunted look that didn’t even need special effects. Calvin felt nothing but revulsion, and finally looked away.
He couldn’t be bothered to argue more. He just barked at her, “Why are you still standing there? Get your tacky relatives out of my sight. Do you think the Carter family is some kind of charity? Letting a bunch like this waltz in and beg for a handout. If you can’t make it in life, just stay away. Quit embarrassing me p>
That set off the Blair relatives for real. Carmen stepped forward first, voice booming, “Who are you calling names? Think you’re better than us? You still want to marry my daughter, don’t forget that. She hasn’t even officially married in yet and you’re already upsetting her family back home. Aren’t you worried your son will come crying for help next time he visits? Pay us a hundred thousand each, right here, and this ends. If not, we’re not going anywhere p>
These people had shown up just to get what they could. Of course they backed Carmen, shaking their heads and agreeing, everyone chiming in with their own demands.
Calvin couldn’t help sneering. “Help my son? Like he’d ever want to go back to your backwater town. Letting Barnard marry your daughter is the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. Get out. You don’t belong here. If you won’t leave on your own, I promise I’ll throw you out p>
He’d never liked Davina, and her relatives made him even more furious. He had never cared about sparing their feelings, and now every cruel word just made things worse.
No one could say who started it, but suddenly half of Carmen’s crowd surged at Calvin, yelling, “So what if you’ve got money? Doesn’t make you better than us p>
“Just because you’re rich doesn’t mean you get to talk down to people. We came here to celebrate, not to get insulted. Come on, let’s show him what’s what p>