The Abandoned Bride's Flash Marriage - Chapter 6: Chapter 6

People from high society could smell Bella's small-town roots a mile off. No amount of brown-nosing would fix that. Selena had never taken to Gwyneth, and she'd downright loathe Bella.
Gwyneth's appearance instantly triggered Selena's rage. "Pathetic little idiot. Can't even keep your man in line, letting some cheap tramp strut right into our home."
Zachary stepped in front of Bella, voice sharp. "Bella's not some cheap tramp. She's a friend. Watch your mouth, Selena."
Gwyneth remembered her first visit here. Back then, before she even stepped inside, Zachary had drilled into her head not to pick any fights with his family, telling her to keep the bigger picture in mind.
That had made sense. He'd just been acknowledged as the illegitimate son then. But now, he was the undisputed heir. Of course he could protect whoever he pleased.
Bella tugged timidly at Zachary's sleeve, eyes starry with admiration. "I'm so sorry for causing problems."
Zachary puffed up at that. He shot a look at Gwyneth, only to find her completely unfazed.
He couldn't help but think, 'I've spoiled her rotten—turned her into this stubborn thing who never backs down. She won't wipe that pout off her face till she gets her way, will she? Doesn't she even realize where she is?'
"Gwennie, keep Bella company for a bit. I'll be right back," he said, pulling his hand from Bella's grasp before heading up to the study.
Selena perched elegantly on the sofa, her expression oozing contempt. "I underestimated you, Gwyneth. You'd do anything to marry Zachary, huh?"
Gwyneth didn't bother to argue. "You must be teasing, Selena. I'm going to cook for Victor."
She rolled up her sleeves and headed for the kitchen. This meal would be her last act of gratitude before severing ties with the Flynn family for good.
Bella instinctively wanted to follow, then stopped. She was going to be Zachary's wife someday—there was no way she'd be caught dead in the kitchen like some servant.
Gwyneth was cooking her third dish when a sharp slap echoed through the living room, followed by Bella's shriek. She ran out, spatula still in hand.
Zachary beat her downstairs and scooped up the crumpled Bella. "Selena, what the hell are you doing?" he shouted.
Matthew helped Victor down the stairs, both wearing grave expressions.
Selena hurled a gift box to the floor. "Zachary, I may not be your mother, but I'm still your elder. She's your friend—supposed to be welcome here. What's with this cheap fake? Is she implying I'm not a real Flynn?"
Matthew had married Selena for business, no love lost. She'd only given him a daughter, while his mistress had borne Zachary.
Zachary made his mark as CEO of Flynn Group. Plenty of socialites gossiped that Selena's days as mistress of the house were numbered. It was only natural that she flipped when Bella gave her a cheap knockoff.
Bella, her cheek blazing red, was shaking in Flynn's arms. "Zachary, I swear! That was the gift you gave me. I chose the most expensive piece—there's no way it's a fake."
Knowing she'd be coming to the Flynn manor, she'd gritted her teeth and picked from her jewelry box, hoping to make a good impression.
Gwyneth eyed the shattered emerald bracelet. She'd seen the real one in Zachary's safe—a piece he'd won at an auction. There was a matching tiara too; he'd once said it was for their wedding.
Yet now, he'd given the bracelet to Bella. And this broken mess? A cheap knockoff, no question.
Suddenly, Zachary whirled on Gwyneth. "Did you mess with Bella's jewelry?"
Gwyneth stared back, genuinely confused.
Bella was sobbing uncontrollably. "Gwyneth, you paid for my college and introduced me to Zachary. I'm so thankful, and I'd share anything with you. If you wanted the bracelet, you could've just asked. Why replace it with a fake?"
Gwyneth's anger finally flared. "Zachary, you think I switched it too?"
Zachary rubbed Bella's back soothingly, his voice clipped. "Drop it, Gwyneth. Grandpa's hungry. Let's serve dinner." Clearly, he was taking Bella's side.
Gwyneth laughed dryly. "Then call the cops. That bracelet's valuable enough for a police report."
Zachary's face darkened further.
"Gwyneth, come sit beside me." Victor's voice sliced through the tension.
Gwyneth looked at the gaunt old man, and her heart softened. She stepped over and helped him to the dining room.
Servants quickly set the table, placing Gwyneth's dishes right in front of Victor.
"You're the best, Gwyneth," Victor chuckled. "These are exactly what I was in the mood for."
Just as the mood lightened, Bella stood with a wine glass. "Victor, Selena, I'm sorry for the chaos. Let me make it up to you."
She raised the glass. But Zachary grabbed her arm and said, "The doctor said no alcohol."
Bella's eyes filled with tears. "But I truly feel bad about it."
Zachary turned to Gwyneth. "Drink for Bella. Then we'll let this go," he ordered, his tone reeking of future patriarchal authority.
Gwyneth scoffed inwardly. She stopped serving Victor and said flatly, "I have a stomachache. Can't drink."
Zachary froze. He remembered Gwyneth mentioning her stomach pain last night, and the medical instructions once etched in his mind resurfaced. Guilt flickered in his eyes.
Just then, Bella chugged the red wine, coughed harshly, and collapsed into Zachary's arms, yanking his attention right back. "I'm fine. Just don't want to stress you out," she whispered.
Zachary instantly yelled for herbal soup, worry lines deepening, his brow furrowed with worry as he yelled at Gwyneth, "Couldn't you have just sucked it up?"
He thought, 'She could have sucked it up. But no, she has to make a scene here. My father's been pressuring me to marry a socialite, and I've been fending it off, protecting her this whole time. Why can't she act more grown-up?'
His words stabbed Gwyneth like ice picks. She'd once risked everything to build his future, even ready to lay down her life. Now all she got was a cold "suck it up"—why should she endure it?
"Zachary, I didn't bring this fake gift. I didn't push for drinks to drag this whole mess up again," she said with a sharp laugh. "Are you seriously that clueless?"
Zachary never expected Gwyneth to rip into him like this in front of his family. Instantly, his chiseled features darkened into a tempest.
"Pathetic," Selena sneered, shattering Zachary's last shred of dignity. The shame of his birth surged over him like a tidal wave, drowning every pretense of authority.