The Abandoned Bride's Flash Marriage - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Two and a half hours later, Gwyneth stepped out of Joracity Airport and slid into the Jenkins family car.
Zachary's message finally popped up: [Where are you? Why didn't you go back to the hotel? City Hall is still open. Head there now—I'm on my way.]
Gwyneth let out a sarcastic laugh. With a few taps, she blocked Zachary on every platform.
Zachary stared at his silent phone, his handsome brows knitting together. 'She used to reply in a heartbeat. But lately, her attitude has been impossible to stomach,' he thought.
He dialed Gwyneth's number right away, but the call went straight to voicemail. He paused, realizing he had been blocked.
Gwyneth had blocked him before, but that was during their honeymoon phase. When young lovers bickered, her spoiled act of blocking him to seek coaxing was a form of flirtatious play.
But with Bella still in a coma, he couldn't deal with this drama. He shoved his phone aside, deciding to wait it out. He thought Gwyneth would unblock him in a couple of days, same as always.
At the Jenkins residence in Joracity, Quentin had laid out a fancy welcome dinner. While it was meant to be a private affair, several senior members of the Jenkin family showed up.
Diana stood at the entrance in a formal pose, oozing maternal warmth. Not a trace of her usual sharpness showed on her face.
But this was the woman who'd pushed Gwyneth into a swimming pool before Peyton's funeral rites even finished. The act left Gwyneth with a three-day fever that caused permanent health issues—she'd almost died.
"Gwennie, you're finally home. Quentin and I have missed you all these years," Diana said, reaching for Gwyneth's luggage.
Gwyneth dodged her and said, "Don't call me Gwennie. We aren't that close." Then she walked right past her.
Diana's smile froze on her lips.
Melanie, Gwyneth's half-sister, let out a scornful snort. "Who does she think she is? Acting like the freaking Jenkins princess! Look at that attitude—who gave her the right?"
Gwyneth stopped dead in her tracks. She turned, fixing Melanie with icy eyes. She'd never forget how Melanie had stuck needles into her thighs a dozen times—back when she was delirious with fever, barely aware of anything.
Without a moment's hesitation, Gwyneth's palm connected with Melanie's cheek.
The slap was too fast to dodge. Melanie's perfectly made-up face turned bright red, the skin already swelling where she'd been hit.
"You lowlife, how dare you hit me?" Melanie clutched her cheek and lunged forward, wild-eyed.
Gwyneth didn't flinch. Instead, she lashed out with a kick. After fleeing Joracity for Galvocity, her frail body had shaken like a leaf in the wind. But her pride had never broken.
That was why she'd choked down every bitter herbal soup Pamela made, no matter how disgusting. And now, it was paying off.
Diana helped the sobbing Melanie to her feet and wailed dramatically, "Quentin, we came to welcome Gwyneth with open arms. How can she treat us like this?"
The elders shook their heads and began to voice their reproaches.
"After all these years living outside the family, Gwyneth has become completely wild. A bride this rude will bring shame to the Jenkins name."
"She needs to learn some manners. Even wild animals can be trained."
"Quentin, the Lopez family controls trillions—they're Joracity's top dynasty. This is our chance to climb higher. We don't need Gwyneth's help—just make sure she doesn't mess this up."
Quentin's face darkened. "That's enough, Gwennie. Show some respect to your elders."
Gwyneth wheeled her suitcase forward, her eyes moving past Quentin to rest on the elders and their carefully curated smiles.
The Jenkins family had deep roots in Joracity, and their ancestors had held high imperial ranks, a glory their descendants couldn't live up to. All that remained were endless rules and a faded sense of pride.
They touted their noble lineage, looking down on Gwyneth's mom Peyton for being an orphan—they hadn't even held a wedding. Yet they'd built the Jenkins Group using Peyton's craftsmanship.
When Quentin brought Diana and Melanie into the Jenkins family, Gwyneth appealed to the elders for justice. But they said that at Quentin's status, having multiple partners was common—how shameless.
Gwyneth looked up and smirked, "If you guys think I'm too rough around the edges for the Lopez family and would shame the Jenkins name, let Melanie take my place.
"You accuse me of contributing nothing to the Jenkins Group? Want to erase my mom from the family records? Then I'll march into Jenkins Group tomorrow and show my 'devotion.'"
The elders' beards quivered with pent-up anger.
Quentin's face turned purple, but he choked down his rage. "Gwennie, don't spout nonsense. You're my firstborn. How could I let Melanie steal your marriage prospects?"
Gwyneth scoffed, "I may not live in Joracity, but even I've heard about Mr. Harrison Lopez's issue. You're just protecting Melanie from getting stuck with a sterile husband. Cut the fatherly act."
Quentin's eyes narrowed sharply.
Harrison's infertility was an open secret, but Gwyneth didn't know the catch: On his deathbed, Harrison's grandfather, Liam, had coerced him into signing a will bequeathing all assets to his sole nephew, ensuring the family fortune stayed in the bloodline.
Marrying Harrison meant signing up for a penniless future. Sure, the man was gorgeous, godlike even, with women constantly throwing themselves at him. But when it came to marriage, there was not a single taker.
Quentin had meant to sweet-talk Gwyneth. But since she'd started the fight, he dropped the act. "Blood runs thicker than water, so let's skip the pleasantries," he said bluntly. "One of Jenkins Group's projects is tied to Harrison. Go meet him."
Gwyneth didn't refuse. Before coming to Joracity, she'd researched Jenkins Group and knew that project was make-or-break. "Two conditions: First, if we land the deal, I handle the follow-up," she said.
"Why you?" Melanie exploded. That project was her ticket to the Lopez family. But she had no intention of marrying Harrison. Instead, her sights were set on Adrian, the actual heir.
Gwyneth gave her a cold look. "Then you marry Harrison?"
Melanie fell silent.
Quentin thought for a beat before nodding. "Fine. But Jenkins Group isn't just mine. Screw this up, and you're banned from the company for good."
Gwyneth didn't reply. Instead, she gestured to the second floor. "Second condition: clear out my old room. I'm moving in tonight."
Melanie, now stripped of both the project and her bedroom, seethed. "I won't let you!"
Gwyneth couldn't be bothered to argue. She let go of her suitcase and headed for the door. "I'll go marry Harrison right now."
That statement killed all noise in the living room.