Breaking Free, Loving Again -The Flash Marriage with Mr. CEO

Arwen stared up and blinked at Emily. "Emily," she called out softly, as if genuinely surprised. "You were here. I thought you hadn't arrived yet." She wasn't lying —from the moment she had entered the hall, she hadn't seen Emily at all.

"Really? This is my party. How could I not be here?" Emily's voice carried an arrogant edge. She wanted to remind Arwen of something she had forgotten.

However, Arwen smiled politely. "My bad, I should have noticed you," she replied lightly. "Of course, this is your party, you would be here. But truly, I didn't see you. Otherwise, I would have approached you to congratulate you."

"Anyway, I am not too late," she added with a casual shrug, extending her hand. "Congratulations! I am happy for you."

Emily's eyes flicked down at her offered hand before meeting Arwen's gaze again. She didn't take it. Instead, she asked in a tone of disbelief. "You are happy for me? Really?"

Arwen met her stare and didn't respond immediately. She paused, then smiled faintly. Retracting her hand, she said calmly, "I just have the words. If you don't believe them, I have nothing else to prove it to you with."

Emily's lips curled in a faint sneer. "Arwen, don't think I don't know what you are trying to do here," she murmured almost inaudibly, stepping closer.

Mia was about to step forward, but Arwen stopped her.

She just stared at Emily with a levelled gaze and said, "I am doing nothing. But given how you approached me with the complaint, I think you have made your own judgment." She then shook her head and added, "I can't help in that, but I will still make it clear to you. I am truly happy for you. You have been waiting for this day for a long time, and it's finally here. You would be officially the heiress tonight and —"

Before she could finish, Emily cut her off.

"And you will lose your chance to return … for forever."

She wanted Arwen to reveal the true emotion; however, Arwen just stared at her as if that fact didn't bother her at all. And her such calmness only irritated Emily further.

"If I truly cared to return," Arwen began slowly, the curve of her lips only deepening. "Do you think you even stood a chance, Emily?"

Those words infuriated Emily. Almost losing her calm, she stepped forward, pointing a finger out. "You —"

"Don't worry, I have no plans of ruining your happiness," Arwen spoke softly, her composure not at all faltering. "I didn't plan to return, nor do I have any desire to take back what I have already given up. So, rest assured," she paused briefly, only to continue again, "As long as Mrs. Quinn is serious about making you the next heiress of the family, by the end of the night, you will be the heiress of the Quinn family."

Emily paused at her words. Furrowing her brows, she almost asked with a scoff. "Wait, do you think this is all just for a show?" She pointed around the hall and almost chuckled as if she found the idea hilarious. "That Mom has orchestrated all this just to make you come back?"

Arwen didn't respond. She didn't mean it like that. She just meant to assure Emily that all the command lies in the hands of Catrin. So as long as Catrin has decided to make Emily the heiress, she would become the heiress.

"Arwen, wake up!" Emily snapped her fingers in front of Arwen's face, drawing the attention of nearly everyone around. "You no longer matter so much. Especially to Mom. She has long given you up. She has adopted me, and now if she truly considers someone as her daughter, then it's me. Only me. Have you not seen how she treats me? It's been all over the internet."

Her voice didn't remain soft —it rose enough for everyone to hear.

And soon, whispers filled the crowd. Hearing their exchange, the guests present there started speculating.

Some said Arwen was regretting her choices, while others believed her presence here was just to reclaim her position.

"I have seen it online. Mrs. Quinn truly adores her new daughter. She had personally taken her out to shop and introduced her to people."

"I feel bad for the former daughter. Her one decision cost her both her family and her inheritance. How would she be treated in her new family if they knew her parents had completely cast her out?"

People were quick to judge, and hearing them talk like that, Emily was finally feeling satisfied.

However, Arwen still stood confidently, that same elegant smile gracing her lips. People might not know the reality, but she did.

It was not her family that cast her out —it was she who left them, decisively.

And her husband … he didn't care even if her parents disowned her. To make her feel secure, he had named almost the entire Cralens in her name. Even if anyone tried to look down on her, knowing this, they wouldn't dare.

"Arwen, accept it —you have lost to me," Emily smirked, crossing her arms.

Arwen looked at her for a moment before pulling her lips into a smile full of challenge. "Do you really want me to accept it?" she asked, her tone laced with a dare that made Emily hesitate ever so slightly. "But how can I accept it without proving you the otherwise? I mean, since you dare to make me accept defeat, I should at least try to show you whether I have truly lost or not?"

Emily was caught off guard. She didn't understand what Arwen meant, but her words wavered her confidence. "What do you mean?"

Arwen shrugged casually. "Nothing you aren't confident about. I am just asking if you want me to take a chance to prove you wrong?"

Emily didn't dare, but with so many people watching, she had no choice. "H-Heh! You think you stand a chance?"

"How would I know without trying?" Arwen replied smoothly.

Emily's fingers clenched, and she swallowed. "A-Arwen, I think instead of embarrassing yourself, you should leave."

"Why?" Arwen's smile only deepened. "Are you suddenly feeling unconfident?"

"You —"

Before Emily could speak, Catrin's voice cut in, making everyone turn toward her.

"What's happening here?"