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

In her life, Arwen had never made any decision on impulse.

Not when she chose to sever ties with her family.

And not even today, when she signed the papers that sealed it —final and irrevocable.

Catrin almost staggered at her words. Her knees buckled, forcing her to clutch the edge of the table for balance.

Both Lia and Emily lunged forward to steady her, but Catrin's gaze remained locked on Arwen's retreating back.

Her voice trembled, yet every syllable was heavy with disbelief and wounded pride.

"How could you do that, Arwen? We are your parents. I am your mother. How could you bear severing ties with us?"

Arwen slowly turned to look at her. For a brief moment, the air in the room thickened, as if holding its breath. When she finally spoke, her tone was calm —too calm.

"A mother? Really, Mrs. Quinn?" she asked as though she couldn't believe she heard it right. "I think you need to go back and learn how to be a mother. Because mothers don't play games to control their kids like you do." Her eyes flicked to Emily briefly before she continued meaningfully. "They don't try to test their kids' limits and push them just to get their objectives fulfilled."

"They protect, instead —by standing by her child when the world turns against her. You've never been that to me. Not even in the longer time I remember. So, …" she shook her head disdainfully. "You have never been my mother. Not truly. So, don't use that to make me doubt or feel guilty. Because I am not guilty of anything that happened here or between us."

Catrin's lips parted. She wanted to say something, to defend herself, but no words came.

Nor did Arwen wait for it. She tightened her grip on Aiden's hand. "Let's go", she said quietly. And with that, she walked out, the click of her heels echoing through the hall until the doors shut behind her.

After she left, back in the banquet hall, silence reigned. No one moved, as though speaking too soon might shatter the lingering tension in the air.

Only after a long pause did a murmur break the stillness.

"So … this event really was just a facade to bring Arwen back into the family," someone spoke.

It was merely a whisper, but since the room was too silent, that small murmur was loud enough for people to hear.

"If that's true, I actually feel bad for her," another voice chimed in. "How could Mrs. Quinn do that to her own daughter? Why use tricks when they could have just spoken openly?"

"And what's with adopting another girl just to make your real daughter feel replaced? What kind of parenting is that?"

"That's truly absurd. I can't believe I saw it all happen with my eyes. If not, I might not have believed it."

"So what happens now? Is this adopted daughter really going to be the Quinn heiress?"

"I doubt it," someone said firmly. "If this were all a plan, then with Arwen gon, Mrs. Quinn wouldn't actually need to hand over the position. This might have all been for show."

Emily's temper snapped. She spun toward them, her face flushed with anger.

"What are you all mumbling about? What facade? This is real! Are you deaf?" Her voice rose, sharp and defensive. "This isn't some elaborate trick. Mom arranged this party for me —to officially announce me as the new heiress. How dare you question it?"

She tried to make everyone believe her, but the guests only looked back at her with doubt in their eyes.

Unable to endure their stares, Emily turned to Catrin and whispered urgently, "Mom, people are doubting your intentions. Please say something. This isn't merely a plan, right? Please tell them that you are going to make me the heiress and you are very serious about it."

However, Catrin was too lost in her thoughts to hear her. In her mind, she was replaying the evening, wondering where she had gone wrong. This was not how she had envisioned it.

In her plans, Arwen wouldn't have so decisively signed those papers. She would have snapped and shown her regret before returning to the family, admitting her mistakes.

But none of that had happened.

Why?

Emily stood frozen, unsure what to do. This was her day, her evening, her party. She was meant to shine and take the crown of heiress tonight. Then why ... why did it suddenly feel like nothing was happening the way it should?

Could this really have been just a trick Catrin had planned? Was she nothing more than a pawn?

Though the thought gnawed at her, she couldn't bring herself to accept it.

"Mom!" she nearly yelled. "Say something, please!"

But Catrin still didn't speak.

Not knowing who else to turn to, Emily looked toward the man standing close to the centre of the room.

"Wait —yoy are the lawyer, right?"

The man frowned, but nodded.

"Great! Then tell me —did Mom ask you to prepare the papers for my adoption?"

The lawyer's gaze shifted to Catrin. He hesitated, then finally nodded. "Yes, Mrs. Quinn has asked me to prepare both the letter of severance and your adoption papers."

Hope flickered back in Emily's eyes as she turned to look at the guests once again.

"Did you all hear that? She also asked him to prepare the adoption papers! If she wasn't serious about it, why would she do that?"

Right. Nothing about this was a facade —it was all real. Emily chanted the words silently in her heart. But it was hard to tell whether she was trying to convince the guest ... or herself.

Glancing back at the lawyer, she gestured impatiently. "Then why are you waiting? Bring out the papers. It's already late. Let's just finish the procedures before the evening ends."

The lawyer, however, frowned again, his gaze returning to Catrin. "Sorry, but I can't do that unless Mrs. Quinn instructs me to," he said firmly.

"What do you mean?" Emily's voice rose in frustration. She was on the verge of losing the last string of both her patience and her calm.

"I mean," the lawyer replied evenly, "that I work for the Quinns, and you are yet to become one. So, until Mrs. Quinn gives me permission, I cannot hand over or process the adoption papers."

Pointing a threatening finger out, Emily took a step forward towards the lawyer. "You —"

But just then, the door of the banquet hall swung open with a sharp bang, and a rush of icy wind swept inside —cold enough to feel as though it had blown straight from Antarctica.

"Mr. Quinn!"