My Fiancé's Scandals Never End, So I Married His Uncle Instead

Silas Norwood gently helped Celia Sterling into the wedding car, then got in after her.

In honor of the new bride, not only had the bed and furniture at Jade Orchid Manor been replaced, but even the wedding car was brand new. The stunning Orchid Grace embodied a classic, opulent romance as it led the wedding procession in an orderly drive toward the harbor.

Inside the car, Silas Norwood gently loosened the tight collar of Celia Sterling’s gown. ’Is it just my imagination?’ he wondered. ’She seems to have gotten much bigger... This part of the gown wasn’t this tight the last time she tried it on...’

Celia Sterling had no idea that beneath Silas Norwood’s dignified exterior, his mind was wandering. She suddenly laughed and looked at him teasingly. "Still claiming a ’long-held secret crush’? Silas Norwood, how exactly did you have a secret crush on me? My brother is sharp. You can’t fool him."

Silas Norwood gave a soft "mhm."

It was impossible to tell if the sound was an admission of his secret crush, or an agreement about Kian Sterling being a sharp man.

In a side hall of Sterling Villa.

Franklin Sterling watched the perfectly harmonious wedding scene with a strange taste in his mouth.

There was his ex-wife, June Coleman, for whom he’d felt little affection. Back in the day, all she knew was how to bleed him dry. And now, she was living this well, with a grown daughter by another man, playing the part of a doting mother. She was surrounded by a group of female relatives, all fussing over Celia Sterling with warm concerns and gentle advice.

And then there was his rebellious son, who had just finished threatening him. The moment he turned around, he was doting on that daughter—whom Franklin suspected wasn’t even his own flesh and blood—to the very core. He’d carried her all the way out on his back, his gaze impossibly tender. What happened to the vicious, demonic brute who had stood before him just moments ago?

And of course, there was the elegant and aloof head of The Norwood Family, Silas Norwood.

Franklin Sterling had a vivid memory of this man. Years ago, when Franklin was still in power, he had occasional dealings with Old Master Norwood of The Norwood Family. Every time they met, Old Master Norwood would bring along his youngest son, in whom he had placed such high hopes. That young man, only two years older than Franklin’s own son, appeared aloof and uninterested in worldly competition. Yet, whenever Old Master Norwood deliberately tested him with a project, he would put forth ruthless and decisive plans.

He had never expected that after so many years, this man would become the Sterling Family’s son-in-law.

Although he was overseas, he had never stopped paying close attention to Metropia. He was well aware of the two titans of Metropia’s financial world: one was his own rebellious son, and the other was Silas Norwood of The Norwood Family. Now, this marriage had created a powerful alliance between the two men. Just the thought of it was enough for him to know that he would never have a chance to make a comeback in this lifetime...

A vicious thought suddenly took root in his heart, and he descended into a frenzy.

He took out his phone and dialed a number. "Five hundred thousand. Forge a report for me. I want it in my hands in one hour."

There was a moment of silence on the other end. "It’s been a long time, Mr. Sterling. I washed my hands of this business years ago. I’m retired."

"One million," Franklin Sterling said, decisively upping the price.

The breathing on the other end grew heavier. "This will be the last time I work with you, Mr. Sterling."

After hanging up, Franklin Sterling dialed another number. One of his mistresses overseas picked up. "Darling, when are you coming back?"

"Leave where you are immediately. Find a place to hide, and be quick about it," Franklin Sterling said, his voice cold. "And take that good-for-nothing son of yours with you."

"If you want to abandon me and our son, just say so! Why should we be the only ones to leave? What about those other bitches and their bastard children?"

"Leave. All of you must leave." A look of disgust and cold indifference flashed in Franklin Sterling’s eyes. "Those who refuse can just wait to die."

"Wh-what do you mean?"

Franklin Sterling didn’t answer, simply hanging up the phone.

He knew that if he started a public fight with his rebellious son, he would surely come to a bad end. But after cowering abroad for so many years, the resentment in his heart had reached its peak. Reason be damned, he’d rather drag his son down to hell with him than continue living like a dog, waiting for the meager dividends Kian occasionally threw his way to survive.

「On the cruise ship.」

A grand wedding ceremony unfolded, witnessed by countless prominent families.

Silas Norwood gently slid the wedding ring onto Celia Sterling’s finger, his tone light and teasing. "You’ll be wearing this for a lifetime. Remember that, won’t you, my wife?"

The dazzling wedding rings were the same pair from Silas Norwood’s official social media announcement. He had wanted to bring them out when they first registered their marriage but had forced himself to wait until now, finally giving the union a perfect, ceremonial touch.

Celia Sterling’s eyes fell on the matching wedding band on his ring finger. Besides his thumb ring, it was his only accessory, so dazzling it almost outshone the ring that symbolized his power and status.

A smile touched Celia Sterling’s almond-shaped eyes as she said softly, "You’re not allowed to take yours off, either."

"Mhm, I won’t," Silas Norwood promised, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Go get changed, then come with me to greet the guests."

Celia Sterling left with several female assistants.

Silas Norwood’s gaze fell upon his groomsmen, but he said nothing.

The Crown Prince of the Sinclair Family understood instantly. "Don’t worry, Chairman Norwood. Leave the drinking to us."

Silas Norwood nodded, his gaze shifting to Kian Sterling, who was sitting elsewhere with a glass of red wine. The spot he’d chosen was so dimly lit that his expression was unreadable, but the bottle of red wine on the table was already half-empty.

"Kade, care to join us?" Silas Norwood invited.

Kian Sterling didn’t answer.

However, when Celia Sterling emerged in a luxurious gown for the toasts, he rose naturally and walked over. He didn’t stand by Celia’s side, but instead positioned himself next to Silas Norwood, casually taking a glass of wine from a nearby attendant’s tray.

"Brother, want to come over to my side?" Celia Sterling asked, blinking at him.

"That would be upstaging the groom, which is against etiquette," Kian Sterling said, glancing at her. "Leave the drinking to your bridesmaids. You shouldn’t have too much."

Silas Norwood wrapped an arm intimately around Celia Sterling’s waist. "Don’t worry, Kade. The drink I had prepared for her is non-alcoholic."

The group began making their toasts, starting with the elders’ tables for both families, followed by the heads of other prominent families, high-ranking government officials, and so on...

They continued on their way, eventually stopping before a few tables of guests who seemed to be seated without any particular order.

Slightly flushed from the alcohol, the groomsmen exchanged a knowing glance.

’So these were the "mixed bag" tables the Crown Prince of the Marsh Family had mentioned.’

One of the tables even had a few seats deliberately left open. According to the seating chart, with the exception of the two "outsiders"—the Crown Princes of the Sinclair and Marsh Families—the seats for the other groomsmen were right here.

For those who had a rough idea of the inside story, the wine in their hands suddenly lost its appeal.

Thankfully, Silas Norwood said nothing. Flanked by Kian Sterling, he simply went through the motions and raised his glass. But his light-gold eyes, deep and dark, swept over the faces at each of these tables. His gaze was emotionless, yet it sent an inexplicable chill down everyone’s spines.

Celia Sterling leaned close to Silas Norwood and whispered, "Why isn’t the seating at these tables arranged like the others?"

Silas Norwood answered nonchalantly, "They’re all hot-blooded young men. Why bother with so many formalities? As long as they have one interest in common, it’s fine."

"What common interest?" Celia asked, her curiosity piqued.

Silas Norwood passed the question to Kian Sterling. "What do you think, Kade?"

"Perhaps they’ve all approached me in private to discuss important life matters," Kian Sterling said, lowering his gaze without elaborating on the specifics of those ’matters.’

Celia didn’t get it, but everyone at those tables understood perfectly. Like a flock of startled quails, they all bowed their heads in an instant, drinking continuously to hide their embarrassment. They no longer dared to even glance at the woman they had all once pestered Kian Sterling for permission to court, terrified that Silas Norwood might get the wrong idea.