Dark Revenge Of An Unwanted Wife The Twins Are Not Yours novel Chapter 424

Chapter 424: Party Time III

Old Mr. Thorne adjusted the microphone with steady hands, though his voice, when it filled the hall, carried the weight of decades of grief and longing.

"Many of you know me as a businessman. A man of industry, of empire. But tonight, I stand before you not merely as Edward Thorne the magnate, but as Edward Thorne the father... and now, the grandfather."

The room hushed, leaning into his words. His eyes, pale yet burning with unshed emotion, scanned the crowd before softening on Athena.

"I once had a daughter," he began, his tone trembling, "a daughter who was my pride, my joy, my only child. She chose her own path, married the man she loved, and for a time, I believed life could be whole. But fate can be cruel. I lost her, and with her, the hope of an heir. For years, my wife and I lived in silence... just the two of us, growing older, carrying sorrow like a stone in our chests."

He paused, swallowing hard. The weight of memory bent his shoulders for a moment before he straightened, his voice lifting with fresh strength.

"Then, one day, thank God, I discovered I had a granddaughter. Not just any granddaughter, but one who had made a name for herself long before I knew her blood was mine. The infamous doctor Athena Caddels. A woman of courage. Of resilience. Of brilliance."

A murmur rippled through the hall, admiration laced with awe.

Mr. Thorne raised his glass high. "Tonight, I’m grateful for restoring what was lost. I thank the date etched in history for bringing her back into my life. And I thank Athena herself, for accepting me, for accepting this family despite all the storms of fate. Ladies and gentlemen, my granddaughter—Athena Cecilia Caddels Thorne. From this day forward, she shall stand as heir to the Thorne Empire."

The declaration set the hall ablaze with murmurs, gasps, even protests from the extended family seated near the front. Still, Mr. Thorne’s voice cut through their noise like steel. "It is decided."

Antonio’s fingers tightened gently around Athena’s as Mr. Thorne gestured for her to come forward at that moment.

He bent his head, whispering, "Ready?"

She nodded faintly, wishing her mother was alive to see this; the mother she knew. Together they began moving toward the stage. At the bottom of the stairs, Antonio stopped. He released her hand with deliberate reverence, offering her a small, proud smile. "This part is yours alone,"

The applause swelled, thundering as Athena ascended the steps, thundering the weak protests and glares of Cedric and his family. Lights cascaded over her gown, making the sequins along her backless dress glitter like stars. The sound of clapping, cheering, and champagne glasses clinking rose around her until it was almost overwhelming.

On the stage, Mr. Thorne lifted his glass again, this time directly toward her. His voice resonated, full of warmth and triumph. "To Athena!"

"To Athena!" the crowd echoed in unison.

She raised her own glass, the delicate stem cool against her fingers. Just as she tilted it toward her lips, a sharp, acrid scent invaded her senses—bitter, metallic, unmistakable. Her smile faltered, her nose wrinkling in instinctive revulsion.

Her frown was immediate and sharp enough to halt the chatter around her. The hall hushed.

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