Chapter 34
Chapter 34:
Their quiet exchange came to an abrupt end when a breathless student burst into the music room, invitation in hand. “Rylie! Mr. Dury sent this for you p>
The moment he noticed Marcus standing there, something about Marcus’s commanding presence erased any hint of ridicule from his face. He offered the envelope to Rylie, then added, “There’s a banquet at the Kirk residence tomorrow. They want you there to settle the issue with Mr. Dury — about your engagement. Attendance is required p>
Rylie’s brow furrowed. As if dealing with Stacey wasn’t exhausting enough, now Fred had to step in as well. The two of them were making it painfully obvious that they wanted her out of the picture.
She let a sarcastic smile play on her lips and replied, “Message received.” Not daring to linger beneath Marcus’s intense gaze, the messenger quickly bowed his head and made a hasty exit.
A note of concern crept into Marcus’s voice. “You’re still studying, but they expect you to marry p>
Shouldering her bag, Rylie started for the door, pausing only long enough to glance over her shoulder. “No wedding — just a cancellation p>
The surprise on Marcus’s face was unmistakable. “Wait, so the Dury family is calling off the engagement? Anyone can see you’re worth more than that,” he retorted, his tone shifting from gentle to indignant.
There was something strangely comforting about a stranger speaking up on her behalf. Rylie’s smile, though faint, was tinged with irony. “There’s not much to it. I’m just the unwanted stand-in, so none of this should shock you. Anyway, if you want some time with the piano, go ahead. I have to be somewhere.” She didn’t offer any further explanation. With that, Rylie slipped past Marcus and disappeared down the staircase, leaving her parting words echoing behind her.
Out of the blue, Kendrick’s call came through, brimming with enthusiasm. “Marcus, the search is over — we’ve located your sister! Wrap up your concert and head straight to Crolens p>
A jolt of anxious hope surged in Marcus. “Is her name Rylie Kirk? She’s enrolled at the medical university, isn’t she p>
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“That’s right,” Kendrick admitted, only to catch himself. “Wait, you already tracked her down? Why would you go ahead and find her before I’d even arranged a proper welcome p>
For an Owen, bringing a lost family member home was an occasion for the grandest reception. Marcus understood this tradition perfectly and quickly covered his tracks. “Until p>
“You told me, I wasn’t sure if she is an Owen, so I didn’t tell her anything about this. I did learn, though, that she’s somehow tied to the Dury family through an engagement p>
Kendrick’s initial joy turned to disbelief, his voice rising. “You’re telling me she is engaged to that fool from the Dury family p>
Right then, Felix happened to be resting in his hospital bed as Kendrick spoke. Hearing the commotion, Felix chimed in, “From what I know, there’s been a strong alliance between the Kirk and Dury families. When I heard about my sister’s engagement, I gave the Dury family hundreds of millions to support their Crolens project as a wedding gift p>