Marrying my secret admirer after my husband's fake death novel Chapter 120

Chapter 120

The wedding ceremony had just wrapped up, and, according to tradition, it was time for the newlyweds to make the rounds, offering toasts to the

guests.

Edith couldn’t help but glance over in Kearney’s direction.

Justin slipped an arm around her waist, gently steering her forward with a little nudge. “Edith, I need to catch up with some of the Hawksley family relatives for a bit. I probably won’t be able to join you for the toasts. Why don’t you go and chat with my parents for a while?”

A spark of relief lit up in Edith’s eyes–she’d been hoping for a chance to slip away, but hadn’t dared to say so out loud, not wanting to seem impolite.

She took a step forward, hesitated, then pulled back, uncertainty written across her face.

Scanning the bustling ballroom, she saw it was filled almost entirely with Hawksley family members and Justin’s close friends.

She lowered her voice and leaned in, conflicted. “Maybe I should wait for you to finish? We could do the toasts together.”

It was an important part of the reception, after all. Even ordinary families took these traditions seriously–how much more so for a family like the Hawksleys.

Justin read her mind in an instant.

With a faint, tired smile, he played up his exhaustion. “I’m a little worn out, so I’ll skip the toasts.”

Glancing down at the long train of her wedding gown, he added, “Let me have someone help you change into something more comfortable.”

The dress was beautiful, but far too elaborate–she must have been exhausted wearing it all this time.

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Edith was led away to change. She’d assumed Justin had only arranged for the wedding gown, so it was a surprise to discover he’d also set aside a deep red evening dress, perfect for mingling and greeting guests.

Slipping into the dress, Edith felt instantly lighter.

Lifting the hem, she hurried–nearly running–toward Kearney and Jayne.

If it weren’t for the crowd in the banquet hall, Edith would have flung herself straight into Kearney’s arms.

He’d been a guiding presence throughout her life, offering advice and support; she still leaned on him more than she liked to admit.

When Kearney had run into trouble, Edith had spent days in a daze, unable to focus on anything else.

At first, she’d turned to Beckett for help, but his response had been vague

and evasive.

He’d claimed there were only a handful of lawyers in the field who could handle this kind of situation, and that finding the right one was all about connections–not just money.

Back then, Edith had believed Beckett was working hard behind the scenes to build those relationships, so she’d stopped pressing him or adding to his stress.

Looking back, her thoughtfulness felt like a cruel joke.

Beckett had never even tried to help Kearney.

The memory of how much she’d once relied on Beckett stung bitterly.

Seeing Kearney again after so long, all her emotions crashed over her at

once.

She was barely listening as Jayne fretted, “Edith, with all the Hawksley relatives here, you should really be making the rounds, not running off. People will say you’re being rude if you don’t follow tradition.”

But Edith couldn’t care less about propriety at that moment. All she

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wanted was to know when Kearney would have to leave.

“Dad, when are they coming to take you back?”

Kearney pulled out a handkerchief and gently dabbed the tears from the corners of Edith’s eyes. “No tears today, sweetheart–it’s your wedding day.”

After drying her tears, he checked his watch, his face shadowed with sadness. “I’ve got about fifteen minutes left before I have to go.”

Kearney was a dignified man.

He knew he was only here today because someone had pulled a few strings, and he didn’t want to make things any harder for them.

He would leave when the time came, without fuss or sentimentality. It was the only way to repay a favor–by not overstaying it.