Chapter 385: The Engagement Ceremony

The hall lights dimmed just enough for the stage to glow brighter, bathing Lucas and Reva in a ceremonial gold-white spotlight. Lucas stood tall, shoulders squared, jaw locked in the same fake smile he’d been forcing since he walked in. But his eyes were locked on Xavier.

If eyes could tear flesh, Xavier would’ve been sliced clean open.

Xavier just grinned back at him.

Lucas kept glaring at Xavier from the side like he was trying to burn a hole through him, but he forced himself to keep his expression composed for the guests watching.

The ceremony kept moving, with people lining up to walk on stage and greet the soon-to-be couple, getting their pictures taken with Lucas and Reva while pretending like they weren’t judging everything happening up there.

Reva stayed quiet on her seat, like a goddess forced to pose for mortals, answering only when necessary, keeping her face straight and giving nothing to anybody.

Nothing noteworthy happened.

Until the announcer spoke a name that sent a ripple through the hall.

“And now we have Xavier, the man of the year.”

But when the announcer called Xavier’s name, the hall reacted in a way even the hosts weren’t expecting. Dozens of guests straightened up, some stood from their chairs, and the applause that followed drowned out every clap Lucas had gotten so far.

Phones lifted instantly. A few younger nobles even shouted Xavier’s name in excitement. Lucas’ expression didn’t break but the tension in his jaw came through clearly under all that forced politeness.

Xavier walked up the stairs without rushing, hands in his pockets, not giving a single damn about the formality of the event. The way people reacted to him made him smirk a little as he stepped onto the stage.

Lucas was dying inside.

Xavier reached the top of the stage, extended his hand toward Lucas… and Lucas had no choice but to take it.

It was a firm handshake, but the grin Xavier wore while doing it made Lucas even more suspicious.

The handshake lasted three seconds too long.

“Relax, Lucas,” he murmured. “Everyone slips sometimes. Even you slipped… out of your mother’s womb… right into disappointment.”

Lucas didn’t have time to respond before Xavier leaned in for that polite half-hug every public figure does just for cameras. Lucas didn’t resist, so it looked normal, but Xavier’s mouth was right by his ear.

“You’re really doing all this for a girl who was riding me not that long ago,” Xavier whispered. “Hope that engagement ring fits better than your ego, cuck.”

Lucas’ entire face tensed. A vein twitched hard near his eye. His smile looked like someone stapled it onto his skin. His aura shifted—rage, humiliation, hate—but he swallowed it down.

He had to.

This was his engagement ceremony.

The crowd saw none of it. They only saw Xavier pull him into a friendly half-hug for a photo, patting Lucas’ back like brothers.

Xavier moved on like nothing happened.

He turned to Reva, and she extended her hand with the same composure she’d shown every guest so far, but the moment he touched her, her fingers shifted just slightly, enough to show familiarity.

Xavier kissed her cheek in a slow, harmless way that didn’t break any rule of etiquette, yet her posture softened more for him than anyone else who approached her. Lucas noticed it immediately. His eyes darkened, his knuckles tightened against his side.

Then Xavier leaned a little closer and stole a kiss right at the corner of her lips, subtle enough that the angle hid it from the crowd. Only Reva felt it—and Lucas saw it.

Her eyes followed Xavier as he stepped away from the stage. Lucas kept staring at him the entire time, completely ignoring the guests still clapping and calling the groom’s name.

At first, Lucas had thought that Xavier was simply bluffing and trying to anger him, but after witnessing what had just happened with his own eyes, his mind had stopped working.

Xavier joined Angel in the crowd and the applause lingered for a moment, louder than before. No one else on stage had ever pulled attention like that. Lucas held himself still, but he looked like he needed a wall to punch.

Reva sat back in her chair, calm again, yet her eyes kept drifting in Xavier’s direction.

The ceremony continued on schedule, as more and more guests came in. Yet, this engagement suddenly felt more like a countdown.

The ceremony should’ve gone back to normal after Xavier left the stage, but Lucas kept staring at him like he wanted to rip him apart in front of everyone. Guests began whispering, some glancing between the groom and the guy who accidentally stole the entire event without even trying. Even the vampires—who were usually too dignified to gossip—looked curious. Something had shifted in the room, and everyone felt it.

Then Aldric Blackwood barged through the crowd like he owned the air everyone breathed. A small battalion of guards and tower security followed him, pushing people aside without apology. His expression told everyone that he wasn’t here to congratulate anyone.

His gaze locked on Xavier, and he marched straight toward him with the full confidence of a man who thought nothing could touch him.

“You,” Aldric said the moment he reached Xavier, loud enough to pull everyone’s attention. “Get him out.”

The guards stepped forward instantly, forming a circle around Xavier and Angel. People nearby moved out of the way, confused but eager to watch drama unfold at the Blackwood heir’s engagement.

Xavier raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on?”

“You came in here without an invitation,” Aldric snapped. “And you think you can walk around the Blackwood Tower like you belong here? This is a private ceremony. You’re trespassing. I’ll have you arrested.”

Xavier shrugged slightly, as if Aldric had just complained about the weather. “If I didn’t have an invitation, I wouldn’t be inside the tower. The security here is tighter than your grandson’s personality. Besides, if you want me out, you can just say so. No need to march half the army at me.”

Aldric’s jaw tightened. “Don’t get smart with me, boy. Who invited you? Because I didn’t.”

Xavier didn’t answer immediately. He looked at the guards, then at Aldric, then at Lucas who was smirking, as if it was him who secretly signaled Aldric to get Xavier out. Xavier was about to respond when someone else stepped forward.

“I invited him.”

The entire hall shifted. Heads turned instantly.

Luther stood behind the crowd, hands folded behind his back, eyes cold as a glacier. His presence alone made the Blackwood guards stop moving.

Aldric blinked, caught off guard. “Why would you do that? This is a Blackwood event—”

Luther cut him off without even raising his voice. “It’s my daughter’s engagement ceremony. I don’t need your approval to invite someone. I don’t need your opinion. And I certainly don’t owe you an explanation.”

The tone hit harder than any insult.

A few guests quietly backed away; even the guards stepped back a little.

“And one more thing,” Luther added, his eyes narrowing. “If you have an issue with my guest, take it up with me. Not with him. Not with a pack of guards. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of your own family.”

Aldric had no comeback. His mouth opened but nothing came out.

That’s when Lucian rushed in from the side, probably alerted by the sudden silence. “What happened?” he asked, eyes darting between the guards, Xavier, and Aldric. When no one answered fast enough, he forced a tense smile and addressed the crowd.

“Everyone, please—my apologies. Miscommunication. A simple misunderstanding. Nothing to worry about. Please continue enjoying the ceremony.”

He gestured for the guards to fall back, and they obeyed. Then he took Aldric by the arm and led him away before the old man could make the situation worse.

Xavier and Luther stared at each other across the room. Xavier let out a small laugh under his breath. Luther didn’t react, didn’t nod, didn’t acknowledge anything—he simply turned and walked away, disappearing into the cluster of vampires like he had better things to do.

“Guy says he won’t help me,” Xavier muttered to himself, “but here he is saving my ass anyway. What a liar.”

Angel nudged him lightly with her elbow. “You really piss off powerful people without trying.”

Xavier smirked. “Yeah. It’s a gift.”

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