"Wow... you have finally decided to bring the greatest embarrassment to the family! This marriage is canceled!" Donald announced in anger. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Zach’s eyes widened in shock, his voice barely above a whisper. "Dad... they’re both married, so I don’t think there should be any problem with them raising their child together."

Tonia’s face turned beet red with rage as she stormed towards Stephan, her words tumbling out in a frantic jumble. "Tell me this isn’t right... that child belongs to Julian, not you!"

Mattie’s eyes welled up with tears as she shook her head, her lips trembling. "Mum, please... let’s not talk about this now."

But Tonia’s anger had reached a boiling point. Her hand flashed out, striking Mattie across the face with a resounding slap. Mattie stumbled backward, her eyes wide with shock, as she fell to the ground.

Tonia’s face twisted in a snarl, "How dare you? How dare you, you ungrateful little brat? Try to tarnish our family’s name after everything I’ve given you?"

Just then, Julian and Astrid walked into the room, their presence gaining attention.

Astrid looked stunning, her off-the-shoulder gown hugging her curves in all the right places. Her hair was sleek and polished, pulled back into a chic updo that showcased her delicate features.

Astrid’s eyes locked onto Mattie’s, a triumphant glint sparkling in their depths. Around her neck, the beautiful necklace glinted in the light, a deliberate provocation to annoy Mattie.

Mattie’s eyes narrowed, her face twisted in rage. "You monster!" she spat, storming towards Astrid. "You’ve deliberately taken him from me, just to embarrass my family like this!"

Astrid’s smile was a work of art, a subtle curve of her lips that conveyed a world of satisfaction. "I have done nothing but take what’s rightfully mine," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness.

Mattie’s face turned purple with rage, her hands clenched into fists. "You’ll pay for this, Astrid," she hissed, her voice venomous. "Mark my words."

Astrid only stared at her, having a wide look, " I’m sorry Hun but I don’t understand what you’re talking about. I had decided to grace the ceremony hoping it goes well and this is what I get?" Astrid let out a feigning innocence, But then Tonia marched toward them both.

She pulled Astrid back making her face her, "You sly witch! You are just like your stupid dead mother! How could.."

Her word was left hanging when Astroe smacked Tonia across her face making everyone’s eyes widen as some even gasp.

"Astrid!" Mattie called, shocked, moving toward her mum, as she checked her face.

"She is older than you!" Mattie added but Astrid wasn’t apologetic at that moment.

"I might take every shit from you when you bully me but don’t you talk about my mother, your elder sister, that way, else I am going to repeat the same action on you in front of everyone standing here." Donald’s eyes widened staring at her.

"Astrid! That is disrespectful!" Miles yelled in shock as he moved close while Julian could only pretend he didn’t see a thing.

"Julian, your girl just slapped my mother and she’s just going to stand there speechless?"

"His girl? Like you’re going to call her his girl?" Mattie asked her heart breaking into pieces.

"This bitch ruined my wedding twice!" she cried out her hand placed on her chest as she couldn’t hold it in.

Mattie’s eyes glowed with anger, her voice trembling. "You’re a bitch! You shouldn’t see a happy life!"

Astrid sighed, her expression contrite, as she moved closer to Mattie. "Mattie, I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have hurt your mother. I was irritated by the heat of the moment, and I lost it when my mum was being insulted. It’s something you would also do if it was you"

Mattie shook her head, her eyes flashing with anger, as she pushed Astrid back. "My mom is right - you’re a sly bitch! You told me this was a surprise, that Stephen and I would get married. But it was all a trick. You’re manipulating Julian, doing things behind his back."

Astrid’s eyes widened in shock, her gaze squinting. "No... no... Mattie, it’s not that way. You can ask Julian. I am only here with him because I told him to come down here."

Mattie’s laughter was bitter. "You expect me to believe that? You’re just trying to cover your tracks. Besides, Julian isn’t a kid that you can control. He had a meeting this morning, and you convinced him to come here, so he wouldn’t humiliate me.. That is just a joke.

Astrid’s smile faltered, and for a moment, Mattie saw a glimmer of guilt in her eyes.

But then, Astrid’s expression hardened, and she smirked. "I’m not going to stand here and be insulted by you, Mattie."

Donald, who had been quiet until now, stepped forward. "Astrid, let’s just calm down and settle this at home," he advised but Tonia was having none of it.

"Settle this? Do you think this can be settled? My daughter is married to that... that... man, and you expect me to just accept it?"

Zach, who had been watching the exchange, finally spoke up. "Enough! The baby is Stephan’s, and Mattie is married to him. That’s not going to change, no matter what any of you say."

With that, Zach turned and walked out of the courtroom, leaving the rest of them staring after him.

Tonia’s face turned red with rage. "Come back here, Zach! You can’t just walk away from this! No matter what, you are the father." But Zach was gone, and Tonia was left seething.

Mattie’s eyes locked onto Astrid’s, her gaze blazing with anger. She took a step forward, her hands trembling. "You’re behind this, aren’t you? You’re the one who’s been manipulating everything."

Astrid’s smile was triumphant, but Mattie didn’t care. She launched herself at Astrid, grabbing her hair roughly.

Astrid screamed, hoping to play the victim, but Mattie wasn’t having it. She pulled Astrid’s hair harder.

"You’re going to pay for this, Astrid," Mattie hissed, her voice echoing through the hall. "You’re going to regret the day you ever crossed me."

"Hey Mattie I am so sorry don’t hurt me!" she cried out, "You bitch! You are still married to Julain and here you are trying to deny the fact that you are not the cause of us not getting married."

Julian quickly grabbed Mattie’s hands, "Stop the craziness Mattie, you never loved me but just wanted me so let her go now" Julian yelled, pulling her backward as Astrid grabbed her head feigning pain even though Mattie had grabbed her never hurt.

Mattie shook her head not believing Astrid, "I didn’t hurt her!" She tried claiming herself but Miles quickly grabbed her hand, stopping her.

"Aww." she muttered and Julian moved to ward her quickly looking worried, "Hey does it hurt?" he asked, and again Mattie’s eye met with Astrid.

"See she is laughing! She hates me!" Julian stared at Astrid and there was no sign of any laugh.

"I am sorry to say this aunt but I think you should take Mattie to the hospital," Julian suggested and all this while Becky stood watching every of Astrid’s actions, she knew this kind of truck.

Elizabeth was her best friend, and just like her Astrid had that same trait, just then again Astrid smiled, her hands aced around her neck and Mattie’s eyes met with her neck.

She stopped struggling with Miles, "That necklace... it was mine... you gave it to her!" she asked Julian and he calmly nodded.

"It’s hers, not yours."Julain cut her off and she glared at him.

"Wow. Did you move on so fast? You made him even say it..." Astrid then placed her index finger on Mattie’s slip now having a small reassuring smile.

Mattie’s eyes widened in shock as Astrid’s words hung in the air. "This necklace originally belonged to me, before you took it. Which means that Julian was mine before he was yours."

Mattie stumbled backward, her eyes fixed on Astrid’s triumphant smile. "You... you’re the owner of the necklace?" she stammered.

Astrid’s smile grew wider, her eyes glinting with amusement. "You must have been a devil since you were a kid. You even know this necklace wasn’t yours."

Astrid’s hands shot out, grasping Mattie’s shoulders and pulling her closer. Mattie tried to push her away, but Astrid’s grip was like a vice.

"I’ve just begun with you, Mattie," Astrid whispered, her breath hot against Mattie’s ear. Her hand moved to Mattie’s hair, patting it gently, but with an undercurrent of menace.

Mattie’s eyes flashed with fear. "Take me off the earth like my mum?" Astrid spat, with Mattie still trying to struggle free.

Astrid’s eyes locked onto Mattie’s, her gaze glinting with malice. "Take Julian away?" she laughed, recalling Mattie’s words.

"How about I make you watch as I make Julian fully mine, and beg for my love? And also make you pay dearly for that word, and all the other shit you’ve done to me."

Mattie’s voice was hoarse with fear. "Astrid!" she cried out, but Astrid’s hand tightened around her hair, threatening to pull it if she moved.

Mattie froze, her eyes fixed on Astrid’s twisted smile. "This is just the iceberg, Mattie. I will make sure you go through as much pain as you put me through."

Astrid snapped her fingers with a sly smirk playing on her face, and immediately, some press rushed into the room, surrounding Mattie and Astrid. Mattie’s eyes darted wildly, searching for an escape, but she was trapped.