Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 932

Barclay was trying his charm on a young shop assistant nearby when he suddenly glanced over.

Tiana's gaze fell on the one wedding dress left in the boutique. It was the simplest design in the shop, modest and slightly outdated, with minimal adornments, signaling it was out of fashion.

At that moment, Endora emerged from the fitting room, radiating pride despite her still-healing wrist injury, which did nothing to dampen her spirits.

She sashayed over to Parker, her eyes gleaming with triumph as she glanced at Tiana, "Parker, you're spoiling me rotten! Letting me choose from these high-end dresses, and not leaving even one for your cousin? She's supposed to marry Barclay too, oh, except for this one off-the-rack piece you left, huh? It's a bit plain, but I guess it suits the cousin just fine. Don't you think?"

She snuggled up to Parker, her voice teasing, loud enough for everyone in the shop to hear.

Tiana forced back the paleness on her face, leaving only a boundless chill.

He humiliated her, allowing Endora to mock her in turn.

This was his cruel joke, his revenge.

Why bring Endora to choose wedding dresses in the same shop as her? Why make things difficult for her?

Tiana stood there, like a frozen puppet, silent.

This was not just a humiliation for her.

Barclay, looking at Parker's disdainful face, felt a surge of anger.

"Parker, what are you doing? My wife needs to choose a wedding dress too!" Barclay said with a forced smile, "You've taken all the nice dresses for Endora, that doesn't seem right!" The word 'wife' hit a nerve in Parker.

He had seen Barclay being overly affectionate with Tiana earlier, calling her 'darling' and 'sweetheart', and she was accepting his advances, looking like a cheap woman in love! Parker stood up, hands in his trouser pockets, towering over Barclay, making him seem smaller and weaker by comparison.

With a smirk, Parker looked down on Barclay, "Brother, buying a wedding dress is all about what you can afford. I've taken all the designs for Endora because they look good on her. As for some women, even in the most expensive dresses, they'll just look tacky, never turning into a true beauty!

If you're not happy, feel free to look elsewhere.

Isn't there still one left?"

His taunting laugh filled Tiana's vision.

"Yeah, Barclay, Parker did leave that one, said it's a bit cheap but fits a certain someone, haha." Endora was overjoyed, clinging to Parker's arm.

Parker personally insulting Tiana was unexpected.

It seemed he had grown to despise Tiana, looking down on her completely.

Endora felt relieved and triumphant, dreaming of her wedding day when she would dazzle as the bride of a prominent family, making Tiana, a single mother, seem insignificant in comparison.

"Parker, thanks for your love! I'm spoilt for choice with these dresses." Endora cooed.

Parker pulled away, indifferent, "Then take them all home, take your time choosing."

He walked past Tiana, a cold breeze following him as he left the shop.

"I love you, Parker! Wait for me, I still need to pick a ring!"

Endora shot Tiana a smug look and hurried after Parker.

The shop staff watched the scene unfold.

Barclay felt as if Parker had slapped him across the face. He wanted to retaliate, but wary of Parker's menacing look, he feared upsetting him before the wedding and jeopardizing his share in the family business. He bit his tongue, plotting revenge once Endora was married into their family.

Barclay's face reddened with rage, turning to Tiana with contempt, "It's your fault for being so lowly that Parker can walk all over us!"

Tiana sneered back, "Or maybe it's because you're all talk and no action, deserving of this treatment?"

"Shut up!" Barclay pushed her, "I won't spend a dime on you. That old-fashioned dress suits you just fine!"

That dress, used by Parker to humiliate her...

Tiana looked at it again, realizing its elegance and dignity, despite being used as a tool for mockery.

"I don't care about the wedding. As long as you, Mr. Doonan, don't feel embarrassed, I'll wear whatever," she said mockingly.

"Then, it's settled! Shop assistant, wrap it up!" Barclay gestured, eager to leave.

After the dress was packed, the assistant offered to deliver it and mentioned their exclusive ring collection.

Tiana simply looked at Barclay.

Hearing "exclusive" and worried about the cost, Barclay quickly left, telling Tiana, "Hurry up, we're going to get the marriage license."

They reached the registry office just after 4 PM, with the office still open for business.

The staff watched as the couple walked in, the man sporting a look of impatience while the woman's pretty face was etched with misery. This hardly seemed like a duo thrilled to be tying the knot, more like adversaries forced into an uneasy truce. As they neared the end of the process, it was time to sign the papers.

The clerk took another look at Tiana, whose spirit seemed to have vacated her body, and couldn't help but ask, "Ms. Melford, are you willingly marrying Mr. Barclay here? Are you both sure about this decision?"

Tiana, her hand trembling with the pen, let a tear fall onto the stark white paper, right next to where she was about to sign her name beside Barclay's.

This marriage was a sham, with the looming threat that Barclay might never agree to a divorce, effectively trapping her.

Her life, she thought, was about to be ruined right here.

Noticing her hesitation, Barclay quickly leaned over, pressing her hand down to sign firmly, "Of course my wife is doing this willingly! She's just a little jittery about getting married. Look, all done now!" Tiana glared at him coldly in response.

Barclay, dragging her along, whispered angrily, "Don't you dare make a scene."

With the marriage certificate in hand, Barclay left the office with a sense of victory, pulling Tiana along.

Outside, the sky had turned ominously darker as evening approached. From a distance, a sleek Rolls-Royce parked, with a man inside whose eyes were dark and brooding, watching Barclay's BMW drive away. His gaze was a swirling vortex of dark intentions.

"Master Parker?" one of his associates called out.

Parker stepped out of the car, dressed in a sharp black suit, his presence commanding and intense as he made his way towards the registry office.

His associate caught up, panting, "Master Parker! What... what are you planning to do?"

Reaching the front desk, Parker stood tall and imposing, his voice low and resolute, "Remove Tiana's name from Mr. Barclay's marriage certificate. Void the registration, but let no one know."

"Parker?" the clerk recognized him instantly. In Banyan City, who didn't know the heir to the Doonan family?

They were stunned.