The comments grew increasingly outrageous as the livestream continued.
"This might be off-topic, but does anyone know if Jj Zhi has a girlfriend? Asking for a friend."
"The Keirs' silence is extremely suspicious! I'll be damned if Tristan Felan turns out to be alive and ends up marrying Yeri Zhi instead of Shin Keir!"
Some people were genuinely worried about Shin and Tristan. Others were more interested in family scandals, corporate power struggles, or finding someone to blame.
Meanwhile, the Zhi family's car was still some distance from the venue, moving at a crawl because of the heavy foot traffic.
Although Yeri had agreed to attend the wedding as requested, she had chosen to wear a simple white formal dress rather than her wedding gown.
Beside her sat Xati, dressed in a white tuxedo and looking completely unbothered by the chaos outside.
That morning, several members of the Keir family had arrived to take him back. However, Xati had immediately called Elder Madam Keir and sweet-talked her until she reluctantly agreed to let him attend the wedding alongside Yeri.
"Why are all these people crowding around here?" Madam Zhi muttered, looking out the window with a tired expression. "I'll never understand why they'd waste their time standing around like this."
Judging by her exhausted appearance, neither she nor Master Zhi had slept well the previous night.
Behind their car was Jj's. This time, however, he wasn't being stalked by Anri Rune but was accompanied by his friends.
Ever since that day at Shin's supposed bachelor party, Tristan had indeed helped him. He had also made sure Anri's father kept a strict eye on his daughter so she wouldn't spend all her time chasing after Jj.
-
At the most luxurious venue known for hosting elite events, particularly weddings, most of the guests had already arrived. Even Elder Madam Keir had once held her own wedding there.
Yet, instead of admiring the venue, the guests were bewildered by the Keirs' decision not to cancel the wedding. Speculations and questions filled the air, but no one seemed to have an answer.
"Are you alright?" Zahn asked, noticing Lianna's silence.
Lianna gazed at the venue's entrance and the altar beyond it.
The entire place looked like something straight out of a fairytale. It was obvious that Shin Keir had spared no expense in making it absolutely perfect, creating a wedding that would be difficult for anyone to surpass.
Fresh, gorgeous flowers adorned nearly every corner, some possibly brought in from different parts of the country or even flown in from abroad. The carpets, furnishings, and every other detail had been carefully arranged to create an atmosphere of pure elegance.
She had also seen the six-foot wedding cake, which reportedly required several top-tier pâtissiers to prepare. And, most importantly, there was Yeri's wedding dress, which was said to cost more than a villa and a car combined.
Lianna could only imagine how much Yeri had been looking forward to this day.
Now, because of what had happened, everything had been thrown into uncertainty. Lianna wanted to help Yeri in some way, even if it was only a little, just as Yeri had once been there for her.
But what could she possibly do?
"I can also give you a wedding more expensive than the previous one."
Lianna snapped out of her thoughts and turned to look at Zahn. "What? Were you daydreaming again?"
"You were looking around so intently, so I thought…"
"You thought I wanted to get married again?" Lianna frowned at him. "Your friends are still missing, and this is what you're thinking about?"
"Lianna, I've already sent people to help with the search, especially the first responders." Zahn looked at her with an aggrieved expression, as though she had seriously misunderstood his intentions.
Lianna ignored him and went to their son, reminding him not to run around.
Meanwhile, from a distance, Zoren and several of Shin's other friends were gathered together, all dressed as groomsmen. They chatted among themselves, though their expressions were far from relaxed.
Their connections to one another extended beyond personal relationships. They were also involved in business together, which made Shin and Tristan's disappearance a matter of considerable concern.
Saeki, who was among the people closest to both Shin and Tristan, looked as though he hadn't slept in days, despite his otherwise immaculate appearance.
Even now, he was busy talking to someone on the phone, seemingly trying to manage one problem after another.
The Keir clan elders were also present. However, no one dared to directly ask whether the wedding would proceed, afraid that a single wrong word might provoke an unpleasant response.
Then, a commotion erupted outside.
The crowd began clamouring, and excited voices quickly spread through the entrance.
"She's here!"
"Yeri actually came!"
"Wait, why is she dressed like that?!"
Despite the distance from the venue itself and the barricades surrounding the entrance, the guests could still hear the commotion outside.
Every guest turned toward the entrance, craning their necks with anticipation, curiosity, and an undeniable appetite for gossip.
"Yeri, over here! Just one question!" a reporter shouted.
"Miss Zhi, do you believe Shin Keir is still alive? Are you still planning to get married today?"
"People are saying you planned this all along and already expected Shin Keir not to show up! What do you have to say about that?"
Yeri remained indifferent as she entered, keeping Xati close to her side so he wouldn't get swallowed up by the crowd.
Although she understood why reporters had been allowed inside the barricaded area, she couldn't help wondering whether the Keirs intended to capture her moment of despair for the public to witness.
Some reporters recognized Xati, and they immediately began shouting more questions.
"What is your relationship with Tristan Felan? For some time now, people have been speculating that the two of you are more than friends! Now, there are even rumours that Tristan was the one who got rid of Shin, only to disappear himself!"
"Xati Keir, look at the camera!"
Xati couldn't be bothered. Instead, he lifted his chin arrogantly, walking proudly beside his Empress Mother.
"Why isn't she wearing her wedding dress?" a guest near the entrance exclaimed when Yeri finally stepped inside.
"So she isn't here for the wedding after all? What exactly is going on?"
Yeri scanned the crowd, not the slightest change appearing on her face.
Of course, she understood what the Keirs were trying to achieve by refusing to cancel the wedding.
They simply didn't want to be seen as the villains.
By leaving the wedding arrangements untouched and allowing the guests to gather as planned, they could shift the burden onto her. If she appeared and the wedding did not proceed, the public could interpret her presence however they pleased.
If she refused to come, they could accuse her of abandoning Shin before his fate had even been confirmed.
They could present themselves as a family that had shown her great consideration and made every possible concession, all while expecting her to be grateful enough to voluntarily return everything Shin had given her, particularly her three percent stake in KGG and perhaps even the priceless pink diamond engagement ring.
Either way, the Keirs could preserve their own reputation while leaving her to face the scrutiny.
Unfortunately for them, Yeri had never been particularly interested in playing the role others had chosen for her.
Madam Zhi also glanced around and recognized several familiar faces among the elite guests.
These were the very people who had once mocked her for marrying a widower with two children. They had even ridiculed her infertility, as though it were something shameful.
Yet when Yeri, whom they had assumed would only become a burden to her family, managed to win Shin Keir's heart, their attitudes had changed overnight. Suddenly, they couldn't wait to become her friends, praising her foresight and good fortune for becoming Shin Keir's future mother-in-law.
Now that the possibility of Yeri marrying Shin had become uncertain, they had reverted to their old attitudes, distancing themselves from the Zhis.
For all Madam Zhi knew, some of them had come here today simply to gloat.
When the Keir clan members spotted Yeri, their expressions turned grim. Some looked openly displeased.
They were accustomed to people lowering their heads before them, yet Yeri had arrived without following the script they had prepared.
Was she rebelling against them?
Scattered murmurs spread through the venue as every eye turned toward her.
Saeki hurriedly strode over to greet her.
"Sis-in-law, how have you been? Anyway, don't worry about the media. I've already taken care of things, and legal notices have been issued over the malicious slander."
Yeri nodded. "Thank you."
"Are you going to change?" he asked in a lowered voice.
Yeri paused before answering. "Maybe... but there's something I need to say first."
Saeki "..."
As Yeri walked toward the altar, she spotted the lawyers who had visited her the previous day, along with the clan elders she never met until now.
Without waiting for anyone's permission, she picked up the microphone.
She began by casually thanking everyone for attending, then spoke about the people who had treated her with kindness despite her family's third-tier status.
She mentioned how Master Keir, Shin's father, had welcomed her and made her feel accepted. She also expressed her gratitude toward Shin's friends, who had never looked down on her because of her family background.
Even the people who worked closely with Shin had made her feel welcome, including Butler Hong and Butler Steve, whose friendliness had left a lasting impression on her.
No one knew what she intended to say next, but the Keir clan elders were beginning to sense that her speech might not go according to their expectations.
They quickly gestured for someone to interrupt her.
"Miss Zhi, the elders find this matter unpleasant. This is a wedding, yet you're making it sound like a funeral," the man said in a low voice before snatching the microphone from her hand.
"How dare you speak to her like that? Give it back!" Xati hollered.
Another person immediately approached, seemingly intending to carry Xati away, but Saeki stepped forward and blocked his path.
"What are you doing? This is her wedding! Why can't she say whatever she wants?"
Saeki's parents, who were also present, looked uneasy. Natalia gestured for him not to get involved in the Keir clan's affairs, but failed to understand her warning.
"He's right. This is her day. Let her speak," Zahn chimed in.
He then glanced at Lianna, looking as though he were waiting for her to give him a thumbs-up for his intervention.