Chapter 980
Saskia tore open the wedding invitation, her eyes immediately drawn to the smiling face of Jonathan in the photo. The sight of his grin turned her face an ashen shade of green. Her stomach churned violently, and she found herself hunched over the edge of the bed, retching uncontrollably.
After the wave of nausea passed, Saskia crumpled the invitation and clenched her fists in fury.
...
Brittany also received Ophelia's wedding invite.
Upon the announcement, the Joyner Group's stock soared.
Sitting down with Ophelia over coffee, Brittany said, "You and Jonathan are a match made in heaven."
Aside from being a bit of a lovesick puppy, Jonathan was flawless.
Now, with his heart set on Ophelia, it seemed like a match destined for happiness.
Ophelia rubbed her temples. "Jonathan can be a handful."
He wanted to be with her constantly and was dead set on starting a family. It was more than Ophelia felt she could handle.
"He and Saskia's thing..."
"Mrs. Metzger didn't say a word; as if it never happened," Ophelia interjected, refusing to meddle. "I warned him, but he's chosen to marry. He's got to own up to it."
Brittany offered her sincere congratulations.
Ophelia's last marriage had been a grand spectacle that ended in disaster. This time, she learned her lesson and only invited close friends, keeping the media at bay. She wasn't about to let history repeat itself.
As her bestie, Brittany had been caught up in the whirlwind of preparations.
With Yuri's divorce, the socialites were circling, eager to snag his affections. Some even asked Dylan to play matchmaker.
Dylan, still smarting from being snubbed by Yuri, played a prank by parading a series of unsuitable candidates before him, just to rile him up.
Yuri, aware of Dylan's intentions, simply turned a deaf ear.
Meanwhile, Julie Russell-Dustin's ashes had been transported from Imperial City, and Yuri reached out to Brittany at the first opportunity. He had already arranged for Julie to be interred in the Lynette Family Cemetery-prime real estate.
Right next to her would be his own future resting place.
Brittany visited the cemetery and set the date for the interment.
Yuri, clutching a small urn, had been silent the whole time.
On the drive home, he caressed the urn's patterns, seemingly resolute.
"I'm planning to marry your mom, posthumously."
Brittany was startled. "Marry?"
All of Julie's identification had been canceled; how could they possibly register?
"I have my ways," Yuri insisted.
Brittany understood that money could pull strings, and she could see Yuri was trying to right a wrong.
"Your mom would have wanted to marry me."
Yuri gazed towards the cemetery. "The wedding will be just for us. Once everything's over, I'll be laid to rest beside her."
Brittany's heart clenched. "Dad, you're in great health. Don't talk like that."
Yuri smiled faintly. "Don't worry, I wouldn't leave you or Daniel. I'll take care of myself."
But he was not afraid of death; in some ways, he even looked forward to it.
Back at the Lynette estate, Yuri, with documents in hand, made his way to the registry office. He had greased the wheels in advance.
The process was smooth, and in less than an hour, the marriage certificate for him and Julie was issued.
That same afternoon, Yuri boarded a plane to Imperial City.
Brittany learned of his departure while he was mid-flight.
"Miss, don't worry. Mr. Lynette has gone to fulfill a promise to Madam."
Brittany texted Yuri, wishing him happiness in his new marriage.