A Jackpot Wedding

As James reached us, the room fell silent once again. Everyone's eyes were fixed on him. Their faces were filled with shock and surprise. Belle's mouth hung open in shock. She couldn't help muttering, “Wow! Who is this handsome man?”

Jayden's face had turned pale, his eyes narrowing as he stared at James. I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction as I watched the scene unfold. Belle and Jayden had been so sure that James was ugly and defective, but now they were faced with the reality of his stunning good looks. To me, the only shocking thing was the lack of black spots on his face. But, him looking breathtakingly handsome, I was already aware of it. I had seen this face behind his black spots.

James smiled as he greeted me, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Sorry I'm late," he said, his voice low and smooth. "Traffic was a nightmare."

I smiled back at him while saying, "It's okay, you're here now."

As we stood there, smiling at each other, the room began to erupt into a flurry of activity. People were staring, whispering, and pointing at James. All of them trying to get a glimpse of the man who had just walked into the room.

Belle's face had turned bright red with anger and embarrassment. She had been so sure that James was ugly and defective, but now she was faced with the reality of his stunning good looks. Jayden's face had turned pale with shock and surprise. I was very satisfied looking at my two enemies going green with envy.

As we stood there, surrounded by the stunned and silent crowd, James turned to me and smiled. "Shall we?" he said, offering me his arm.

I smiled back at him, feeling a sense of excitement as I said while taking his arms,"Sure."

Together, we walked into the crowd, our heads held high and our smiles confident. We were the couple everyone envy, and everyone in the room knew it.

Maybe this was the beneficial arrangement James was talking to me. He had been living as a disfigured man before everyone for so long. He might have a reason for that. But, he chose to appear in his original looks just to make me feel proud before my enemies. He made a huge sacrifice for me. My heart filled with gratitude towards him as we sat on our assigned table for bidding. Jayden and Belle's chairs were next to us.

James's eyes scanned the room, taking a glance over the various items placed for bid. There were many luxurious items placed for bid. There were diamond necklaces, rare artwork, and even a vintage car or two. But James's eyes seemed to be fixed on one item in particular, a stunning diamond and sapphire encrusted unisex watch.

Jayden walked up to us, leaned over James's chair and said with a mischievous smile, “Uncle Daniel gave up your mother's watch to charity.”

I saw James’s brows furrowing. I could see the mixture of anger and pain in his eyes. I felt bad for him. I had heard that he was not treated well in his family. The bidding for the watch had already begun, and the price was quickly climbing into the millions. Jayden smiled in a mockery, saying, “No wonder you are now the most handsome man present here, but you are still broke, cousin.”

He shot a glance over me before adding, “ No girl would want to marry a broke man like you. But, don’t worry about your Mom's watch. I’ll win the bid and give it to my fiance. At least, it will return to the family. Whenever you miss your Mom, I’ll let my fiance lend the watch to you for a few minutes,”

Belle looked up at Jayden in admiration as he went back to his seat. Their eyes were fixed on watch with desire and envy. They would go any length to win the bid just to humiliate James. I was feeling uncomfortable seeing James to be humiliated by then but I was helpless.

As the bidding continued to climb, Jayden's face grew more and more agitated. He clearly wanted the watch, but he was hesitant to bid.

Belle, on the other hand, was growing more and more frustrated by the second. She was motivating Jayden to keep placing his bid higher. She wanted that watch at any cost so that she could show me how useless my man was.

Jayden seemed to win the bid with a price of five million dollars. No one was placing a bid higher than that. But, suddenly a voice echoed, loud and deep, shutting everyone’s mouth.

Ten million dollars!

It was James who placed the bid, leaving everyone stunned in the hall as it was the highest bid of the event so far.