CEO Plus-Size Ex-Wife

Chapter 70: Who Is Lucas?

A collective gasp echoed through the church as the door swung open, revealing none other than Valentine Anderson, the man who was presumed dead mere days ago, a victim of a catastrophic bomb blast that had claimed the lives of all present. Andrea, her face hidden beneath a veil, couldn't hold back the tears. Despite her hope that Valentine was still alive, reason had convinced her of the grim reality. Murmurs spread among the guests as Valentine walked down the aisle. Some were tempted to reach out and touch him, half-expecting him to be a specter; after all, surviving such an event was beyond the realm of rational explanation. Mrs. Anderson rose to her feet, her eyes shining with unspoken emotions as she beheld Valentine. But then, with a heavy sigh, she lowered herself back into her seat, her gaze averted. Benita watched Valentine approach and frowned. Agatha, catching Tony's eye, let out a sigh of relief when Tony gave a reassuring shake of his head. Finally standing before Andrea, Valentine's smile was tender. He lifted her veil to reveal her tear-streaked face. He gently dabbed at her cheeks with his handkerchief, teasing, "Why are you crying? Look at your face; you've ruined it. Sigh! I was expecting to marry the most beautiful woman in the world." With a wistful sigh, Valentine glanced heavenward as though mourning a profound loss. A smile broke through Andrea's tears, and her eyes sparkled with joy as she met his gaze. "I knew you would never leave me," she said, wrapping her arms around him. The priest cleared his throat pointedly, reminding them of the ceremony at hand. "Sorry, she's missed me so much that she can't help herself," Valentine quipped, addressing the assembly. "You'd better get used to seeing us like this, displaying our affection for all to see because that's going to be a regular occurrence." The mood in the church lightened as laughter rippled through the crowd. The priest quickly moved on to the exchange of vows. "And now, you may kiss the bride," he announced. Valentine gazed at Andrea's lips, about to lean in for the kiss when Andrea, unable to wait, leaned in to capture his lips in a kiss that took him by surprise. The congregation rose to their feet, applauding, while Mrs. Anderson also stood. Yet despite her clapping, the joy that should have lit her face was absent. As the newlyweds made their way down the aisle, a jubilant cry of "Daddy!" rang out. Valentine scooped up his son Pete, planting an affectionate kiss on the boy's cheek. "Good boy," Valentine beamed, holding his son close. After Andrea and Valentine Anderson departed the church, Mrs. Anderson lifted herself from the pew and meandered slowly towards the exit, her demeanor heavy with sorrow. Benita immediately tailed her. Once inside the car, Mrs. Anderson settled into the seat, enveloped in silence. "Mom, that was Lucas," Benita managed to say, her voice quavering and eyes glistening with tears. "I know," Mrs. Anderson exhaled heavily, the weight of the revelation – that Valentine Anderson's identical twin, Lucas, had stepped in to marry Andrea – pressing down on her. "What should we do now?" inquired Benita, her voice laced with concern. "I need to speak with Lucas. I need to understand why he did this," Mrs. Anderson murmured, her head bowed in contemplation. After a brief pause, she spoke again, "Let's return home. We need to find a respectful place for Val's ashes." With Benita's tears silently tracing her cheeks, the car stirred to life and pulled away from the church, deliberately bypassing the reception where guests were gathering to celebrate. Tony's brows were knotted in deep thought as he observed the peculiar behavior of Mrs. Anderson and Benita. Something about their demeanor just didn't sit right with him, their expressions not quite matching the situation at hand. Agatha, sensing a similar unease, spoke up. "Tony, do you also feel that Mrs. Anderson and Benita aren't exactly thrilled about Valentine's return?" Without hesitation, Tony confirmed, "They're not happy." He'd been watching them closely and their reactions in the church hall earlier; they certainly didn't resemble those of family members who had just been reunited with a loved one long thought dead. "I don't know," Tony confessed, his voice low and laden with doubt. "I have this nagging feeling that he might not actually be Valentine Anderson." Agatha was perplexed. "I can't tell the difference," she admitted, shaking her head. Despite sensing something was off from Mrs. Anderson and Benita's reactions, the man who had appeared at the church was the spitting image of the Valentine Anderson she remembered. His face, his build—no surgical procedure could replicate that so precisely. "I need to have a word with both of them," Tony decided, feeling an urge to confront Mrs. Anderson and Benita. He didn't want to see Andrea deceived. "Don't go," Agatha interjected, stopping him in his tracks. Tony turned to her with a puzzled expression, demanding an explanation. "Why are you stopping me from confronting them?" "And what if he's not Valentine?" Agatha countered with her own questions. "What then? Will you tell Andrea he's an impostor?" Tony was suddenly at a loss for words. Even if he did uncover the truth, the thought of shattering Andrea's newfound happiness was unbearable. He preferred to see her content rather than lost in grief, especially with the organization lurking in the shadows. "You're right, Agatha," Tony finally conceded. "Whether he's the real Valentine Anderson or not doesn't matter as long as Andrea is happy. But we still need to look into his identity and figure out why he's taking Valentine's place." Agatha nodded, adding her own piece of advice. "And keep a close eye on Benita. I can't shake the feeling she's up to no good. She's trouble." Tony was about to respond when his phone began to ring, cutting off their conversation.