CHAPTER 177: EXPLICIT PHOTOS

A deep, composed voice echoed from the sound system. The Ceremony Host behind the microphone remained unseen, but his presence filled the garden with calm authority.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome," he said, his tone warm yet ceremonial.

"Today, we gather not just to witness the marriage ceremony of James Clifford and Jennifer Whitmore, but to celebrate a new journey of their life. On behalf of both the Whitmore and Clifford families, I welcome you all."

The crowd cheered in response to the host’s welcome. On the stage, James and Jennifer were holding hands, smiling cheerfully. Beside them stood their respective family members, each wearing a happy expression, perfectly in place for the occasion.

Among the invited guests, one particular couple stood out... not because they were enjoying the moment, but because they were visibly tense. Grayson Marsh and his wife Florence Mitchell were waiting for the right moment to carry out a mission they had been entrusted with. Every passing second weighed on them like a ticking clock.

The host continued, with the same calm enthusiasm.

"I’m happy to announce that earlier today, both of them were married legally. And now, they will share their happiness of being together with you all."

A fresh round of applause echoed in the hall. Everyone looked pleased, and James gave Jennifer a loving smile, which she returned with elegance.

"Many of you know," the host added, "that our groom and bride have been in love since their school days. That bond hasn’t faded with time... rather, their relationship has become a success story with this union."

There was a soft hum of approval across the hall, with some guests smiling to themselves as they imagined such lasting love in today’s time.

After a slight pause, the host’s voice resumed.

"Now, we’ll take a moment to witness some of the loving memories shared by our bride and groom over the years."

Behind the stage, a large white screen slid down smoothly. On the stage, the couple and their families stepped slightly to the side, allowing everyone an unobstructed view.

Then, slowly, the screen lit up. One by one, photos of James and Jennifer appeared.

It began from their school days... photos taken at class events, school picnics, birthdays, social gatherings. The projection moved forward with time, showing them holidaying in different countries, dining together, laughing with friends, and exchanging gifts. These were photos carefully curated to present a timeline of shared love.

What most of the guests didn’t know was that during their school years, James had been in a relationship with Eleanor. But so many years had passed, and Eleanor had vanished from the public eye so long ago, that only a handful of people remembered the past. And those who did had no intention of bringing it up on this particular day. As far as everyone was concerned, Eleanor was gone from this world.

All around the grand hall, guests watched the screen and sighed in admiration.

"Look at how long they’ve been together," one guest murmured to her friend. "You hardly see relationships last like that anymore. Even marriages don’t survive."

"This is what real love looks like," another commented. "I envy Jennifer. She found her perfect man. My boyfriend cheated on me within six months."

"They’re the perfect couple in my eyes. Just look at them!"

"That photo... he’s looking at her like she’s the only one in the world. That’s what I want at my wedding."

"They make such a lovely pair."

"Made for each other. I hope their children inherit those looks."

"See that shot by the lake? I want to do a couple shoot just like that with my boyfriend."

From the back of the room, Grayson Marsh reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and slowly pulled out a small device. His thumb found the ridged button in the middle.

He hesitated for just a second. Then he pressed it.

What would happen next was no longer his concern. His only thought now was to leave the venue with his wife at the first chance.

Within seconds, a soft vibration buzzed across the entire hall. It came from handbags, suit pockets, clutch purses and mobile phones. Nearly every guest, from executives to celebrities to socialites, felt their mobile vibrate in unison.

Most of the guests assumed it was a harmless message or app notification. After all, their personal contact details weren’t easily available to outsiders. Still, the sheer volume of people receiving something at the exact same moment was uncanny.

A few curious guests checked their phones immediately. The rest ignored the buzz for the moment, still focused on the glowing screen up front.

Those who opened their messages found something strange. They had received a folder.

Among those who discovered the folder, only a handful chose to check its contents immediately. The rest decided to look into it later.

But as soon as a few guests opened the folder and began scrolling through the images, a wave of shock rippled through the room. Disbelief was etched across their faces, and some even gasped aloud.

Noticing their reactions, others nearby grew curious and peeked at their screens... only to be equally stunned.

Once it became clear that the shocking images were inside the newly received folder, people quickly grabbed their phones and began checking it for themselves.

The folder was filled with explicit photos of James and Jennifer engaging in sexual acts with various men and women. Although the image quality wasn’t the best, their faces were clearly recognizable. It was obvious the photos had been captured using hidden cameras.

In several pictures, James was seen having sex with multiple women at once.

Jennifer wasn’t far behind... in one series of photos, she was engaged in sexual activities with three men at the same time. Coincidentally, all three of them were present in the hall. When they spotted themselves in the images, they immediately tried to hide their faces.

Gasps began to echo through the crowd.

People exchanged phones, raised eyebrows, and stared wide-eyed at their screens. Those who hadn’t checked their phones yet began to reach for them, suddenly curious.

In less than a minute, the atmosphere of the hall shifted.

What had been admiration turned into stunned disbelief. Then, like ripples in a lake, the scandal began to spread.

Even the typically composed Young Master Davis gave in to curiosity and unlocked his phone.

At one corner of the room, Dan Martin leaned toward Robin Greystone, whispering as he held up his phone.

"Hey Robin... look at this. Aren’t those three guys standing there in the corner?"

"Brother Dan! Keep your voice down," Robin whispered. "Can’t you see they’re trying to escape from here?"

"Alright, alright. I just got curious."

But it was already too late.

Others nearby had overheard and glanced toward the group Dan pointed out. Everyone recognised them from photos. Smirks and awkward coughs followed.

All eyes began to land on those three men.

Their faces turned pale. Humiliation washed over them as more and more guests turned to look. They understood that their faces had been seen, and soon, their names would follow.

Without waiting for more, the trio bolted toward the exit, trying not to break into a full run.

On the stage, James and Jennifer remained blissfully unaware, still smiling and holding hands as their photo montage flickered behind them.

But below them, chaos brewed like a storm waiting to break.

Hearing the murmurs from the side, Miss Thompson reached into her clutch and took out her phone. As expected, there was a notification of a received folder. Curiosity got the better of her and she opened it.

Her breath caught instantly, and colour rushed to her face. It wasn’t embarrassment alone... it was shock, disbelief, and something else she couldn’t quite name. The red that crept up her cheeks made her look even more alluring, though this was hardly the moment for admiration.

Hurriedly, she tucked the phone back into her purse and glanced around with forced composure, as though nothing had happened. Her expression was unreadable, but the blush hadn’t yet faded.

Meanwhile, below the stage, members of the Clifford family remained oblivious for a few more minutes. They were accustomed to phones buzzing with notifications, messages from corporate circles or political allies. At first, they didn’t pay any attention to the vibrations... they had a marriage ceremony to focus on.

But the mood among the guests was shifting, subtly but unmistakably.

It was Jonathon Clifford, the current head of the family, who noticed it first. Ever watchful, he caught the movement among the crowd... they were checking their phones.

He reached into his jacket, took out his phone, and checked.

His eyes widened as the screen in front of him displayed the folder, already opened.

He didn’t say a word at first. Instead, he turned slightly and looked to his son, Jacob Clifford, who was just beside him... still grumbling silently to himself, annoyed by the praise being lavished upon James.

"Jacob," Jonathon said, patting his son’s shoulder. "Check your phone."

Jacob frowned. "What is it?" he asked, still sounding sour.

"Just check." The command was crisp and final.

With a quiet sigh, Jacob pulled out his phone and unlocked it. The screen showed a single notification... one new folder. He tapped.

"Dad... is this real?" His voice was shaky, his disbelief evident.

"Yes," Jonathon replied, keeping his tone low and steady. "I told you not to act rashly. Just wait. And now... look. With this... James will fall. And we didn’t even have to lift a finger."

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper only Jacob could hear.

"Put your phone away. Wait. When the time comes, support your grandfather. He’ll be furious. You must be the one who calms him down and takes him home. Be smart. This is your chance to shine."

Without waiting for a response, Jonathon Clifford began walking slowly toward the stage, his expression unreadable, but his mind sharp, calculating every move like a chessboard.