Chapter 4

When Ryder came back and heard what had happened, he immediately brought in a top restorer to fix the pocket watch. He was about to order his men to drag Silas back and make him get on his knees and apologize to me, but I stopped him.

I didn't want anything more to do with either of them. Just looking at them made me want to throw up!

I wrapped my arms around Ryder's waist, pressed my face against his broad back, and said softly, "Ryder, I want to get married tomorrow."

Silas had told me, "You'll never wear a Novak family wedding ring as long as you live!"

Then I'd make him watch me put that ring on in front of God and everyone.

I'd rise to heights he could never reach, and he'd have to watch, filled with regret and despair.

"Okay," Ryder said quietly.

He didn't ask why I'd suddenly changed my mind. He looked at me with complete trust, happy to give me what I wanted.

Then he told his butler, "Tomorrow's wedding has to be perfect."

His eyes settled on me, and he smiled a little. "I want everyone to know my wife deserves the very best this world has to offer!"

That one command sent the whole city, even the whole world, into a frenzy over our wedding.

The wedding was moved from a top hotel to a castle that had never been open to the public.

By the next day, the venue was a sea of roses, every one of them flown in fresh.

There were more than 20 styling teams just for me. Every detail showed how much thought Ryder had put into it.

On top of that, he'd had the most extravagant gown made for me. The lace my mother crocheted had been recovered from the stolen gown, repaired, and worked seamlessly into the new one.

Looking at that gown, I was deeply touched by all the love that had gone into it.

Just then, Silas called. The moment I picked up, he started in on me. "Nina, do you realize Isabella felt guilty all night about what happened yesterday? She was so upset she didn't sleep well.

"Whatever you're doing right now, get over here and apologize to her!"

I scoffed and said coldly, "Dream on!"

Before he could react, I hung up and blocked him everywhere.

Not far away, the orchestral wedding music had already started, and Ryder was waiting for me there.

I turned off my phone and headed to the castle, with the staff helping me along...

In a hospital room, Silas stared at his phone after Nina hung up on him, his face dark with fury.

He called again, but it went straight to voicemail. A cold, automated voice asked him to leave a message...

"Nina actually hung up on me? Did she block me too?" Silas frowned as he listened to the voicemail greeting.

"Silas, is Nina angry? She still won't forgive me...?" Seeing how upset he looked, Isabella put on a frail, sickly expression.

Silas clasped her hand, his heart aching for her. "Nina's gone way too far this time. She needs to be taught a lesson!

"Don't worry. If she dares stay away, I'll postpone the wedding indefinitely until she admits she was wrong!"

A hint of delight flickered in Isabella's eyes.

Just then, Silas's phone rang. It was a business partner he'd worked with before.

"Silas! Congratulations. I didn't know you were moving the wedding up. I'm overseas, so I can't make it back, but I had my gift sent to the venue. Wishing you and Ms. Bernard all the best."

Silas froze, his mind blank for a second. "What are you talking about? My wedding to Nina has been called off."

The caller sounded just as confused. "Are you kidding? Every major outlet in the world is streaming it live! It's the Novak-Bernard wedding. If you're not the groom, who is?"

Silas was badly shaken. He hung up and scrambled to turn on the TV in the hospital room.

The screen was showing a live broadcast of the wedding of the century, the one the whole world was talking about.

1,000 luxury cars led the way, and flowers blanketed the entire city. In a priceless gown by top designers, Nina walked slowly toward the priest on the arm of a tall, forbidding man.

Silas stared at the screen in disbelief. Even from behind, the man looked familiar.