4

The urn looked the same as before, but what was inside wasn't mother's ashes at all—it was protein powder!

Marcus and Ryan were stunned too, both looking toward Josie.

Josie immediately teared up, crying pitifully:

"I'm sorry, brothers. I just couldn't bear to put the Duchess's ashes in a garbage dump, so I hid them in the basement storage. But I got too flustered and spilled the ashes. I was too scared to touch them, so... so I replaced them with protein powder. I meant well—the Duchess was so kind when she was alive, she surely wouldn't blame me."

I got up with red eyes, grabbing Josie by the collar:

"What right do you have to touch my mother's ashes?! What gives you the authority to handle her?!"

Josie looked pleadingly at the two men beside her.

Ryan immediately felt heartbroken and kicked me away:

"We told her to do it! Why are you taking it out on Josie? Such typical spoiled lady behavior—no manners at all. The Duchess is already dead. How could we let Josie live in the same house with such unlucky things?"

Though they weren't mother's biological children, she had cared for them thoroughly all these years, treating them no differently than real noble sons.

Now he was calling mother's ashes unlucky?

I looked sadly at Marcus. He met my gaze for a long time, finally sighing:

"Alright, I know you're angry, but Josie meant well. She didn't do it on purpose, so don't take it to heart."

"I promise you, I'll show up at the wedding tomorrow on time to marry you. Isn't that what you want most? Let's end this matter here. You destroyed Josie's keepsake, so we want to compensate her with luxury items. Your mother's belongings include some nice jewelry—we'll go to the bank vault to get them. Clean yourself up."

His tone carried compromise and charity, like reluctant resignation to his fate.

Ryan glared at me fiercely, dragging Marcus and Josie away.

All night long, I knelt on the dusty storage room floor, tearfully collecting mother's ashes bit by bit.

At dawn, my phone received another unknown text:

"Miss Blackwood, the wedding venue will be at Windsor Castle."

I was puzzled. Vincent Rossi was severely injured and dying—how could he travel all the way to Windsor Castle for a wedding?

But it didn't matter. As long as I could get far away from Marcus and the others, anywhere would do.

I lay exhausted on the cold floor, remembering all the moments from these years, letting tears fall freely.

I clutched the urn tightly in my arms, choking out:

"Mama, don't be afraid. I found you. This will all be over soon."

The next day, Marcus and Ryan didn't return. They took my mother's money and went shopping with Josie at the mall.

When I arrived at the wedding venue, I found they were already waiting there.

Marcus wore a formal suit, while Josie wore a limited-edition wedding dress, shyly leaning against his chest as if they were the ones getting married.

I frowned slightly. Today was my wedding to Vincent Rossi—what were they doing here?

I was about to find the manager to ask, when Marcus approached with Josie:

"The wedding venue is beautifully decorated. Josie loves it. I promised Josie I'd give her a wedding, so she'll never have to endure people's scorn again."

"Don't worry, I'll still register the marriage with you. You'll be my legal wife, but I've decided to save myself for Josie. After marriage, I'll never touch you. If you want an heir in the future, you can have Josie bear one for you. After the wedding ends, Josie will be family anyway."

I was so angry I nearly laughed. He wanted to directly give my ducal position to Josie and his child?

"Marcus, I told you—I won't marry you. This wedding has nothing to do with you. Please take your precious darling and leave immediately."

Marcus frowned:

"I know you're upset about switching brides, but Catherine, you've had everything you wanted since childhood. Josie just wants a wedding. Just let her have it."

"No matter what, today's bride must be Josie. If you insist on making unreasonable trouble, don't blame me for not wanting you anymore."

Ryan also laughed mockingly:

"How about it, Catherine? Scared now? If you really had backbone, you wouldn't have spent all these years circling around Marcus like a lapdog."

"You're a noble lady who's never lifted a finger—do you know how to run a company? Your mother's dead, and the Blackwood family still needs us two to support you. I advise you to quickly give the wedding to Josie, or we might not take care of you anymore!"

Just as he finished speaking, the hotel doors were pushed open.

A low, magnetic voice rang out:

"Is that so? Then get lost immediately."

"My wife is certainly not for two dogs to manage!"