Chapter 10

Everyone froze in shock, watching as blood trickled down Vivian’s forehead, staining the pristine white of her wedding gown.

“Vivian!” Nathaniel cried out, rushing forward to catch her as she stumbled.

In that instant, all his hesitation and guilt vanished.

Holding Vivian in his arms, he asked softly, “Why would you do this to yourself?”

“Nathaniel, you know… my greatest wish has always been to marry you. But since Miss Garner refuses to let me have that, I might as well end it all now. Don’t worry, I don’t blame you or her. I can only blame my own fate.”

As if to emphasize her point, she coughed up blood, the sight eliciting gasps from the onlookers.

Seeing her like this, Nathaniel’s gaze hardened as he turned to Sylvia, his expression growing cold.

“Sylvia, must you drive her to the point of self-harm? When did you become so cruel and heartless?”

His accusation felt like a knife to Sylvia’s chest.

So, this was how he saw her?

But it didn’t matter anymore. She’d had enough of this farce.

“Nathaniel, the ceremony is about to start. You’d better get Vivian inside.”

Nathaniel didn’t hesitate. He carried Vivian in his arms, gave Sylvia one last look, then turned and walked away without another word.

A few people approached Sylvia, offering words of consolation.

“Sylvia, there’s no need to keep pushing this. Since Nathaniel says Vivian doesn’t have much time left, you should just let it go. Everyone’s watching.”

Sylvia’s lips curled into a faint smile, but her words were calm and steady.

“I already told you—I’m not here for Nathaniel. I’m here for my own wedding, which is happening in the hall right next to his. If you have the time, you’re welcome to drop by.”

With that, she turned and walked into the hotel lobby, leaving the crowd stunned.

“Wow, Nathaniel really knows how to stir things up—two brides in wedding gowns fighting over him!”

When Sylvia entered the hall, most of her family and relatives were already there, chatting and waiting. The only one missing was the groom.

Sylvia’s mother, growing anxious, turned to her husband. “Where is Bennett? He wouldn’t… not show up, would he?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. The Cooper family is already here. Why would Bennett back out now? I heard he started his journey back yesterday. He’s probably just running late.”

Though her parents were worried, Sylvia sat quietly, her expression unreadable.

She told herself she wasn’t nervous, but the tight knot in her stomach said otherwise.

She was about to marry a man she had never met before. She didn’t know if he was handsome or plain, tall or short.

Did she regret it?

Not at all.

She wasn’t getting any younger, and it was time to settle down.

If the man standing next to her wasn’t someone she loved, then it didn’t matter who it was.

From the hall next door, Sylvia heard the voice of the officiant, prompting her to glance in that direction.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel stood before the officiant in his own ceremony, but his mind was elsewhere.

He couldn’t stop thinking about Sylvia. Had she gone home? Would she forgive him?

“Miss Vivian Hayes, do you take Nathaniel Sinclair as your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honor, and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”

Vivian didn’t hesitate for a second. “I do!”

“And Mr. Nathaniel Sinclair, do you take Vivian Hayes as your lawfully wedded wife, to love, honor, and cherish her, and promise to remain devoted to her for all your days?”

But Nathaniel wasn’t listening. Lost in thoughts of Sylvia, he didn’t even hear the officiant.

“Mr. Sinclair, do you take Vivian Hayes as your wife?” the officiant repeated, louder this time.

Still, Nathaniel didn’t respond.

The room grew restless, with guests whispering amongst themselves.

Vivian, growing nervous, tugged at his sleeve.

“Nathaniel!” she hissed, her voice filled with urgency.

“What?” he asked, snapping back to reality.

“The officiant is asking you a question,” Vivian said through gritted teeth.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Nathaniel mumbled, turning back to the officiant.

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, a voice from the audience cut through the tension.

“So, Sylvia wasn’t joking—she’s really getting married today! Right next door!”

“Seriously? Is that true?”

“Why don’t we go take a look? What’s going on with those two? They dated for five years without getting married, and now they’re tying the knot and marrying someone else on the same day? Unbelievable.”

With that, murmurs filled the room as guests began rushing toward the doors, eager to see for themselves.

Nathaniel’s chest tightened, a wave of unease washing over him.

He knew, logically, that Sylvia was just trying to make a scene, but despite himself, he couldn’t stop the panic creeping into his heart.