Chapter 2

I suddenly leaned toward Maisie and said, "I didn't stop the wedding to expose you—I just want you to act out a scene with me."

I couldn't help but cry as I recalled how Maisie had destroyed the Sutherland family for me in the novel, ultimately dying alongside Zoe.

Maisie hurriedly wiped away my tears, saying, "If this is too much for you, I can—"

I looked at her with a serious expression and said, "I need you to listen to me, Maisie—I want to marry you."

In that instant, the comment section was spammed with pink heart emojis. "Oh, my God! Did I hear that right? Waylon has gained consciousness! He actually proposed to Maisie!"

"I ship them so hard! I mean, look at the way the big shot is looking at him—there's so much tension!"

Upon making our way back to the stage, the officiant announced with a smile, "It is now time for the bride and groom to exchange rings."

I picked up the ring and tried to slide it onto Maisie's finger, but it wouldn't go any further. I held her hand still as she made an embarrassed attempt to force it on.

In that instant, murmurs began to spread among the guests below the stage.

"What's going on here? Did they get the ring size wrong?"

"How could they mess up something this significant? How could the Sorensons and the Sutherlands be so sloppy?"

Zoe's parents, Jeremy Sutherland and Cassie Clark, who were seated at the main table, looked extremely displeased. They exchanged a look of mutual dread and unease. They were clearly aware of the ridiculous farce Zoe had planned, but had decided to hide the truth and let her have her way.

Dad furrowed his brow as he cast a worried look in my direction.

I gave Mom and Dad a reassuring look to soothe their nerves, then, while the entire room watched in confusion and doubt, I reached out and tore the mask from Maisie's face.

"Holy shit! That bride isn't Zoe!"

"What happened to the real bride, then?"

Jeremy was the first to react. "W-What is the meaning of this? Who the hell are you?"

Cassie's face turned livid as she barked at the chaotic crowd of guests and reporters, "Shut up! Get the security in here! There's a small mishap at the wedding, and it will be handled right now!"

In that instant, the comment section went wild before my eyes. "Oh my! It's time for peak drama!"

"In the original storyline, Waylon was the one who should have been up there sobbing and panicking. It's so ironic how it's Zoe's parents instead."

Dad shot me a concerned look. "What's going on here, Waylon? Where's Zoe?"

I glanced back at Mom and Dad reassuringly, then, under the stunned gazes of the crowd, I held Maisie's hand and said, "I'd like to thank all of you for attending my wedding with Maisie today. I'd also like everyone to know that due to a slight error, the names on the wedding invitations and rings were mixed up."

I paused for a moment before continuing, "It's not a big deal, though, so the wedding will proceed as planned."

Maisie, standing beside me, raised her head proudly and stood tall, as though asserting her claim.

Jeremy looked at me, trembling with rage. "Have you lost your mind, Waylon? Do you have any idea what you're doing? How could you just bring in some random woman to replace Zoe? You're making a mockery of the Sutherlands!"

Cassie rushed over and whispered sharply, "You ought to stop this nonsense, Waylon! You and Zoe have been together since you were children! You can't treat the alliance between our families like a joke, even if she's absent out of whim! You'd better call off this wedding this instant—we'll settle this in private!"

I ignored their protests and handed the microphone to Maisie, saying, "Go ahead, Maisie—let everyone know exactly why you're the one standing here today."

Maisie met my gaze with a faint smile and stated calmly, "I'm here today because Zoe paid me 100 thousand dollars to act as her stand-in for the wedding."