Chapter 2

At the banquet, our two families discussed the wedding details enthusiastically.

Mom looked excited. "Why don't we have it at Bapo Beach? Erin loves the ocean."

Dad chimed in. "That's right. Erin dreamed about going there when she was little. Having her wedding there would be so romantic."

They all looked at me expectantly, and Noah nodded along.

Just then, Heidi said unhappily, "But I think Bapo is too hot. We should go to Cyrul instead. The climate there is so much nicer..."

"Heidi." Mom shot her a stern look. "This is your sister's wedding. Everything should be up to her."

The whole family turned to look at me, seemingly waiting for my decision.

I was about to speak when Noah grabbed my hand. "Erin, let's have the wedding in Cyrul. I'll take you to Bapo for the honeymoon instead."

Mom and Dad both froze, clearly not expecting him to go against me. I looked into his unfathomable eyes and smiled gently.

"What if I say no?"

His brow furrowed slightly, then he smiled and raised his glass. "Then of course we'll do what you want."

Heidi immediately looked upset. She threw down her silverware and stormed off to the restroom.

Noah later made up some excuse and followed her.

"Noah, you said you loved me most just last night! But today you're taking her side!"

Noah kissed away her tears tenderly. "Silly goose, I was just fooling her. Once the banquet is over, I'll have my assistant book every venue in Bapo. By then, she'll have no choice but to go to Cyrul.

"Heidi, don't forget. I'm only marrying her because I owe her. Everyone knows she did me a favor once."

Heidi's eyes reddened. "So you're going to owe her for the rest of your life?"

I stood by the door, listening quietly through the crack, a sliver of hope still lingering in my heart despite everything.

"Of course not." Noah laughed softly. He lifted Heidi onto the restroom counter and bit her lip. "I can't bear to see my darling suffer forever. I'll find a way to escape this marriage. And then everything Erin has will belong to you."

Hearing this, my chest felt like a thousand arrows had pierced it. The pain nearly suffocated me.

Years ago, when Noah's company faced a crisis, I borrowed money from every friend and relative I had. I even mortgaged my house to pull him back from the edge of bankruptcy.

The day the crisis was resolved, he told me that meeting me was the greatest luck of his life. But in the end, it had just been a debt and endless lies.

That day, I leaned against the wall as I made my way back to the banquet hall. Seeing how pale I looked, Mom immediately rushed to support me.

"Erin, why do you look so terrible?"

I forced down the bitterness rising in my throat and said it was nothing.

Noah and Heidi returned one after the other. When he sat down, he unconsciously tugged at his collar to hide the fresh marks on his neck.

Later, they discussed many more wedding details, such as which flowers to choose and which music to play. Whenever they asked for my opinion, I only said, "Whatever Noah wants."

Satisfaction flashed in his eyes. He seemed pleased by how much I relied on him.

But I simply felt my opinion didn't matter. More importantly, I wouldn't be attending anyway.

Finally, Noah asked me one last question. "Erin, when do you want to have the wedding?"

"In two days."

Mom and Dad stared at me in disbelief. Pulling off a wedding in two days was nearly impossible. But Noah confidently squeezed my hand.

"Don't worry, Erin. I'll definitely give you an unforgettable wedding."

I smiled softly and squeezed back. I was about to give him an unforgettable wedding too.

When he stood in front of everyone and looked down the aisle, he'd see no one waiting at the end.