Chapter 9

Despite Mabel's struggles, the two men forced her back into Lennon's villa and locked her in. Before leaving, they took all the food from the house and ordered that no meals be delivered.

"This is Mr. Shepard's decision," they said.

For two straight days, Mabel remained trapped in the villa.

By the wedding day, she was so starved and ghostly pale that she looked like a wraith, yet not a single soul spared a thought for her well-being.

Lennon had held his wedding ceremony twice, but both times had turned into jokes. The third one was even grander than the first two, but this time, the bride was different.

Sara Murray, Lennon's mother, and Jessie arrived with the makeup artist.

Seeing Mabel, Sara looked away and muttered, "How disgusting! Don't think you're marrying my son. Jessie is the bride today. You're just a bridesmaid here to walk through the ceremony like a shadow."

She looked at Mabel in disdain. "I promised Lennon that you could join the ceremony as a bridesmaid, and he agreed to it. I really don't get what's so great about you that keeps him away from home and makes him constantly say he loves you."

Mabel's body swayed. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug in. She almost laughed out loud.

Lennon really never failed to disappoint.

He suspected her of cheating and made her undergo that humiliating checkup. Even this wedding was fake.

A bridesmaid? He had really outdone himself.

Luckily, Mabel had no intention of going on stage. She smiled at Sara. "Don't worry, Mrs. Shepard. I'll behave today."

Sara snorted and turned to attend to Jessie.

Jessie changed into her custom wedding gown, put on expensive jewelry, and finally stepped out to the wedding car with her mother's support.

After they left, a maid pointed to the last, ordinary black car. "Ms. Judson, that's your car."

The lead car was a million-dollar limited-edition limousine, while Mabel's was a car worth less than five thousand dollars.

Mabel didn't get in. She returned to the villa, changed out of her bridesmaid dress into a T-shirt and jeans, and grabbed her pre-packed suitcase.

Ignoring everyone's attempts to stop her, she climbed into the Uber she had booked in advance and left.

The moment she left, the maid tried calling Lennon, but the call wouldn't go through. She called Sara, who simply said she got it and hung up.

After hanging up, Sara patted Jessie's hand. "Jessie, you're officially my daughter-in-law now. I really like you."

Blushing, Jessie leaned shyly on Sara's shoulder.

Meanwhile, Mabel's car sped toward the airport. She went through security and boarding swiftly.

When the plane's door shut, it was the exact moment the wedding ceremony began. Mabel timed it perfectly and sent a message to a hacker she'd contacted.

"It's time to move. I want them utterly ruined."