Chapter 2

Elliot's POV

Seemingly convinced she'd already smoothed things over with me, Eva stood up and reached for my appointment slip.

I flinched as though I'd been electrocuted and stared at her stubbornly.

"Eva, do you remember what day it is today?"

Her hand froze in midair, and a flicker of impatience crossed her face.

"I don't care if it's our anniversary or your birthday. I've already made myself clear. I'm not marrying you today. Elliot Young, you're already 35 years old. It's time you learned to look at the bigger picture instead of using emotional blackmail."

It felt like a blade had pierced through my chest. She had forgotten.

Six years ago, on this day, I drank myself into a stomach hemorrhage while trying to secure clients for Eva's startup. She sat beside my hospital bed, crying, and swore that before I turned 35 years old, she'd build a successful company and give me the wedding I deserved.

But now, six years later, she had a successful career. Yet for appearances, she'd signed a marriage certificate with someone else. And now, she was even using my age as a weapon, treating my years of devotion like a bargaining chip she could use however she pleased.

I let out a self-deprecating laugh and held the appointment slip to my chest.

"Then, let me be clear too. I'm getting married today—if not to you, then to someone else."

Eva frowned. But before she could question me further, a male voice interrupted from the entrance.

"Ms. Sinclair, sorry we're late. Your number hasn't been called yet, has it?"

It was a couple from our department at work. The moment Paul Howard spotted me, he burst out laughing.

"Elliot, you actually came! Don't tell me you really stood in line twice? That was a smart move by Zach, leaking the news that Ms. Sinclair was getting married, so you'd come running to line up. It saved both Zach and me the trouble of doing it ourselves!"

I stared at Eva in disbelief. She was standing beside Zach as he laughed so hard that he could barely breathe, her expression affectionate.

Then, she turned to me and said casually, "It's just a joke. Give them the appointment slip. Think of it as coworkers helping each other out."

It turned out Eva had never planned on marrying me in the first place. Instead, she'd allowed Zach to turn me into a joke so he could do a favor for someone else.

I clenched my jaw and tightened my grip on the appointment slip.

"I waited for this appointment. I'm not giving it to anyone."

Eva stared at me for a long moment before finally letting out a laugh.

"Fine. Let's see how you plan to get married without your ID."

I froze, then immediately pulled out my wallet. But where my ID used to be, there was only a public transport card.

Zach laughed so hard that he nearly fell over.

"Elliot, you should get your eyes checked. How did it take you this long to notice?"

Paul held up his phone, pointing it at me.

"I got it all on video! Everyone's losing it in the group chat. Zach, you're a genius for coming up with such a hilarious prank."

Instinctively, I checked my phone. The company group chat was completely normal.

Looking around, I saw Paul, Zach, and Eva smiling at their phones. That was when I understood that they had created another group chat without me in it—a group where they made fun of me all day.

My phone buzzed with a message from Eva.

"Zach's only trying to help you fit in with the team. It wouldn't look good for me to interfere. It's all for appearances. You should laugh along. Don't make Zach feel bad."

Zach always said that the best PR strategy was what people saw with their own eyes. As long as our coworkers saw that Eva never favored me, nobody would suspect we were together. So, no matter how much Zach made fun of me or how much our colleagues mocked me, Eva would never stop them.

In fact, she was more concerned about Zach's feelings than mine.

I did laugh. It was a bitter, mocking laugh.

Then, I looked at the latest message from that person.

"I'm at the intersection. Eight minutes away."

Without hesitation, I replied, "I need to get my ID. Wait for me."