Chapter 6

“This is the most beautiful gift I’ve ever received in my entire life.”

Juliette stood before Anastasia in the luxurious wedding gown that Anastasia had originally chosen for her own wedding to Andrew, complete with matching jewelry.

Meanwhile, Anastasia had been forced to wear the simple wedding dress Juliette had chosen for her.

Of course, Juliette had done it deliberately.

During yesterday’s wedding dress fitting—which Andrew had, naturally, accompanied her to—Juliette had deliberately chosen the simplest, most outdated, and cheapest-looking dress for herself, supposedly for Anastasia to wear.

Her excuse was that she would be having a private wedding with Tristan, a man with special needs. But the real reason was that she wanted to humiliate and belittle Anastasia in front of the Westwood family.

What Juliette didn’t know was that Anastasia would be changing into another dress—a far more luxurious and expensive couture gown specially prepared for her by Judith Westwood.

At Anastasia’s own request, the gown had never been delivered to the Laurent residence.

From this day forward, Anastasia would keep all the best things for herself.

Juliette walked away, leaving Anastasia alone in the room.

Not long after, the door swung open.

From beneath the bridal veil covering her face, Anastasia saw a pair of white leather shoes step inside.

It wasn’t her father.

It was Andrew.

“Juliette…”

His voice trembled, heavy with sorrow.

Anastasia lowered her head, allowing the thick veil to conceal her identity. At a moment like this, she was grateful to Juliette for choosing a veil that covered her face so completely.

“What is it, Andrew?”

Anastasia deliberately softened her voice until it sounded nasal. Andrew assumed her voice was hoarse from crying too much, which only tore at his heart even more.

“I’m sorry, Juliette… I couldn’t help you stop your marriage to Tristan,” Andrew said as he squeezed Anastasia’s gloved hands. “Anastasia is completely useless! She couldn’t even convince her own father!”

“You know what she’s like,” Anastasia prompted flatly.

“Yes! She’s nothing but a spoiled, selfish woman!” Andrew snapped angrily.

So that’s how you see me? Anastasia thought bitterly.

After all these years, was there not a single thing about me that was worth cherishing, Andrew? My sacrifices? My love?

“But you don’t have to worry. Uncle Henry isn’t entirely wrong. Tristan, in his current condition, certainly won’t hurt you. But you still need to be careful. I’ll visit you at the Westwood estate often, and I’ll place one of my most trusted servants there to look after you.”

“That won’t be necessary, Andrew.”

“It’s absolutely necessary! I need to make sure you’re safe.”

“What if Ana gets jealous? She’s been jealous of me all these years. If she finds out that you’re treating me specially, she’ll…”

“Don’t worry about her!” Andrew cut her off quickly. “She’ll still kneel at my feet and do whatever I say because she loves me so much!”

“Don’t you love her, Andrew?”

It was the question Anastasia had desperately wanted to ask in her previous life, but she had been too afraid to hear the answer.

Now, she asked it simply to finally free herself from the last remnants of her feelings.

“I…” Andrew’s voice trailed off.

“Do you love me?” Anastasia asked again, gently squeezing his hands.

“I love you. I’ve only ever loved you. Even after you rejected me three years ago, I never stopped loving you.”

His honest confession instantly burned away the last remnants of Anastasia’s feelings.

Don’t cry, Anastasia, she commanded herself.

Now you understand why he treated you so cruelly in your previous life. It was all because he loved Juliette.

Everyone else had known the truth.

Only Anastasia had been too blind and too confident back then, deliberately shutting her eyes and ears to the reality right in front of her.

“Thank you, Andrew. At least now that I know how you feel, I can leave in peace,” Anastasia said.

She pulled an envelope from behind her back and handed it to Andrew.

“Please open this letter after the wedding. This is my final farewell to you.”

Just as Anastasia placed the envelope in Andrew’s hand, the door swung open and Henry appeared.

“Sweetheart, the Westwood family’s car is here to pick you up,” Henry called.

Anastasia nodded and rose to her feet.

Just as she was about to leave, Andrew caught her hand and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Juliette…” he whispered, his voice filled with sorrow.

“Goodbye, Andrew,” Anastasia replied flatly as she gently pulled herself free and released his grip. She then took her father’s arm.

“Are you ready?” Henry asked.

Anastasia nodded firmly. “I’m ready, Dad.”

Outside, Juliette was already waiting.

Their wedding processions would leave the Laurent residence together before separating at an intersection, as they were headed to different venues.

At first, Juliette assumed the long line of luxury cars parked outside the house had been arranged by Andrew especially for her.

But the reality was completely different.

The most extravagant procession was actually meant for Anastasia.

“My beautiful bride!”

The cheerful cry echoed outside the Westwood estate.

Tristan had come to pick her up himself, looking incredibly handsome and dashing in a white tuxedo. He waved both hands enthusiastically, a bright and sweet smile spreading across his face.[]