Chapter 3

Marilyn ordered the servers to drag me to the side of the stage.

She lifted her skirt and walked toward me. Her head was held high, nothing like the timid young woman who had first returned to the Jagger family.

My emotions were in turmoil. I let out a laugh that sounded more like crying.

Thinking back, I was the one who brought her home.

It was a stormy day. When Jayden was driving me home, I spotted a young woman by the roadside who had been hit by an electric bike.

Back then, her name was still Jenny Lynch.

She kept thanking me, saying she was a penniless orphan and wanted to work as my housekeeper to repay me.

She was about my age. When I saw her worn-out clothes and the frightened look on her face, I felt sorry for her.

Despite Jayden's attempt to stop me, I brought her home. I even asked my parents to help pay for her college tuition.

But later, she suddenly brought out two DNA tests. That was when the Jaggers learned the truth.

By a twist of fate, the daughter they thought was theirs had brought their biological daughter home.

After that, my parents were no longer my parents. To make it up to Marilyn, they cut ties with me.

Coincidentally, it was raining that day too.

Thankfully, Jayden held my hand tightly then and told me he didn't care who the Jagger family's real daughter was. He said he would build a home just for the two of us.

But unfortunately, people change.

"Vivian, are you here to congratulate us?" Marilyn's bright voice pulled me back to reality.

I was about to answer when I heard Jayden's voice.

"Marilyn, what are you doing? We still have guests to greet…" Jayden paused at the sight of me. "Viv?"

His gentle tone suddenly changed. Jayden stared at me in disbelief, panic flashing across his face.

I forced a smile. "Yes, it's me. Long time no see. Congratulations, you got married again."

There was a flicker of pain in Jayden's eyes. He hurriedly shook his head and said, "No! Viv, it's not what you think."

"Vivian, there's no need to be so polite. Jayden's my husband. Just treat him like family." Marilyn suddenly rested her head on his shoulder and smiled sweetly.

Jayden frowned, but he didn't push her away. He looked at me as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

"Viv, there are reasons behind all of this. Just give me a little more time. I'll explain everything," he said.

I forced down the blood rising in my throat and managed a weak smile. I replied, "There's no need to. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness together."

I slowly pressed a hand to my chest and turned toward the exit.

"Viv!" Jayden cried out.

"Vivian!" Marilyn cut in with a smile. "Why don't you stay back for dinner? I bet you haven't had a meal this good in a long time, right? Jayden arranged all of this especially for me."

My chest tightened as the social media posts I had just seen flashed through my mind.

While lost in my thoughts, I could no longer hold it in. I bent over and broke into a violent coughing fit.

"Vivian, you're coughing up blood!" Jayden pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to me in a panic. "What's going on? Let me take you to the hospital."

I ignored his outstretched hand, hurriedly wiped my mouth, and shakily reached into my bag for my medication.

Marilyn rolled her eyes with a look of exasperation. "Vivian, it's been years, and you've gotten this good at acting? You even bought fake blood.

"I know you want Jayden's sympathy, but today is my big day. Even if the blood is fake, this isn't the place for it, is it?"

I ignored her. My body was wracked with pain from late-stage lung cancer, and I needed to take my high-strength pain medication on time.

But the next thing I knew, someone knocked my bag out of my hand. The medicine bottle rolled toward the edge of the stage.

Jayden pulled his hand back and said coldly, "Viv, you've gone too far!"

He continued, "You shouldn't put on an act to fool anyone. And you shouldn't take advantage of my kindness just because you want to ruin Marilyn's once-in-a-lifetime wedding!"

I stared at him in disbelief.

He actually didn't believe me? How could he judge me guilty with just a few words from her?

And who was good at acting here? Compared to him, I wasn't even close.

I hunched over from the pain and snapped, "I'm not pretending. That's my high-strength pain medicine!"

Jayden frowned. "That's nonsense. Your medical report showed you're perfectly healthy. After four years apart, how did you become this unreasonable?"

Then, he snarled, "Apologize to Marilyn first, or I'll never forgive you!"

I bit my lip and crouched down, sweating as I reached for the medicine bottle.

Just as I was about to reach it, a diamond-studded heel kicked it away. It was sent rolling beneath the stage.

Marilyn pouted and said in a hurt tone, "I see what's going on now. Vivian, you came prepared today just to cause trouble, didn't you?

"Even if you really need money, you shouldn't make a scene here. How embarrassing would that be for me if word got out?"

She sighed, pulled five bills from her fancy clutch, and tossed them at my feet.

I didn't take them. I just clutched my chest as I struggled to breathe.

"500 dollars isn't enough? Fine, I'll take it for you!" With that, she picked up my bag from the floor.

My eyes widened. Inside that bag was the final 10,000 dollars I needed to pay toward my debt.

Marilyn looked amused when she said, "Well, well. Vivian, don't tell me all this money came from scamming people."

"Enough!" Jayden said in a low, angry voice as he snatched the bag from her hand,

I finally let out a breath of relief, only to hear him say, "This 10,000 dollars will be your apology gift to Marilyn."