Chapter 2

When I was dragged outside Tessa's house, the sky was beginning to brighten. Snow was falling softly in the mountains, landing on the stone steps and soon turning my blood into a pale red color.

The disciple guarding the gate placed his sword sheath against my shoulder when he saw that I could not keep my balance. "Luna, the sect master instructed you to stand upright."

I glanced up at him. In the past, they would respectfully call me 'Lady Luna' whenever they saw me. A day had barely passed, and I was already being addressed differently.

The door opened. Tessa emerged, dressed in a white wedding dress. I saw the cuff of her dress and was stunned for a moment. In the center of the lily flower was a tiny 'H' symbol, which I had embroidered there myself.

I had spent seven sleepless nights preparing for the wedding ceremony.

Hayes would sit by the lamp, massaging my sore wrists and saying, "Luna, don't worry. There's still a long way ahead."

I believed him. Later, I learned that whether life was long or short was not up to fate but to the heart.

Tessa glanced down at the wedding dress and then quickly covered it with her sleeve, as if remembering something. "Luna, don't misunderstand."

Her voice was soft. "Hayes said this dress was originally prepared for the ceremony, and it would be a waste to leave it unused. I was just trying it on. I didn't intend to steal it from you."

She spoke aggrievedly, her fingers gently tracing the lily pattern on the cuffs.

I looked at her and suddenly felt a little tired. "Keep it on."

Tessa froze.

My voice was barely audible. "Besides, you look like you don't feel awkward wearing something you stole."

Her face paled, and tears quickly rolled down her cheeks. "Why would you say that about me?"

Felix Payton came over, his expression immediately darkening upon seeing this. "Even now, you refuse to repent?"

He slapped my shoulder.

I was already unsteady on my feet, and the impact sent me tumbling down the stone steps. My back hit a stone beast, and blood gushed from my throat.

Tessa rushed forward but stopped after only two steps, as if startled. "Felix, don't hit her. I know how much Luna has been suffering."

She lowered her eyes, her voice soft with almost pity. "She used to have mystical talent, her soulsword, and you. Now, she has none of that, so it's no wonder she blames me."

Every sentence was spoken softly, reopening my wounds.

Hayes had ruined my mystical talent himself.

That day, Tessa's heart was invaded by demonic energy, and the healer said she needed a pure mystical talent to suppress it.

Hayes sat by my bedside all night. When I woke up, his eyes were bloodshot. He held my hand and whispered, "Luna, Tessa won't make it to dawn."

I asked him, "So?"

He remained silent for a long time before finally leaning over and kissing my fingertips. "Your cultivation is advanced. Losing a portion of mystical talent won't cause fundamental harm."

The pain from that night was excruciating. It was so painful that I bit half of the pillow.

When Tessa woke up, she sobbed and said that she could not bear it. Hayes held her, his voice gentle. "It's over."

His remark concluded my flesh and blood.

From then on, my hand trembled whenever I held a sword. Later, the sword shattered. I still remembered the day she stepped on my broken sword, her eyes wet as she asked, "You won't blame me, right?"

I closed my eyes.

When I opened my eyes again, Hayes was already in the yard. He saw Tessa crying and saw me covered in blood, but his first question was, "What did you say to upset her this time?"

Looking back now, it was not surprising at all.

I slowly sat up, using the stone steps for support, and looked up at the wedding dress on Tessa. "I wish you happiness."

She froze.

"I wish you happiness wearing my wedding dress, wielding my mystical talent, stepping on my broken sword, and growing old with Hayes."

Silence fell over the yard. The color drained from Tessa's face.

That was when Hayes arrived. He walked quickly, his pant legs stirring up the thin layer of snow on the steps.

Tessa threw herself into his arms almost immediately. "Hayes, I really didn't want to upset Luna."

Hayes supported her, his gaze falling on my face.

At that moment, I thought he would ask if I was still in pain, but he only said, "Luna, the ceremony's today."

I chuckled. "So?"

His gaze darkened. "Do you really want to make a scene in front of the entire sect?"

Make a scene? He thought I was just making a scene.

I looked at him and retorted, "Hayes, you're so respectable."

His expression changed slightly.

I continued to chuckle. "You used my life to heal her wounds, and my wedding dress as your dowry. In the end, you blame me for not being quiet enough."

Hayes gripped my wrist, the force so heavy it felt like he was crushing that Mystic Suppressing Nail. He whispered, "Enough. Luna, don't say such hurtful things."

My heart trembled when he mentioned my name. I would always relent when he called me like that in the past. This time, all I felt was a chilling emptiness.

Tessa cried and tugged at his sleeve. "Hayes, maybe I shouldn't marry you. This way, Luna won't hate you."

Hayes was silent for a moment. He raised his hand and wiped away her tears, the gentleness almost stinging my eyes. When he looked at me again, only indifference remained in his eyes. "You must live to see the ceremony."

My fingertips went cold.

He paused, his voice even lower. "If you still have complaints after seeing it, I'll explain to you again."

However, I did not want to hear it anymore.

The system rang softly. "The host's affection points decreased. Current affection points: 7."

Hayes heard it. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but he quickly looked away, as if he still refused to believe it.