Chapter 4 No Sincerity

Zacharias was the true heir of the Grimstone family. Years ago, he had been taken by human traffickers, and after searching for him in vain, the Grimstones eventually adopted Shawn.

Penelope changed her mind about me not just because I saved her life in the car crash, but also because I reunited her with Zacharias.

After I said yes to her plan, she quickly started preparations for the wedding, refusing to wear me out further.

Shawn was going bungee jumping with Tamara when he saw the invitation I posted on my socials. He snickered and swiped the screen, tossing that story behind him.

After he came home, our mutual friends bombarded his phone with calls.

"What's going on with you and Artemis?"

"Everyone's saying she's getting married again, and the invitations are out!"

"Who's the groom? Why aren't you doing anything?"

Shawn clenched his phone, and he quickly played my story again. The name of the groom was left blank. Only then did he smile and massage his temples.

"She can throw her tantrum. In the end, she's marrying me anyway. She needs to vent if she wants to get along with Tamara."

I received Shawn's messages soon after our friends told me what had happened.

"You should stop after you've had enough, babe. Posting a fake invitation only makes you a joke. When I get back, we'll talk, but after you apologize, of course."

This was his first time texting me after he went overseas. Yes, I wanted him to think I was throwing a tantrum. That way, my wedding could go on undisturbed.

My lack of reply made him panic. He booked the earliest flight home and found me in the middle of my manicure. For every wedding in the past, my manicure and bouquet had always been designed around baby's breath.

No such pattern existed this time.

Shawn heaved a sigh of relief and sidled up to me, then he sat down.

"I know you're trying to intimidate Tamara. You think she's a troublemaker. I've been thinking about it on my way back. Tamara's not coming to the next wedding, but you have to walk in my shoes for a bit. She's traumatized, so I have to calm her down."

He started making plans all by himself, sounding so sure and gentle. "I'll have a professional team planning everything. We'll get married on an island. You can have anything you want, and we'll get that wedding done."

I looked down and tapped the table. "Don't need to do that."

Shawn thought I was still sulking. He held my sleeve and was about to speak, but then his phone buzzed violently.

The screen read "Tam-tam."

He only listed me as "Artemis" in his contacts.

The first thing Shawn heard after picking it up was Tamara's chilling scream. "Someone's dropping stuff from buildings, Shawn! I'm scared!"

Shawn looked terrified, and any thoughts of comforting me flew out the window. "It's alright. I'm coming right now. Stay where you are and don't move!"

He hung up in a hurry and ran out without saying anything to me. He left so quickly that he bumped into the nail artist working on my hand. The clipper stabbed into my nail fold, and the pain made me sweat right away.

Shawn did not see that. His conscience probably knocked on his way out, so he texted me for once in a long time, "Wait for me."

I looked at my injured fingernail. The agony finally woke me up. I would never wait for him anymore.

…

Penelope had her birthday a few days later. Shawn finally came back from another overseas trip with Tamara. After he gave Penelope her present, he came into the kitchen holding a cheap perfume he bought for me.

Then he saw Zacharias kissing my cheek. Shawn froze. His voice turned sharp. "What are you doing?"

I lifted my hand, which was tightly clasped with Zacharias'. Together, we showed Shawn our wedding rings. "Making dinner with my husband, obviously."