Chapter 3

A surge of fury burst through my chest. I didn’t know where the strength came from, but I lunged forward and bit down hard on Randy’s hand.

He yelped and staggered back.

I seized the moment, raised the dagger, and drove it into his thigh several times.

Then I snatched his car keys and sped straight toward the wedding venue.

I refused to lose. This was not my fate!

In the rearview mirror, Randy’s limping figure gradually disappeared.

I drove like a madwoman, finally making it to the hotel.

Yuna had just stepped out of her car, her face glowing with joy.

Meanwhile, I was disheveled, dirt-streaked, and stained with blood.

The moment she saw me, her expression turned as if she had seen a ghost.

I rushed forward and stopped the Freeman family’s relatives who had come to welcome the bride.

“She’s a fake! I’m the real bride—Jade Cooper!”

They all looked at me in confusion.

I was born premature and in poor health. When the Freeman family came to visit, I had been overseas recovering, so none of them had ever met me.

Seeing their hesitation, panic set in.

Before I could speak again, Yuna’s eyes flickered, and tears fell instantly.

“Yuna, my parents sponsored your education. I pitied you and let you stay in my home. Why would you repay kindness with betrayal and try to take my marriage?”

As she spoke, she raised her hand to reveal the diamond ring.

“This wedding ring was personally designed by Mr. Freeman, using a one-of-a-kind diamond. If you’re going to pretend to be me, at least do your homework.”

“That’s impossible!”

I instinctively reached for my hand, only to remember I gave the ring to the driver.

But how did Yuna have the exact same ring as mine?

“I recognize that ring—so the one in the torn wedding dress must be the fake!”

“Unbelievable. Miss Cooper was kind enough to support her, and she repays it by trying to steal her husband. What a disgrace!”

The relatives quickly took Yuna’s side, their gazes turning scornful as they looked at me.

The comments were even more gleeful.

[Go on, admit it—you just want to steal Yuna’s husband!]

[Just give up. Marrying the foreman is great. Yuna is the one who should be with the golden heir.]

Yuna curled her lips into a smile and waved her hand, giving orders.

“Take her back to get married. Don’t keep Mr. Holt waiting.”

Then she said smugly, “I picked this match carefully for you. You should enjoy it.”

The security guards rushed forward, grabbing hold of me and shoving me toward the car.

I screamed for help until my voice went hoarse.

But no one paid me any attention. They were all too busy currying favor with Yuna.

Just as despair set in, the Freeman family’s butler finally arrived.

He stared at me in shock.

“Let her go at once!”

The grip on me vanished instantly, and the butler helped me to my feet.

“You’re finally here. Yuna framed me. Please take me to Mr. Freeman!”

With just one word from him, my identity could be proven!

But the butler’s expression turned strange.

“At a time like this, you’re still thinking about marrying Mr. Freeman?”

I froze, unable to understand what he meant.

Before I could react, my parents rushed over from the car behind.

Relief surged through me, only for my mother’s slap to land across my face without hesitation.

“Yuna Shaw, we paid for your education and even fostered you. How could you let jealousy drive you to steal Jade’s marriage?!”

I stared at her in disbelief.

“Mom, have you mistaken me for someone else? I’m your daughter, Jade!”

Facing the crowd, she pulled out a psychiatric diagnosis report with my name printed on it.

“We indulged her delusions because of her condition, letting her claim to be our daughter. But now that she’s hurt Jade, we can’t tolerate it any longer!”

It felt like I had fallen into an icy abyss.

Yuna looped her arm around my mother’s, her lips curling with triumph.

“Yuna, you must be having an episode again. The Cooper family’s heiress is clearly me. I’m the future Mrs. Freeman. As for you, just be good and marry Mr. Holt.”

At her signal, the bodyguards covered my mouth and dragged me toward the car.

Was it possible that even with a second chance, I still couldn’t change my fate?

The comments flew past, as if mocking me.

[See? Even your parents refuse to acknowledge you. This is what happens when you don’t switch marriages with Yuna!]

[Stop struggling. Marrying the foreman and serving his whole family is your fate!]

My heart felt like it was being carved apart, tears slipping down soundlessly.

Then, in the next moment, an angry shout rang out.

“Who dares lay a hand on my bride?”