Chapter 2

Wyatt's mother, Laura Baker, was the first to snap out of it. She no longer cared about keeping up appearances. She rushed down from the front row, her voice tinged with panic.

"What is going on? Who are you?"

Wyatt's father, Maverick Sterling, turned pale in an instant. He spun toward the audience, but it was already too late. The guests were whispering, the noises spreading like wildfire.

"Silence!" he barked. "It's just a minor issue with the wedding. Manager!"

How ironic.

In my previous life, I was the one standing there, humiliated, falling apart in front of everyone.

Now, it was the mighty Sterling family losing control in public.

My mother had already stood up, worry written all over her face. "Anna… what is happening?"

I turned toward my parents and gave them a steady, reassuring look.

Then, as everyone looked on in disbelief, I took Joseph's hand. My voice was calm and clear.

"Thank you all for attending the wedding of Anna and Joseph today.

"There was a small mistake on the invitation.

"However, it’s nothing serious. The wedding will continue."

Beside me, Joseph straightened up slightly, as if silently claiming his place in front of everyone.

Laura trembled with rage.

"Anna, have you lost your mind? Do you even know what you're doing? This is our wedding venue!"

Maverick stepped forward, lowering his voice, his tone tight.

"Stop this nonsense. Get this man out of here. We'll pause the ceremony and wait for Wyatt to return."

I ignored them.

Instead, I turned to the man beside me.

"My husband," I said calmly, "tell everyone why you're standing here."

Joseph met my eyes, then gave a faint smile. His voice was steady and composed.

"I'm standing here today because Wyatt paid me to take his place at the wedding.

"He asked me to complete the ceremony for him."

The entire hall exploded.

"What? He paid someone to marry in his place?"

"You've got to be kidding me!"

"Does he think this is some kind of joke?"

With the truth exposed in front of everyone, Maverick and Laura lost all color in their faces.

My father's anger finally broke through. "So this is how the Sterling family does things?" he roared, pointing at them. "You treat my daughter's marriage like a game? Do you really think the Larson family is easy to bully?"

My mother's eyes were red as she pulled me protectively behind her.

"This wedding is off," she said calmly. "From this moment on, the Larson family has nothing to do with the Sterling family. The engagement is canceled."

Seeing the alliance about to fall apart, Laura panicked.

She knew better than anyone that their family was just an empty shell. Without the Larson family's support, they could not even keep up appearances.

"Anna, don't do this… Wyatt is just being foolish. I'll send people to bring him back right now. He'll apologize to you. Don't act on impulse."

I smiled lightly, but there was no warmth on my face.

"Fine. I'll give him one last chance.

"As long as he shows up in front of me right now, I'll pretend none of this ever happened."

Joseph's grip on my hand tightened slightly.

I leaned closer to him and whispered, "Relax. He's too busy having fun with someone else. He won't come back."

Laura frantically started giving orders, sending people out to find Wyatt.

One group after another rushed out.

One group after another came back empty-handed.

"Mrs. Sterling… we can't find him."

"No one knows where he is…"

I let out a soft sigh, pretending to be disappointed.

"It looks like… he doesn't plan on coming back. And he doesn't plan on marrying me either."

The very next second, my expression turned icy. "Security," I said sharply, "remove anyone who doesn't belong here.

"This is my wedding. Since the groom is absent, this venue now belongs to the Larson family."

The Larson family's security team had already been waiting outside. At my command, they rushed in immediately.

The Sterling couple were dragged out in disgrace, while the surrounding guests pointed and whispered. Some could not even hold back their laughter.

My mother took my hand. At first, she said nothing. Then her voice softened, but remained firm.

"Anna, no matter what you decide, we will support you. Our family has power and wealth. We don't need to suffer this kind of humiliation."

My father gently patted my shoulder. Warmth spread through my chest.

In my previous life, I insisted on marrying Wyatt.

I argued with my parents, and even went on a hunger strike to force them to agree.

After I died, they aged overnight.

They gave up everything just to seek justice for me.

This time…

I will not make the same mistake again, I told myself.

The one responsible for all of this, Wyatt…

I will never let him go.

Once the chaos settled, I immediately called in the lawyers and the head of finance.

"Spread the word.

"Terminate all business dealings with the Sterling family immediately.

"Withdraw every investment. Principal and interest. Leave nothing behind.

"And every single cent they owe us…"

I paused, my voice turning ice cold.

"Collect it all."