Chapter 4

The smile on Wyatt's face froze instantly. He stood there, stunned, his brows twisted tight together.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" He stepped forward, his tone arrogant. "You're saying you're married? Then where's your husband? Why didn't he come with you?"

A mocking smile curved on my lips.

"My husband has important matters to attend to, unlike certain useless people who loaf around all day and depend on a woman's dowry to survive."

Before he could explode, Becky's eyes turned red, tears falling right on cue.

"Anna, how can you say that about Wyatt?"

She paused on purpose and, just like that, Wyatt's gaze toward me was filled with disappointment and anger.

"Anna, look at yourself. So sharp-tongued and bitter. Besides me, who else in the capital would even want you?

"I'm telling you now. Stop playing these games. It only makes me look down on you even more."

That was it. I was done being patient.

"Are you all deaf?" I said calmly. "Throw these two out. If they ruin everyone's evening, you'll answer for it."

The guards moved quickly, grabbing them from both sides.

Wyatt struggled wildly, his face twisted with rage as he shouted at me, "Anna! How dare you treat me like this! You'll regret it!"

That very night, I received an anonymous letter.

[So you think this is enough to steal Wyatt away from me? Surprise, surprise. He does not care at all. He's happily taking me to Elysian Springs outside the city to watch the moon.]

I did not even need to guess who sent it. I tossed the letter straight into the fire.

During that time, the Sterling couple still refused to give up and tried to visit me several times.

I had them turned away every single time.

A week later, I calculated the day Joseph would return to the capital and personally went to the city gate to meet him.

However, at the gate, I ran straight into Wyatt and Becky.

It looked like they had just come back from a trip outside the city. Wyatt sat tall on a fine horse, while Becky rested comfortably in a carriage beside him, both looking relaxed and pleased.

The moment Wyatt saw me, he broke into a smug smile.

"I knew you couldn't let me go. You even came all the way out here to pick me up.

"Anna, why go through all this trouble?"

I did not even bother responding. I looked at him like he was an idiot.

Becky spoke up in a mocking tone, "Oh, Anna, don't be mad anymore.

"Wyatt didn't mean to leave you out of the trip. As his fiancée, you should be more understanding."

Wyatt clearly enjoyed that. He climbed down from his horse and reached for my hand, but I stepped aside and avoided him.

He did not get angry. If anything, he looked even more pleased, as if he thought I was just throwing a little tantrum.

"Alright, enough. When we get back, we'll pick a date and I'll give you an even grander wedding. That should make up for it, right?"

Right then, a tall figure came riding in on a black horse, followed by a group of personal guards, cutting through the crowd like a storm.

My eyes lit up.

I went around them without hesitation and ran straight toward the man who had just dismounted.

"Honey, you're back."

Joseph took my hand steadily. Dust from the road clung to him, but it could not hide the sharp strength in his presence. He lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on my hair.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Behind me, the smug smile on Wyatt's face shattered, replaced by disbelief.

For a brief moment, everything fell silent.

Then, Wyatt's furious roar erupted. "Anna! Are you done playing around?"

He pointed at Joseph, his voice full of anger. "You even hired an actor just to make me jealous? Not bad. How much did you pay him this time?

"Name your price. I'll give you ten times what she did. Just get out of my sight!"

Joseph stepped in front of me, shielding me. His gaze darkened, and a chilling aura rolled off him, like someone who had walked through real battlefields.

I reached out and caught his arm, then leaned out from behind him, looking at Wyatt's twisted expression with calm amusement.

"Wyatt, didn't you want to see my husband?"

I slipped my arm through Joseph's and smiled brightly. "This is my husband. Joseph."

Wyatt's face went completely pale.

"How… how is it you?!"