Chapter 1

The butler who had arrived with the groom's party started pacing frantically when he realized that the bride had been swapped.

"This is madness! Ms. Mayer, you've been engaged to Mr. Reeve for over a decade. Are you just going to stand by and watch him marry a widow who guts fish for a living?"

I looked toward Tracie Mayer, my so-called fiancee, who was clinging to Everett Huffman's arm. The two of them wore matching couple outfits as they stood among the wedding party.

At the mention of our engagement, she frowned and coolly said, "Everyone knows that engagement was just a silly joke as kids. If he thinks he can tie me down with that, think again."

Though our engagement was approved by both families and known throughout Crisea, she denied it without a hint of shame. Whatever promises that once existed were now nothing more than a joke.

Everett casually raised his hand to show off the matching ring he shared with Tracie. "Everyone's waiting for the wedding to start, so don't waste time. Hurry up and take the bride away."

My older sister, Adeline Reeve, chimed in and teasingly urged, "We're doing this just to give Everett a laugh and let him blow off some steam.

"You don't have to go through with the actual wedding, Aston. Just suck it up and get it over with."

I dug my fingernails into my palms as my heart throbbed painfully.

In the room, I looked around the crowd of mocking faces and perfectly understood that this was a scene specially staged by Adeline and Tracie, all to make me the laughingstock of Crisea and please Everett.

They were certain I would flee like a coward, but I wasn't going to let them have it their way.

I walked up, knelt on one knee before the bride, and pulled out a ring. "Will you marry me?"

For a moment, dead silence fell over the room before Adeline's rage and Tracie's panic followed.

Adeline rushed forward and yanked me up. "Have you lost your mind, Aston? Are you serious about marrying a widowed fishmonger?

"I told you—it's just for show!"

Tracie grabbed her arm and coldly looked at me. "Let him do it.

"Can't you tell? This is reverse psychology, and he's trying to make us think he'll actually marry her. He's pulled this stunt more than once."

It was true. Ever since I was discharged from the hospital and realized that both Adeline and Tracie favored Everett, I had tried everything.

Once, I worked through the night until I collapsed, hoping they would visit me in the hospital, but they never did.

They were already at the hospital's entrance when one phone call from Everett made them turn around and leave. In their eyes, I had turned into a schemer who desperately sought attention.

But today, I wasn't throwing a tantrum. I was done and utterly exhausted with trying to win back the hearts of two people who didn't love me.

"Is he for real? I'm not staying for a widowed fishmonger's wedding; that's just too low-class for me!"

"I'm looking forward to Everett and Tracie's wedding instead. Now that's a perfect match made in heaven."

Ignoring the mocking laughter from Everett's best buddies, I kept my eyes locked on the woman in front of me.

I watched as she parted her lips slightly and extended her slender right hand. When she spoke, her voice carried an extraordinary air of nobility.

"Sure. I'll marry you."

…

In the wedding car, the woman told the driver to stop. "Turn around and head straight to the city hall."

It took me a moment to register her words before I turned to look at her nervously. "Are you sure you want to marry me? Don't you have any questions to ask?"

She let out a light laugh and raised an eyebrow. "You didn't ask questions before you proposed, did you?"

Smiling, she led me through the marriage registration process. When we finally stepped out of the city hall with a marriage certificate, she turned to me.

"There's something else I have to take care of. We'll hold the wedding three days from now, and I'll handle the arrangements."