Sunset Over an Empty World

The microphone on Elvira's wedding dress hadn't been removed.

Moans rose and fell from the wedding venue's speakers.

The guests turned to look at me—some smirking, some sympathetic.

My fingers clenched the wine glass so tightly my knuckles went white. I drained the glass of bitter wine along with all my pent-up humiliation, my throat constricting with the effort.

An hour later, Elvira finally walked out of the lounge. Her face was flushed with an unusual redness, and the wedding dress worth ten million dollars was now stained with specks of blood.

The crowd began to jeer, "Ms. Britton, congrats on losing your virginity! So, how was Toby?"

The moment the words left their mouths, my already-married younger sister, Whitney Cochran, swept into the wedding venue, one hand cradling her pregnant belly.

She swept her gaze around the room and sneered. "You people sure know how to sing someone's praises. Why don't you be really generous and offer up your own wives for others to sleep with?"

After a final scathing look, Whitney turned to me and urged, "Wallace, our family has a long and prestigious legacy, and never has a bride who wasn't chaste entered our home.

"Since Ms. Britton has lost her virginity, we can't very well break the rule laid down by our ancestors. The wedding is hereby called off. Let's go home."

As we walked along, whispers buzzed on both sides.

"What does it matter if Wallace is the richest man? He still got played for a fool by a woman."

"Elvira sure has some nerve to humiliate Mr. Cochran in front of so many people. Their marriage alliance might just be over."

For a moment, I was lost in a daze.

Back then, my grandfather, Gerald Cochran, had arranged the union between our families to repay Elvira's grandfather, Dustin Britton, for saving his life.

After Grandpa passed away, my father, Craig Cochran, repeatedly tried to call off the engagement. His hope was to find me a more suitable match from a prestigious family.

However, I was so dead set on marrying Elvira that I even threatened to kill myself if I couldn't.

The Britton family rode my family's coattails all the way to the top.

Elvira, with red-rimmed eyes from crying, promised that she'd save the most precious gift of her virginity for our wedding night.

Yet, she completely forgot her own words, all for the sake of an impoverished student she'd been sponsoring for three years.

"Wallace!"

I snapped back to reality, pausing mid-step as I was about to get into the car.

Elvira pinched the bridge of her nose, her expression one of utter impatience.

"So what if I lost my virginity? I promised I'd make it up to you for the rest of our lives after we're married!"

The rest of our lives?

The vows that once seemed so touching now felt utterly absurd in hindsight.

Seeing me stay silent, Elvira shot me a smug glance, then lifted her chin and commanded, "Wallace, go buy some condoms. Once Toby's done with his medication, I want to do him again to see if he's fully recovered."

A chill ran through my entire body. I couldn't believe those words had just come out of Elvira's mouth.

The very next second, Toby came running over from the lounge, his clothes disheveled.

He grabbed Elvira's hand and said pitifully, "Elvira, I feel so terrible."

In an instant, Elvira lost all patience with me. She drowned in displeasure and said, "Wallace, if you don't buy the condoms, then we might as well just forget about this wedding."

However, I couldn't even be bothered to spare Elvira another glance.

No sooner had I gotten into the car than Whitney, teeth grinding with rage, slammed her phone down.

The matter between Elvira and me had already become the talk of the town, with news reports everywhere.

"Even the Richest Man Can't Buy Love—Shock Events on Wedding Day."

"Northbank's Wedding of the Century Ruined as Bride Forgets Mic, Intimate Chat with Lover Broadcast Live."

As I read the news, my heart sank bit by bit.

Back when Elvira and I were dating, I never once turned down anything she asked of me.

I figured that since she wanted to save her most precious virginity for our wedding night, why should I ever say no to her?

But I never imagined that my indulgence and concessions would lead to her sleeping with Toby on our wedding day.

She couldn't care less about the media firestorm I'd be caught in.