CHAPTER 2

The house was unusually quiet the morning of Lily's wedding.

No music.

No excitement.

No relatives running around the house with smiles on their faces.

Lily sat in front of the mirror while a makeup artist worked quietly on her face.

She stared at her reflection.

In a few hours, she would be married.

Not because she had fallen in love.

Not because she had chosen the man herself.

But because her family had decided that she was the suitable daughter to send into a marriage nobody else wanted.

A soft knock came at the door.

Before Lily could answer, her father entered.

He looked at her for a moment.

“You look beautiful.”

Lily forced a smile.

“Thank you.”

He walked closer.

“I want you to behave yourself today.”

Her smile disappeared.

“What do you mean?”

“The Ethan family is different from ours. Don't embarrass me.”

Lily lowered her eyes.

“I won't.”

Her father nodded and left.

A few minutes later, Lily's phone rang.

It was Vivian.

“Lily, you haven't forgotten that we're leaving soon, have you?”

“No.”

“Good. Mom is already at the venue.”

Lily frowned.

“Why?”

Vivian laughed.

“Did you forget she organized my bridal shower last night?”

Lily said nothing.

Her stepmother had spent the previous evening celebrating Vivian's upcoming marriage.

Lily had not been invited.

She hadn't expected to be.

Vivian ended the call.

Lily looked at herself in the mirror again.

She wondered how two daughters in the same house could have such different lives.

The previous evening, Vivian's bridal shower had been everything Lily's wedding preparation wasn't.

The venue was decorated beautifully.

Luxury cars filled the driveway.

Vivian's wealthy friends arrived wearing expensive dresses and carrying gifts.

Her mother stood proudly beside her.

“To my beautiful daughter,” she announced, raising her glass. “Tomorrow, you become Mrs. Ethan.”

Everyone cheered.

Vivian smiled brightly.

“I still can't believe I'm marrying Patel.”

One of her friends laughed.

“Why wouldn't you? He's handsome, rich and the future head of the Ethan family.”

Another woman leaned closer.

“You definitely won the competition between you and your stepsister.”

Vivian smiled.

“Lily?”

The women laughed.

One of them picked up her glass.

“She's marrying Mich, right?”

“Yes.”

“That's unfortunate.”

Another woman shook her head.

“Imagine being twenty years old and already becoming a full-time caretaker.”

The room erupted in laughter.

Vivian tried to hide her smile.

Her mother didn't stop them.

Instead, she calmly said, “Lily has always needed to learn responsibility. Perhaps this marriage will teach her.”

A woman sitting nearby frowned.

“But she's marrying a crippled man.”

Vivian's mother shrugged.

“At least she's marrying into the Ethan family.”

More laughter followed.

Vivian lifted her glass.

“To my future.”

Everyone raised their glasses.

“To your future!”

Nobody noticed the young woman standing outside the room for several seconds.

Lily had come downstairs to get some water.

She had heard everything.

Every laugh.

Every cruel comment.

Every word.

She stood there silently until the laughter became unbearable.

Then she quietly returned upstairs.

That night, she cried alone.

Not because they had called Mich crippled.

But because nobody seemed to care that she was being sent into a marriage she didn't want.

Now, on the morning of the wedding, Lily took a deep breath.

Her makeup artist stepped away.

“You're ready.”

Lily looked at herself one final time.

Then she stood.

The wedding dress felt heavier than it should have.

At the Ethan family mansion, preparations were already underway.

Mich sat quietly in his wheelchair while his grandmother adjusted his suit.

“Don't move,” she said.

“Grandmother, I'm not moving.”

“You always say that, then you move.”

Mich smiled faintly.

She fixed his collar.

“There.”

She stepped back and looked at him.

For a moment, her eyes softened.

“You look handsome.”

Mich smiled.

“Thank you.”

His grandmother touched his cheek gently.

“Whatever happens today, remember that you are still my grandson.”

Before Mich could answer, a deep voice came from behind them.

“Enough.”

His grandfather entered the room.

His expression was stern.

His eyes moved from Mich to his grandmother.

“The guests are waiting.”

His grandmother immediately stepped away.

Mich straightened.

His grandfather looked at him.

“Today, you represent the Ethan family. Behave accordingly.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“And remember your position.”

Mich lowered his eyes.

“I understand.”

His grandfather turned toward the door.

“Patel is already at the venue.”

He paused.

“Do not cause unnecessary problems.”

Then he left.

His grandmother watched him disappear.

Only after the door closed did she walk back to Mich.

“Don't mind him.”

Mich smiled slightly.

“He's always been like that.”

His grandmother touched his shoulder.

“He has his reasons.”

Mich said nothing.

She adjusted the blanket over his legs before stepping back.

“It's time.”

Outside, the Ethan family's cars were waiting.

Today, two brothers will get married.