CHAPTER 4

The reception was louder than Lily expected.

Music filled the hall as guests moved between tables, laughing and congratulating the newly married couples.

Lily stood beside Mich, smiling whenever someone approached them.

But inside, she felt exhausted.

She had barely eaten anything since morning.

Every few minutes, someone came to greet Mich, but most conversations lasted only a few seconds.

Some people looked at him with pity.

Others tried not to look at his wheelchair at all.

Lily noticed everything.

One elderly man approached them with his wife.

“Congratulations, young man.”

“Thank you,” Mich replied politely.

The man looked at Lily.

“You must be a very patient woman.”

Lily forced a smile.

Before she could answer, Mich spoke.

“She is.”

The man laughed awkwardly.

“Well, you will need plenty of patience.”

Lily's smile disappeared.

Mich didn't respond.

The couple eventually walked away.

Lily looked down at him.

“Does that happen often?”

Mich looked at her.

“What?”

“People talking about you like you're not standing there.”

He shrugged.

“I'm used to it.”

Lily frowned.

“That doesn't make it right.”

Mich looked at her for a moment.

Then he smiled.

“You're angry.”

“I am.”

“Why?”

“Because you're a person. Not a problem people have to discuss.”

Mich's expression softened.

“Thank you.”

Lily didn't know why those two words affected her so much.

She looked away.

“Don't thank me. It's the truth.”

Across the room, Vivian was having the time of her life.

Patel stood beside her, surrounded by several of his friends.

“You really married the future head of the Ethan family,” one of them said.

Vivian smiled proudly.

“I know.”

Another friend laughed.

“You're lucky.”

Vivian glanced toward Lily.

“Some people are luckier than others.”

Her eyes landed on Lily standing beside Mich.

She smiled.

Lily was helping Mich adjust his jacket.

Vivian leaned toward her friend.

“At least my husband doesn't need someone pushing him around.”

Her friends laughed.

Patel heard the comment.

He smiled but said nothing.

Later that evening, Lily and Mich were taken to the Ethan family's private residence.

It was enormous.

Lily had never seen anything like it.

The entrance alone looked bigger than her entire family home.

A housekeeper opened the door.

“Welcome, sir. Welcome, madam.”

Lily stepped inside.

She looked around quietly.

Mich noticed.

“It's a little overwhelming at first.”

“A little?”

He laughed softly.

“This is nothing compared to the main family residence.”

Lily stared at him.

“There is something bigger than this?”

“Yes.”

She shook her head.

“I don't think I'll ever get used to this.”

“You don't have to.”

She looked at him.

“What?”

“You don't have to become someone else because you married me.”

Lily was silent.

Nobody had said anything like that to her in a long time.

Before she could respond, a housekeeper approached.

“Sir, should I take you to your room?”

“Yes.”

Lily immediately said, “I'll help him.”

The housekeeper hesitated.

“Madam, you don't have to.”

“I know.”

She moved behind Mich's wheelchair.

Mich looked back at her.

“You're tired.”

“I can manage.”

“So can I.”

“I know.”

He smiled.

“You really like saying that.”

Lily smiled despite herself.

“Maybe.”

She pushed him toward the bedroom.

When they reached the room, Lily noticed how carefully everything had been arranged.

There was a special bathroom.

A bed positioned close to the wheelchair.

Several medical supplies.

Everything Mich could possibly need.

Lily's chest tightened.

Someone had clearly designed the room around his condition.

She wondered how long he had lived like this.

Mich noticed her expression.

“What are you thinking?”

She hesitated.

“Nothing.”

“That's not true.”

Lily looked at him.

“I was wondering how difficult it must have been after your accident.”

Mich was quiet for a moment.

“It was.”

She lowered her eyes.

“I don't know much about you.”

“You don't have to know everything today.”

Lily nodded.

There was an awkward silence.

Then Mich said gently,

“You should rest.”

Lily looked at the bed.

“And you?”

“I'll be fine.”

She frowned.

“You can't get into bed by yourself, can you?”

Mich didn't answer.

That was enough.

Lily walked toward him.

“Let me help you.”

His eyes widened slightly.

“You don't have to.”

“I know.”

She smiled faintly.

“But you're my husband now.”

For a moment, Mich simply looked at her.

Then he nodded.

“Okay.”

Lily carefully helped him prepare for bed.

She moved slowly, afraid of hurting him.

When she finished, she adjusted his pillow and pulled the blanket over him.

“There.”

Mich looked at her.

“Thank you, Lily.”

She smiled.

“Good night.”

She turned to leave.

“Lily.”

She stopped.

“Yes?”

“I'm sorry.”

She looked confused.

“For what?”

“For the life you were forced into.”

Lily stared at him.

For the first time that day, she didn't see him as the disabled son of the Ethan family.

She simply saw a man who seemed genuinely sorry that she had been dragged into a marriage she hadn't chosen.

“It's not your fault,” she said softly.

Then she walked toward the other side of the room.