Chapter 3

“Is the bride ready? We’re about to head out–”

“Wait!” I called out to the bridesmaids and leaned in close to whisper something in one of their ears.

“Miss Scott… you’re not joking, are you?” she asked, eyes wide with disbelief.

I nodded firmly.

“Here…”

Then, as the notification of money transferring rang out on her phone, her expression changed instantly.

She smiled brightly as she said, “I’ll take care of it right away.”

I leaned back in my seat, staring out at the roadside scenery, lost in deep thought. No one understood why I insisted on taking such a remote route, but only I knew it was because I wanted to avoid the tragedy from my previous life.

Yet, halfway down the road, fate collided with me again. Another bride on her way to her wedding appeared head-on.

The car window rolled down, and Selena’s face peeked out.

“Trish, what a coincidence,” she said sweetly. “Our weddings are on the same day and apparently even on the same route. I saw online that when two brides meet, they’re supposed to exchange bouquets. Look, I made this one myself. Isn’t it pretty? Let’s exchange bouquets, shall we?”

She held up the same cheap plastic bouquet from my previous life, waiting eagerly for my response.

My gaze lingered on her, my feelings a storm of complexity. I had gone out of my way to avoid her this time, yet somehow, she still crossed my path.

I shook my head decisively. “My bouquet isn’t meant for you. Let’s not.”

Now I was certain that our so-called ‘chance encounter’ in my last life had never been a coincidence.

“Trish, please. I don’t want my groom's parents to look down on me…” she whined. “Exchanging bouquets is good luck. Everyone does it.”

She looked at me pleadingly, her eyes red with tears. “Trish, I swear I’ll give it back once we’re out of the cars.”

However, I shook my head again and said coldly, “I said no. My bouquet isn’t for you. Selena, you should head out now before you’re late to your own ceremony.”

Her jaw tightened, a flicker of something dark passing through her eyes.

Then, she forced a trembling cry, “Trish, my photographer’s livestreaming… Can’t you just help me this once?”

I froze and pulled out my phone. Sure enough, her livestream chat was filled to the brim with comments. Some viewers even recognized me.

“Isn’t that Trisha Scott, the Scotts’ daughter?”

“What’s going on? Can’t believe the Scotts are so petty, arguing over a bouquet.”

“Seriously, the poor girl just wanted a bit of good luck. She even livestreamed making that bouquet last night. It took her hours!”

“Are the Scotts really that stingy?”

“I heard Trisha rerouted her journey at the last minute, just to bump into them. A classic spoiled heiress move!”

My eyes hardened as I looked back at Selena. I was now a hundred percent sure that, whether in my past life or this one, she had deliberately followed me.

“Trish,” she pleaded again, “I’ve worked so hard for this wedding. I just want it to be perfect. Please help me. They say if brides cross paths but don’t exchange bouquets, it’ll ruin their happiness. I never thought you’d suddenly change your route… I know you don’t think much of mine, but I poured my heart into making it. Don’t tell me everything has to be measured by money?”

She stayed put, refusing to leave.

Meanwhile, the hate-filled comments in her livestream grew louder, fueled by her manipulation. The more my reputation crumbled, the more satisfied she seemed. She really would stop at nothing to ruin me on my wedding day.

I let out a long sigh. “Fine. Since you insist, take it.”

Smiling, I held out my bouquet. “There’s no need to return it. It’s yours now.”

Selena’s face lit up as she reached for it, only for her expression to instantly drain of color the moment she saw the bouquet up close.