Chapter 4

I had prepared myself for the truth.

Even so, seeing them together made me turn aside and vomit.

"Amelia!"

Mason rushed after me. His shout quickly drew the rest of the family into the hallway.

"Let me explain. Lily had too much to drink..."

Owen came out first. One look at the lipstick smeared across Mason's mouth told him everything.

"Enough. The wedding is tomorrow, and since you've already seen this, we may as well tell you now."

He stepped in front of me.

"Lily will take your place in the ceremony tomorrow.

"Her mental health has been fragile, and her birthday wish was to wear a wedding dress and experience a wedding.

"You will serve as her bridesmaid and help us give her that memory."

The moment he finished, my parents closed ranks around Lily.

Even Mason shifted toward her without realizing it.

"Amelia, it is only one ceremony. We can hold another one for you later."

He met my eyes.

"You've never cared about appearances, but Lily cannot handle another emotional shock.

"You understand, don't you?"

"Amelia, marrying Mason has always been my dream." Lily looked at me through trembling tears.

"Please let me have this one thing."

Some of them were guarding against me. The others were pressuring me.

They watched me as though I might start screaming or attack Lily at any moment.

Nothing happened.

My face remained strangely calm.

I looked at them and smiled.

"My wedding will take place tomorrow as planned.

"It simply has nothing to do with any of you."

They stared at me.

I walked past them, returned to my bedroom, and shut the door.

"Stop acting like a child, Amelia!" Owen yelled after me.

"If you refuse to be Lily's bridesmaid, don't expect to attend when we hold your ceremony next year!"

I did not answer.

The next morning, I opened the door for the hair and makeup team.

"The gown is here, Lily. Would you like us to take it upstairs or-"

"I'm sorry," the lead stylist said politely.

"There seems to be a misunderstanding. Our client is Amelia Reynolds."

My parents' faces tightened as they turned toward me.

Jessica had arrived early. She was the first to realize that the gown was not the one Mason had ordered for me.

This dress was far more elegant, with hand-sewn crystals scattered across a train three times as detailed as the original.

"Amelia, please don't do this to yourself."

Jessica approached with an awkward expression.

"No matter how beautiful your dress is, there can only be one bride today. Why humiliate yourself?"

Contempt spread through the room.

They looked at me as though I were delusional, and the more magnificent the gown appeared, the more pathetic they believed I was.

"She has no idea how embarrassing she looks."

Owen muttered the insult under his breath.

I offered no response and sat quietly before the mirror.

Two hours later, everyone surrounded Lily and escorted her downstairs like a princess.

Confetti burst through the air, but when Mason stepped from the limousine outside, his gaze went straight to me.

He stared at my dress, stunned by what he saw, before forcing a bitter smile and approaching.

"Amelia, this isn't going to work.

"No matter what you do, Lily is the only bride I am marrying today."

He extended his hand toward a blushing Lily.

Owen's face darkened beside her.

"You've made enough of a scene. Stop humiliating the family.

"Someone close the door. Do not let her-"

The low rumble of engines cut him off.

A convoy of sleek black vehicles turned onto the private drive and stopped outside the Reynolds estate without warning.

A tall man stepped out of the lead car carrying a bouquet.

"Mr.— Mr. Whitmore?" Mason's eyes widened in shock.

"What are you doing here?"

The man did not spare him a glance. He walked directly toward me.

"I came for my bride," Gabriel Whitmore said.

Then he smiled and held out his hand.