Chapter 1

Not only was the entire village going to attend the engagement ceremony, but it was also going to be broadcast to promote the culture of our village.

The elder stood on the stage and announced with a smile, “Willow, please come on stage to receive your silver crown and become John’s fiancee.”

All eyes landed on me.

Luke Lane, my brother, jabbed me with his elbow and teased me, “You’ve been dating John for eight years, Willow, and you’re finally tying the knot. Look at Dad. He’s grinning so hard.”

At that moment, John walked past me.

Since he was so close by, I could even smell the fragrance on his clothes.

However, he did not look at me. He did not even stop as he said coldly, “Don’t go on stage.”

I was stunned and had not registered what he said when he held Katherine’s hand.

As if she were reluctant to do so, Katherine took two steps forward. “This… isn’t right, John.”

“Don’t be scared.” John turned to her with a gentle gaze. “You’ve always wanted to experience an engagement here, right? We both wish for this.”

He went up the stage and picked up the silver crown with 999 gemstones. “Katherine, you’ve been teaching here as a volunteer for three years, and you’ve helped plenty of people. You’re kind and worthy of the silver crown.”

My father’s expression changed, and the elders stood up as well.

The assembly hall descended into chaos.

“Have you lost your mind, John?!” Luke rushed on stage and grabbed John’s collar.

“This is my sister’s engagement, and you’re letting someone else wear the silver crown?! Who do you take my sister for?!”

John scoffed and snapped, “Sincerity is the most important thing about the engagement. Katherine has done plenty of good things for the village. There’s nothing wrong with me giving her an engagement.”

Then, he put the silver crown on Katherine’s head without hesitation.

The villagers burst into a ruckus, and the chat went wild.

Everyone turned to me, as if they were waiting for me, the feisty one, to throw a tantrum. They wanted me to break down, go berserk, and create chaos.

Yet I did not move.

Instead, it was John who lost his patience and turned to me. “Do you really have to do this? It’s just a ceremony. Don’t blow things out of proportion.”

Katherine’s fans started desperately defending her in the chat.

[These villagers are so ungrateful!]

[The bride-to-be is so petty. She won’t even let the Volunteer Queen have her wish? It’s so off-putting.]

Katherine took a look at the angry villagers and the chat. Then, she teared up. “Willow, I just wanted to experience it. I’ll remove the crown and return it to you…”

“You don’t have to.” John grabbed her hand. “I gave it to you. It’s yours now. Willow, you need to be generous. Katherine is pure of heart. Don’t project your pettiness on her.”

I stared at the man I had loved for eight years. “John, do you have any idea what you’re saying?”

He was taken aback for a moment, and unease flashed in his eyes, but he soon regained his smug attitude. “Of course. It’s been eight years. You can wait a little longer. I’ll give you another silver crown that’s just like this one in the future.”

I smiled bitterly.

Katherine was not just a volunteer teacher from the city who came to our village to teach the children and give medicine to the elderly.

She had also used the hype of charity and being a volunteer teacher to gain a good reputation and tons of money online.

A few years ago, she had also saved John from a car accident.

Hence, all of her kindness became a pass for her to do whatever she wanted.

My eight-year relationship became the backdrop for a kind teacher to get her wish.

I avoided John’s outstretched hand and smiled calmly. “You’re right. We can’t let a kind person have any regrets.”