Chapter 21

The church was silent.

Too silent.

As if even time refused to move.

Livia stood before the altar.

The white gown clinging to her body looked perfect—pure, elegant, flawless.

But not her heart, which was empty and hollow.

In front of her, Adrian stood with an expression that did not change at all. Upright. Calm. Cold.

As if the woman he was about to marry… was no one.

The priest opened his book, then lifted his gaze.

His voice was calm. Deep. Echoing throughout the room.

“Mr. Adrian… do you take Miss Livia as your wife,” he said slowly, “to live together in the sacred bond of marriage—to love her, to protect her, to honor her, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, and to remain faithful to her until death do you part?”

A brief silence followed.

All eyes were on Adrian.

Without hesitation.

Without pause.

“Yes, I do.”

His voice was firm.

Clear.

Without the slightest tremor.

The priest nodded, then turned.

“Miss Livia… do you take Mr. Adrian as your husband, to live together in the sacred bond of marriage—to love him, to protect him, to honor him, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, and to remain faithful to him until death do you part?”

The voice echoed softly.

Sacred.

Yet it felt unfamiliar.

Because for Livia—

every word sounded like a lie forced into becoming the truth.

And at that moment—

without realizing it—

her tears fell.

One drop.

Then another.

She did not wipe them away.

Did not try to hide them.

Because she knew—

there was nothing left to save.

Livia opened her mouth.

But her voice was barely audible.

Broken.

Fragile.

As if every word that came out was a betrayal of herself.

“I… y-yes…” her voice nearly disappeared, “I do.”

Silence.

For a moment.

Yet it felt so long.

The priest slowly closed his book.

“With this, you are now husband and wife.”

Silence.

“Mr. Adrian… you may kiss the bride.”

Livia froze.

Her breath caught.

Adrian stepped closer.

Slowly.

His gaze lowered to Livia’s face.

Cold.

Meaningless.

His hand lifted, touching Livia’s chin gently—too gentle for something that felt so cruel.

“Look at me.”

Adrian’s voice was low.

Calm.

Yet it sounded like a command.

Livia did not move.

Her eyelids shut even tighter.

Her tears fell again.

The memory of that night flashed through her mind.

Adrian’s gaze that seemed to want to kill her made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

“How long will you keep acting like a victim?” Adrian whispered softly, just enough for her to hear. “This was your choice… you trapped me.”

Livia’s heart pounded hard.

But she remained silent.

Did not resist.

Did not answer.

Adrian took a short breath, then slightly lifted her chin.

“Open your eyes.”

Soft.

Cold.

Forcing.

Livia finally opened her eyes.

Their gazes met.

Adrian fell silent.

Why did Livia’s eyes resemble that woman?

He quickly shook his head. It was impossible. That woman was Charlie, not Livia.

Very carefully, Adrian’s lips touched hers.

Brief.

Flat.

Without feeling.

But inside Livia—

everything collapsed.

Slowly.

Silently.

“Is that all?” a soft voice suddenly broke the silence.

All heads turned.

Charlie.

She stood from her seat.

Her body trembled.

Her tears fell endlessly.

“H-how could you do all this??” her voice trembled violently.

According to the plan, she would speak after the wedding was over.

She stepped forward slowly.

Unsteady.

As if she was truly on the verge of breaking down.

“Adrian…” she called, almost pleading. “You really married her?”

Adrian did not answer immediately.

His gaze only shifted briefly. Seeing Charlie cry like this clearly made him unable to bear it.

Charlie let out a small laugh through her tears.

A broken laugh.

Yet too perfect to be sincere.

“Her mother ruined my family’s happiness. Now, she takes your future husband too, right?” she said softly. “I can’t bear to see all of this. Everything feels so painful…” she looked at Livia, her eyes filled with fabricated pain.

Livia did not move.

But her hand slowly clenched.

“Why do you have to repeat your mother’s actions? Do you know, you are truly cheap, just like your mother…” Charlie’s voice rose, almost shouting.

Livia wanted to answer every word thrown at her.

But she realized that if she did, Rossa would be the one to bear everything. Her mother would be beaten endlessly, not given food, and locked in a damp and cold basement.

Because of that, Livia chose to remain silent and accept all the accusations thrown at her.

Charlie covered her mouth, holding back her sobs.

Her shoulders trembled.

As if she was truly broken.

But behind all of that—

there was a well-hidden satisfaction.

Livia looked at her.

For a long time.

In silence.

And for the first time—

something changed in her eyes.

It was no longer just pain.

“Charlie, I married her under a contract agreement. After 3 years, this marriage will end.”

Charlie looked at Adrian, then nodded.

“I believe you. You would never betray me. And you promised to avenge all my pain because of her. She destroyed my family. She is the daughter of a seductress, and she is also an illegitimate child.”

Adrian nodded without hesitation.

Outside—

behind the door that was not fully closed—

Rossa stood.

She witnessed everything.

Through a narrow gap that felt far too small to contain such a reality.

Her body began to tremble.

Slowly.

Then more violently.

Her hand pressed against her chest, as if trying to hold something that was breaking inside.

Her breathing became uneven.

Short.

Irregular.

Her tears flowed endlessly.

Without a sound.

Yet that was what hurt the most.

Her daughter…

The child she had protected all this time…

Was now standing there—

living a marriage without love.

Without choice.

Without happiness.

Rossa’s lips trembled.

But no words came out.

She had no right to enter.

No right to hold her own daughter.

Her legs weakened.

Her body almost collapsed.

But she endured.

With the last strength she had left.

Because if she fell—

who would remain strong for Livia?

Her hands kept trembling.

Her tears would not stop.