Chapter 2

Travis lifted my chin with his hand, forcing me to look up, and said provocatively to Patrick, "Take a good look at who she belongs to now."

After saying this, Travis leaned down and kissed me. I didn't pull away.

Patrick narrowed his eyes. "Are you trying to make me jealous with him right now?"

"That trick won't work. You know I don't like games like this."

He raised an eyebrow and confidently beckoned to me. "Come here."

He was so sure of himself.

That's what happens when you're someone's favorite—you think you can get away with anything. I stayed put in Travis's arms. "Since you left, I found myself a new groom."

On our wedding day, half an hour before the ceremony was supposed to start, Lily called.

Patrick answered right in front of me. I watched his face grow colder by the second, his eyes filled with concern.

He said to whoever was on the other end, "I'll be right there."

I looked up at him. "The wedding's about to start."

His voice was heavy. "We'll have to cancel the wedding. We can reschedule for later."

I didn't cry or make a scene. I just asked stubbornly and calmly, "All these media people and everyone from our circle are here today. If you cancel the wedding now, do you want me to become the laughingstock of the entire city?"

"Grandpa got a special injection just so he could hold on long enough to come and see me get married."

He interrupted me anxiously, "Lily tried to kill herself. She's in critical condition and they're trying to save her. I have to fly to Brookshire right now."

I finally broke down and screamed hysterically, “I don’t care if she’s dying! It’s my wedding!“

Patrick turned to leave. I grabbed his sleeve one last time, begging, "Don't go."

He pried my hand away. "There's no time. Stop making a scene."

The pain in my chest made it hard to breathe. I dug my nails into my palms. "If you walk out that door, don't ever come back."

He paused for a moment, then strode away, rushing off to another woman.

I tilted my head back, refusing to cry. My heart felt empty and numb. This was the man I'd loved for so long. I'd given my heart to the wrong person.

My assistant asked carefully, "Should I tell the guests the wedding is canceled?"

I wasn't afraid of embarrassment. I was afraid Grandpa couldn't handle a shock like this. I thought for a moment. "Go get Mr. Miller."

When Travis knocked and came in, I was sitting at the mirror touching up my makeup. He leaned against the doorframe with that careless, rebellious look of his.

"Calling me in now—don't tell me you want to rekindle our old flame. I'm always available."

I finished the last stroke of my eyebrow and raised an eyebrow at him. "Good boy."

That clearly caught him off guard.

I slapped the contract my assistant had just drawn up onto the table. "Help me finish this wedding, and that south district land is yours."

"Where's Patrick?"

"Dead..."

He laughed happily. "Now that's what I like to hear."

The two of them were equals when it came to family background—one was an elegant, aloof prince, the other a wild, rebellious bad boy. They seemed naturally incompatible, never getting along since childhood. They were famous enemies in our circle.

I was really desperate to come to him.

Our relationship wasn't as hostile as it appeared on the surface. We'd even watched the sunrise together at four in the morning.

Just like everyone thought I was madly in love with Patrick, but I wasn't really that in love with him.

I looked down. "The wedding starts in fifteen minutes. If you don't do it, I'll find someone else."

"I'll do it." He took the contract and raised an eyebrow. "But I won't accept a fake wedding. After the wedding, we're getting legally married."

"Fine."

With the last-minute groom switch, the wedding proceeded smoothly amid all the shocked whispers. When it came time to exchange rings, the Luther family finally couldn't take it anymore.