1

“If you don’t come back, I’ll replace the groom, Jackson,” Ava said without hesitation.

On the other end of the line, the man she loved more than anything burst into laughter.

“You? Replace the groom who’s supposed to be me?”

Ava Celeste’s hand clenched tightly around her phone. “Don’t tell me you forgot that today is our wedding day, Jackson.”

“Oh, Ava, my sweetheart. How could I possibly forget?” Jackson replied lightly, sounding far too relaxed for someone who was abandoning his own wedding. “Unfortunately, I have a business trip that can’t be postponed.”

“Really?” Ava asked quietly, disbelief slipping into her voice.

“You’re doubting me now?” Jackson sounded irritated. “Come on, stop whining. Just cancel the wedding for today. Tell my family that Project Andromeda is in its final negotiation meeting. I can’t delay it. You know how much Langham Group would lose if I postponed this, right?”

The tears Ava had been desperately holding back finally spilled down her cheeks.

Before saying another word, she forced herself to steady her breathing, unwilling to sound pathetic in front of Jackson, even if it was only through a phone call.

“Is your business really more important than our wedding?”

“Of course it is,” Jackson answered without the slightest hesitation. “You know how hard I worked to get where I am now. So stop sulking and go greet the guests. Tell everyone exactly what I want you to say, Ava. You’re my obedient future wife, aren’t you? You’ll do that for me, right?”

The pain in Ava’s chest became unbearable.

Her tears wouldn’t stop falling.

“Ava? Are you listening to me?”

She wiped her face quickly, erasing every trace of weakness she could manage. Then she smiled faintly and said, “This is my final warning, Jackson. If you don’t show up within thirty minutes, I’ll replace the groom at this wedding.”

Jackson laughed again.

“You should know something, Ava, sweetheart. Only an idiot would dare take my place as your groom. In this city, not a single man would dare touch what belongs to me. So save your little threats.”

And then the call ended just like that.

Leaving Ava standing there in silence, drowning in disappointment and heartbreak.

Not long after, Sophia Bennett rushed into the bridal waiting room, panic written all over her face.

“Well? Where’s Jackson? Did you finally reach him? What time is he getting here? The priest’s already waiting, and the guests are getting more and more—”

“Yes, Sophia. I managed to reach him,” Ava interrupted with a bitter smile.

“Oh, Ava…” Sophia quickly pulled out one of the chairs nearby and sat down across from her. Her expression turned complicated the moment she saw Ava’s face. Her best friend looked devastated. Small. Miserable in a way that made Sophia’s chest ache. “So… what did Jackson say?”

“He’s not coming. As usual, there’s some important business matter,” Ava replied with a shrug that looked far more fragile than indifferent. “And apparently, I’m supposed to explain to all the guests that business matters more than our wedding.”

“IS HE INSANE?!”

Ava let out a hollow laugh. “Maybe I’m the insane one, Sophia.”

She picked up a small mirror and stared at her reflection for a long moment. Her makeup was still flawless. Her white gown was still breathtaking. Everything about her looked perfect.

Except for the emptiness in her eyes. Ava released a slow breath.

There was no way out of this humiliation. And the threat she made to Jackson? It was impossible.

Because Jackson was right.

Who in Manhattan would dare interfere with Jackson Langham? Who would be reckless enough to replace him as the groom on a day like this? Only a fool. Or someone fearless enough to destroy themselves.

After a few moments, Ava straightened herself and prepared to walk out to face the guests and the entire Langham family. To explain why Jackson still hadn’t arrived at the luxurious ballroom that had been decorated so extravagantly for the wedding party currently holding all of Manhattan’s attention.

“Wait, Ava,” Sophia stopped her quickly.

Her eyes had been glued to the phone in her hand the entire time, and the moment she found what she was looking for, she immediately turned the screen toward Ava.

“This is what he calls business?”

A new post from a social media account Ava knew all too well.

Trivia.Megan. Jackson’s adopted sister.

In the photo, the back of a man’s hand could clearly be seen holding a cup of coffee inside a classic-style café. Wrapped around his wrist was an exclusive luxury watch. A suffocating tightness instantly crushed Ava’s chest. She recognized that watch immediately.

The engraved initials on the side had been her idea. It was the birthday gift she had ordered for Jackson two years ago after secretly saving money for months just to make him happy.

Beneath the photo, Megan had written a short caption dripping with triumph:

“In the end, he knew who to choose.”

Ava’s heart shattered completely.

The pain spread through her body so violently that breathing became difficult. Throughout their seven-year relationship, Ava had always been the one who gave in. She never complained, swallowed every ounce of her pride, and forced herself to stay understanding every time Jackson placed Megan above her.

Suddenly, memories came flooding back without mercy.

Their fifth anniversary.

Jackson had canceled the romantic dinner Ava spent weeks preparing because Megan suddenly called, crying about being afraid of a thunderstorm.

Then the wedding dress fitting a month ago.

Jackson had left Ava to attend it alone because he needed to accompany Megan out of town for a medical checkup.

Every single time Ava questioned the boundaries of their relationship, Jackson always defended himself with the same sharp tone.

“She’s my only sister, Ava. She lost her parents and has nobody in this world except me. Megan depends on me, so stop acting childish and jealous for once and try to understand the situation!”

Today, inside the quiet bridal room filled with the scent of roses, the last pieces of hope Ava had nurtured for seven years finally collapsed. At this very moment, she stopped hoping that Jackson would ever make her his first priority.The overwhelming love she once felt for him evaporated, leaving behind nothing but a painful emptiness.

Ava carefully wiped the corners of her eyes with trembling fingers, trying not to ruin her makeup. Then she stood up straight and adjusted the magnificent white wedding gown draped around her body.

“I’m going to the ballroom now, Sophia,” she said softly.

Her voice was far too calm. Almost frighteningly flat.

“I need to explain things to them.”

Sophia stared at her in disbelief. “But, Ava—”

“There’s no but.” Ava forced herself to smile, though it only made her look even more heartbreaking. “You can’t seriously expect me to leave all those people waiting without any explanation, can you?”

Sophia knew Ava was right.

But still…

“Are you sure?”

If Jackson had been standing in front of her right now, Sophia honestly felt like punching him.

How could he treat Ava like this so carelessly? What had Ava ever done wrong to deserve this? If anything, Jackson was the lucky one. Men like him should have been grateful to be loved so sincerely by someone like Ava.

And this was how he repaid her?

But just as Ava stepped forward and opened the door, the sight of the man standing outside made her freeze in surprise.

“Uncle Maverick?” Ava greeted hesitantly. “What are you doing here?”

The man standing before her was Maverick Langham, Jackson’s uncle and the younger brother of Jackson’s father.

Unlike the rest of the Langham family, who loved appearing in public and dominating business headlines, Maverick was rarely ever seen. He seldom attended family gatherings, avoided media interviews, and often disappeared for months at a time while managing his investment companies across different countries.

To the public, Maverick was simply the Langham family member who chose to stay away from the family’s power struggles. A quiet man with no real ambition. A man who seemed uninterested in influence or status.

But very few people knew that several major corporations behind international projects were secretly under his control.

Without excessive publicity.

Without extravagant parties.

Without any need to flaunt his power.

Maverick had built his influence quietly, in silence. And perhaps because of that, people constantly underestimated him.

Including Jackson.

Maverick’s eyes swept over Ava, who still stood there in her full wedding gown, before he spoke calmly. “I originally came to deliver a message from Omma,” he said in an even tone. “But it seems… there’s a far more serious problem happening here.”

Ava bit her lower lip nervously.

She lowered her gaze, unsure how she was supposed to act. Simply standing in front of Maverick already filled her with embarrassment, let alone facing all the guests waiting in the main ballroom.

Even though she was trying to remain composed, Ava knew exactly what this party would become. The grandest wedding of the year canceled because the groom chose another woman.

“I’m not sure whether I should even say this to you.”

Those words made Ava slowly lift her head. Their eyes met briefly before Maverick looked away again.

“If you truly intend to announce this wedding cancellation in front of all those guests,” he said flatly, “then it won’t only be the Langham family that gets humiliated. You’ll suffer the consequences too, Ava.”

Ava fell silent. Because what Maverick said was true.

“Are you prepared to face all of that?”

Instead of breaking down into hysterical tears, Ava let out a quiet laugh.

A soft, bitter sound that carried more pain than crying ever could.

“Then what exactly am I supposed to do, Mr. Maverick?” she asked quietly. “My groom seems far too busy with other matters.”

The disappointment and heartbreak frozen inside her chest had begun clouding her thoughts. Maybe she was simply too desperate. Or maybe she just wanted to laugh at the cruel joke her life had become.

Either way, a reckless thought suddenly appeared in her mind.

Ava drew a slow breath before finally looking straight into Maverick’s eyes.

“In that case…” Her voice sounded fragile, almost hopeless. “Rather than standing alone at the altar and humiliating myself—”

She gave him a bitter smile.

“Would Uncle Maverick be willing to take my groom’s place today?”

Several seconds passed in silence.

Maverick was visibly caught off guard, clearly not expecting those words to come out of Ava’s mouth. Yet he didn’t get angry, nor did he immediately refuse her.

Instead, he simply looked at her for a long moment before finally speaking.

“Are you sure you understand what you’re asking me to do, Ava?”