2

Maverick’s question made Ava swallow nervously.

At first, she intended to look away from the man standing in front of her, but somehow… that wasn’t easy to do.

“Yes,” Ava answered softly, though there was unmistakable firmness beneath her voice. “I know exactly what I’m asking of you, Mr. Maverick.”

The man let out a slow breath. Just as he was about to speak, Sophia abruptly cut in first.

“Have you completely lost your mind too, Ava?” Sophia snapped. She grabbed Ava’s hand a little too hard, forcing Ava to turn toward her. “I know you’re devastated because of that bastard Jackson, but that doesn’t mean you can treat marriage carelessly like this!”

Ava fell silent. Sophia wasn’t wrong.

Ava had always been someone who firmly believed in the meaning of marriage. To her, it was never something light or impulsive. But right now, everything inside her felt far too chaotic. She was exhausted. Exhausted to the point where thinking clearly no longer seemed possible.

Seven years.

For seven whole years, she had always been the one holding everything together no matter what Jackson did. She was the one who apologized first. The one who compromised more often. The one who constantly convinced herself that someday Jackson would finally change.

But today, at their own wedding altar, he chose another woman. Wasn’t that already the clearest answer she could ever receive?

“I’m not joking, Sophia,” Ava said quietly. “I just… don’t know what else there is left for me to hold onto anymore.”

Sophia froze.

The expression on Ava’s face right now was far more terrifying than hysterical crying. Her best friend looked too calm.

Too resigned.

Maverick, who had remained silent the entire time, finally spoke. “A marriage proposal is not something that should be made out of temporary emotions.”

His tone was low and flat, yet somehow it made the room feel even quieter.

Ava lowered her gaze briefly before looking back at him again. “Then pretend you never heard any of this,” she said softly. “I should go meet the guests and explain the real situation to everyone.”

Maverick’s eyes had remained fixed on Ava the entire time.

The traces of tears were still painfully obvious despite how hard she tried to appear strong. And Maverick knew exactly what Jackson was like.

Too arrogant.

Too confident.

Too certain that Ava would always wait for him.

Jackson probably didn’t even realize that what he had done today had crossed every possible line.

“You love him?” Maverick suddenly asked.

The question stopped Ava in her tracks once more. A bitter smile slowly appeared on her face. “I love him more than I loved myself.”

“And now?”

Ava stayed silent for a long moment before finally whispering, “A man who truly loves me would never leave me alone at the altar.”

The room fell silent again after those words.

Sophia stared at Ava with reddened eyes. Honestly, she wanted nothing more than to punch Jackson in the face for reducing Ava to this state. And if the opportunity ever came, Sophia swore she would not waste it.

Several seconds later, Maverick stepped closer to Ava.

“If I agree to your insane request,” he said calmly, “then I’ll do it in a way that actually makes sense.”

Ava frowned slightly in confusion. Maverick continued in the same steady tone.

“The wedding goes on. The family scandal can be contained. Your reputation is protected, and the guests won’t leave this ballroom spreading stories about Ava Celeste being abandoned by her groom.”

Sophia’s eyes widened instantly. “Mr. Maverick… are you serious?”

But Maverick ignored Sophia’s obvious shock and kept his gaze fixed solely on Ava.

“There’s one thing you need to understand,” he said calmly. “I can’t promise you anything. Including love.”

Ava’s heartbeat slowed strangely at those words.

“This marriage is only a solution,” Maverick continued evenly. “I’m not interested in putting on some fake relationship for the public.”

Ava slowly curled her fingers into her palms.

“I’m a busy man. You’re free to continue living your life as usual.” He paused briefly before adding, “Even if this marriage only lasts one year, I wouldn’t have a problem with that.”

Sophia was completely speechless now, while Ava felt as though her mind had gone entirely blank. All she could do was stare at the man standing in front of her with conflicted eyes.

One year.

A contractual marriage.

No love between them.

And yet, strangely enough, everything Maverick said felt far more honest than the seven years she had spent with Jackson. “Think of this as my way of cleaning up the mess my nephew created,” Maverick said flatly.

Ava never once looked away from him.She knew this was insane. Completely insane.

But at the same time, it was also the only way she wouldn’t have to shatter alone in front of everyone.

Her hands slowly tightened around the fabric of her wedding gown. “All right,” Ava finally answered softly.

Sophia’s head snapped toward her immediately. “AVA!”

But Ava only gave a faint smile, even though pain still lingered clearly in her eyes.

“I agree.”

For the first time since entering the room, Maverick truly looked at Ava in silence for several long seconds, as though making sure she wouldn’t change her mind.

Then he slowly extended his hand toward her. “So,” he said quietly, “let’s finish this wedding.”

Ava’s breath caught in her throat. But slowly, she still placed her hand into Maverick’s outstretched palm.

Warm.

Completely opposite from the cold, rigid impression the man always gave others. And strangely, that simple warmth calmed her more than she expected.

Outside the room, the music from the main ballroom became louder and clearer. The guests were still waiting anxiously because the wedding should have started an hour ago. Yet neither the bride nor groom had appeared.

Then the ballroom doors slowly opened. And within seconds, the entire grand hall fell into stunned silence. Hundreds of eyes widened in shock when they realized the man escorting Ava toward the altar was not Jackson Langham.

It was…

Maverick Langham.

Whispers immediately spread throughout the room.

“What’s going on?”

“That’s Uncle Maverick, isn’t it?”

“Where’s Jackson?”

“Why is Maverick the one walking with her?”

But Maverick continued forward as if none of them existed. His steps were steady, calm, fully controlled, as though the uproar filling the ballroom wasn’t important enough to disrupt him in the slightest.

Beside him, Ava lightly held onto his arm, silently trying to calm the frantic pounding of her own heart.

At the front row where the Langham family sat, Eleanor Langham’s expression changed instantly.

“WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!” Jackson’s mother demanded sharply, rising halfway from her seat.

Maverick only spared her a brief glance before returning his focus straight ahead.

He continued leading Ava toward the priest, who had been waiting for the bride and groom to exchange vows for nearly an hour.

The priest looked utterly confused. His eyes moved back and forth between Ava and Maverick several times. “M-Mr. Maverick…”

Maverick answered shortly, “Continue the ceremony.”

“B-But the groom—”

“Is standing right in front of you.”

The ballroom instantly erupted into chaos again.

The whispers that had previously lingered softly in the background now exploded into loud waves of commotion. Several guests even rose from their seats openly, trying to make sense of what exactly was happening at the altar.

Camera flashes began going off everywhere.

Everyone knew the Langham family was the center of Manhattan’s attention. And what was unfolding right now would undoubtedly become the biggest scandal of the year. Of course the media wouldn’t miss an opportunity like this.

And yet, strangely enough, amidst all the chaos, Maverick remained perfectly calm.

As though the sharp stares, the shock, even the outrage coming from the Langham family meant absolutely nothing to him. He stood tall beside Ava, carrying that same cold, dominant aura that was impossible to ignore.

Meanwhile, Ava could feel her palms turning colder by the second.

Her heart pounded so violently it made her breathing feel tight. She could practically feel the weight of every gaze in the room pressing mercilessly against her.

They probably thought she had completely lost her mind.

And maybe they were right.

But when Ava secretly glanced to the side, she found Maverick standing there as steady as ever beside her. His shoulders remained straight. His gaze fixed forward without the slightest trace of hesitation.

And somehow…

That alone slowly quieted the chaos inside Ava’s mind.

The priest cleared his throat nervously before finally opening the small book in his hands.

“W-We will now begin the wedding blessing…”

Little by little, the ballroom fell silent again, though the tension in the air remained unbearably thick. The priest began reciting the sacred vows, his voice trembling slightly. Several times, the middle-aged man looked visibly nervous whenever his eyes landed on Maverick.

Ava herself could barely focus on any of the words being spoken.

Until finally—

“Do you, Mr. Maverick Langham,” the priest’s voice echoed once more through the silent ballroom, “accept Ava Celeste as your wife, to love her, honor her, protect her, and remain by her side for the rest of your life?”

The entire hall fell completely silent.

Not a single sound could be heard.

Everyone seemed to hold their breath, waiting for Maverick’s answer.

Including Ava.

Without realizing it, she stopped breathing too.

Because for the first time since this entire disaster began, Ava suddenly felt afraid.

Afraid Maverick might change his mind.

Afraid this was all some cruel game to him.

But several seconds later, Maverick’s voice rang out clearly throughout the ballroom.

“Yes.”

Simple.

Firm.

Without the slightest hesitation.

“I do.”

A strange tremor suddenly spread through Ava’s chest.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze toward the man standing beside her. Maverick remained there with the same calm expression, as though making a life-changing decision like this was never something he needed to question in the first place.

And for the first time today, the crushing tightness in Ava’s chest slowly began to warm.

Maybe…

Maybe her reckless decision wasn’t something she would regret after all. Before she even realized it, the priest’s voice echoed once again in front of her.

“And you, Miss Ava Celeste…” He paused briefly before continuing, “…do you accept Mr. Maverick Langham as your husband?”