Chapter 6

When Lumina opened her eyes again, the familiar smell of disinfectant filled her nose. She had been lying in the hospital for two days, undergoing repeated stomach pumping.

Jackson hadn't come to see her once.

It wasn't until night fell that a shadowy figure approached her bedside. Jackson, dressed in all black, looked at Lumina, his eyes showing a hint of concern.

"How did you get hurt, Lumi?"

Lumina stared at the man before her, her throat dry and her body trembling. Just as she was about to speak, Jackson's phone vibrated. She glanced over. The message was from someone saved as "Captain."

"Sir, are you sure you want to spend one hundred thousand to promote the Lumina video?"

Lumina frowned and instinctively gripped the bed sheet. "Who messaged you?"

Jackson slipped his phone into his pocket and ruffled Lumina's hair with a gentle smile. "Just some spam. We're getting married tomorrow, Lumi. Don't overthink it."

Lumina dug her fingernails into her palm and clenched her teeth, saying nothing more.

Jackson only stayed a short while before leaving in a hurry.

An hour later, Lumina's phone vibrated as it promoted today's trending topic. She looked at it, and she instantly started to shake with rage. It was the video from two days ago in the abandoned warehouse, showing her being forced to swallow cigarettes and sand.

The title read: "So Satisfying! The Bully Gets Bullied Back!"

In just one hour, the video had millions of views and countless comments.

"Heard she's the bully who lured the Agriculture University's most beautiful girl to the roof and pushed her off three years ago!"

"Serves her right! All bullies deserve this!"

"What a shame, her face is blurred out!"

"Does anyone know who she is? Let's dig up her family!"

The comments from the netizens were like knives, carving deep into Lumina's self-esteem.

With shaking hands, she tried to reply and explain that she was the real victim, but every comment she posted was mysteriously deleted.

Suddenly, the hospital room door opened, and Celia's mocking voice rang out.

"Do you like the surprise I prepared? I didn't even want to promote the video, but Mr. Hunter thought it was upsetting that I got kidnapped, so he insisted on spending a hundred thousand to push it out. He also says this is just an appetizer. The real show is tomorrow. I'm really curious what he'll do to you by then!"

Lumina stared coldly at Celia, her fingertips turning white.

The next morning, Jackson arrived at the hospital with a makeup artist and a wedding dress.

Lumina changed into the dress and sat quietly, letting the stylist do her makeup. An hour later, they arrived at the wedding venue.

Jackson's friends were already waiting, watching Lumina with sneering smiles.

"Hey, from the way Lumina looks, she really seems to be looking forward to today's wedding."

"She probably doesn't know the ceremony she's so excited about is actually our boss's confession to Celia!"

"Don't forget, he promised to show something good later."

"Damn, Jackson is so ruthless! I heard he spent several hundred thousand to livestream and promote it just to appease Celia. Lumina's going to get famous thanks to her nude videos!"

Jackson's lips curled into a cold smile.

"It's time to close the trap after spending too much time setting this up. A vicious woman like Lumina deserves everything that's coming to her."

They didn't speak loudly, but Lumina heard every word. She glanced at the time, stood up, and walked over to Jackson. "I need to use the restroom."

Jackson's earlier indifference melted into concern. "You're wearing a wedding dress. I'll come with you."

Lumina shook her head, her gaze frigid. "Jackson, we'll have a whole new relationship in a short while."

Jackson thought she meant they would soon be husband and wife, but his eyes flashed with a trace of disgust. "That's right. Soon, we'll be married."

Catching the look in his eyes, Lumina let out a self-mocking laugh.

Not husband and wife.

Just strangers.

Strangers who would never meet again.

Lumina lifted her skirt and walked to the restroom. She quickly changed out of her wedding dress and into the black clothes she had prepared in advance, then hurried out the door. Half an hour later, she returned home.

She took only her identification documents and the tomato plant she had lovingly cared for these past two years.

Six months ago, she had signed up for the national cultivation competition. If her tomato plant matured as expected in a week, she was almost certain to win the grand prize—one million dollars and instant fame in the world of agronomy.

The irony was, she had originally entered the competition out of love for the field and also to use the prize money to pay off her loan and marry Jackson in style.

Downstairs, the people from Crown City's Morgan family were already lying in wait.

Lumina walked over, a hint of surprise in her eyes. "Who called you here?"

The butler bowed his head and answered solemnly, "The madam asked me to bring you to the ancestral residence. She wants to speak with you in person."

Lumina frowned slightly. Everyone knew that ever since Cadmus lost his voice, he had fallen out of favor with the matriarch Margaret.

However, Lumina had no choice but to get in the car.

As soon as she sat down, her phone notified her that Jackson had started livestreaming the wedding citywide.