Chapter 1

At the wedding venue, Seraphina leaned into Fintan's embrace and announced to everyone:

"Fintan and I are truly in love. Today, I'm marrying Fintan."

Everyone stared at me in shock.

Only I stood calmly in place, watching Seraphina without any expression.

Bodyguards, arranged by Seraphina to prevent me from causing a scene, were already by my side.

I didn't yell or make a fuss. Instead, I gracefully walked up to him in front of all the guests, politely bowed, and said:

"My feelings for you end here."

"I'm sorry for any trouble I've caused before. It won't happen again."

"And, congratulations on your marriage."

This time, I won't let my lovesick brain ruin my life and family again.

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Seraphina's words rang out with finality.

All the guests inhaled sharply, their expressions unreadable as they stared at me.

In an instant, I had become the undisputed center of attention at the wedding.

"Brent, it wasn't until I met Fintan that I truly understood what love is."

"He's taught me so much. My heart belongs only to Fintan, and he's the only one I want to marry."

"So please, I beg you to let us be together."

The two gazed at each other with deep affection.

It was as if I had become the villain, tearing apart a pair of star-crossed lovers.

Emboldened by Seraphina's confession, Fintan straightened his back with newfound confidence.

"Mr. Sterling, Seraphina doesn't love you. Why force something that isn't meant to be? You can't squeeze water from a stone."

"Marrying someone who doesn't love you won't bring happiness. Seraphina and I are truly in love. Please, let us be together."

His tone was filled with earnest pleading.

I looked at the two of them standing on the stage, locked in a tight embrace, and smiled faintly.

Since I was ten years old, I'd known I would marry Seraphina.

To make her my wife, I had tirelessly honed my skills day and night.While others were playing with Transformers, I was already learning gentlemanly etiquette.

When others were comparing whose family had the cooler car, I was already studying finance and stocks.

While others were fretting about not getting perfect scores on their finals, I was learning various languages, all to become Seraphina's pillar of support.

Because I knew that the person standing beside Seraphina could never be an empty-headed trust fund kid.

Perhaps it was this childhood obsession that made me become warped.

My sole aim became to marry Seraphina and make her my wife.

Even I couldn't distinguish whether it was love or desire to be in possession anymore.

Unfortunately, the status I fought so hard to attain in my past life became the sword Seraphina used to destroy the Sterling Family.

This time, I don't want to get tangled up in this mess again.

I adjusted my custom-tailored suit and walked towards the stage, step by step.

The bodyguards followed vigilantly behind me, as if ready to pin me to the ground at the slightest strange movement.

And I, I just stopped three yards away from Seraphina.

I bowed politely, the gesture standard and elegant."Seraphina, I'm sorry for bothering you before. It won't happen again."

"And, congratulations on your marriage."

On stage, Seraphina was visibly taken aback. She had expected to put up a fight, but didn't anticipate my ready agreement.

In the next moment, Mr. Montgomery rushed onto the stage in one swift move, intending to kick Fintan, but Seraphina firmly stopped him.

Mr. Montgomery, disregarding his image, started cursing at Seraphina:

"You ungrateful brat! Turning down a well-matched wealthy bachelor to marry this nobody from God knows where. You've utterly disgraced the Montgomery family."

"What can he do besides playing the victim and begging you for money to gain your sympathy?"

The blatant disdain made Fintan's face flush red instantly.

But Seraphina shielded Fintan behind her like a precious treasure:

"Brent may have everything going for him, but Fintan only has me."

"Brent and I grew up together. If there was going to be a spark, it would've happened by now. I simply don't like him. Why are you trying to force this?"

"Without love, how can a marriage be happy? I want the whole world to know that Fintan is the only one I love. In this lifetime, I only want to marry him."

This bold declaration of love was met with titters from many guests.

The marriages of the wealthy are never so simple.

Seraphina then turned her attack towards me: "You don't like me either, do you? A marriage like ours would never be happy."

I didn't answer Seraphina's words, I just silently took off the ring from my hand.

But I saw that Fintan's ring finger already bore an expensive couple's ring.

I smiled wryly, took the hand of the bodyguard next to me, and placed the ring on it: "Returning it to its rightful owner."

Mr. Montgomery blocked my path, trying to persuade me to stay.

My dad directly mocked: "Since the Montgomery family has made other arrangements, we'll have to excuse ourselves for not keeping our accompany."

With that, he dragged my mom away from the wedding venue, fuming.

Because of a casual remark from our elders, I had loved Seraphina for a full eighteen years.

Even when friends in our circle mocked me for being her lapdog, I just laughed it off.Because no matter how much they laughed, it wouldn't change the fact that I was going to marry Seraphina.

But when I actually snatched this position, I realized my foolishness had pushed myself into an abyss, and even Mom and Dad weren't spared.

This time, I won't be playing along.