Chapter 1

On the wedding day, the man I loved for sixteen years stole my wedding dress and eloped with his assistant.

His brother lied to me that he was waiting for me at the marriage registry.

When I returned to the wedding scene, there was only a mess.

The wedding ceremony of my fiancé and his assistant was over.

The red fake marriage certificate in my hand was extremely dazzling amid the laughter around me.

It turned out that I was a clown.

I turned around and picked up my phone and dialed the marriage proposal number that I had rejected countless times:

"Mr. Harrison, I am willing to accept your proposal."

————

"It's just a fake marriage. She won't really go. I bet a glass of wine."

My fiancé's brother Lucas held a glass of wine and looked at me who was soaked with a smile.

"I bet a hundred dollars, after all, Layla dare not resist." This is my childhood sister Liam Noah.

I looked at the people in front of me and realized that everything was designed.

Including making me fall into the water with a fake person, making me look bad, making me marry the air, and even betting on whether I would really go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to register for marriage with his brother.

"This is just a fake marriage, why are you so serious? It's just a joke."

Lucas sneered at me with contempt in his eyes.

I felt fooled, calculated, and despised, and I was shaking with anger.

I was calculated like a fool by my childhood sweetheart and assistant!

I raised my head, looked at the laughing faces of everyone, and dialed the number directly.

"Mr. Harrison, I do."

Almost as soon as I finished speaking, I heard the person on the other side say with a smile:

"Certainly, I'll begin arranging the wedding details right away."

His reply was almost immediate—a courtesy I hadn't received from Matthew or Lucas since that assistant appeared.

A call came through. I paused, wanting to say elaborate arrangements weren't necessary, just registration would do. After all, we weren't close. Before I could speak, he added: "Layla, I'm very pleased."

My pulse quickened, and flustered, I ended the call.

The next instant, someone shoved me from behind, almost causing me to stumble. I turned to see Lucas, with assistant Sophia Parker clinging to his arm.

"Layla, you know I'm not keen on marriage, just curious about the experience. I didn't expect Matthew and Lucas to... I'm sorry."

I remained quiet, but Lucas suddenly knocked my phone from my hand.

"Are you hard of hearing? Is this how the Noah family raised you? Sophia is blameless, why are you so petty, not even speaking?"

My fiancé Matthew swiftly approached, shielding Sophia behind him.

The three of them seemed so united, while I, the fiancée, appeared as the outsider.

The guests, friends of the Noah family, whispered and ridiculed me.

"Look at her, did she truly believe she was the bride today? This party was specially organized by the Matthew brothers for Sophia!"

"I heard she wanted to wed the younger brother after the older one fled. Young Master Lucas is really indulging her, even accepting this woman..."

My childhood sweethearts were doting on Sophia, neglecting me.

I looked around, noticing how the romantic scenes I meticulously arranged were completely ruined.

The flowers I carefully placed were thrown on the floor, crushed into petals.

Even this entire charade was designed to please Sophia.

My fingers shook uncontrollably.

Sophia seemed to notice my distress, her eyes watering, and she lowered her head, saying softly, "Layla, I apologize. I suggested giving you a surprise, never imagined it would turn out like this..."

"I truly didn't know the wedding dress was yours, I just thought it was beautiful. It's all my fault, don't blame others."

Matthew squeezed Sophia's hand tight, glaring at me: "Can't you be less spiteful? You're a wedding dress designer, haven't you seen worse?"

Lucas was even more enraged, grabbing my wrist and pushing me in front of Sophia: "Layla, Sophia is just a kid, how can you treat her like this? Stop acting pitiful and apologize!"

I stood firm despite the pain, slowly removed the ring I designed myself.

Matthew's face turned ugly, he instinctively covered his hand—where I previously placed a handmade wedding ring, now replaced with a matching one with Sophia.

I spoke calmly, "You're right, let's enjoy today."

They looked at me in shock, not believing I'd yield so easily.

In the past, I would always argue with them over Sophia.

But not this time.

I decisively tossed the ring into the air.

"Let's break up."

Matthew's face darkened.

I smiled slightly, "Engagement's off. You're single, aren't you?"

Lucas couldn't contain himself anymore, frowning: "Are you mad? You won't accept Sophia's surprise, and you want to marry someone outside the Noah family? Who else would want you besides us?"

My heart ached, but I kept smiling.

I smiled slightly, tearing the fake marriage certificate into pieces and throwing it at Lucas: "You wanted to please Sophia, right? You should experience it properly."

Lucas's eyes widened, grabbing my wrist tightly: "How dare you—?!"

The pain was evident, but I was numb.

I responded faintly, "Why wouldn't I dare?"

Lucas's face turned blue, throwing the pieces back at me: "Enough! Layla!"

Matthew frowned, approaching me with impatience in his voice: "Our wedding is approaching. If you dare embarrass me in front of everyone, I'll cancel it!"

I laughed at his words.

The old me might have pleaded for their forgiveness.