Chapter 4

I was instantly infuriated, and I directly sent them the video recording of my call with Aunt Carol.

"Mom, Dad, what's going on with you? Why are you all in on this trick?"

"I'm not married at all! Why are you playing such a joke? This isn't funny!"

I thought they'd back down, but then my mom's scolding voice came through.

"Carol, what are you doing! My son is acting up, but are you losing your mind too? Is this really something to joke about?"

Aunt Carol's pleading voice followed:

"Oh, Honey, I'm sorry!"

"I thought Ethan was having cold feet, so I just wanted to tease him! How was I supposed to know he'd hide and skip his own wedding!"

"Ethan, your aunt was wrong! You really are married! I processed your marriage certificate myself! Hurry up and come in, Aunt Carol has been waiting for ages to celebrate your wedding!"

I widened my eyes in disbelief.

Didn't Aunt Carol work at the civil affairs bureau? How could she be at the wedding venue?

I quickly video called Aunt Carol.

But Aunt Carol was sitting primly at the marriage registry, looking impatient:

"You kid, I'm busy right now! Why are you calling again?"

I instantly felt a chill run through me.

What was going on? How could there be two Aunt Carols at once?

But neither of them seemed fake. Which one was real?

I felt like my head was going to explode. Trembling, I sent the call history into the group chat.

"I'm not married at all! What exactly are you trying to do?"

The previously buzzing group chat suddenly fell silent.

Then, Chloe sent a voice message:

"Ethan Miller, what are you trying to prove by constantly sending AI images?"

"My patience has limits. I'm giving you five more minutes. If you don't show up, you'll face the consequences..."

Hearing that, I stiffened.

Chloe, the city's ultimate power player, who dared to cross her?

But would someone like her play along with a nobody like me?

This wedding was incredibly lavish and dreamy. Just the imported peonies alone, flown in from overseas and worthy of a royal wedding, cost over a million dollars.

Who would spend such a fortune on a prank?

The group was still buzzing with urgent messages, and my phone kept ringing.

My emotional defenses slowly crumbled; I desperately wanted to rush to the venue to confirm.

But the fear of being hit by the truck in my past life once again choked me.

No! I couldn't gamble.

Just then, my phone rang urgently: Chloe!

My pupils constricted instantly, and I almost dropped my phone.

Impossible!

I had searched countless times just now;

Chloe's name wasn't in my contacts at all!

Why was her name appearing on my phone now?!

My heart pounded wildly. Trembling, I pressed the answer button.

Chloe appeared on the screen, her face a mask of frost:

"Ethan Miller, time's up. Are you... still not coming?"

A strange pang of sadness hit me, and I cautiously began:

"Ms.... Ms. Chloe, we're not... not married, are we?"

As my words fell, her eyelashes trembled violently for a few seconds on the video call.

She let out a bitter, sarcastic laugh. "Ethan Miller, you really outdid yourself!"

"We've been together for three years. I thought if I loved you unconditionally and fulfilled your every need, I could win you over..."

"But now, it seems I was wrong..."

Seeing her forlorn expression, I almost reflexively denied it:

"No, it's not like that..."

Marry her? I've dreamed of it!

I've had a crush on her since high school.

All these years, I hadn't dated anyone because my heart was always set on her!