Chapter 3

Celeste's mother, Mrs. Vance, was the first to react.

She stormed onto the stage, completely abandoning all decorum. "What in the world is going on?! Who are you?!"

Mr. Vance's face was ashen with fury. He bellowed at the chaotic crowd of guests and reporters, "Everyone, quiet down! There's been a minor hiccup with the wedding, it will be resolved immediately!"

How utterly delightful.

In my previous life, I was the one panicking on this stage. Now, it was Celeste's parents.

My mother, Mrs. Sterling, had also risen, clearly alarmed, her eyes fixed on me. "Liam, what is happening?"

I turned and gave my parents a reassuring glance.

Under the stunned gaze of everyone present, I took Aria's hand. "Thank you all for coming today to celebrate the wedding of Aria and myself. Due to a minor oversight, there was a mix-up with the wedding invitations and the rings."

I paused, then continued, "However, it's nothing serious. The wedding will proceed as planned."

Beside me, Aria straightened, her head held high, meeting the bewildered gazes of the crowd with serene confidence.

Mrs. Vance, shaking with rage, glared at me. "Liam, you're insane! Do you have any idea what you're doing?!"

Mr. Vance rushed forward too, hissing at me under his breath, "Liam, stop this nonsense! Call off the wedding, now!"

I ignored them, instead turning and handing the microphone to the stand-in beside me.

"Aria, tell everyone why you're standing here today."

Aria exchanged a knowing look with me, her voice calm and clear as she spoke into the mic. "I'm standing here today because Celeste offered me fifty thousand dollars to impersonate her at the wedding."

At her words, the entire ballroom erupted in a collective gasp, then a furious uproar.

"What?! She paid someone to marry in her place?"

"My God, is Celeste insane?"

Exposed so publicly, Mr. and Mrs. Vance's faces drained of all color, leaving them ghostly white.

My father, Mr. Sterling, exploded in a fit of rage. He pointed a trembling finger at Mr. Vance, yelling, "So this is the Vance family?! This is Celeste?! To treat my son's future, his life, as some pathetic game?! This is an absolute outrage! You've gone too far!"

My mother, Mrs. Sterling, her eyes blazing red with fury, stormed onto the stage. She pulled me behind her, then turned to the Vances, her voice cutting like ice. "This wedding is off! From this day forward, the Sterling family will have absolutely no ties, no connection, with the Vance family!"

Seeing the lucrative family alliance crumble before her eyes, Mrs. Vance panicked.

"Liam, Celeste was just being foolish, a silly prank! I'll call her right now, she'll come immediately to apologize to you."

I smirked, a cold smile playing on my lips. "Fine. I'll give her one more chance. If you can get her on the phone, I'll pretend none of this ever happened."

Aria's hand tightened in mine. I leaned down, whispering, "Don't worry. Celeste won't be coming back."

Mrs. Vance, clinging to that last desperate lifeline, frantically dialed Celeste's number.

Once, twice, a third time…

Each time, the same cold, automated female voice answered: "We're sorry, the number you have dialed is currently switched off."

I feigned disappointment. "Well, it seems Miss Vance isn't interested in returning."

"Security, escort these irrelevant individuals out."

Mr. and Mrs. Vance were practically dragged out by security, their faces illuminated by the frantic flashes of countless excited reporters, shoved right into their faces.

My mother squeezed my hand, not asking a single question, only repeating, "Liam, whatever decision you make, your father and I will support you."

My father simply clapped my shoulder, and a warmth spread through my chest.

In my previous life, my insistence on marrying Celeste had caused a deep rift with my family. After my death, they'd aged decades overnight from grief.

This time, I wouldn't make the same mistake.

And as for Celeste, the real mastermind behind all this, I wouldn't let her off easy.

As soon as the altered wedding ceremony concluded, I called my assistant.

"Immediately terminate all partnerships with the Vance family, and withdraw every single penny of our invested capital. Leave nothing behind."