Chapter 2

Listening to him, the sheer absurdity made me want to laugh.

I was too exhausted to fight back, so I simply stood there in silence.

Hotel staff and passing guests hurried past, murmuring in disbelief:

"What on earth is going on? The groom locked his bride outside and is walking down the aisle with the maid of honor?"

"Tsk, poor Miss Sterling. The biological daughter comes back, but her parents don't give a damn about her, and her groom treats her like dirt. It's so obvious Julian has something going on with Chloe. The side chick is practically rubbing it in her face."

"Julian never respected Avery anyway. Who knows why he's even marrying her? Rich men trade women and share dirty secrets all the time. He didn't want his precious Chloe to suffer, so he married Avery to take the fall."

...

Their whispers grew increasingly vile and venomous.

Yet hearing them, I couldn't even muster a spark of anger.

I was completely numb.

A burst of thunderous applause erupted from the ballroom. Only then did the assistant pull the heavy double doors open.

"You may enter now."

I walked toward the center of the stage.

Chloe hadn't stepped down. Dressed in full bridal white, she stood right beside Julian, making me look like an absolute joke.

The officiant proceeded with the ceremony, turning to Julian.

"Julian Vance, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, to love and to cherish, as long as you both shall live?"

Julian took my hand, but his burning, intense gaze remained fixed squarely on Chloe as he answered:

"I do."

The officiant then turned to me.

"Avery Sterling, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, to love and to cherish, as long as you both shall live?"

I parted my lips, but before a sound could escape my throat—

Chloe, standing right behind me, shouted at the top of her lungs:

"I do!"

The grand ballroom instantly plunged into a dead silence.

Julian, looking visibly touched, rushed to smooth things over for her.

"Avery's throat has been bothering her all morning. Her voice was too quiet, and she was afraid no one would hear."

"So Chloe answered on her behalf."

It was the flimsiest excuse imaginable, but the guests were seasoned socialites.

They cast pitiful glances in my direction, then broke into polite, deafening applause to celebrate the completion of our vows.

The ceremony wrapped up haphazardly, followed immediately by the reception toasts.

Julian glanced at his watch, his brow tightly furrowed. The Pierce family was clearly rushing him.

He didn't even give me time to change, dragging me straight onto the floor to toast the tables.

Normally, to protect the bride, her glass would be filled with low-alcohol wine or simply disguised with water.

But Julian was terrified I wouldn't be drunk enough.

The moment the server approached with the tray, the pungent, burning stench of hard liquor hit my nose.

It was straight, high-proof spirit.

Chloe eagerly stepped up behind me.

"As the maid of honor, it's my duty to cover for the bride!"

"Though with Julian here, he definitely wouldn't let me get drunk anyway!"

Julian stroked her hair affectionately, smiling softly.

"Of course. I'll always protect you."

When the toasts began, Chloe didn't take a single sip for me. Instead, she actively egged on the guests to pour more down my throat.

I tried to laugh it off and brush the glasses away.

Chloe pinched my jaw hard, forcing the rim against my lips and tilting it back.

"Drink, Avery! This is everyone's blessing for your marriage!"

"Quick, she finished it! Fill it back up!"

I couldn't fight her off.

Glass after glass burned down my throat, blurring my vision and setting my stomach ablaze with agonizing pain.

I couldn't bear it any longer.

I reached out and grabbed Julian's sleeve as he stood by coldly, begging under my breath:

"Julian, please... I can't drink anymore."

"Take a few glasses for me, please."