Love, Lies and Redemption in the Thompson Family

After a long day, my husband, William Johnson, and I finally saw off the last of our guests.

William closed the door, turned around in one swift motion, and scooped me up into his arms, then rushed into the bedroom.

He kissed my forehead, nose, and lips eagerly, skillfully unfastening my wedding dress with his hands while repeatedly whispering, "Ava, Ava."

Just when William couldn't hold back his passion and took off all his clothes. the sound of paper being burned and muffled sobs suddenly came from outside, and thick smoke seeped through the crack of the door.

William jerked his head up suddenly, looking towards the door.

"Ava, your death was so tragic," Luna Thompson was kneeling on the ground, with lit candles in front of her. "Your beloved man has remarried, and he's taken a woman whose name is very similar to yours."

Mentioning his late wife, William's fervor diminished.

He climbed off me with a solemn expression, pulled up his trousers, casually put on his slippers, and walked outwards.

I didn't want our wedding night to be disrupted like this, so I hurriedly hugged him from behind.

The sobbing outside grew louder and louder. William frowned deeply and unhesitatingly broke free from my embrace, then walked straight out.

He pulled the door open and asked the girl crouching on the ground what she was crying about.

Luna, with tears streaming down her face, looked up mournfully and said, "Such a significant event as your remarriage, I must let Ava know. She loved you so deeply; surely she would be happy for you."

William's face was instantly filled with sorrow.

He crouched down, picked up the paper offerings for the dead from the ground, and placed them carefully into the brazier. Watching the sparks flying upward, he said, "Ava wouldn't be happy, but what else could I do?"

Their daughter had been diagnosed with leukemia, and he had to have another child as soon as possible to save the only bloodline he shared with his late wife.

William wanted to explain further, but Luna closed her eyes and fell backward.

William hurriedly grabbed her hand, pulling her into his arms.

Luna barely managed to open her eyes before closing them again. Her body went limp and she collapsed against William.

On my wedding night, I was sitting on the bed, feeling utterly helpless as I watched my husband gently lift his late wife's sister in his arms as if she were a princess and then, without uttering a single word, head straight towards her room. After that, he didn't come out again.

Luna sobbed softly, feeling aggrieved, while William took her into his arms and comforted her tenderly.

I stood barefoot in the living room, gazing at the tightly closed door across from me. Then I collapsed feebly onto the cold floor, tears streaming down my face.

What kind of man had I married?

William's late wife had passed away for a year, yet he was still living with his sister-in-law.

It was understandable for her to stay and help take care of her sister's child before. But now that the child was in an isolation ward, what reason did she have to remain here? To avoid arousing suspicion, she should move out.

Even if she didn't move out, didn't Luna know that there should be a proper distinction between men and women? Shouldn't she be more mindful of her attire when there are other men around? Luna was wandering around in a see-through chiffon nightgown that made her underwear visible, and she swayed her hips as she walked in front of William.

Tonight was my wedding night as Scarlett, yet she dressed even more alluringly and revealingly than I, the bride. Anyone who saw her would think she was William's wife instead.

It was really maddening!

In my bridal chamber, there were photos of William and his late wife everywhere I looked. Beneath each photo, Luna had stuck white flowers as a sign of mourning.

For other people's weddings, what caught the eye was a sea of red everywhere. But when I opened the door to my bridal suite, it was all white instead.

I even suspected that William was dead. I was getting married to a corpse.

Was this what William meant when he said, "You don't have to worry about the wedding; Luna will take care of everything"?

Was this supposed to be a surprise for me?