ed small balcony overlooking the attic. After a beat of sile

didn't dare question the order. He simply

ne, fol

wedding party was waiting on the bridesmaids, who w

had already slipped out throug

ong, casually humming the "Wedding March

roughly on the back of her neck. She was hauled upward, her fe

man's voice resonated, deep and rich as a cello. It c

o had grabbed her, but she inst

so quickly. Nevertheless, she had prep

trembling, exaggeratedly nasal voice. "S-

d around. He dropped her instantly, look

moles, dominated by a thick unibrow, and finished off

lay- worse than the che

revulsion, pretending to be

etting married today, aren't you? You're in the wrong place! You should g

of him. He had almost fallen for it. A faint smirk touched his thin lip

hed her hand, lifting it to inspect t

mute. Her cov

the ring felt like it was welded to her skin. It was impossib

s, he spoke up to clear her doubts. "Don't bother struggling. The band of this ring

ritted he

d. Realizing there was no e

w you don't actually want to marry me, and that you only nee

, though he had to a

yn would be thrilled to marry you. She's prettier than me, an

ng if this woman was really so

e indicated she wa

ad ever met had thrown herself at him, doing whatever it took to secure a prop

"I will only marry the woma

cial oil. I'll take the ring off right now and hand i

light shrug. "I

go buy

more. It's not avail

ing a sudden, bright smile, she pointed franti

old, though the corner of his

child

of her neck once again. Jeremy simply scooped her up and carried her o

.

his phone rang. It was Jeremy. Tommy paused to answer, speaking with the utmost respect, then abr

thoroughly smug, was taken aback and hurried over. "Where

"Mr. Holden has alre

. "What? But how? Sherly

en intends to marry is not named Sherlyn." With that, he brushed past Li

o the spot, the color d

"Could I... hav

atives and friends immed

ier, was instantly reduced to the laughingstock of the gathering. Hum

fool out of him. "What is the meaning of this, Lilli

en the Holdens brought the engagement gifts, they said it was for your daughter. They

face. "You've made our entire family a joke! How coul

screaming at each other, she couldn't sit still. Lifting the heavy skirts of her wedding dress, sh

said there was a mistake. They've

d they make a mistake like that, Mom? W

heek. "Don't blame me, Sherlyn.

exasperated by Sherlyn and Lilliana's arrog

rlyn. Come to think of it, it's obvious a man of Mr. Holden'

hook a family as prestigious as the Holdens.

yn! That's probably the only place you'll

nger, Sherlyn shot her mother a resentful glar

her ears, and she was too hum

ng in her mind: how could su

gling to process reality. She simply couldn't believe t

ibly be another woman around w