Kendra reached out, her hand forming a protective barrier as she shielded Elliot behind her. Her eyes glinted with something that seemed to anticipate what would come next.

But as the moments passed, I remained still, my silence stretching like an unspoken challenge.

Kendra’s gaze flickered, surprise flashing across her face before she let out a cold laugh, the sound laced with bitterness.

“At least you’ve grown up a bit. No tantrums this time, huh?”

After the banquet, when we were on our way home, she suddenly halted me with a gesture.

“It’s late, and it’s not safe. Let me give you a ride.”

I couldn’t refuse the offer, not with the night stretching on and no real reason to protest.

I made my way toward the car's back seat, but before I could settle in, Kendra blocked my path, her gaze sharp.

“You sit in the back,” she said coolly, her hand guiding Elliot into the front seat as if she were already accustomed to making the decisions.

“Sorry, Brother Wyatt,” Elliot said with an apologetic tone. “Kendra was just worried I might get carsick...”

I didn’t reply. I simply slid into the back seat, as I had planned from the start.

The ride was filled with light chatter and laughter between Kendra and Elliot up front, their voices almost too familiar.

As the car stopped at a red light, Elliot leaned in playfully, asking if he could help Kendra with her lipstick.

Their gazes locked, their faces inches apart. The air between them thickened, their breaths growing heavy with unspoken tension.

But just as the moment stretched, Kendra suddenly turned toward the back seat, her eyes catching mine as if she’d only remembered my presence.

Seeing me staring out the window, indifferent, her face faltered, a sharp shift in her mood. Her expression darkened, and she quickly started the car again, speeding away from the awkward moment.

Once we arrived home, I barely had time to step out of the car before Kendra grabbed my arm with unexpected force.

She shoved a bracelet into my hand, her tone dripping with condescension.

“Alright, stop pretending like you don’t care. It’s pathetic,” she sneered.

She continued her words like a command rather than a gift. “Take this bracelet as my engagement gift to you. As long as you play along, I’ll give you the wedding you want.”

“At least everyone in Cavendale will think you’re my husband.”

I raised my gaze, meeting her eyes, and asked, “Then who are you actually marrying? Is it Elliot?”

Her anger flared, but something else was in her gaze—a subtle, almost smug satisfaction.

"I knew you were just pretending!" she snapped, her voice tinged with venom. "Let me warn you—don’t you dare breathe a word of this to our families!"

"My relationship with Elliot is something you can’t even begin to understand. He’s kind, genuine—everything you’re not. If you hurt him, don’t expect the wedding to go through!"

I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony. It was clear to me that it was her own fear—fear of defying the Jewett family—that kept her from truly speaking her mind. Yet, here she was, trying to shift the blame onto me.

I said nothing. Instead, I turned and walked away, heading home.

As soon as I stepped inside, my phone buzzed with an incoming video from Elliot.

In the video, Kendra carefully helped him fasten a wristwatch. The brand was unmistakable, and suddenly, I remembered the bracelet she had given me earlier—an afterthought. This free gift came with the watch.

Their gaze locked, a soft, affectionate exchange before they kissed—passionate and unrestrained. The wet, smacking sounds from the car were almost suffocating, too intimate for my taste.

[Brother Wyatt, I’m sure Kendra told you... Once the wedding with you is done, she’s going to register her marriage with me!]

[You know, a marriage that isn’t legally recognized doesn’t entitle you to any inheritance rights. It’s time for me to claim my spot as the husband of the wealthiest woman in Cavendale!]

So, Elliot had been reborn, too.

No wonder, despite there being no connection between us in our past lives, the two of them were already wrapped up in intimate gestures just days after meeting. It was as if their hearts had already aligned in this new life, their bond reigniting before they could fully acknowledge it.

I lowered my gaze, my mind drifting back to my past life. After I officially married into the Jewett family, the Jewett Corporation was bombarded with an unexpected influx of collaboration offers.

Opportunities poured in, contracts were signed, and their assets surged to unimaginable heights. It didn’t take long before they claimed the title of the wealthiest family in Cavendale.

The elders of the Jewett family had always believed I brought good fortune to my spouse, and their satisfaction with me only deepened as time passed. They treated me with the utmost kindness and respect.

So, despite Kendra’s indifference toward me, I had convinced myself that I was content—until I stumbled upon those photos.

One day, Mother came to my room with a surprising announcement on her lips: Rosie would be returning from abroad in five days.

It took me off guard, as in my previous life, Kendra’s younger aunt had never married. I hadn’t expected our arranged marriage to progress so seamlessly.

I vaguely remembered Rosie as a warm and kind older sister, and marrying her seemed a far more reassuring thought than tying myself to anyone else.

The following day, I arrived early at my fashion studio, eager to revise the design of my wedding attire.

Since college, I have poured my heart into this piece, my fingers tracing every detail with care.

Back then, I was fixated on marrying Kendra, ensuring every design choice matched her exacting tastes. She had never allowed me the luxury of choosing patterns I loved.

In this life, I was finally free to choose my own wedding attire and marry someone who truly mattered to me.

A few days later, after putting the final touches on my design, I went to the break room to unwind. I stumbled across Elliot’s latest social media post as I settled in.

The photo took my breath away: my carefully designed wedding attire had been sliced in half and transformed into a jacket. He was now wearing it as he danced intimately with Kendra.

"Big Sister Kendra knew I needed an outfit, so she brought this over for me. Being pampered feels amazing!"

I couldn’t believe my eyes. Anger bubbled up inside me, and I rushed to the fifth-floor ballroom.

There, Elliot and Kendra were dancing, their bodies swaying as one, moving in perfect harmony.

"That’s my wedding attire! How dare you give it to him! And ruin it like this!"

The moment Elliot caught sight of me, his face fell into a mask of fear, his eyes welling with tears.

"Kendra... Did I do something wrong? Why does Brother look so angry...?"

Kendra shielded him with a smug smile, her voice dripping with disdain.

"Wyatt, it’s just a wedding outfit!" she scoffed, her hands on her hips.

"You were going to wear it for me anyway. What’s the harm in letting Elliot wear it for a dance now?"

She waved her hand dismissively.

"Besides, I never liked this design anyway. Just make a new one. Stop throwing a tantrum over nothing."

I stood there, stunned by her audacity.

"Who said it was for you? This was meant for my own wedding!"

Kendra shook her head, a sneer tugging at the corners of her lips. "Give it a rest, Wyatt. Your wedding is our wedding, isn’t it? I already agreed to marry you. This act is getting old."

My gaze fell on the scissors lying on the nearby table. Without a second thought, I grabbed them and cut the fabric strip hanging from Elliot’s waist.

"Kendra, since you’re so sure, watch closely! I won’t let anything be tainted, and I won’t accept anyone sullied either!"

Kendra froze, her eyes widening as she took in my determination.

No matter the trouble I had caused before, it had always been to please her. She had never seen me this serious, this resolute about cutting ties.

She instinctively reached out to stop me, but before she could act, Elliot burst into loud, sobbing cries.

"Kendra... My leg... I think I scraped it... It hurts so much... But it’s okay... Don’t worry about me. Go after Brother... It’s all my fault..."

Kendra paused for a brief moment, her eyes narrowing. Then, she scoffed, watching me walk away.

"Ignore him! A jealous man like that needs a lesson. Let him reflect on his own foolishness!"

I stared down at the wedding outfit’s threads still tangled in my hands.

Silent tears fell as I wiped them away, grieving the loss of something I had poured my heart into.

If losing a wedding outfit was the price of uncovering someone’s true colors, then perhaps it was a hidden blessing.

Tonight was the family banquet where I would formally meet Rosie; first impressions mattered more than ever.

After a deep breath to steady myself, I made my way to the underground parking lot.

From a distance, I noticed a car rocking slightly.

As I drew nearer, I realized it was Kendra’s Maserati.

The driver’s window was cracked open, and there she sat with Elliot on her lap.

Elliot’s glazed eyes and the rhythmic motion left little to the imagination.

Though I had long since accepted that Kendra didn’t love me, the sight still hit me in the chest, an instinctive sting I couldn’t deny.

Kendra caught my gaze, her eyes flashing with a momentary panic.

But, as if to provoke me further, she quickly grabbed Elliot’s hair, pulling him into a deeper kiss, her actions growing increasingly exaggerated.

Elliot’s muffled groans echoed through the empty parking lot, a sharp reminder of the intimacy I had never shared with her.

I turned away, forcing myself to look past them as I walked toward my car.

The drive to the Jewett estate felt longer than it should have.

On the way, I made a stop to pick up the silk scarf I had prepared as a gift for Rosie.

When I arrived at the Jewett family home, fate decided to intervene once again, and I ran into Kendra.

As she opened her car door, my eyes were drawn to the scattered condoms on the passenger seat, a sight that made my stomach churn.

She caught sight of the gift in my hand and, for a brief moment, looked somewhat flustered. But it wasn’t long before her expression twisted into one of smug satisfaction.

"You bought me a gift?" she asked, her voice dripping with mock curiosity. "Let me see."

I instinctively hid the gift behind my back, wary of her tendency to take anything she fancied.

"It’s not for you," I shot back, my voice firm.

Kendra chuckled softly, her eyes filled with disdain, as if she couldn’t be bothered with my protest.

Blowing a ring of smoke, she smirked, her words dripping with arrogance.

"You saw what happened in the parking lot, didn’t you? I know you like me. You can’t live without me."

She took a drag from her cigarette before continuing, her tone turning almost condescending.

"But I’ve made it clear, Wyatt. The wedding’s for you, but I’m marrying Elliot. He’s the one making all the sacrifices."

She paused for effect, her eyes gleaming with a malicious satisfaction.

"He’ll be my legal husband and all of this," she waved her hand casually, "is completely normal. He’ll probably stay over at our marital home from time to time. You’ll just have to get used to it."

Her lips curled into a mocking smile as she added, "I’m doing this for your own good, you know."

I was taken aback, not by the words themselves, but by the sheer boldness of her shamelessness.

I turned to leave, but she grabbed my arm, her grip tight, her voice suddenly sharp.

"My aunt will be at the banquet tonight. She’s important to the family, so this event is formal."

She let go of my arm, but her gaze remained steady.

"I’ve given you enough face by letting you attend. If the elders ask about our marriage registration, just tell them it’s already done."

Her voice grew colder. "And about the little boy you upset this afternoon, you’d better apologize to him after the banquet. If you don’t, remember, I can still back out of this wedding anytime before it’s official."

With that, Kendra strode into the dining room, leaving me trailing behind.

I exhaled deeply, feeling a strange sense of relief. It didn’t matter. Soon enough, she would realize who I truly intended to marry.

Entering the room, I saw that Rosie hadn’t yet arrived, but the elders were already seated, their murmurs filling the air.

I intentionally avoided Kendra and chose a seat where I could leave a space beside me for Rosie.

Seeing my choice, Kendra’s lips curled into a frown. Without hesitation, she got up and sat beside me.

"You’re getting more pretentious by the day," she sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "The seat was already saved for you, yet here you are, playing games."

I frowned, about to explain that I’d saved the seat for her aunt, but just as I opened my mouth, a slender figure appeared in the doorway.