Miles sneered in agreement. “Tessa, even if you’re embarrassed, there’s no need to lie.

“Besides, do you think I wouldn’t know if anyone actually wanted to marry you?”

His words sent a wave of laughter rippling through the crowd.

Everyone had seen how I had spent years chasing after Rowan. It was a fact no one could deny.

Nathan pretended to think for a moment before smirking. “Could it be that she’s just trying to make Rowan jealous?”

“That’s such a pathetic trick, Tessa. Don’t you think it’s ridiculous?”

Lisa gently tried to stop them, then turned to me with a look of concern.

“Tessa, this whole thing was just a little joke to cheer me up. You playing along with them really means a lot to me.

“I also know you’ve liked Rowan for a long time, but love is a two-way street…

“A girl should know her worth. Father is watching from the audience, along with so many guests. You shouldn’t keep making a scene.”

Her voice was soft, her tone soothing, but every word painted me as a shameless woman.

I glanced down and saw my father’s face darken as he hurried to offer the guests an explanation.

Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself and spoke firmly.

“This is my wedding. The groom is on his way.”

Then, without hesitation, I picked up my phone and dialed the number pinned at the top of my contacts.

…

But the call went straight to voicemail.

I redialed, again and again, but no one answered.

A hollow unease settled in my heart. After all, we had only met once.

Rowan watched me with amusement, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

“I used to think you were just unabashed. Now, I see you’re also remarkably good at lying to yourself.”

Miles scoffed. “Stop wasting your time, Tessa.”

Lisa cast me a pitying glance, then turned to Rowan.

“Rowan, it looks like Tessa desperately wants to get married,” she said softly.

“Why don’t you just humor her and go through the motions? I feel a little sorry for her.”

Rowan didn’t even hesitate. “I was only playing along to amuse you. I never had any intention of marrying Tessa.”

He took a deliberate step back as if drawing a clear boundary, as if afraid I might cling to him.

Lisa then turned to Nathan.

Nathan recoiled instantly. “There’s no way I’d embarrass myself like that!”

Watching them scramble to reject Lisa’s suggestion, eager to prove their loyalty to her, I felt nothing. Nothing but the echo of a memory.

At eighteen, these same two men had fought over the chance to have me as their partner at their coming-of-age ceremony.

They had tripped over each other planting roses in my honor, hoping to win my favor.

Now, their devotion belonged to someone else, and my heart had long since gone numb.

I refused to watch Lisa pretend to be kind.

“Don’t worry. I wouldn’t marry either of you scumbags, nor would I ever let you be associated with me,” I said coldly.

“My groom is someone else entirely.”

My father, Richard Hamilton, finally lost his patience.

He bellowed at me, his face twisted with fury.

“Tessa! Stop this act! Do you want to humiliate me in front of everyone?

“Why can’t you be more like Lisa? Sensible, obedient! Do you have to make sure the whole world knows you’re a desperate, unwanted burden?”

I stood there on the stage, stripped of dignity, forced to endure his rage.

All he cared about was saving his reputation.

My frail yet steady grandmother held my hand tightly. She looked at me with unwavering support and offered a reassuring smile.

“Tessa would never lie! Please, just wait a little longer.”

At that moment, my phone vibrated in my clenched palm.

I answered, my heart pounding.

A deep, steady voice came through the receiver—urgent yet soothing.

“Sorry, my love. Traffic’s bad today, but I’m on my way.”

I told him to be careful.

Nathan smirked, watching me like he was enjoying a show.

“You’re really committed to this act. Did you hire some random guy to play the part?”

"Tessa, you really will do anything to protect that pitiful shred of dignity, won’t you?

"If you’re that desperate to get married, why not just pick a man from the crowd?" Rowan suggested with feigned kindness, but I knew better.

He wanted to humiliate me further, to make sure I had no way to walk away from this unscathed.

In the next moment, he grabbed the microphone and turned to the guests.

"Everyone, we have a special announcement! The esteemed eldest daughter of the Hamiltons, Tessa, is now accepting suitors—right here, right now!

"As long as you’re a man, you’re welcome to sign up. If anyone’s interested, we can hold the wedding on the spot.

"Any takers? Our dear Miss Tessa is nothing if not devoted—she’s been chasing after me for years, utterly relentless in her pursuit."

…

The crowd buzzed with murmurs, and some even pulled out their phones to record the spectacle.

Heat crept up my face as I bit my lip in embarrassment.

Yes, I had chased after Rowan for years, but he had always accepted my affections, stringing me along with vague responses. Again and again, he trampled on my sincerity.

A sharp gust of wind blew past. The chill seeped into my bones, numbing me from the inside out.

Then, to my horror, someone responded to Rowan’s taunt, stepping forward to volunteer as my groom.

Rowan led him onto the stage—a man in his forties or fifties, old enough to be my father. He grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth, his eyes leering at me.

"Miss Tessa, you are so fair-skinned and beautiful," he said, his tone dripping with sleaze.

Nathan and Miles shoved me toward him, laughing as if this were some grand joke.

I felt sick to my stomach, unable to utter a word.

Miles clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Isn’t this faster than hiring some actor? Just marry him already and stop embarrassing our family."

Even Lisa spoke up, feigning concern. "Don’t make a big fuss, Tessa. We’ve carefully selected him for you—what could you possibly be dissatisfied with?"

I clenched my fists, staring at the so-called ‘respectable’ people around me. My voice was ice-cold as I declared, "My wedding is not yours to decide!"

Then I remembered—just yesterday, I had officially registered my marriage. My marriage certificate was right there, inside my wedding purse.

I strode forward, grabbed my bag, and pulled out the document. Flipping it open, I threw it onto the table in front of them.

"This is my marriage certificate," I said coldly. "I told you—my husband just hasn't arrived yet."

Miles froze, his expression flickering between shock and disbelief before he suddenly burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.

"Tessa, you really went all out with this act!" he sneered. "Do you even know who this man is? You actually dared to Photoshop his name into your certificate?"

Rowan snatched up the document and took a glance. The entire room erupted in derisive laughter.

"Where did you even get this certificate made? Couldn't you at least make it look somewhat believable?" Rowan taunted.

"Besides, this is Dali Group’s CEO, Draco Dali. I was literally begging him for a meeting yesterday to discuss a business deal.

"But you know what he said?" Rowan continued, shaking his head in mock amusement.

"That he had just gotten married and was busy spending time with his wife.

"And now, you’re trying to convince us that he’s your husband? What a joke!"

I thought back to yesterday.

Draco had indeed spent the entire day with me, patiently helping me try on wedding dresses.

His phone had rung nonstop, yet when I told him he could take his calls, he had insisted on staying until I had finished.

Lisa sighed, her eyes brimming with faux sympathy.

"It’s not your fault that your love was unrequited, Tessa," she said gently. "But to fabricate an entire story just to deceive yourself... you're only making yourself look like a fool."

My father had finally had enough. With an enraged scowl, he stormed forward, grabbed my wrist, and yanked me toward the edge of the stage.

"Enough, Tessa! Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough for one day?"

His furious voice echoed through the hall, but before he could drag me away, Rowan grabbed my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.

"Didn’t you say he was almost here?" he sneered. "Why not let us meet this so-called husband of yours? Otherwise, wouldn’t today have been a wasted trip?"

Miles and Nathan joined in, seizing my arms to keep me from leaving. In the struggle, I lost my balance, teetering dangerously on the edge of the stage.

For a fleeting second, I braced for the inevitable—humiliation crashing down on me as I tumbled down the steps, completing today's spectacle in the worst possible way.

But instead of the cold, hard ground, I fell into the arms of a strong embrace.

A crisp, clean scent of pine enveloped me as a deep voice murmured against my ear, steady and reassuring.

"Sorry, my love. I’m very late to the party."