The next morning, I was awakened by my phone ringing. I endured my headache and answered the call, only to hear Sebastian's stern voice on the other end. "Joan, come to the office. I have something to ask you."

His voice was cold and devoid of any warmth.

My chest tightened instantly, and an ominous feeling rose within me. Was he finally going to confront me?

I didn't want to hear it. Although I knew he loved Cassandra, I didn't want to hear the words from his mouth personally. That was why I had chosen to escape abroad. In the end, I still went to his office obediently.

As soon as I entered the office, I saw Sebastian glaring at me with a dark expression. Next to him sat Cassandra, and she looked aggrieved.

I asked nervously, "What's wrong? What happened?"

He fixed his stare on me and spoke deliberately. "Joan, were you the one who hired those thugs yesterday to bully Cassandra?"

I was startled by his imposing manner, but I firmly replied, "How is that possible? Sebastian, you have to believe me. I would never do something like that."

However, Sebastian only let out a cold laugh. His eyes were filled with anger. "Joan, I never thought you would become such a despicable person. The evidence is all here. Are you still going to deny it?"

I was completely baffled. At that moment, Cassandra walked up and pulled out her phone. She showed me the screenshot of a chat log and said, "Ms. Robinson, I've already investigated everything about you hiring people to harm me in secret."

As she spoke, she gave me an aggrieved look. "This is your chat log with those thugs. I knew you never liked me, but you shouldn't do something like this… If you really hate me that much, I'll just stay out of your way from now on."

My face turned pale when I looked at the screenshot.

An account with my profile picture and nickname sent a picture of Cassandra to a strange man, along with a message, "Do you see this woman? You guys go and teach her a lesson tonight! Money is not an issue. Just make sure she pays the price. Better yet, make her wish she was dead!"

Alarms went off in my head immediately. I never sent those messages. Obviously, the chat was fake.

"Sebastian, this is fake! You have to believe me!" I was so anxious that tears welled up in my eyes. However, Sebastian didn't believe me at all. He simply said, "Joan, I never thought you could be so evil! Apologize to Cassandra right now."

I was stunned by his reaction. A bitter feeling welled up in my heart. We had been together for so many years and endured many challenges. In the end, was Cassandra still the person he trusted most?

"I won't apologize. I didn't do it, and I will never admit to something I didn't do!" I clenched my teeth and refused to give in.

In a fit of anger, Sebastian yelled at me, "Making a mistake is one thing, but refusing to admit it is another. Joan, I don't like the person you've become. You've become so cruel and heartless!"

Taken aback, I stared at him in disbelief.

Sebastian, who once cherished me like the apple of his eye, actually yelled at me because of Cassandra. How could he call me cruel and heartless?

Seeing this, Cassandra pretended to be considerate and understanding. She tugged on Sebastian's sleeve and said, "Mr. Ford, forget it. Ms. Robinson didn't do it on purpose. She's just jealous that we used to be lovers.

"She's afraid that I'll take you away now that I'm back. That's why she hired those thugs to teach me a lesson. She made a mistake because she's too in love with you. There's no need to apologize. Ms. Robinson only hated me out of love for you, and I can understand that."

Cassandra turned to look at me, her eyes malicious. "However, you should be punished since you did something wrong. Hiring thugs to harm others is a crime. I can let it go this time, but what if you target someone else next time? If you drink all the alcohol on this table, I'll consider this matter resolved."

I looked at the row of vodka bottles on the table. A chill ran down my spine. There were at least five or six bottles of alcohol. How could I possibly handle all that in one go?

However, Sebastian's expression remained indifferent, seemingly going along with Cassandra's suggestion. He clearly knew that I had developed severe gastric problems from caring for him in the past.

Even a sip of something cold or spicy could cause me unbearable pain. Drinking this much vodka was no different from a death sentence for me.

Nonetheless, he still acquiesced to Cassandra's request.

My heart was filled with agony, and I found it hard to breathe from the pain. "Fine, I'll drink."

I picked up the glass and emptied it in one gulp. The vodka scorched my throat and burned in my stomach like fire. My face drained of color instantly, but I still reached for another glass.

One bottle, two bottles…

By the fifth bottle, I could no longer endure it. My stomach was churning violently, and cold sweat broke out all over my body from the pain. I clutched my abdomen and collapsed onto the floor after vomiting.

Before I lost consciousness,I vaguely heard Sebastian's panicked voice. "Joan!"

I was in the hospital when I woke up once more.

An IV was attached to my hand, and an oxygen tube was in my nose. In a daze, I met Sebastian's worried gaze. "Joan, are you okay? Why were you so foolish to drink all the alcohol?"

His voice sounded anxious, as if he was truly concerned about me. My heart ached terribly at the thought of his coldness and disbelief earlier.

"Mr. Ford, shouldn't you be comforting your ex-lover who was wronged? Why are you here pretending to care about me?" My tone was icy as I turned my head away to avoid looking at him.

Sebastian was silent for a moment before he sighed. "Joan, I have no other feelings for Cassandra. I was just too angry, so I acted that way. Besides, my parents don't like you. If they found out you hired thugs to hurt someone, they would think you're heartless and hate you even more. Moreover, you… How could you hire thugs to attack Cassandra? That's illegal!"

I closed my eyes as tears rolled down my face silently. He still didn't believe me. I couldn't be bothered to explain myself further.

At that moment, Cassandra walked in. Her expression darkened when she saw Sebastian sitting at my bedside. "Sebastian, my head really hurts. Can you come with me to get it checked?" Cassandra tugged at his sleeve in a coquettish manner.

In the past, Sebastian would have gone with her without hesitation. However, he didn't move at all this time. He said indifferently, "You can go by yourself. I'm staying with Joan."

Cassandra's expression darkened instantly, but she quickly masked it with a gentle smile. "Ms. Robinson just woke up, so she probably needs rest. Mr. Ford, you should get some rest too. You've stayed up all night."

"There's no need. I'm not tired." Sebastian refused her suggestion directly.

Cassandra continued, "Ms. Robinson, I've already withdrawn my complaint against those thugs at the police station. Don't hire anyone to hurt me again.

"You're about to marry Sebastian, so every move you make reflects on the Ford family. If the media finds out that you committed a crime, it will impact the company negatively." With that, she turned around and left.

Sebastian glanced at me with a disappointed look. I didn't explain myself. After all, I was planning to leave soon. I wasn't his real wife, so I wouldn't bring any negative impact to the company.

I stayed in the hospital for two days, and Sebastian remained by my side the entire time. He tended to my needs carefully and waited on me hand and foot.

The moment I opened my eyes, I met Sebastian's anxious gaze. "Joan, are you awake? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

He touched my forehead gently to make sure I didn't have a fever before finally sighing in relief. "Stay in bed. I'll go buy you something to eat."

With that, he turned to leave.

I fixed my gaze on his retreating figure. Seeing how considerate he was, I felt a warm feeling spread in my heart. Maybe… it was possible that Sebastian still had feelings for me.

The thought of leaving started to waver within me. Perhaps I could pretend that I was unaware of everything that happened. After all, he would divorce Cassandra in two years. The fake marriage certificate in my hands would become the real thing!

I waited for him in my ward for a long time, but he never returned. Stepping outside the door, I overheard an argument between Sebastian and Emily.

"Sebastian, how many times do I have to tell you? Joanna is not good enough for you. Are you telling me you want to hold a wedding, and you've invited so many people? I'm telling you, I'm not going!" Emily's voice was filled with anger.

Sebastian's tone was firm as he replied, "Mom, I only love Joan. I will marry her, and I'll stay with her for the rest of my life."

Emily sighed and said, "Why are you so stubborn about her? Sebastian, listen to me. Haven't you been spending a lot of time with Cassandra lately? Why are you still clinging to that driver's daughter? You probably don't know about this, but Joanna has already taken the money and is planning to leave."

At that instant, my heart was in complete chaos. I quickly stepped in and interrupted their conversation. "Sebastian, Mrs. Ford, what are you two talking about?"

Emily's demeanor changed slightly when she saw me, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Joan, have you been waiting long?" Sebastian's face lit up with a smile once he saw me. "I already asked my assistant to buy soup from your favourite restaurant. Just wait a little longer, okay?"

Nodding, I shot Emily a meaningful look, signaling her to not say anything to Sebastian. I greeted her casually, "Mrs. Ford, are you here at the hospital for something?"

Her expression stiffened for a moment before putting on a calm front. "It's nothing, I just came for a routine check-up."

"Oh." I nodded obediently and fell silent.

However, Sebastian frowned and looked at Emily in confusion. "Mom, what did you say about leaving? What do you mean? Who's leaving?"

"Nothing much. It's nothing important." Emily cut him off before he could ask further. "I'm busy, so I'll be going now."

After saying that, she glared at me before turning to leave. I let out a sigh of relief as I watched her retreating figure.

Fortunately, she hadn't told Sebastian about our deal. At that moment, my phone buzzed with a notification.

I looked down and saw a message from Emily, "Joanna, don't forget our agreement. You'd better leave Sebastian according to our arrangement. Otherwise, I won't let you off."

A grim smile appeared on my face as I simply replied, "Okay."

I put my phone away and gazed at Sebastian's silhouette in the distance. A bitter feeling welled up in my heart. In the past, Sebastian had always been like this. He constantly argued with Emily for my sake.

"Mom, I want to be with Joan no matter what. No one can stop me. If you ever try to hurt Joan, I will never forgive you!" Sebastian used to hold me tightly, his voice unwavering with determination. "Joan, don't worry. No matter what challenges we face, I will never let go of your hand."

Back then, his eyes were filled with hopes for the future and deep affection for me.

However, all this had become nothing more than an illusion now that Cassandra was back in the picture.

Our wedding was set on the day after my discharge from the hospital.

I would leave once the wedding ended.

I put on the wedding dress that Sebastian had custom-made for me a year in advance and did my makeup beautifully. I wanted him to remember me at my most beautiful moment.

The wedding venue was covered in pink rose petals, but I wasn't happy about it. I didn't like pink roses. I preferred red roses that were passionate and bold, just like my love for Sebastian.

It was Cassandra who liked pink roses.

I looked up and noticed that the dress Cassandra was wearing was from the same collection as my wedding dress.

"Ms. Robinson, congratulations on your wedding. Do you think my dress looks nice? This is a bridesmaid's dress. How about I be your bridesmaid today?"

Cassandra shot me a provocative smile when she caught sight of me. "Ms. Robinson, this dress doesn't quite fit you, does it? Sebastian is really too much. Why didn't he order a different design for you?

"Instead, he gave you the wedding dress he designed for me a few years ago. Even if he doesn't like you, he shouldn't be so perfunctory about it." Her words felt like a bucket of cold water that had overturned and drenched me from head to toe.

She continued, "Ms. Robinson, I know you really love Sebastian and want to get his attention. That's why you're willing to wear the wedding dress he designed for me. You want to be me.

"However, love isn't something you can force. You will never be me even if you're wearing this dress. At most, you're just a stand-in. Even if you got plastic surgery to look like me, do you think Sebastian would love you?" Her voice was gentle, but her eyes betrayed her mockery and scorn.

I was so furious that my whole body trembled, but I couldn't say a word. Sebastian had told me that he designed this wedding dress for me, but I never expected that its original owner was Cassandra.

"Look, I still have the original sketch with me!" She showed me the sketch on her phone. My heart ached so much that I could hardly breathe.

In the end, I was nothing but a fool.

If I had known the truth about this wedding dress, I wouldn't have waited until after the wedding to leave.

Just then, Sebastian walked in. He didn't seem surprised when he saw Cassandra in her bridesmaid's dress. "Joan, you don't have many female friends, so I asked Cassandra to be your bridesmaid."

Cassandra put on an aggrieved expression and said, "Sebastian, Ms. Robinson doesn't seem to like that I'm wearing a dress from the same collection as hers. She also doesn't want me as her bridesmaid…

"I can leave if you don't like me, but don't send thugs after me again. I heard those guys are desperate criminals. If they come after me again, I might actually get beaten to death without Sebastian there to protect me." As she spoke, tears started welling up in her eyes.

I turned to Sebastian with reddened eyes and tried to explain, "I didn't…"

The surrounding guests noticed the commotion and started to gather around. They whispered among themselves, "Wow, why is this woman wearing the wedding dress that Sebastian designed for Cassandra?"

"Maybe she just wants him to pay more attention to her."

"Everyone knows that she's just using her looks and the fact that she took care of Sebastian back then to force him into marrying her!"

"She cried and made a fuss just to marry him! What a desperate woman."

"She's not even officially Mr. Ford's wife yet, and she's already bullying others. She really is just a driver's daughter. She's obviously up to no good!"

The guests around pointed their fingers at me, and their words stung as they reached my ears. I bit my lip and forced back the tears.

Sebastian lowered his head and whispered to me in a low tone, "Joan, I forgave you the first time regarding the thugs, but I don't want to hear about it happening again.

"From now on, we're husband and wife. Rumours like these will only embarrass us. Alright, today is a happy occasion. Let's go and cut the cake together."

The waiter pushed an elegant wedding cake to the center of the hall. Sebastian extended his hand to invite me, but Cassandra quickly stepped forward and took his arm. "Sebastian, we haven't seen each other for so long. Today is your wedding day. I want to help you cut the cake to celebrate, okay?"

Sebastian glanced at me as he hesitated for a moment.

Cassandra continued acting coy. "Sebastian, please? Just think of it as my blessing for your marriage!"

Sebastian couldn't resist her coquettish demeanor and finally nodded. "Alright."

It felt like a knife was stabbing my heart as I watched their intimate figures walking away. I was supposed to be the woman standing beside him at our wedding, receiving everyone's blessings.

But now, another woman had taken my place beside him. I looked like the third party in our relationship.

I couldn't bear the pain within me. I made an excuse to touch up my makeup and fled to the restroom. I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water against my face. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't wash away the bitterness inside me.

I didn't know how much time had passed before I finally composed my emotions and prepared to return to the banquet. Just as I reached the door, I saw Cassandra standing at the entrance, looking at me with a smirk. "Ms. Robinson, have you been crying?"

I lowered my head without a word, intending to walk past her and leave. However, she reached out and grabbed my hand. "Ms. Robinson, I have something to say to you."

I instinctively frowned. "What do you want to say?"

She leaned in closer with a smug smile that pierced my eyes. "Joanna, do you really think you're worthy of Sebastian? You're just the daughter of a driver.

"Now that your father is dead, you have no power nor status. What else do you have other than your beauty? What makes you think you can compete with me?" Her sharp words were cutting, and her gaze was full of disdain.

I clenched my fists on both sides as I struggled to suppress the anger rising within me. "Cassandra, don't go too far! This is my wedding!"

She laughed scornfully. "So what if I do? What can you do about it? Your wedding? Don't make me laugh. Everyone knows this is just a fake wedding! Is your fake marriage certificate not enough to make you realize that Sebastian doesn't love you?

"Joanna, I'm telling you. Sebastian is mine. You're nothing but a passerby in his life. Don't think that you can compete with me just because you took care of him for a few years!" With that, she walked away triumphantly. I was left standing in front of the mirror, feeling humiliated.

I could only tremble with rage as I watched her retreating figure. I knew that she was right. I was just a powerless and weak orphan. What right did I have to compete with her?