On my wedding night, I joyfully lift the veil, only to discover that my bride has been replaced with the dim-witted daughter of my girlfriend's helper.

The laughter surrounding me grows louder. My girlfriend's male best friend gloatingly says, "According to tradition, you must spend a night with her, Mr. Leeds!

"I'll take one for the team and keep Carol company tonight instead."

Just then, my girlfriend strolls in leisurely. "It's just a joke. Don't be a sore loser. Besides, she's a complete ignoramus. Spending the night with her won't hurt you."

Seeing her sarcastic expression, I laugh.

"Now that I've lifted the veil, how can one night be enough? Since I did it, I'll take responsibility for life."

The groomsmen were stunned. They were here to play pranks on the engaged couple as was custom, but the scene they witnessed made them pause.

"You really have some nerve, Carol, making Justin Leeds spend his wedding night with some halfwit!" said one.

"Today's your big day! Even jokes have their limits, surely?"

Carol Barnes arched a brow impassively. "What's it to you? As his fiancée, I don't mind. What's he got to feel bad for?"

She walked up to me as she spoke, her tone menacing. "You made Caleb look like a complete idiot in front of everyone, even docking his bonus for half a year. I'm getting even.

"Either spend a night with the halfwit, or this marriage is off!"

Rather than feeling angry, I was reeling from how absurd the situation was.

Last month, Caleb Smith, my assistant, accompanied me to an auction. However, he threw all my instructions out the window and started waving the paddle wildly.

This resulted in my company acquiring the collection at a price much higher than the intended budget.

After that, I acted according to company policy and pursued disciplinary action. Word of the incident spread like wildfire, which gave everyone ammunition to gossip about Caleb.

If Caleb hadn't ignored my instructions, I wouldn't have wasted hundreds of thousands for nothing.

According to company policy, Caleb should've been fired. I merely docked his bonus for half a year, which was already lenient enough, for Carol's sake.

However, Carol stubbornly insisted that I was nitpicking by using that incident as an excuse to embarrass Caleb.

I tried to explain, but she refused to listen, thinking I was cold and heartless.

She forced me to stand in the lobby all night. Only after I wrote a lengthy apology letter to Caleb did she reluctantly let it slide.

I thought the issue was long put to rest, but I never imagined this would happen today.

This made my heart freeze over completely.

Carol went as far as to orchestrate this farce on her wedding day just to get back at me on Caleb's behalf.

It was easy to imagine the rumors that would spread after tonight.

How many were going to ridicule me after this?

Based on her behavior, Carol clearly assumed I loved her deeply and would not defy her.

She was utterly convinced that even if there was a flaming pit before me, I'd have jumped into it willingly for her.

Yet, she did not realize that even the most ardent love could not withstand such reckless misdeeds.

I let out a muffled grunt, turning away from them.

Instead, I got down on one knee before the lady who was mindlessly munching on candy.

I took her hand and looked up at her, asking, "Layla Higgins, will you marry me?"

Carol's eyes widened in shock when I spoke. "Justin Leeds, have you gone insane? I asked you to spend a night with her in the wedding suite! Do you really want to marry this halfwit?" she exclaimed.

Caleb quickly grabbed her arm. "Calm down, Carol," he whispered urgently. "How could he marry someone like that? He's just trying to goad you into backing down.

"If you lose it now, you'll fall right into his trap."

Carol only stopped in her tracks when she heard Caleb's words, and a faint smile played at the corners of her lips.

"Remember to swap out that wedding ring before seeing me tomorrow, Justin," she said. "I don't want anything that idiot touches."

Carol rolled her eyes when she saw that I ignored her.

"Since Justin is marrying someone else, we might as well make up for his lack of a bachelor party. Let's drink until we drop."

Having said that, she tugged Caleb out of the wedding suite and didn't look back.

I remained on one knee, my hand suspended mid-air. My heart felt empty.

Just then, I felt a warm, soft hand resting gently on mine.

Instinctively, I looked up to meet Layla's gaze, a soft smile slowly gracing her lips when she looked at me.

Layla's voice was soft but exceptionally clear when she murmured, "I will."

I was somewhat surprised.

For some reason, although Layla seemed dull and dim-witted, the eyes that looked back at me were clear and bright.

Yet, this was a fleeting thought I did not dwell on.

Gently, I coaxed Layla, saying, "Since you've agreed, we still need to go to the city hall. It only counts if we get a marriage certificate."

I paused, looking into her eyes. "This isn't a game," I said earnestly. "Are you absolutely certain?"

Layla didn't answer—she merely clapped her hands happily.

I couldn't help but smile bitterly when I saw how genuinely happy she was.

The next day, I drove Layla to the city hall.

Throughout the process, Layla encountered multiple issues.

During the signing, she held the pen clumsily, finally managing to scrawl out her name in uneven letters.

She also found the red ink pad fascinating when offering her thumbprint.

Not only did she get it all over her hands, but she accidentally smeared it on my cheek, too.

Layla smiled at her reflection in the mirror, thinking she looked like a kitten.

Soon, we were given two copies of the marriage certificates.

Layla held her marriage certificate, her eyes sparkling as she cradled the document like a precious treasure, refusing to let go.

I called my driver as soon as we left the building.

Gently, I patted her head and murmured, "Why don't you leave with the driver first? I have some things to take care of and will be back soon.

Layla looked at me in bemusement, but she nodded obediently.

I went the opposite way and headed to the bar alone.

When I stepped into the private room, only Carol and Caleb remained.

She was carefully wiping his mouth with a damp towel, and his collar bore traces of vomit stains.

If memory served, Carol was a real stickler for cleanliness.

I once had a cold so bad that I couldn't help it and accidentally threw up on the sheets.

Carol's first instinct upon waking up was to berate me while pinching her nose in disgust.

"Justin, that is disgusting! Can't you throw up in the bathroom?"

In the end, I forced myself to endure the discomfort and change the sheets, while she didn't offer a single word of concern.

She went over to Caleb's that very night.

Yet, Carol remained utterly oblivious to the obvious filth on Caleb's body right now.

Caleb recovered slightly, his drunken gaze glazed over as he grinned at me.

"Weren't you saying you'd marry the halfwit? Or are you having second thoughts already?"

Carol did not stop her ministrations but silenced him gently. "Shut it, Caleb."

She finally glanced at me. "I reckon you've already learnt your lesson," she said flatly. "I won't hold it against you. I'll make up for the wedding in a few days.

"Right now, I need to send Caleb back. He's had too much to drink."

At the sight of her concern for Caleb, contrasting with the indifference she'd shown me, I felt a dull ache pierce through the part of my heart that I thought had already frozen over.

The last bit of affection I had for her had finally vanished.

I nodded, pulling out my copy of the marriage certificate. "That's up to you, but there's no need to make up for the wedding. I've already married Layla."

Carol's face turned ashen when she saw the document in my hands.

"Are you kidding me, Justin? You actually went ahead and married that halfwit?" she exclaimed.

“You must be out of your mind to do something like this. If word gets out, how am I supposed to show up in public?”

Up until now, she only cared about appearances.

After all, if word got out that the esteemed CEO of Leeds Group had married a halfwit instead of her, the ridicule she'd have to endure was boundless.

Caleb sneered drunkenly, his words slurring. "I really have to hand it to you—going to such lengths just to spite Carol. Embarrassing yourself is one thing. Why drag her into this?"

Hearing this made me think of how ridiculous the situation was. After all, they were the ones who wanted Layla and me to spend the night together.

When I said I wanted to marry Layla, Carol didn't say a word. But now, it was my fault?

After he spoke, Caleb suddenly threw up again, the vomit splattering right onto Carol's sleeve.

She yelped in surprise, but instead of pushing him away, she frantically scanned the surroundings. The private room was out of tissues.

Her gaze landed on me as she anxiously said, "Where's that handkerchief of yours? Hand it over!"

I was stunned.

The handkerchief was the one she had hand-embroidered when we first got together, with our initials stitched onto it.

She once said this was her token of affection for me, asking me to keep it on me every day. All these years, I had treasured it, keeping it with me at all times.

Yet, now, she asked for something so precious to help clean Caleb up.

I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces.

After a moment of silence, I pulled out the handkerchief impassively.

Without handing it over, I tossed it at her feet. "Carol, we're done."

She bent down to retrieve it, quickly wiping Caleb's mouth again. "It's just a damn handkerchief! Why are you so worked up?" she snapped impatiently.

"You can just wash it if it's soiled. Otherwise, I'll embroider you a new one in the future!"

I ignored her and turned to leave.

"In the future," she said. What future?

Carol was even more enraged by my leaving.

"If you want to leave, fine! See if I care. You'll regret it sooner or later. Don't come crawling back to me then!"

…

It was late by the time I got back to the mansion.

Layla had curled up on the couch and fallen asleep, still clutching the certificate in her arms.

I felt my heart melt when I saw this.

I tiptoed over, intending to pick her up and carry her to the bedroom.

She awoke as if startled, her drowsy gaze lighting up when she realized who I was.

"You're back," she murmurs.

"Yeah." I smiled as I bent down. "If I come home late in the future, don't wait up for me. Just go to bed if you're tired."

After ensuring she was settled in, I returned to my study.

Just then, the screen on my phone lit up. Carol had texted me.

"Justin, come back and apologize to me now, and I might consider forgiving you."

"If you want to sulk and cause a scene, go ahead. But don't you dare gross me out by marrying that halfwit!"