On our wedding day, Jayden unexpectedly halted the ceremony, his hands reaching up to remove my bridal veil. Then, in a moment that stunned everyone present, he turned to his ex-girlfriend and declared, “I can’t marry you in this life, but wear this veil and think of it as a marriage to me.”

Gasps filled the air as chaos erupted around us. His ex, donning my veil, stepped forward and embraced him, planting a kiss on his lips right before the priest.

With a smug grin, Jayden turned to me and said, “Hannah, don’t be angry. I just want to make up for the regrets I have.”

When he reached to place the veil back on my head, I recoiled, shaking my head in despair. “I won’t be the one to hold you back from your past. I’ll help you fulfill your regrets.”

——

I had longed for this wedding for three years, fully aware that his heart still belonged to Nicole, his first love.

But I have always believed that the human heart is made of flesh. Marrying him would undoubtedly leave an imprint on his soul. Yet, I never anticipated that the legendary ex-girlfriend, who had been studying abroad, would parachute into my wedding unannounced.

Jayden abruptly suspended the wedding of the century, donning my bridal veil before the entire audience without warning. As confusion swept through the crowd, the usually reserved Jayden Murphy on suddenly shouted, “Nicole, I saw you, and you’re still here.”

In an instant, the atmosphere shifted, erupting into chaos. I felt as if I had been struck by lightning, my heart racing with disbelief. Countless cameras flashed around me, capturing the moment as if they sought to expose the shameful turmoil churning within. A foreboding sense of dread settled deep in my gut, leaving me with an ominous premonition I couldn’t shake.

I saw Jayden, who had never smiled, walking straight down the stage with a glimmer of joy in his eyes. My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively grabbed his arm as he passed me.

“Jayden, today is our wedding. Please don’t go!” I pleaded, tears welling in my eyes.

I had always felt overshadowed by Nicole. Every time, Jayden chose her, but this time, I desperately wanted him to choose me.

He leaned down, his breath warm against my ear, and said, “Be good. Nicole is here. I have to keep my promise.” With that, he pushed my hand away and strode toward Nicole.

At that moment, I knew he had left me once again.

The audience erupted in excitement, chanting, “Lovers will eventually get married!” Their voices cut through the air, harsh and taunting. I could hear them criticizing my presence, some shouting, “There are those who lack self-awareness, trying to intrude on others' feelings. It’s clear Mr. Murphy only has eyes for Nicole.”

Each word struck me like a dagger, bruising my heart further. I watched helplessly as Jayden placed my veil on Nicole’s head. They embraced, tears streaming down their faces, lamenting the love they never had.

As I stood there, numb, I observed Jayden’s excitement, Nicole’s shy smile, and the audience’s enthusiastic applause. At that moment, the man I had secretly loved for five years felt like a ghost to me. He was there, yet utterly lost, leaving me with a profound sense of decay.

I still remember the day he agreed to marry me: “I can marry you, but I only have Nicole in my heart. Just don’t mind.” Blinded by love, I had hoped things would change, but now I yearned to stop playing this ridiculous game with him.

Jayden turned to me, a satisfied smile on his face, and said, “Hannah, don’t be angry. I just want to make up for my regrets.”

As he reached for the veil to place it back on me, I instinctively stepped back, avoiding his touch. I shook my head, my resolve hardening. “I won’t be the one to hold you back from making amends. I’ll help you fulfill your regrets.”

I was done with this foolish game. No more pretending, no more heartache.

Jayden’s expression darkened as I turned to leave, his grip tightening around my arm. There was anger in his deep voice as he demanded, “Hannah, what are you playing at?”

“We agreed that I would marry you, but your heart still belongs to Nicole,” I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me.

Silence hung between us for a moment, but Jayden misinterpreted my demeanor as childish defiance. He reached out, affectionately ruffling my hair. “Stop making trouble. Let’s get married.”

“If you want to marry her, then I won’t stand by you,” I retorted, shoving him away with newfound strength.

Before anyone could react, I ripped the hem of my wedding dress, tearing the fabric in a fit of defiance.

Teetering on my eight-centimeter red-soled high heels, I stepped off the stage and marched directly toward Nicole. The crowd buzzed with excitement, anticipation evident on their faces as they braced for the impending clash between the two women.

Nicole's expression was provocatively smug, her gaze toward me laced with feigned sympathy. “Since you want to get married, let me give it to you.” I handed my bouquet to her, the flowers trembling slightly in my grip.

Jayden, witnessing this, immediately rushed down to stand protectively in front of Nicole, as if fearing I might harm her.

I regarded him coldly, a smile creeping onto my lips. “I won’t eat her, so why are you so nervous?”

He glanced at the cameras, his brow furrowing in frustration. Then, pulling me aside, he growled, “What are you doing? I said I would marry you. Why are you acting like this? Are you that jealous?”

Even now, he believed I was merely jealous, ruining his meticulously planned wedding. But what he didn’t understand was that I truly didn’t want to marry him at all.

“Jayden, Nicole is back. Let’s break up,” I said lightly, my heart heavy with resignation.

Before Jayden could respond, Nicole's artificial voice cut through the tension. “Why? I just came to see his wedding. I didn’t want to rob him.”

Her words ignited a wave of anger among the crowd. Voices rose in protest. “You’re acting so gracious after getting a free ride. It’s a blessing for you that Mr. Murphy is marrying her. Why pretend to be so noble?”

“Yes, Nicole is just here to attend the wedding!”

I listened in silence, the weight of their words sinking into my heart. Who am I in this situation? What do they think of me as a bride? I’m a person too, and their mockery stung deeply.

Jayden, sensing my turmoil, grasped my hand under the glare of the cameras. “Don’t be angry,” he murmured softly. “Nicole just came to bless me.”

“Jayden, don’t you see how ridiculous this is?” I snapped, frustration boiling over. “I know you have feelings for her, but you actually placed my veil on her head. Did you even think of me while you were embracing her and crying?”

I could accept whether Jayden loved me or not, but I couldn’t tolerate the humiliation he inflicted on me in front of everyone. Tears fell from my eyes without warning, each drop burning as it hit the back of my hands, searing my heart.

Jayden's expression darkened, his body trembling slightly—a telltale sign of his restraint. “Hannah, I’ll give you one last chance. Pick it up, and let’s continue the wedding.”

With that, he snatched the bouquet from Nicole’s hand and threw it to the ground. I glanced down at the wilted flowers, their lace wrapping crumpled and faded, and a bitter smile crept across my face. My love, my self-confidence, my youth—all of it felt so absurd.

Jayden was trampling on everything I stood for. He would never bow his head for me, and I would always be the loser in this relationship.

At that moment, I decided I wouldn’t love Jayden any longer. I raised my gaze to meet his furious eyes, and this time, I spoke without fear. “Mr. Murphy, we will never see each other again.”

With that declaration, I turned and walked away, leaving him and the entire crowd behind. I was determined to shatter the spectacle of this so-called “wedding of the century” in Florida, a moment everyone had eagerly anticipated.

As I drove back to Jayden's villa, I could feel the cold stares of the nannies and housekeepers piercing through me. Their expressions were devoid of warmth, their judgment palpable. I glanced up at the large TV in the living room, where a reporter replayed the wedding scene that had just unfolded. Jayden and Nicole appeared on the screen, their joyful faces starkly contrasting my own despair. It seemed everyone believed I had ruined the wedding.

I closed my eyes, trying to block out the judgment as I made my way to the second floor and retreated into my room. Standing before the full-length mirror, I was met with a reflection of exhaustion and defeat, my wedding dress torn and tattered.

Nicole had left Jayden and gone abroad, while I had become his next girlfriend—an unexpected turn of fate. He had brought me into his life, but it was clear he didn’t care for me deeply; he had simply handed me a few black cards and left me to entertain myself. The housekeeper and nanny had mirrored his indifference, barely acknowledging my presence.

It was only when I found Jayden drunk one night that a flicker of hope ignited within me—the idea of marrying him. I longed to be honest with him, to be the good wife he deserved. Three years I begged for this, three long years filled with yearning and unfulfilled dreams.

Now that I finally grasped the truth, I refused to deceive myself any longer. I recognized this wedding dress all too well; it had languished in Jayden's collection for three long years, the very one Nicole once declared her favorite. A bitter laugh escaped me, mocking my own delusions.

With a heavy heart, I reached for the zipper on the back of the wedding dress. As I pulled it down, it suddenly snagged halfway, leaving me feeling trapped and defeated. I took a deep breath, frowning as I tightened my grip, but still, there was no progress.

Just when I felt completely helpless, I felt a pair of strong hands encircle my waist. Startled, I looked up into the mirror, and my breath caught in my throat. The man behind me had striking features, and his presence exuded a reserved intensity that both intimidated and intrigued me.

“Cohen…” I gasped, my legs going weak as fear coursed through me, the word escaping my lips before I could stop it.

Cohen responded with a calm “Hmm,” his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine.

My gaze was drawn to the large hands he had resting on my waist. I knew it was inappropriate, and instinctively, I began to shrink away, feeling a flush of embarrassment.

“Don’t move.” His deep voice was smooth, but there was an unmistakable command woven into the tone.

We fell into an awkward silence. The sharp contours of his face held an air of detachment and indifference, while his black-and-white eyes exuded a calmness that was both unsettling and alluring.

Cohen raised his hand, fingers gently pinching the zipper of the wedding dress. He pulled it down to my waist, and before I could fully comprehend what was happening, he lowered his head and pressed a kiss against my skin.

The suddenness of it shocked me; my legs turned to jelly, and the kiss—neither too soft nor too forceful—sent shivers racing down my spine.

“Cohen... what are you doing?” I stammered, taking a step forward and glancing back at him, but he remained bent over, focused on the task at hand.

Cohen was Jayden's brother. He was a man of few words. I could count the times he had spoken to me on one hand. His current actions left me utterly bewildered.

Cohen’s lips curled into a smile, softening his previously aloof demeanor. “Hannah, why did you run away from your marriage?” he asked, his voice laced with genuine curiosity.

I bristled at the question, thinking of how this felt like another plea on Jayden's behalf. “This wedding isn’t grand, and frankly, I don’t like it,” I replied with a confidence I didn’t fully feel.

I strode to the door and opened it, gesturing for him to leave. “Nothing’s happening here. You should just go, Mr. Murphy.”

Cohen raised an eyebrow, unfazed, and stepped toward me, the distance between us charged with unspoken tension. “When you’re free, I’ll give you a grander wedding,” he said quietly, his tone sincere yet enigmatic.

I couldn’t help but sneer at his words, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. The men in the Murphy family were all lunatics.