Wyatt's mother, Laura Baker, was the first to snap out of it. She no longer cared about keeping up appearances. She rushed down from the front row, her voice tinged with panic.

"What is going on? Who are you?"

Wyatt's father, Maverick Sterling, turned pale in an instant. He spun toward the audience, but it was already too late. The guests were whispering, the noises spreading like wildfire.

"Silence!" he barked. "It's just a minor issue with the wedding. Manager!"

How ironic.

In my previous life, I was the one standing there, humiliated, falling apart in front of everyone.

Now, it was the mighty Sterling family losing control in public.

My mother had already stood up, worry written all over her face. "Anna… what is happening?"

I turned toward my parents and gave them a steady, reassuring look.

Then, as everyone looked on in disbelief, I took Joseph's hand. My voice was calm and clear.

"Thank you all for attending the wedding of Anna and Joseph today.

"There was a small mistake on the invitation.

"However, it’s nothing serious. The wedding will continue."

Beside me, Joseph straightened up slightly, as if silently claiming his place in front of everyone.

Laura trembled with rage.

"Anna, have you lost your mind? Do you even know what you're doing? This is our wedding venue!"

Maverick stepped forward, lowering his voice, his tone tight.

"Stop this nonsense. Get this man out of here. We'll pause the ceremony and wait for Wyatt to return."

I ignored them.

Instead, I turned to the man beside me.

"My husband," I said calmly, "tell everyone why you're standing here."

Joseph met my eyes, then gave a faint smile. His voice was steady and composed.

"I'm standing here today because Wyatt paid me to take his place at the wedding.

"He asked me to complete the ceremony for him."

The entire hall exploded.

"What? He paid someone to marry in his place?"

"You've got to be kidding me!"

"Does he think this is some kind of joke?"

With the truth exposed in front of everyone, Maverick and Laura lost all color in their faces.

My father's anger finally broke through. "So this is how the Sterling family does things?" he roared, pointing at them. "You treat my daughter's marriage like a game? Do you really think the Larson family is easy to bully?"

My mother's eyes were red as she pulled me protectively behind her.

"This wedding is off," she said calmly. "From this moment on, the Larson family has nothing to do with the Sterling family. The engagement is canceled."

Seeing the alliance about to fall apart, Laura panicked.

She knew better than anyone that their family was just an empty shell. Without the Larson family's support, they could not even keep up appearances.

"Anna, don't do this… Wyatt is just being foolish. I'll send people to bring him back right now. He'll apologize to you. Don't act on impulse."

I smiled lightly, but there was no warmth on my face.

"Fine. I'll give him one last chance.

"As long as he shows up in front of me right now, I'll pretend none of this ever happened."

Joseph's grip on my hand tightened slightly.

I leaned closer to him and whispered, "Relax. He's too busy having fun with someone else. He won't come back."

Laura frantically started giving orders, sending people out to find Wyatt.

One group after another rushed out.

One group after another came back empty-handed.

"Mrs. Sterling… we can't find him."

"No one knows where he is…"

I let out a soft sigh, pretending to be disappointed.

"It looks like… he doesn't plan on coming back. And he doesn't plan on marrying me either."

The very next second, my expression turned icy. "Security," I said sharply, "remove anyone who doesn't belong here.

"This is my wedding. Since the groom is absent, this venue now belongs to the Larson family."

The Larson family's security team had already been waiting outside. At my command, they rushed in immediately.

The Sterling couple were dragged out in disgrace, while the surrounding guests pointed and whispered. Some could not even hold back their laughter.

My mother took my hand. At first, she said nothing. Then her voice softened, but remained firm.

"Anna, no matter what you decide, we will support you. Our family has power and wealth. We don't need to suffer this kind of humiliation."

My father gently patted my shoulder. Warmth spread through my chest.

In my previous life, I insisted on marrying Wyatt.

I argued with my parents, and even went on a hunger strike to force them to agree.

After I died, they aged overnight.

They gave up everything just to seek justice for me.

This time…

I will not make the same mistake again, I told myself.

The one responsible for all of this, Wyatt…

I will never let him go.

Once the chaos settled, I immediately called in the lawyers and the head of finance.

"Spread the word.

"Terminate all business dealings with the Sterling family immediately.

"Withdraw every investment. Principal and interest. Leave nothing behind.

"And every single cent they owe us…"

I paused, my voice turning ice cold.

"Collect it all."

News of my marriage to Joseph did not spread across the city right away.

To protect their reputation and keep their creditors calm, the Sterling family spent a large amount of money bribing the wedding guests and journalists, forcing the whole thing under the surface.

Right after the ceremony, I took Joseph straight to the registry office. We signed the papers and officially became husband and wife.

After we got our marriage certificate, Joseph told me that he had some personal matters to take care of and needed to leave the capital for a few days.

I had a feeling his identity was more complicated than it seemed, so I did not ask questions. I just told him to come back soon.

Meanwhile, completely unaware of everything, Wyatt spent two carefree days on a yacht with Becky Jones before finally realizing something was off.

Normally, by this time, if I had found out he skipped the wedding, I would have caused a huge ruckus and forced him to return and explain himself.

However, this time, the capital was completely quiet. The Larson family was silent in a way that felt almost unsettling.

Wyatt absentmindedly swirled his drink, barely reacting even when Becky called his name in a soft, sugary voice.

'Something's not right. She must be playing hard to get,' he thought.

A confident smile curled on his lips. 'I have spoiled her too much. If I ignore her for a few days, she'll come running back on her own.'

Two days later, I attended a business banquet at the capital's chamber of commerce on behalf of my father. I did not expect to run into those two people.

Wyatt noticed me immediately. However, when he saw me laughing and chatting with several young elites, his expression darkened instantly.

Becky saw me too. She subtly pushed her stomach forward, then said sweetly to Wyatt,

"Wyatt, I'm tired. My feet hurt and my stomach doesn't feel great."

Wyatt’s expression immediately changed to a doting one, supporting her carefully, though his eyes darted toward me like it meant nothing.

"Be careful. Don't upset the baby."

He was probably waiting for me to walk over and confront him.

It was too bad for him.

From start to finish, I did not even look in his direction. I kept talking and laughing with the people beside me.

He finally lost patience. He strode over and slammed his hand down on our table.

"Anna, are you mad because I had someone take my place at the wedding? You haven't even sent a message these past few days."

I could not even be bothered to look at him. I stood up, ready to leave.

"Anna, there was an emergency on the wedding day. Wyatt suddenly wasn't feeling well, so he couldn't make it." Becky stepped in front of me, blocking my path, a pitiful expression on her face.

"Anna, please don't blame Wyatt. It's my fault for being so weak. I delayed your—"

Wyatt cut in, looking at me with a half amused, half annoyed expression.

"Anna, since when did you become this petty? It was just a ceremony."

As he spoke, he reached out like it was the most natural thing in the world and grabbed my arm.

"Alright, stop making a scene. Come back with me."

My gaze turned icy. I shook his hand off immediately. "Mr. Sterling, show some respect.

"Didn't your parents tell you what happened on the wedding day?"

Wyatt froze, frowning slightly. "Tell me what? I haven't gone home these past two days."

Becky suddenly grabbed my wrist, looking flustered as she tried to mediate.

"Anna, don't be like this. Wyatt only did it for your own good…"

Her words sounded gentle, but her nails dug hard into my skin. The sharp pain almost made me flinch.

I yanked my hand back. "Get off me!"

"Ah!" Becky fell to the ground in a miserable heap.

Wyatt's eyes went wide with fury. He rushed to help her up, then roared at me, "You're insane! Apologize to Becky right now!"

I let out an icy laugh and turned to the chamber guards who had rushed over.

"Security, remove these two troublemakers."

Wyatt's face turned dark with rage. "Don't believe for one second that think this will get my attention!

"If you behave, I might even consider giving you another ceremony in a few days."

He really believed that as long as he came back, I would be just like before, grateful and eager to run into his arms.

I smiled.

"However, I'm already married."

The smile on Wyatt's face froze instantly. He stood there, stunned, his brows twisted tight together.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" He stepped forward, his tone arrogant. "You're saying you're married? Then where's your husband? Why didn't he come with you?"

A mocking smile curved on my lips.

"My husband has important matters to attend to, unlike certain useless people who loaf around all day and depend on a woman's dowry to survive."

Before he could explode, Becky's eyes turned red, tears falling right on cue.

"Anna, how can you say that about Wyatt?"

She paused on purpose and, just like that, Wyatt's gaze toward me was filled with disappointment and anger.

"Anna, look at yourself. So sharp-tongued and bitter. Besides me, who else in the capital would even want you?

"I'm telling you now. Stop playing these games. It only makes me look down on you even more."

That was it. I was done being patient.

"Are you all deaf?" I said calmly. "Throw these two out. If they ruin everyone's evening, you'll answer for it."

The guards moved quickly, grabbing them from both sides.

Wyatt struggled wildly, his face twisted with rage as he shouted at me, "Anna! How dare you treat me like this! You'll regret it!"

That very night, I received an anonymous letter.

[So you think this is enough to steal Wyatt away from me? Surprise, surprise. He does not care at all. He's happily taking me to Elysian Springs outside the city to watch the moon.]

I did not even need to guess who sent it. I tossed the letter straight into the fire.

During that time, the Sterling couple still refused to give up and tried to visit me several times.

I had them turned away every single time.

A week later, I calculated the day Joseph would return to the capital and personally went to the city gate to meet him.

However, at the gate, I ran straight into Wyatt and Becky.

It looked like they had just come back from a trip outside the city. Wyatt sat tall on a fine horse, while Becky rested comfortably in a carriage beside him, both looking relaxed and pleased.

The moment Wyatt saw me, he broke into a smug smile.

"I knew you couldn't let me go. You even came all the way out here to pick me up.

"Anna, why go through all this trouble?"

I did not even bother responding. I looked at him like he was an idiot.

Becky spoke up in a mocking tone, "Oh, Anna, don't be mad anymore.

"Wyatt didn't mean to leave you out of the trip. As his fiancée, you should be more understanding."

Wyatt clearly enjoyed that. He climbed down from his horse and reached for my hand, but I stepped aside and avoided him.

He did not get angry. If anything, he looked even more pleased, as if he thought I was just throwing a little tantrum.

"Alright, enough. When we get back, we'll pick a date and I'll give you an even grander wedding. That should make up for it, right?"

Right then, a tall figure came riding in on a black horse, followed by a group of personal guards, cutting through the crowd like a storm.

My eyes lit up.

I went around them without hesitation and ran straight toward the man who had just dismounted.

"Honey, you're back."

Joseph took my hand steadily. Dust from the road clung to him, but it could not hide the sharp strength in his presence. He lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on my hair.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Behind me, the smug smile on Wyatt's face shattered, replaced by disbelief.

For a brief moment, everything fell silent.

Then, Wyatt's furious roar erupted. "Anna! Are you done playing around?"

He pointed at Joseph, his voice full of anger. "You even hired an actor just to make me jealous? Not bad. How much did you pay him this time?

"Name your price. I'll give you ten times what she did. Just get out of my sight!"

Joseph stepped in front of me, shielding me. His gaze darkened, and a chilling aura rolled off him, like someone who had walked through real battlefields.

I reached out and caught his arm, then leaned out from behind him, looking at Wyatt's twisted expression with calm amusement.

"Wyatt, didn't you want to see my husband?"

I slipped my arm through Joseph's and smiled brightly. "This is my husband. Joseph."

Wyatt's face went completely pale.

"How… how is it you?!"