Chapter 3

3

I went back to a small apartment I had bought secretly and took a long, hot shower.

The next morning, I was jolted awake by the persistent ringing of my phone.

I fumbled for it and hit answer without looking.

Silas's voice exploded with rage through the speaker. "Rowan, where the hell are you? The ceremony is starting. Your little tantrum has gone far enough!"

"There are hundreds of guests here. Are you trying to humiliate me and my family on purpose?"

Hearing his voice only made my disappointment grow deeper.

In Silas's mind, I was so low on his priority list that even his public image mattered more than my feelings.

The wedding I had once dreamed of had become a toxic nightmare.

"Silas, I made it clear yesterday. I want a divorce. You were the one who thought I was joking."

"If you want to be humiliated, then go ahead and let the Sinclair family suffer with you."

"Rowan! That's enough!" Silas screamed my name so loud the speaker crackled.

"I'm commanding you to get over here right now. This is your last chance. Don't make me use other methods."

Other methods!

Finally, Silas was ready to use his corporate intimidation tactics on me.

A sharp pain shot through my chest, and my eyes began to sting.

How could someone change so drastically?

I remembered him in the group home, silent and isolated from everyone else.

He would only speak when he was with me.

Back then, he asked, "Rowan, will we be together forever?"

I had told him, "Of course. As long as you want me, I'll never leave."

But now, he didn't need me anymore. He just wanted to own me.

I realized he had already hung up the phone.

I didn't move, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.

I stared at the ceiling, my mind a tangled mess of memories and pain.

A while later, a heavy pounding sounded at my door.

When I opened it, several large bodyguards were standing in the hallway.

Silas's secretary, Mr. Liang, stepped forward.

"Mr. Liang? What are you doing here?"

He gave a small, apologetic nod. "Miss Rowan, Mr. Sinclair ordered us to bring you. Please cooperate."

I looked at the muscle behind him. I knew I didn't have a choice in the matter.

I decided to go, if only to settle this once and for all in front of everyone.

"Give me a minute to change."

I went inside, threw on a simple dress, washed my face, and followed them out.

By the time I arrived at the venue, the ceremony had already begun.

I was led to the backstage area, where I could see the stage through a gap in the curtains.

Someone had come up with a ridiculous plan―Brielle was wearing a veil and a mask, standing in my place.

The priest was reading the vows, and Silas had a sweet, fake smile on his face.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

They looked at each other and shared a deep kiss amidst the thunderous applause.

I realized Silas was even crueler than I thought. He dragged me here just to watch them kiss?

Suddenly, Brielle's mask slipped and fell to the floor.

The crowd gasped as they realized the woman standing there wasn't me.

"What's going on? That's not Rowan! Did she get plastic surgery?"

"Wait, isn't that Silas's assistant? I've seen her at his office. Why is she the bride?"

"Is the Sinclair family crazy? Did the real bride run away?"

The room erupted into whispers and pointed fingers.

Silas and his parents looked like they wanted the floor to swallow them whole.

Brielle, however, immediately put on a tragic face, whispering to Silas so the mics could almost catch it.

"Silas, I'm so sorry. It's my fault. I didn't secure the mask properly. Now everyone knows."

Silas looked annoyed, but he still whispered back, "It's fine. It's not your fault. It's Rowan's mess."

"If she had just shown up like she was supposed to, this wouldn't be happening."

Since the Sinclairs were elite, the wedding was crawling with hungry reporters.

A female journalist stood up first. "Mr. Sinclair, that woman is clearly not Rowan. Where is your actual fiancée?"

Once the seal was broken, the other reporters swarmed in.

"Mr. Sinclair, you just kissed this woman. What is your actual relationship with your assistant?"

"Did Rowan refuse to show up because of this woman?"

The questions hit Silas like rapid-fire bullets, giving him no room to breathe.

They were basically asking if Brielle was his mistress and if I had been replaced.

Silas quickly regained his composure. "This woman is my assistant. Rowan couldn't attend due to a sudden medical emergency."

"To respect our guests' time, we decided to use a stand-in for the ceremony."

I almost laughed out loud.

He was a shark in the boardroom, always ready with a polished lie.

I decided it was finally time for my entrance.