“Lydia, Jason’s so busy he needs his secretary with him at all times. If there’s work, it’s convenient. You’re going to be married; be more tolerant.”

I understood clearly: this family was taking the outsider’s side.

Jason opened the first car door for Selena and watched her get in.

Relatives and friends whispered. Some were surprised, some displeased, but most were gloating, waiting for me to embarrass myself. A few colleagues, who usually didn’t get along with me at work, stopped pretending and pulled out their phones to film the lead car and me.

As they filmed, they said, “The green tea who forced a marriage came back too soon. Even though President Miller married her, he won’t even let her ride in the lead car.”

“Our Selena is President Miller’s true love. Even if the green tea won, what good is it? Now she can’t even ride in the wedding car with him!”

Their words grew louder, and I snapped.

“Shut up!”

The men reluctantly put their phones away.

“Lydia, even if you tricked President Miller into marrying you, you don’t compare to Selena in his heart!”

“That’s right. If I were you, I wouldn’t get married today. If you have any shame, just go home!”

“Why shouldn’t I get married? I’m getting married today!”

If I didn’t, that bitch Selena would get her way. Everyone thought I forced Jason to marry me, but the truth was the opposite.

To win me over, Jason chartered an entire cruise ship.

He launched 999 fireworks on the Brooklyn Bridge, New York’s bustling heart.

To get me to marry him, Jason proposed eighteen times.

The last time, terrified of heights, he jumped off the world’s tallest bungee platform—just because I said, “If you dare jump, I’ll marry you.”

No matter how beautiful the past was, now outsiders see it as a joke.

I found a random car, opened the passenger door, and got in.

“You won’t even let me, the bride, ride in the front car at our wedding? Are you sure you want to get married?”

I turned to see Charles Nolan, my childhood friend who’d grown up with me.

“Are you here to laugh at me?”

When I first wanted to marry Jason, Charles was fiercely against it.

We argued so much, we almost stopped talking. “I’m not that free.”

After a brief silence, Charles spoke again.

“If you say you don’t want to get married now, I’ll take you away—right now!”

“To the wedding.”

“He’s done this to you, and you still want to marry him?”

“Drive.”