I was trembling with rage. If they went through with this, both I and the entire Sheridan family would become a laughingstock.

Jayden, however, seemed convinced that his absurd plan made perfect sense. His tone grew even more resolute.

"Whitney, I know it's unfair to you, but Luna has been through a lot. Just think about the child—"

I cut him off coldly, "Jayden, you bastard! You want me to go through this shit show of a wedding with you? So, you get the marriage license with me, but it's Lunara who gets the wedding night?

"And then you want me, the legal wife, to raise your illegitimate child? Do you think I, Whitney Sheridan, am some beggar off the street, someone you can push around as you wish?"

My voice was rising, drawing curious and judgmental looks from the other customers in the bridal shop.

Lunara began to sniffle pitifully behind him.

"Please don't be angry, Ms. Sheridan. I know I'm just a lowly peasant, that I'm unworthy of this. I just wanted to be a bride, just this once."

Jayden's brows furrowed. His eyes flashed with warning.

"Whitney, my mind's made up. Whether you agree or not, this is how it's going to be. If not for my father's wishes, do you think I'd still marry you?"

I let out a cold, bitter laugh.

So, it looked like Charles had yet to tell him I was planning to switch out the groom.

"Fine." I looked him straight in the eye, my voice icily calm.

But when the day came, it wouldn't be him swapping out the bride.

It would be me changing the groom.

Jayden's brows twitched, clearly not expecting me to agree so easily. For a moment, his expression became unreadable.

And behind him, Lunara peeked out from his shoulder with a triumphant gleam in her eyes.

In the days that followed, Jayden and Lunara's wedding photos stayed trending for three days straight.

The headlines were still about the Ford and Sheridan families, only now the woman in the pictures was switched to Lunara.

People who didn't know the truth all assumed she was from the Sheridan family.

Some of my close friends messaged me in concern, asking what on earth happened.

Within social circles, I became the butt of every joke. They mocked me mercilessly—how I'd been such a devoted, lovesick fool that I handed over my own identity to a mistress.

I ignored them all and chose to stay focused on the only thing that truly mattered now—my father.

The doctors said his condition was deteriorating rapidly and that he needed to be hospitalized for observation. I stayed by his side every day, barely leaving his room.

I carefully filtered out every piece of news about Jayden and Lunara—I did not want any of their filth to reach my father and upset him.

But in the end, Lunara still found a way to slither in.

She had the gall to show up at my father's hospital room, clinging to Jayden's arm.

When I walked in, she was holding a fashion magazine, pointing to a spread with wedding photos, chirping in a fake sweet tone.

"Mr. Sheridan, look at this one! Isn't it gorgeous? Jayden and I worked so hard to get this shot just right. But it's all worth it—getting to wear that dress and marry him is the happiest thing that's ever happened to me.

"Oh! And on the wedding day, I must have you sit at the main table!"

My father's face went ghostly pale. His chest heaved violently, and his hand clenched the bedsheet in a death grip. His lips trembled as if he wanted to speak, but no sound came out.

Then, the monitor beside his bed started to blare with sharp, piercing beeps.

"Dad!" I screamed, rushing forward and slamming the emergency call button.

"Ms. Sheridan, don't be upset—" Lunara began, her voice full of fake concern.

I shoved her aside with all my strength.

"Get out! Both of you, get the hell out!" I roared, tears welling up in my eyes.

"Critical condition! Prepare for emergency response!" A doctor shouted as nurses pulled me back and rushed in to stabilize my father.

I stood there, helpless, watching him being wheeled into the ER.

Jayden tried to come over to support me, but I slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch me! You filthy animal!"

I jabbed a finger at his face, fury pouring from every word.

"You knew my father wasn't in good health. And you still came here to upset him? What the hell were you two thinking?"

Lunara cowered behind him, peeking out slightly.

She spoke in a trembling voice, "Ms. Sheridan, we just wanted to invite Mr. Sheridan to our wedding."

"Bullshit!"

I lunged at Lunara like a madwoman, but Jayden grabbed me and held me back with all his strength.

"Whitney! Calm down!" he shouted.

"Calm down? How the hell do you expect me to calm down? That's my father!"

I struggled violently, my nails digging into his arm so hard they nearly broke the skin.

"This was just an accident!" Jayden snapped, his voice filled with barely concealed irritation and anger.

"And besides, Luna meant well. How could we have known he'd react like that?"

He cast a glance at Lunara—protective, almost gentle.

"The public already believes Luna is the eldest daughter of the Sheridan family. If no one from the Sheridan family shows up to the wedding, people will start asking questions. It won't look good for the Ford family."

I pulled my lips into a cold, mocking smile.

"Jayden, are you blind or just stupid? You know exactly what Lunara is! She was never part of the Sheridan family. She's just a scheming little mistress who slept with you!"

His face darkened completely. Without warning, he raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face.

My head snapped to the side, and my ears were ringing.

"Even if you're the one I'm legally marrying, Luna's the only woman I'll ever acknowledge as my wife! Show her some respect."

That sentence—like a dull blade—ripped through my already broken heart, sawing at it repeatedly.

What hurt was not just the slap, but the absolute hatred that erupted from the betrayal.

Five years together, and this was how he repaid me?

"You don't need to come to the wedding in a few days," he said casually, but the warning in his tone was unmistakable. "Just stay here in the hospital and accompany your father."

Then, without another glance at me, he waved to the group of bodyguards waiting at the end of the hallway.

"Keep a close eye on her. Don't let her leave the hospital—not even one step."

The bodyguards immediately surrounded me like a human wall, closing in on me.

I stared hard in the direction Jayden and Lunara went.

He thought he could trap me in the hospital and waltz off to marry Lunara without a care in the world? In his dreams.

I placed a hand on my belly and pulled out my phone. My voice was low but steady as I made the call.

…

On her wedding day, Lunara stood in front of a mirror, her fingers trailing over the intricate embroidery of her gown, a smile of smug satisfaction on her face.

'So what if Whitney was the real heiress of the Sheridan family? She still ended up with nothing,' she mused.

Meanwhile, Jayden stood at the altar, his expression tight, clearly distracted.

He sent out plenty of invitations. With the Ford family's reputation, the venue should have been overflowing with guests.

But now, with the ceremony about to begin, only a sparse few arrived.

The massive hall looked eerily empty.

Even Lunara noticed something was wrong. She tugged on Jayden's sleeve, her brows furrowed in unease.

"Jayden, why are there so few people here?"

A heavy sense of dread settled over Jayden. He quickly signaled to a nearby server, instructing him to get the Ford family's butler.

However, the one who showed up wasn't the butler. Instead, it was a regular maid.

Jayden's frustration exploded. "Where's the butler? Why didn't he come?"

The maid trembled slightly, her voice soft as she replied, "The butler's busy. He's attending Mr. Charles's wedding and can't spare the time. He said if there's anything you need, you can just let me know."

"My, my father's wedding? What are you talking about? I didn't hear anything about that! Who's he marrying?" His voice rose with panic, and his complexion turned visibly pale.

The maid lowered her head and hesitated, then finally said, "Ms. Whitney Sheridan of the Sheridan family."

Jayden froze. His face twisted in shock and disbelief.

"What! Say that again?"

The maid, frightened by his expression, repeated in a whisper, "Upstairs. Mr. Charles is currently holding a wedding ceremony with Ms. Whitney Sheridan."