Dad's expression was serious, "Whether it's recklessness or not, just do as my daughter says. If it really is, I will teach her a lesson and give you a satisfactory explanation. But my daughter has always been sensible and knows her limits. She wouldn't have done this if the situation wasn't serious, especially since the video included your family's house location."

"The bracelet on the child's wrist was a gift from my daughter to Toby at her engagement. He's three years old this year and Rebecca is exactly twenty-seven. She's a child your family sponsors. If you have nothing to hide, then openly get a DNA test."

The Walter Family's faces darkened. At this moment, Rebecca wiped away her tears, grabbed the child and rushed to the balcony. She looked at me with a look of grim determination.

"Sister, since you can't tolerate us, mother and son and always think we're unclean, then I'll take him with me to die! We'd rather die to prove our innocence than let your marriage with Mike be in jeopardy!"

Toby cried his heart out, "Grandpa, Grandma, I'm scared!"

Mike's eyes instantly reddened, his body trembling, "No! Rebecca, don't think like that. Come on, bring the child down. It's too cold up there. Don't frighten Toby. Let me handle this, okay?"

Rebecca gritted her teeth and opened the safety window, "Godfather, Godmother, I'm so sorry. I misjudged people, I was immoral and didn't respect myself. I've become a stain on your heart, sister. I'm willing to die for their marital happiness."

"I'm just sorry I can't repay your kindness in this life. I'll repay you properly in the next!" After saying that, she stuck one foot out the window, the howling wind making the child cry even louder.

Milena rushed forward and grabbed her foot. Mike’s father took the opportunity to bring the child down.

"No! No one in this family can kick you out. You're not the one who made the mistake, how can we let you sacrifice yourself? We don't need such an aggressive daughter-in-law." Mike’s father glared at me.

He tried to coaxed Rebecca again, "Rebecca, your godmother can't live without you, she can't even live without Toby. Don't be impulsive, I'll stand up for you. Come down quickly, don't let the child get cold."

The group lingered, reluctant to part. Rebecca looked at me sheepishly, "But if Kate doesn't want to believe me, I still don't want to live!"

Before she finished speaking, a heavy slap landed on my face. After a dizzying moment, I saw Mike's eyes wide with fury.

"Kate! When did you become so unreasonable? These are two human beings, breathing human lives, do you really want them to pay for your paranoia with their lives?"

This was the first time in five years of dating that he had hit me. My father was furious and wanted to retaliate, but I stopped him.

I gritted my teeth and looked at him coldly, “Mike, remember this slap. You’ll regret it.”

After a moment of surprise, guilt flashed in his eyes as he tried to take my hand, “Kate, I…”

I dodged his pull and rushed to Toby. With a look of horror on his face, I removed the gold rope.

“Since you’re being so secretive, the wedding is canceled. We’ll return the dowry in full. Your relatives can inform them themselves.”

With that, we turned and left. Dad glared at him fiercely. Downstairs, Mom looked conflicted.

“Kate, is the wedding really canceled?”

I looked at the bracelet in my hand, which almost perfectly matched the one in the video screenshot and nodded.

“Mom, I can’t accept someone who can’t give me a sense of security.” I had asked Mike for Toby’s hair and put it in the bracelet for a blessing.

Now this strand of hair was inside the bracelet. Taking it out and having it appraised would clarify things.

I went home and found the love knot Mike had given me, woven from his hair. Back then, he said he would protect me no matter what happened, shielding me from all harm.

I suppressed my bitterness and rushed two strands of hair to the hospital that night, expediting a paternity test. An hour later, looking at the 99% positive result, I felt like I'd been plunged into an ice cave.

My dad were incredulous, "That damned Mike, he actually... he really does have an illegitimate child!"

"What a tragedy! Why did we have to go through this?" Mom was shocked.

Seeing my parents' grief, I desperately suppressed the bitterness in my heart; cutting my losses was the most important thing. I posted on my social media that our relationship was strained and the wedding was canceled. As expected, my phone was bombarded with inquiries.

My phone rang. It was my childhood friend, William, "Invitations sent out, wedding booked and you're just going to cancel like this? You can act recklessly, you can do whatever you want, but what about your mom and dad? They're old and have to clean up your mess? What will those relatives think of them?"

I suppressed a sob, "What do you mean? Even you're kicking me when I'm down?"

He wasn't happy with Mike at all, always thinking his god-sister had ulterior motives. There was something strange between them. I thought he was a bit harsh, but I never paid attention. I didn't expect him to be right.

He sighed, "No, what I mean is the wedding doesn't need to be canceled and we shouldn't let the elders laugh at us. The groom should be changed; I'll put on a respectable show with you."

I contacted the MC, the hotel and everyone involved in the wedding to tell them it would proceed as planned. Just change the welcome photos and move the banquet to the rooftop.

I told my parents about this outrageous plan. Surprisingly, they didn't object; they just sighed, "At least you won't be gossiped about behind your back later."

The next morning, everything was as usual. Upon learning that the wedding planner hadn't cancelled the ceremony, Mike's heart finally settled. He knew I was just angry, he thought I wouldn't give up on our years-long relationship.

I must be testing his resolve. He changed his clothes as usual, immersed in joy. Until the scheduled makeup and styling session exceeded an hour. Mike, dissatisfied, called the wedding planning company to ask.

But the next second, the reply chilled him to the bone, "I'm sorry, Mr. Walter, Miss Winston informed us that the groom has been changed. She and the groom are already at the wedding planning company for makeup and styling."