Eric and I were childhood sweethearts. When I first came to the Lynch family, I was an outsider, but Eric was always there to have my back.

He insisted that being adopted did not make me any less than anyone else.

With him by my side, I was untouchable.

Ever since Willa came into the world, he was petrified that the Lynchs would start to overlook me, not shower me with the love I was used to. He would make excuses to check in on them three times a day, just to make sure I was not left out or pushed aside.

However, at some point, Eric began to change.

I could have never imagined that he would twist the Lynchs' kindness into a weapon, guilt-tripping me over Willa.

So, if that's how it was going to be, I figured I might as well go through with that arranged marriage.

What I did not see coming, though, was the immediate spark between that outsider and me, sealing the marriage deal on the spot.

"Sis, are you okay?"

The moment I stepped back into the house, there was Eric, and Willa.

Eric, following close behind, was full of assurance. "I've talked to Dad. She's in the clear. That guy doesn't stand a chance with her."

His words hung in the air, and a hush fell over the room, everyone's gaze locking onto the marriage certificate he was holding.

I was shaking with fury. "Eric, you promised it was all just for show!"

Willa burst in then, "Sister, please don't be mad at Eric. It wasn't his fault. It was me. I got scared we'd be found out, so I... I let the act become real."

The anger inside me roared to life, and I did not care if our foster parents got upset—I slapped Willa right across her face.

Tears streamed down Willa's face as she looked at me, her eyes filled with sorrow. "Sister, please, no more anger. It's all my fault. I'll go and get a divorce from Eric right now."

She tried to drag Eric out, but he was having none of it. His brow furrowed, he yanked back Willa, her tears falling like raindrops on pear blossoms.

"Go where? Divorce? Over my dead body!"

Eric's eyes bore into mine, disappointment etched across his face. "Sylvia, when did you start making such a fuss over nothing? It's just a marriage certificate, meant to make things look more real, more believable. Tell me how many you need, and I'll make them for you. You've become so petty, almost like a shrew who's lost all sense of reason!"

Willa's eyes brimmed with tears. "Eric, sister's right. You two haven't split up yet. I wasn't thinking straight, this isn't right. We should go through with the divorce."

"No way!"

Eric's grip on Willa's waist was unyielding.

Willa squirmed in his embrace, not caring about his hold on her. "No, no, this will upset my sister. If word gets out, everyone will say the Lynch family did sister wrong. It was my oversight, my mistake."

"It's not your fault!" Eric protested.

Then, right in front of me, he pressed his lips to Willa's.

I stood there, petrified, as the world around me seemed to freeze.

I could only watch as they kissed passionately before me, as if I were the punchline to some cosmic joke.

Eric, still clutching a breathless Willa and catching my stunned look, went pale for a split second.

"Sylvia, haven't I been there for you? If not for me and my dad, you could've been the one chosen. What's got you so mad? I did this for both Willa and you, a win-win. Can't you see that?!"

His words struck me as completely ludicrous.

However, I could not be bothered to explain anymore.

At that moment, the nanny walked in, interrupting us with a knock.

In her hands, she carried a pristine white wedding gown.

"Miss, this is the wedding gown the mister sent over for you. You've got your big day the day after tomorrow, go on, give it a try."

Eric let out a scoff when he heard that. "Big day? Sylvia, you're tying the knot?"

Willa was just as shocked. "Sis, who's the lucky guy? How come I'm the last to know?"

I kept silent, and Eric's face lit up with realization. "Sylvia, you've got some nerve. To get me to split from Willa, you're staging this whole wedding farce with the Lynches? They're really bending over backward for their adopted daughter—you. You don't seriously think this will make me leave Willa, do you?"

I watched Eric muttering to himself and could not help but sneer. "Eric, you're not worth the headache anymore. You want a breakup? Fine by me. I can walk down the aisle guilt-free."

I reached for the wedding gown the nanny had brought. "You all should head out, I've got a dress to try on."

However, in a flash, Eric grabbed the gown and chucked it to the floor.

"Sylvia, when will you drop the act? You've turned down every guy for me since we were kids, dead set on 'no one but Eric.' Who else would you even marry?"

His words sent a chill through me.

Eric knew it all. That's why he was so shameless.

My mom, Natalie Hawkins, came in just then and caught sight of the crumpled gown. "Sylvia, that dress is from the Garcia family's son. You're getting hitched in two days—what are we going to tell them? "

Natalie's words hung in the air when Eric came to a dead stop.

"Sylvia, you're actually going to tie the knot with that love child? Have you lost your mind?"

I did not even get a chance to answer before he blurted out again, "No way, Sylvia, you've got to be kidding me. My dad said everything was cool, you're just trying to get back at me, aren't you? Acting all this out just to get a rise out of me!"

I lifted the wedding gown, dusting it off, "Please, just go. I'm worn out."

Once Natalie had shown them out, my tears broke free. From that moment, Eric meant no more to me than any random flower or weed.

With the wedding day nearing, Yale Garcia, the so-called illegitimate son, had sent over a generous array of engagement gifts, and our villa buzzed with festive decorations.

I never expected Eric to show up, especially not alone, without Willa in tow.

"Sylvia, I get it, you're ticked off at me. Let's drop it, okay? Willa and I were just playing parts.

"I know you're dying to be with me, but imagine the talk if we split right after saying 'I do.' Give it some time, I'll break it off with Willa and then I'll be back for you, deal?

"Sylvia, you know I can't stand losing you."

His words were full of drama, but inside, I felt nothing, maybe even a bit queasy.

"Sylvia, cut the act. You've gone through all this trouble just to get me to sweet-talk you, right? Well, I'm here now, so can we stop this nonsense?"

I just gave a light laugh, keeping my thoughts to myself.

"Eric, you're reading too much into it. This has nothing to do with you."

Eric would not have it, stubborn as ever, "Sylvia, I know you're upset. Let's talk when you've cooled off."

I watched him walk away, a smirk hidden in my thoughts.

Come morning, Yale lifted me into the wedding limo, and we set off for the hotel.

Driving past the Jordans' place, I caught sight of Eric, his arm around Willa, at the front door.

Eric, eyeing the grand procession of wedding cars, teased Willa, "Sylvia's quite the fibber. Garcia's little secret is tying the knot today, but I'll confront her later and see what kind of scene she'll try to stir up with me then."

Willa, peering at the limo, seemed unsure, "However, ... that looks like my sister in there."

Eric, startled, then annoyed, retorted, "Willa, you must be mistaken. There's no way that's Sylvia in the car..."

He did not get to finish. I rolled down the window, and our gazes locked.

His face went ghostly white, shock etched across his features.

"Sylvia?"

A bystander chuckled, correcting him, "Sylvia? You must be seeing things. That's Mrs. Garcia, soon to be officially part of the Garcia family!"

Yale's wedding was a grand affair, with guests aplenty. Hand in hand, we stood on the stage, facing the sea of faces.

The officiant began, "Ms. Sylvia Lynch, do you take Mr. Yale Garcia to be your husband?"

"I do—"

However, a sudden uproar cut me off.

There was Eric, eyes blazing, barreling toward the stage.

"Sylvia! You can't marry him!"

He lunged for my wrist, but Yale was quicker, pulling me to safety behind him.

"Sylvia!

"Sylvia! You swore you'd only ever marry me. How can you give yourself to him?"

Eric's shouts echoed through the room, leaving everyone stunned and frozen in place.

"What's happening? Are the Garcias trying to split up true love?"

"Split up true love? That's Samuel's boy, right? Just tied the knot with the Lynch's youngest daughter a few days back. They were all over the news."

"Wait a sec! Weren't Eric and Sylvia the ones who grew up together, all lovey-dovey?"

"What in the world's going on? This is a mess. Think Yale's gonna blow his top right here?"

Yale paid no mind to the crowd, turning to me instead. I braced for a scowl, given Eric's outburst, but Yale's eyes were soft and kind.

"Sylvia, need a hand with this?"

His grip was warm and firm, a silent promise of support.

We had not known each other long, but there he was, ready to have my back, no questions asked.

I gave him a reassuring smile. "I've got this. Eric and I? We're ancient history."

I stepped up to Eric, standing my ground.

His eyes were rimmed with red. "Sylvia, you've always said you'd be mine. How can you just walk away?"

I could not help but laugh. "You had no trouble marrying someone else while we were together, but now I can't move on? Get over yourself, Eric."

Eric's face drained of color as he shook his head in a panic. "It's not true, Sylvia. You know the marriage license Willa and I got was just for show. I don't have any real feelings for her."

Down below, Willa's face turned ghostly pale.

The more I heard, the sicker I felt. "Eric, you're absolutely vile, the lowest of the low!"

"Sylvia, say whatever you want to me. I get that you're mad, and if cursing me out makes you feel better, go for it. However, I can't stand by and watch you marry someone else. I don't approve!"

"You don't approve? Who do you think you are, Eric? My parents are on board, what right do you have to object? I'm my own person, not your property!

"Eric, I don't need you to survive."

His shoulders sagged at my words. "Sylvia, marriage is a big deal. You can't just rush into it. Are you sure you want to marry a man you hardly know?"

He extended his hand to me. "Come with me, Sylvia. I'll give you anything you want. Let's run away together, as far as we can go!"

I grabbed Yale's hand, our fingers tightly laced, and waved it in front of Eric.

"I'd love to, more than you can imagine. What's wrong with being the happy Mrs. Garcia? Why would I run away with a guy who's done nothing but live off his family's money? Yale can give me everything you can, and then some."

Eric's desperation grew. "Sylvia! Are you coming with me or not?"

"I wouldn't go!"

In the next instant, Eric lifted me by the waist.

"If you can't go, then I have no choice but to take you with me today!"

Eric had barely hoisted me up when he let out a piercing yell and crashed to the ground.