Stolen Bride: Her Childhood Sweetheart Came to Die

Lillian Shaw's childhood sweetheart, Morgan Sullivan, has gotten bullied by others for five long years for her sake. Because of that, he's afflicted with depression.

Thanks to Morgan's depression, Lillian has abandoned me countless times just to be with him.

Every time, she'll just explain the same thing to me. "I'm just repaying Morgan for his act of kindness from before. Don't overthink it."

On the eve of our wedding, I've told Lillian to not invite Morgan to our wedding for fear that he might get affected.

Lillian agrees to comply. But on the day of the wedding that I've been looking forward to for five long years, I witness Morgan showing up in a fancy suit.

"Lily, didn't you say we'd be together forever?"

At the wedding banquet packed with guests, Morgan Sullivan wore a haute couture suit. Tears welled in his eyes as if he were the groom.

The venue erupted instantly. Gossip-hungry stares fell on the three of us. A chill crept over me as I turned to look at Lillian Shaw.

Last night, I discussed with Lillian not letting Morgan attend the wedding banquet. I was afraid his depression would flare up and ruin our ceremony. But I never expected him to get in anyway.

Lillian frowned slightly, a trace of melancholy flickering in her eyes.

"Morgan, childhood promises don't count."

Morgan gave a cold laugh. A single tear slid from his eye at just the right moment, making him look devastatingly handsome.

"Lily, I wish you happiness. From now on, I'll never stand in your way again."

The knife in Morgan's hand moved toward his wrist. Lillian rushed to grab his hand, her mind racing.

"You fool, what are you doing? Today's wedding is the surprise I prepared for you."

My face went pale. I stared at Lillian in disbelief.

"Gavin, she's telling the truth, isn't she?" Morgan asked, though he already knew the answer.

Lillian walked to my side and lowered her voice. "Gavin, Morgan has depression. Just let him have this. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

I couldn't help the bitter laugh that escaped me. It was always like this. Whenever Morgan and I clashed, Lillian would use his depression as an excuse to stand by his side without a second thought.

But I had waited five years for this wedding. Now that it was finally becoming a reality, I wasn't willing to let go.

I said coldly, "Tonight is my wedding with Lily. Please leave."

Morgan looked at Lillian through his tears. "I knew it.

"Lily, have you forgotten? Back then, I was bullied for five whole years because of you. That's how I got depression. You said we'd be together forever.

"If I'd known you'd marry someone else, I might as well have died." The knife in Morgan's hand inched closer to his wrist.

"No, Morgan!"

Tears filled Lillian's eyes, and guilt thickened her voice. She pulled Morgan into her embrace, her face twisted with anguish.

"We'll never be apart again, alright?" Her voice was final.

Standing beside them, I felt completely out of place. This was supposed to be our wedding, yet the leads had been swapped out. Now it looked like I was the interloper wedged between them.

My chest tightened painfully. I reached out to pull her back.

Fury flashed in Lillian's eyes as she shouted, "Get out! Tonight is my wedding with Morgan. Don't you dare ruin it!"

"Lillian, are you really going to do this to me?"

Lillian only gave me a cold look and said nothing. Her silence was answer enough. The cold settled deep in my bones.

So ten years meant nothing compared to Morgan's tears.

Morgan said coldly, "You like Lily so much you'd destroy our wedding?"

Faced with Morgan's accusations, Lillian remained silent, her expression frigid. The guests who'd figured out the situation grew louder in their gossip, showing no consideration for my feelings. Each word cut deeper than the last.

"Of course the first love always wins."

"Can you blame her? Everyone has that one person. Wouldn't you choose yours if you could?"

"Besides, look at them. It's clearly mutual. Morgan was bullied for five whole years because of Lillian. Five years! Isn't that true devotion? But what has Gavin ever done?"

What had I done? Thinking of my dead mother, my hand trembled and clenched into a fist.

I took a deep breath, forcing down the rage in my chest, and looked coldly at Lillian. "Lillian, I hope you won't regret this."

My voice carried across the room. The guests mocked me without restraint.

"Who does he think he is? Everyone knows he's just a leech."

"Ms. Shaw marrying anyone would be better than marrying Gavin Graham."

But they had forgotten that back then, Lillian was nothing more than a woman with nothing to her name. Mom had gone so far as to stage an accident to collect an insurance payout, all to help us raise the startup capital.

Without that insurance money, Lillian never would have become the wealthiest woman in Carrington's elite circles.

Morgan glared at me. "Someone get him out of here!"