The entire room fell silent as the guests stood rooted to the spot in shock.

"Good heavens, isn't that Jessica Hayes?" one of the guests blurted out in disbelief.

"Hold on, wasn't Alan about to marry a servant's daughter? Then what's he doing here with Jessica? This is unbelievable!"

"And all this time Jessica acted like some perfect lady. Looks like she's no better than someone who breaks up relationships."

"Well, I have to admit, she has a good body."

"So this is the kind of behavior the Hopkins family tolerates? The wedding isn't even over, and there's already a scandal. My sister is staying far away from this family from now on."

The weight of every judgmental gaze felt like a slap landing directly on them.

Jessica instinctively hid behind Alan, her complexion drained of all color.

Alan stood there with his clothes in disarray and fury written all over his face. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than for the ground to swallow him whole.

Adrian Hopkins, Alan's grandfather, looked as though a storm were brewing behind his eyes. Still, he forced himself to remain calm and addressed the crowd. "Everyone, I believe there has been a misunderstanding. My grandson would never behave in such a manner."

Then he turned to the butler and ordered, "Please see our guests out."

The butler immediately moved to carry out the order. Although the guests were eager to stay and witness the aftermath, none of them dared challenge the authority of the Hopkins family, so they reluctantly left.

The second the room emptied, Adrian swung his hand and slapped Alan hard across the face. "You worthless fool! Are you determined to drag the Hopkins name through the mud?" he roared.

The impact sent Alan's head jerking sideways, and a thin line of blood soon appeared at the corner of his lips.

He remained silent, not daring to defend himself. His gaze searched the room on instinct, looking for Alina, only to realize she had already disappeared.

A brief sense of relief washed over him, but it vanished just as quickly, replaced by an unsettling emptiness deep inside.

Emerie Hopkins, Alan's mother, hurried forward and caught Adrian's arm. "Adrian, losing your temper won't fix this situation. Right now, the wedding is what matters most."

"You're correct," Adrian replied. His eyes moved around the room as his face darkened. "Where's Alina?"

"She's not here anymore. All of you, start looking for her immediately!" Emerie barked at the staff members nearby.

...

By then, Alina had already left the hotel far behind.

While walking past the church next door, an inexplicable urge made her pause.

The room was silent and cold. A single coffin sat alone in the middle of the hall.

Kellan, a man who had once stood at the peak of power and influence, now rested here, without anyone by his side to grieve for him.

There had been rumors that Pamela Gilbert, desperate to save her son, had searched everywhere for a woman willing to marry him in hopes of changing his fate. Yet not a single daughter from a prestigious family had been willing to step forward.

Before tragedy struck, wealthy socialites had competed for a place by his side. Afterward, every one of them vanished without a trace.

Alina suddenly realized the cruel irony of the situation.

She slowly approached the coffin before lowering herself to the floor beside it. Resting against the cold wood, she finally allowed the tears she had suppressed for so long to spill freely down her face.

"This world really is ugly. The people who fight the hardest and give the most never seem to receive the ending they deserve," Alina said in a raspy voice, a bitter hint of self-mockery woven into her words. "In the end, even the strongest and most powerful people are reduced to nothing more than lifeless bodies."

Alina had never been the type to pour out her thoughts, but standing here before someone who could no longer answer, she found herself wanting to say everything.

A bitter smile tugged at her lips as she continued, "If I'm destined to become a bride, I'd rather marry a decent man who's dead than spend my life with a man who's alive but rotten to the core."

No sooner had the sentence left her mouth than an angry shout exploded from behind her.

"Alina!" Alan charged into the church with the Hopkins family close behind. Judging by the look on his face, he had heard every single word she had said. Rage radiated from him. "What exactly is that supposed to mean? Are you seriously saying you'd choose a dead man over me?"

Adrian fixed her with a piercing stare. "Alina, tell me the truth. Were you the one who triggered the fire alarm?"

Alina stood up slowly and met Adrian's eyes without a trace of fear. "Yes. I did it."

Alan's expression changed instantly. She knew. She had witnessed everything that had happened.

Countless emotions surged through him at once. There was rage, there was shame, and underneath them all lurked an unsettling fear—a feeling that something important was slipping through his fingers, something he desperately didn't want to lose.

Jessica immediately moved forward, putting on a performance of righteous anger as she spoke. "Alina, how could you possibly do something like this? Your mother worked for our family for ten years. We never treated either of you badly, yet this is how you choose to repay our kindness?"

A cold smile appeared on Alina's face. "My mother worked and earned her wages honestly. She wasn't living off your family's charity. And the two of you are the ones who were sneaking around behind my back. What happened? You're bold enough to cheat but too ashamed to admit it publicly?"

Jessica's face instantly turned red with anger.

"That's enough!" Adrian interrupted sharply, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Alina, you're going back right now and finishing this wedding."

Alina looked at him. Then, with an unnervingly calm expression, she replied, "Fine. I'll get married."

A collective sigh of relief swept through the Hopkins family.

However, Adrian's eyes flashed with disdain. In his view, Alina was merely the daughter of a servant. Being accepted into the Hopkins family was already more than she could have hoped for. This entire act was nothing more than her trying to play hard to get.

He turned away, ready to end the discussion.

But then Alina's voice cut through the air again. "The man I'm going to marry is... Kellan Gilbert."

"What are you even thinking, Alina? Have you completely lost it?" Alan's expression turned grim, a vein pulsing at his temple. "So you're seriously choosing a dead man over me?"

Jessica snapped out of her shock, a mocking smile curling on her lips. "Don't tell me you actually believe you can marry into the Gilbert family just because Mr. Gilbert is gone. You're still a servant's daughter—he's far beyond your reach, even in death."

A ripple of contemptuous stares spread across the church.

In the next instant, a silver-haired aristocratic woman entered swiftly, surrounded by her entourage and dressed in finely tailored couture.

Her presence alone carried the kind of authority that dominated the entire room.

It was Pamela.

She appeared exhausted, as though she hadn't rested in days, but the second she saw Alina, her eyes ignited with desperate hope. "Is it true? Will you really marry my son?"

Alina met Pamela's gaze and gave a firm, solemn nod. "Yes, I will."

She had already decided. If marriage was her fate, she would rather tie herself to someone of Kellan's caliber. Even becoming a widow would be better than being trapped with that manipulative bastard!

More importantly, once she became a Gilbert, Alan and Jessica would no longer be able to trample over her as they pleased.

Pamela clasped Alina's hands tightly. "My child, are you absolutely sure? If you do this, you'll spend your entire life as a widow."

"I've made my decision," Alina replied, holding her gaze without hesitation. "It would be an honor to be the widow of someone as noble as Kellan."

Each word hit Alan like a heavy blow.

Pamela's voice shook with emotion as she spoke. "Good. If you're willing to become part of our family, I will protect you for the rest of your life. I'll arrange for the marriage registration immediately."

Thanks to the Gilbert family's immense influence, a government registrar arrived within an hour.

Soon, the marriage license was completed and issued immediately on site.

Panic and chaos broke out among both the Hopkins and the Hayes families.

Ignoring the risk of offending Pamela, Alan seized Alina's wrist. "Have you lost your mind? You're ruining your entire life just to become a widow!"

Alina yanked her arm free, shooting him a freezing glare. "Marrying you would have been the true disaster!"

Alan trembled with rage. "Alina, this is a betrayal!"

"We were over the moment you had sex with Jessica," Alina retorted, every word laced with absolute disgust.

The sheer loathing in her eyes left Alan speechless.

There had once been warmth and affection in her eyes for him, but now only cold disgust remained.

His chest tightened painfully, as though he could hardly draw air into his lungs.

A sour unease crept into Jessica's heart. The woman she had always despised was now marrying into an elite, powerful family.

But then she reminded herself the groom was already dead, and a wave of relief quickly replaced her anxiety.

Leaning toward Alan, she murmured quietly, "Stop it, Alan. You know Alina has always feared poverty. Now that she finally has a chance to step into wealth, just let her be."

Although she spoke to Alan, her words were clearly meant for Pamela as well.

Her intention was to make Pamela see Alina as nothing more than a woman chasing money and status.

Pamela didn't even bother looking at Jessica; her attention stayed firmly on Alina, her gaze soft but resolute. "From this moment on, you are a Gilbert. If anyone dares to trouble you, you don't hold back—fight back twice as hard. Don't let those manipulative women think they can push you around."

Jessica's expression stiffened instantly.

A surge of warmth filled Alina's chest, and her eyes burned faintly with emotion. "Yes, Pamela."

Pamela broke into a delighted smile. "Consider this your welcome gift. I'll have a property transferred into your name soon."

Without hesitation, Pamela took off a valuable diamond bracelet and placed it securely on Alina's wrist.

Unable to turn it down, Alina accepted it with some reluctance.

Jessica's face twisted with jealousy as she stared at the bracelet. Damn it! She had never possessed anything even close to that level of luxury.

The government registrar respectfully handed the marriage certificate to Pamela.

Adrian's expression darkened like a brewing storm as he addressed Alina. "Since you have chosen a luxurious life as the widow of the late Kellan, we'll be leaving. But keep this in mind—if you ever regret your decision, our family will never accept you again."

Alan threw in a final remark, his tone sharp. "Alina, make sure you act like a proper grieving widow. Everyone will be keeping an eye on you."

He doubted she could actually endure such a lonely life without having sex. In his mind, the moment she broke, she would come crawling back to him in regret.

The Hopkins and the Hayes families then turned away, preparing to leave in a huff.

Suddenly, a clear knocking sound echoed from within the coffin.

Everyone present froze in place.

Pamela reacted first, rushing forward in panic. "Open it... Quick, open the coffin!" she shouted.

The workers hurried forward in a panic, struggling as they tried to pry open the heavy lid.

A pale hand slowly appeared, its fingers curling tightly over the edge of the coffin.

Then a tall, lean figure gradually rose up from inside the coffin and sat upright.