Even his cooking skills were learned for Winona.

I used to watch his back as he made congee in the kitchen and felt a sense of happiness. But now, every frame of that memory felt painfully ironic.

"I don't feel like eating right now. Maybe later."

Seeing that I really didn’t have an appetite, he hesitated for a moment before bringing up the matter of Winona’s wedding dress.

It turned out that it wasn’t just the wedding itself. Winona wanted everything: my wedding dress, my ring, even my bouquet.

"Of course, if you’re not willing..."

"It’s fine," I interrupted calmly and smiled generously. If I no longer cared for Cole, why would I care about these custom-made possessions tied to him?

Cole froze in place, staring at my calm gaze. He opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

Since the rings had been custom-made using my ID, he needed me to accompany him to have the size and name changed.

When we arrived at the jewelry store, I saw the pair of long-awaited rings now worn on Cole’s and Winona’s fingers.

The store staff kept complimenting how well-matched they looked, like a couple destined to be together.

That was, until Winona requested the names on the rings to be changed to hers. The clerk’s smile froze in place.

She turned to look at me, hesitating. “So, which one of you is Miss Hale?”

I stepped forward and said calmly, “That would be me.”

I glanced at Winona and Cole, their fingers intertwined as they posed for photos and chuckled lightly.

“If she likes the ring so much, let’s go with her idea. I’m willing to let her have it,” I said, my tone calm and indifferent.

After urging the jeweler to make the adjustments, Winona and Cole, without missing a beat, dragged me to the bridal shop next.

Thanks to my parents’ upbringing and their emphasis on quality, the wedding gown was designed to be bold and elegant, perfectly highlighting my striking temperament.

Worn by the petite and delicate Winona, the wedding gown instantly lost its original charm. In the mirror, she looked more like a maid trying on the clothes of a noble lady.

Even Cole couldn’t help but suggest, “Maybe it’s better to pick one that suits you more.”

But Winona stubbornly insisted on this one.

Cole looked at me, caught in a dilemma. He knew how much this wedding and especially this gown meant to me. I had spent six months carefully selecting it.

Every diamond on the gown was carefully chosen after discussions with the designer. That’s why it wasn’t until three days before the wedding that the final adjustments were made.

I had once dreamed of being Cole's most beautiful bride. Now, it seemed unnecessary. Even this wedding dress made me feel utterly ridiculous.

“Stella, I love Cole just like you do, you know that. I even developed depression because of him. Before, you tolerated me, gave in to me and bought me so many nice things. Now, I’ve truly decided to let go. You wouldn’t even refuse to let me have this wedding dress, would you?”

Winona spoke with a pitiful tone, as if I had wronged her. Cole looked at her with so much sympathy, his worry evident in his eyes.

"Stella, I never realized you could be so petty! It's just a wedding dress! You know Winona has depression, why are you making such a fuss about it?"

I studied them carefully, watching their expressions become uncomfortable. Only then did I smile and nod. "Of course, if you like it so much, take it. I'm not the storekeeper; I can't stop a sale."

With that, I went to speak with the shopkeeper, explaining that I agreed to let Winona have the dress. The whole ordeal dragged on until evening.

Cole then mentioned my pregnancy, urging me to go rest early.

I didn't say much and went straight to the hospital where I had made an appointment to have the child removed.

By the time I returned home, it was already 10 p.m. I touched my now-flat belly and thought of the child from my previous life and my eyes filled with tears once again.

Cole called me, saying he had to work overtime tonight. He reminded me several times not to forget to take my vitamins and drink hot milk.

After hanging up, I lay on the bed, feeling drowsy.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed with several messages.

The photos showed a man's and woman's bare collarbones, marked with love bites and sweat.

The caption read:

“What's the point of being rich? You're still only worthy of my second-hand wedding and second-hand man.”

I had just read two-thirds of the message when it was retracted.

Winona sent another message.

[I sent the wrong message earlier. Please don't misunderstand.]

I couldn't be bothered to reply and immediately blocked her number.

On the wedding day,

I finally understood that the so-called "formality" was not as simple as just the two of them having a ceremony.

Even both sets of parents and relatives had arrived. Several of Winona's friends were even live-streaming the event.

After all, "Yucca Hotel" was the top hotel in Arham City.

If it weren't for Winona, I probably would never have had the chance to step foot in this place.

They kept bragging in the live stream about how good Winona's marriage was.

The uninformed netizens in the live stream began flooding the chat.

"Wow, isn't this the Empress Hall of Yucca Hotel? I heard a wedding here costs at least a hundred thousand dollars to start!"

"It's not just about money. For places like the Empress Hall and the Emperor Hall, you need both money and connections. I heard at the last gathering that this wedding is the marriage of the Hale Family 's heir, Stella Hale."

"Wow! So the bride is the eldest daughter of the Hale Family. It's great to have a rich best friend."

I sat calmly in the crowd, wearing my wedding dress.

I called the owners of the jewelry store, bridal shop and the hotel where the wedding was held.

I asked them to confirm the value of these expensive items and informed them that I would no longer be paying the balance. I told them to confirm that Winona and Cole were capable of covering the costs.

I also sent them the wedding address.

Previously, my credit had guaranteed the payments, so the plan was to settle the balance after the wedding.

But now that they were so eager to take everything for themselves, I naturally wouldn't continue to play the fool.

The Hale Family 's status in Arham City was well-known.

With my words, these people would certainly understand what I meant.

Half an hour later...

The ceremony on stage had just reached the part where the bride and groom were exchanging rings.

Suddenly, the hotel’s front doors were forcefully pushed open.