The more Lucian spoke, the more justified he felt.

Then he pointed at me and began to berate me.

“Can you stop being so narrow-minded and shrewish? Marisol is my closest friend. She’s been so distressed she’s thought about dying, and all you care about is a stupid dress?”

At that moment, Marisol shrank back slightly on the sofa, tears welling up.

She timidly tugged at Lucian’s sleeve, her voice trembling with sobs.

“Don’t blame Eva, it’s all my fault… I don’t deserve to live… I shouldn’t have had such selfish hopes…

“I’ll take it off right now, Eva. Please don’t be angry, I’ll leave immediately…”

As she spoke, she made a show of reaching for the laces at the back of the wedding gown, her hands trembling as if she were utterly fragile.

Lucian was heartbroken at the sight; he grabbed her hands to stop her, then turned to glare at me viciously.

“Take it off? Leave it on! Eva, look at yourself—where is your grace, your dignity? If you keep pushing Marisol like this, then don’t bother with the wedding!”

Watching him look ready to fight me over an outsider, I suddenly found it almost laughable.

This was the man I had loved for seven years, the man I had supported with everything I had.

I took a deep breath, and in that instant, the surging anger and grievance within me cooled into something distant and still.

“Fine.”

I looked at Lucian, the corner of my lips curling into a mocking smile.

“Since your bond is so unbreakable, and you’re so eager to commemorate your youth, then I won’t play the villain.”

Lucian froze for a moment, clearly not expecting me to give in so easily.

A flicker of satisfaction passed through his eyes, and his tone softened slightly.

“That’s more like it. Be a little more generous. Don’t worry, tomorrow’s wedding will go on as planned. I’ll still marry you.”

I said no more and turned to leave.

Behind me, I heard Lucian comforting Marisol.

“It’s alright now. That’s just her temper—she’ll calm down with a bit of coaxing. Let’s keep playing…”

After walking out of the apartment building, the night air felt cool against my skin.

I got into my car and dialed my assistant’s number.

“Edwin, notify the legal department to draft a withdrawal agreement tonight.

“And contact the medical team currently waiting at the airport in Argenfall.

“Then, cancel Miriam Drake’s surgery arrangements, have the team disband on the spot, and I’ll cover the penalty.”

I ended the call and looked at my reflection in the rearview mirror, my expression utterly devoid of emotion.

'Lucian, I hope that after tomorrow, you can still afford to pay the price.' I said inwardly.

Early the next morning, just as dawn began to break, the makeup artist was applying my makeup, hesitating as if she wanted to say something.

“Are you really not going to wear the wedding dress?”

“Nope.”

I felt disgusted by anything that had been touched by something unclean.

“I’ll wear this suit instead.”

At exactly eight o’clock, it was time for the groom to come fetch the bride.

But downstairs, everything was eerily quiet.

There were no fireworks, and there was no sign of Lucian.

My bridesmaid, Valerie Bohr, rushed in, her eyes reddened with anger.

“Eva, this is too much! That bastard Lucian still hasn’t shown up! I just called the groomsmen—guess what they said?”

I put on my earrings unhurriedly, my tone calm. “What did they say?”

“They said that Lucian had taken the wedding car!”

Valerie stomped her foot in fury.

“They said Marisol suddenly had a depressive episode and was threatening to jump off a building.

“She insisted on riding in that limited-edition limousine to calm down!

“That idiot actually drove it away and even told you… told you to take a taxi to the hotel!”

I let out a soft laugh.

As expected, there was nothing they wouldn’t dare to do.

That limousine had been specially brought out from my father’s garage—a globally limited edition.

Marisol certainly had an eye for luxury.

Even in the middle of a depressive episode, she chose the most expensive car.

My phone rang—it was Lucian.

After I answered, the sound of rushing wind came through, along with Lucian’s anxious voice, “Eva, go to the hotel first and handle the guests.

“Marisol is very unstable right now. She almost jumped from the rooftop!

“A life is at stake, so don’t throw a tantrum at a time like this!”

“Oh?” I applied a bold red lipstick in front of the mirror. “And?”

“I’ll bring the car back in a while! Just take a taxi, or have your family driver send you. Your family has plenty of cars anyway—you won’t miss this one.”

Lucian spoke as if entirely justified; he even dared to sound annoyed at me.

“You’re the bride—you should be more understanding. If anything really happens to Marisol, we’ll carry that guilt for the rest of our lives!”

“Lucian, ” I cut him off.

“Remember what you just said.”

With that, I hung up and blocked his number.

“What do we do now, Eva?” Valerie was on the verge of tears.

“It’s almost time.”

I stood up and adjusted the collar of my suit.

“My family lacks neither money nor cars.”

I took out my phone and called the butler.

“Bring out every car in the garage and mobilize all the bodyguards. Since Lucian isn’t coming to fetch me, I’ll go myself.”

By the time the motorcade arrived at the hotel, most of the guests had already gathered.

When the guests saw me enter alone with a group of bodyguards, they exchanged glances and began whispering among themselves.

I ignored the probing looks and walked straight toward the backstage lounge.

Just as I reached the door, I caught sight through the gap of Lucian sitting on the sofa, holding Marisol in his arms.

She had changed into casual clothes, yet still wore a fragile expression.

Marisol clung tightly to Lucian’s arm, practically pressing herself against him, holding a cup of hot water as she sipped from it in small, delicate mouthfuls.

“Did I cause you trouble again, Lucian? Eva must be angry…”

Lucian lowered his head and carefully wiped the water from the corner of her lips, his tone gentle.

“Don’t overthink it. You’re like this because you’re sick.

“If she doesn’t even have this much tolerance, then she doesn’t deserve to be my wife.”

Meanwhile, Miriam, seated in her wheelchair, not only failed to reprimand her son at the sight, but instead took Marisol’s hand, her face full of tender concern as she wiped away tears.

“Good child, you’ve suffered.

“It’s a good thing that Lucian values loyalty. This is the kind of responsibility a real man should have.

“Evangeline usually seems sensible, so why is she being so unreasonable today, even making a fuss over a car?”

Hearing this, a wave of nausea rose in my stomach.

This was the very woman I had spent the past year caring for.

No matter how busy I was with work, I had made time to visit the hospital, paid heavily for caregivers, and brought in specialists to keep her alive.

The values of this entire family were rotten to the core.

I pushed the door open, the loud crash startling everyone inside.

Lucian instinctively shielded Marisol behind him.

When he saw it was me, his brows furrowed.

“Why are you only here now? Everyone is waiting. And what are you wearing? Where is your wedding dress?”

I swept my gaze coldly across the three people in the room, finally letting it rest on Lucian’s impatient face.

“The dress was dirty. I threw it away.”

I spoke calmly. “Since everyone is here, let’s go. Don’t keep the guests waiting.”

Lucian seemed to relax, as if he thought I had compromised once again.

He stood up, adjusted his suit, and even tried to take my hand.

“Alright, stop sulking. After the wedding, I’ll explain everything to you.”

I stepped aside, avoiding his hand, my eyes devoid of any warmth.

“There’s no need to explain. Let’s go.”

The emcee had tried to warm up the atmosphere awkwardly for quite some time on stage, and when he saw us come out, he finally sighed in relief.

“Let’s give a warm round of applause to welcome the lovely couple!”

Lucian stood beside me with a practiced smile on his face, yet he did not look at me.

Instead, he kept glancing back toward the main table.

That table had originally been reserved for my parents.

My parents had passed away, and that seat was meant to remain empty as a gesture of remembrance.

But now, Marisol sat there without shame.

She had changed into a pale pink dress, her makeup delicate and pitiful, yet when Lucian looked her way, she secretly formed a heart with her fingers.

I took in everything before me and let out a silent, cold laugh.

When it came time for the vows, Lucian appeared distracted.

“Mr. Lucian Drake, do you take Miss Evangeline Cross as your wife, to love and cherish, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, for better or worse?”

Lucian glanced at his watch and recited the vows quickly, “I do. In sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, I will stand by you.”

After he finished, he did not even wait for my response. Instead, he lowered his voice and urged me, “Let’s wrap this up quickly. Marisol’s medication will wear off soon.

“I don’t feel comfortable leaving her alone—I need to take her home right away.”

I had lifted the microphone, about to speak.

At that moment, Marisol suddenly reacted.

She clutched her chest abruptly and let out an exaggerated, dramatic sob before her entire body went limp and slid from the chair onto the floor.

“Lucian… I feel so awful… am I going to die…”

The commotion was so loud that everyone’s attention instantly turned toward her.

Lucian reacted as though he had been burned.

He shoved my hand away without a word and rushed off the stage.

“Marisol! What’s wrong? Don’t scare me!”

He lifted Marisol into his arms and shouted anxiously, “Call an ambulance! Hurry and call an ambulance!”

Marisol trembled in his arms, clutching his collar as she cried, “Don’t worry about me… today is your wedding…

“I shouldn’t have come… just let me die…”

“Don’t say something so stupid! How can a wedding be more important than your life!”

Lucian’s eyes reddened as he turned and shouted at me on the stage, “Pause the wedding! I need to take Marisol to the hospital!

“Use your head—she’s a patient! Whatever it is, we’ll talk about it when I get back!”

The entire hall was in an uproar.

The guests exchanged shocked glances.

“What’s going on? The groom ran off holding another woman?”

“Isn’t that Lucian’s childhood friend? This is way too much!”

“The bride is being publicly humiliated… this is heartbreaking.”

I stood on the stage, silently watching Lucian carry Marisol toward the exit.

“Stop.

“No need to pause the wedding. And no need to go to the hospital.”

Lucian stopped in his tracks and turned back to glare at me, his voice filled with anger, “Do you even have a shred of humanity? Marisol is about to die!”

“She won’t die.”

I looked at him coldly.

“Since everyone is here, allow me to present you with a small gift.”