Chapter 8

Back in her room, Sylvia lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over, streaming silently down her face.

For five years, she had never imagined a day when she and Nathaniel would break up. She had never thought she would marry another man.

But in just a matter of days, everything had changed.

Her phone buzzed beside her, snapping her from her thoughts.

Picking it up, she saw new messages.

“Sylvia, guess where I am?”

The message was from Vivian, accompanied by several photos.

It was pictures of her and Nathaniel’s home.

Then came more—intimate photos of Vivian and Nathaniel entwined together on the very bed that was supposed to be for her and Nathaniel.

“As soon as you left, Nathaniel couldn’t wait to bring me here. He even told all the staff not to say a word to you! Your bed is really comfortable, by the way. I heard you picked out the sheets yourself, didn’t you? The lovebirds on them look just like me and Nathaniel, don’t they?”

The mocking tone of Vivian’s words and the photos that came with them failed to stir any emotion in Sylvia.

She quietly scrolled through the messages, then turned off her phone.

It didn’t matter anymore. She would never go back there again.

In the following days, Sylvia’s parents were busy making arrangements for her upcoming wedding.

She was just as occupied, spending her days being dragged around for fittings, shopping trips, and endless preparations.

As for Nathaniel? She learned about his every move through Vivian.

Every day, Vivian sent her photos and updates, detailing her life with Nathaniel as if to taunt her.

Sylvia simply treated it as entertainment.

She saved every photo, screenshot every text, cataloging them one by one.

Nathaniel also tried to reach out to her daily. He called her repeatedly, but she never answered. He sent gifts and delivered them straight to her house, but she didn’t even open the boxes before throwing them away.

Finally, on the eve of her wedding, Nathaniel started to sense that something was wrong.

At his bachelor party, he vented his frustrations to his friends.

“Lately, Sylvia hasn’t been responding to me or answering my calls. Do you think she’s figured something out?”

“Come on, how could she? We’ve kept this under wraps perfectly. There’s no way she knows. Just focus on your wedding to Vivian tomorrow.”

“Exactly. Spend some quality time with Vivian while you can. She doesn’t have much time left. Once you get through this month, Sylvia will come right back to you like nothing ever happened.”

Nathaniel still felt uneasy, but the day of his wedding with Vivian had arrived.

At this point, there was no turning back.

…

The next morning, Sylvia sat in front of the mirror in her bedroom while her mother combed her hair, tears streaming down her face.

“My little girl… you’re getting married today.”

“Mom, it’s a happy day—I’m getting married. Why are you crying?”

“How could I not cry? I’m going to miss you. But at least we know the Cooper family well. Bennett seems like a great guy. I’ve met him a few times. He just got back from the capital, and I heard he’s a high-ranking officer in the military. Handsome too, and definitely on par with Nathaniel.”

Her mother reached for her phone. “Here, let me show you a photo of him—”

Sylvia gently stopped her. “There’s no need, Mom. I’ll see him in person soon enough.”

She glanced at the clock. It was already 7 a.m., and it was time to head to the hotel.

Nathaniel had likely left for his wedding by now.

It was time to let everyone know her decision.

Taking out her phone, Sylvia posted a simple message to her social media:

“Getting married today. Wish me luck.”

Comments flooded in almost immediately, all filled with congratulatory messages:

“Congratulations! Five years together, and now it’s your happily ever after.”

“Finally tying the knot with Nathaniel? So envious of you two!”

“Wishing you and Nathaniel a lifetime of happiness together!”

Sylvia read through the comments, her lips curling into a faint, bitter smile.

Look at that.

Everyone assumed she was marrying Nathaniel, but he was about to wed his first love, and she was set to marry a stranger.

That morning, Nathaniel couldn’t shake a sense of unease.

Something felt wrong, though he couldn’t put his finger on it.

His friends brushed it off, telling him he was overthinking things.

He reluctantly got into the wedding car, picked up Vivian, and headed to the hotel he had originally booked with Sylvia.

As soon as they arrived and stepped out of the car, a few old acquaintances approached them, grinning.

“Congratulations, Mr. Sinclair! Finally tying the knot!”

“Yeah, but where’s Sylvia? Haven’t seen her yet.”

“Sylvia?” Nathaniel’s face stiffened, and he forced a smile. “Actually, she’s not the one I’m marrying today.”

“What? You’ve got to be kidding!” one of them exclaimed, stunned. “Sylvia posted on social media this morning, saying she’s getting married. Isn’t it with you?”

Another chimed in, equally confused. “That can’t be right. The hotel and date are the same. How could she not be marrying you? Mr. Sinclair, stop joking around!”