All Chapters of Love Against All Odds: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

Lisa and the others laughed heartily. My heart felt like it was being wrung tightly, over and over again. I had known for a while that Rowan, Miles, and Nathan had planned to humiliate me. A few days earlier, Rowan had called me. “Don’t you want to get married, Tessa? To be a bride? The venue is set just as you chose it. See you there.” My heart had skipped a beat then. He knew me too well—he knew how much I longed for marriage. After my mother passed away, I lived with my grandmother. Now, she is gravely ill. Her only wish is to see me married, to witness my happiness before she leaves this world. I had booked the wedding venue long ago, begging Rowan countless times to marry me—even if it was just a farce of a ceremony to put my grandmother’s mind at ease. That one phone call had thrown me into turmoil. I had wanted to talk to Miles about it in his study. But instead, I accidentally overheard them enthusiastically discussing how to orchestrate this idea of a cruel

"Tessa, you really will do anything to protect that pitiful shred of dignity, won’t you? "If you’re that desperate to get married, why not just pick a man from the crowd?" Rowan suggested with feigned kindness, but I knew better. He wanted to humiliate me further, to make sure I had no way to walk away from this unscathed. In the next moment, he grabbed the microphone and turned to the guests. "Everyone, we have a special announcement! The esteemed eldest daughter of the Hamiltons, Tessa, is now accepting suitors—right here, right now! "As long as you’re a man, you’re welcome to sign up. If anyone’s interested, we can hold the wedding on the spot. "Any takers? Our dear Miss Tessa is nothing if not devoted—she’s been chasing after me for years, utterly relentless in her pursuit." …The crowd buzzed with murmurs, and some even pulled out their phones to record the spectacle. Heat crept up my face as I bit my lip in embarrassment. Yes, I had chased after Rowan for years

I was sure no one had ever said such words to me before. My eyes instantly grew red, and I was unexpectedly moved by the depth of emotion and sincerity in Draco’s gaze. Even though we had only met a few days ago, it felt as if I had known him for much longer. But I told myself he was just saying these things for their benefit—to stand up for me. I didn’t dare take them too seriously.…My father’s attitude shifted dramatically. He clasped Darco’s hand with an overly friendly smile, but Draco coolly withdrew his hand and led me toward my grandmother instead. She beamed with joy, gripping both our hands tightly. “You must be so happy, Tessa,” she said warmly. Draco knelt on one knee beside her, listening patiently as she spoke at length, without the slightest hint of impatience. The guests, now convinced, offered their blessings. “The bride and groom are a perfect match— so handsome and beautiful!” “Who was it earlier, making a fool of themselves trying to set her up fo

"I never saw you again after that," Draco said, his voice tinged with sadness. After my mother fell ill and passed away, my father took me back, and I lost all contact with Draco. "You have no idea how long I searched for you," he said, feigning exasperation. "And yet, you heartless thing— you completely forgot about me." …Draco tapped my forehead lightly with his fingers, grumbling in mock annoyance. Yet, something about the gesture felt oddly familiar. "I'm sorry, Draco," I apologized sincerely. He locked eyes with me and said with quiet seriousness, "Still calling me Draco? Didn’t we get married today? What should you be calling me?" My face instantly flushed crimson. He pulled me into his arms and burst into laughter, choosing not to tease me further. Life with Draco was peaceful and full of joy. He never played games with my emotions, and never left me second-guessing. Only then did I realize—this was what a healthy relationship was supposed to feel like. But