🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 16
It was three days before the wedding.
Melvin was being subjected to all kinds of treatments at a beauty salon and was completely overwhelmed.
“Make the nails as shiny as possible. But not too much. Understood?”
“Yes.”
“Ah! Aren’t you pressing too hard? Gently, please.”
“…Understood.”
So many demands.
As the staff attending to her were gradually growing exhausted—
“Melvin, Melvin!”
Duer burst into the shop, violently pushing the door open.
At the sudden commotion, Melvin glared at the man who would soon become her husband.
“This is a salon. Be quiet.”
What if they messed up her nails? A bride’s nails couldn’t afford to look ugly on her wedding day.
But none of Melvin’s irritation registered in Duer’s eyes.
“I-it’s not the time for this, Melvin.”
“What on earth is going on?”
“There’s a problem.”
Unlike usual, when he would normally fawn over her beauty even while complaining, Duer was serious today. Melvin immediately sensed something was wrong.
“The wedding… it’s been canceled.”
“…Pardon?”
“Our wedding has been canceled!”
“What do you mean, canceled? Why would it suddenly be canceled?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“The venue said something unexpected came up. Damn it! They’ll refund everything and even pay penalties, but the venue will be closed on that day.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
“They said urgent construction is required. Apparently, they found a serious problem.”
“How could this happen…”
Melvin, who had been standing, staggered and collapsed onto the floor. But Duer had no time to help her up.
“We already sent out the invitations. And the wedding is in three days. How are we supposed to tell the guests?”
“What about another venue? Another hall?”
“I checked. Same everywhere.”
They contacted every wedding hall and hotel in the capital, but the answer was identical.
“They can’t make room on such short notice.”
Even offering extra money didn’t help. Everyone refused, citing prior commitments.
“What on earth is happening that day…”
Had a new national holiday been declared without anyone knowing?
“Maybe we should try a church…”
“I refuse!”
Melvin shot up and shouted.
“I told everyone we were having a luxurious, grand wedding. I cannot have it in some shabby place!”
“There are plenty of large churches nearby. It won’t be shabby.”
“I said it would be shabby!”
What was a church, after all? A place of austerity and restraint, where even a hint of extravagance was frowned upon. No chandeliers, no lush floral aisles—nothing of the sort.
“Compared to the Silvia Wedding Hall, it’s pathetic!”
The Silvia Wedding Hall was one of the most luxurious venues in the capital. They had gone so far—at great expense—to secure it.
How many people had been envious when she announced she would marry there?
“If the venue changes and people find out it’s a church, they’ll all laugh at us!”
“Melvin, that’s not true.”
“It is!”
Because she herself had always done so. She had looked down on those who had modest weddings with nothing. She absolutely did not want that kind of wedding.
More importantly—
‘I’ve never seen anyone who stole another woman’s husband living well.’
‘Especially when it’s her sister’s husband.’
‘Nothing more disgraceful than them doing well.’
Melvin knew exactly what people said behind her back.
So she intended to have a wedding so grand that it would shut them all up—and then live well. She wanted to make Chloe jealous. Seeing Chloe humiliated was one of her greatest pleasures.
‘But if even the wedding falls apart…’
It wouldn’t just be a loss of pleasure—it might even invite Chloe’s ridicule. Of all people, Chloe.
“So absolutely not. No matter what, find a proper venue within three days. Understand?”
“Ha… I’ll try.”
Duer massaged his throbbing temples.
‘Right. There must be a way.’
The capital was huge. Surely there had to be at least one suitable place. Worst case, they could decorate a private estate garden for an outdoor ceremony.
It would work out somehow. He forced himself to stay hopeful and rushed out of the salon.
Meanwhile—
Given her nature of loving extravagance, Melvin’s wedding was supposed to have many guests. Hundreds of attendees were now in an awkward position.
“The venue changed?”
“Why suddenly?”
“Isn’t the wedding in two days?”
People gathered at the salon were confused.
“What about guests coming from far away?”
“So where is it now?”
“They haven’t said yet.”
“Excuse me?”
Their eyes widened in disbelief.
“They still don’t know?”
“No. They haven’t found a place yet.”
“How is that even possible?”
“If they couldn’t book a place, they could at least use the estate garden, right?”
“Lord, look outside.”
Outside, rain was pouring heavily. The wind was so strong the windows rattled violently.
“This is not weather for an outdoor wedding.”
“True…”
The nobles stared at the stormy sky.
“It feels like someone cursed this.”
“Exactly. The sudden cancellation and this weather…”
“Maybe it’s true what they say—that when a woman harbors resentment, even frost falls in midsummer.”
“Could it be Chloe Gareth?”
Thus, rumors began to spread.
That Chloe was taking revenge—or that Duer had angered the imperial family.
“But I heard Chloe is dating Lord Verder. Why would she need revenge?”
“Do you believe that rumor? I find it completely unreliable.”
“Exactly. Why would someone like Lord Verder date a divorced woman?”
“He’s mysterious. Impossible to read.”
As the conversation drifted, the topic shifted toward Chloe and Kaiden Verder.
Before long—
“Over here.”
The door opened, and a man’s voice was heard escorting a lady politely.
“Thank you.”
A soft voice replied, smiling.
All eyes turned toward the entrance.
“…!”
Their eyes widened.
The person entering—escorted by an astonishingly handsome man—was none other than Chloe.
Everyone there knew her: Duer’s ex-wife and Melvin’s stepsister.
Milky-blonde hair and warm reddish eyes—without a doubt, Chloe Gareth.
But who was the unfamiliar man beside her?
“As I always said, Chloe is truly kind.”
“Why?”
“She even thanks people for the smallest things.”
The tall man gently brushed back her hair.
“You are truly an angel without wings.”
“Oh, stop it. You’re embarrassing me.”
“I’m only stating facts. Why would that be embarrassing, my angel Chloe?”
He then kissed the corner of her eye.
The room fell dead silent.
Chloe Gareth has a new man.
And not just any man—an unbelievably handsome one.
Which meant…
“V-Verder?”
Someone muttered.
Kaiden lifted his head.
He looked at the crowd.
“Did someone call me?”
“….”
“Hmm. Perhaps I misheard.”
His tone was playful and relaxed, but it was enough.
Kaiden Verder—rarely seen in high society—was openly dating Chloe Gareth.
And not just dating.
Intensely. Shamelessly. Passionately.
