Chapter 4

While waiting for the family doctor, I was painting in my art studio.

Halfway through, I heard sounds coming from the piano room next door.

"Julian Vance, if Celeste found out you were the one who hired the kidnappers, I wonder if her heart would break."

After a moment of silence, Julian Vance let out a sound of desire.

"So what? Everything she has is mine. I originally wanted to take the opportunity to make her hand over the inheritance, but she was so stubborn, she'd rather die than give in."

"But it doesn't matter. Once I marry her and get the assets, I'll be the richest man in the world!"

Blair pouted coquettishly. "Hmph, then you'd be a two-time married man when you marry me."

My mom was very sad, her voice choked.

"It's all my fault. If I hadn't died so early, my daughter wouldn't have been manipulated by these wolves."

She then instantly brightened up. "But they're going to be disappointed! My daughter chose Asher Hayes!"

Their movements and sounds grew louder and louder. I felt like the entire second floor was tainted.

"Excuse me, is Miss Celeste here?"

He wore a white lab coat, an unfamiliar family doctor.

"Dr. Miller was off today, feeling unwell, so I'm covering for him."

The man kept his head down, but his eyes were strange.

Yet, as he approached me, he suddenly lunged.

"Celeste, go to hell!"

In his hand was a syringe, just a fraction of an inch from piercing my body.

In that moment of life and death, I screamed, "Julian Vance, help me!"

In a flash, I had ducked behind my easel.

If Julian Vance could just grab him while he was unprepared, I could be saved.

Blair let out a cry, "No, Julian Vance, I don't want you to get hurt."

Julian Vance hesitated for a moment, and the man's syringe plunged into my skin.

I struggled frantically, only to find my body gradually losing control.

My mom paced anxiously around me.

"Oh no! This is one of the kidnapper's accomplices! Because the Richard family rounded up their whole gang, he's furious and wants revenge! Julian Vance, my daughter has been so good to you, can you really bear to watch her get hurt?"

On the other side, Blair, traumatized, had fainted in Julian Vance's arms.

In his panic, he simply picked her up and carried her away.

A chill ran through my heart.

Three years of feelings, and yet I held no place in his heart.

Perhaps I should have known the moment he paid the ransom for Blair.

In a haze, I saw a man rush up and pull me into his arms.

He called my name repeatedly, but I couldn't hear anything anymore.

Fortunately, the dose of the poison wasn't much, and it didn't cause me great harm.

For the following time, I stayed home to recover, even missing the Freshman Orientation Week at school.

I heard Blair made quite a splash.

Many men pursued her, but Julian Vance shut them all down.

The kidnapper from that day had already been caught and executed, but Asher Hayes was still worried.

He stayed by my side when I slept, and left as soon as I woke up.

On my birthday, my father painstakingly prepared the most exquisite and beautiful wedding dress in the world for me.

When I appeared in full regalia before the four men,

Julian Vance, Ryan, and Leo's eyes were filled with awe.

Only Asher Hayes lowered his head, not daring to meet my gaze.

I called for the bodyguards and handed them the clothes I had prepared.

But when they changed and reappeared, Julian Vance finally realized something was off.

"Celeste, did you mix up Asher Hayes's and my clothes?"

I gave him a faint glance, and said softly,

"No mistake. Because my groom is—"

"The groom I've chosen, the man I'll spend the rest of my life with, is Asher Hayes."

At these words, everyone present froze.