Chapter 3

The day of my wedding, the whole Jansburg was buzzing with excitement.

Charles really went all out. He invited every big shot in our social circle and even booked out every major mall in Jansburg. Everyone was welcome, and it felt like the whole city was celebrating with us.

My dad actually cracked a rare smile. "The Guzman family sure knows how to flaunt their wealth."

Then he saw me and immediately frowned, "Why the long face? This is a big day. Landing a spot in the Guzman family is a stroke of luck for you. Way better than ending up with that brat Emmett."

"Dad, why are you even bringing up Emmett?" Karen's face was full of annoyance and disgust at the mention of his name.

"Look who's talking. Just a few days ago, Xavier asked you out to dinner. Why didn't you go?" my dad shot back.

"That's my own business. I'll go if I feel like it," Karen replied.

"Seriously, watch your attitude. We're talking about the Jennings family here. You should feel lucky he even noticed you," my dad said.

My dad, losing his temper, swung his hand to slap Karen, but I grabbed his wrist and stopped him cold.

With my dad staring at me in disbelief, I spoke with deliberate calm, "After today, I'll be Mrs. Guzman. Dad, I want everything to go smoothly at my wedding."

At the mention of the Guzman family, my dad immediately backed down. He shot Karen a nasty look and stormed off.

In the end, Karen was the one who helped me into the wedding car.

Just as we stepped out the door, we happened to pass by a crowd walking down the street.

My heart fluttered for a moment, but I quickly calmed myself.

When the crowd saw a wedding procession, they instinctively stepped aside, giving us the right of way.

With my left hand in Karen's and my right hand holding a bouquet, I made my way, step by step, toward the car parked at the curb.

A breeze swept by, sending sand swirling up from the roadside and stinging my eyes.

I turned toward Karen, hoping she'd help me get the sand out of my eyes, but ended up stepping on the cascading layers of my gown by accident.

Just as I was about to stumble, a slender, long-fingered hand reached out and caught me, steadying me.

I didn't care about anything else and just held onto his hand to keep my balance and whispered, "Thanks."

But he didn't let go. Instead, his grip tightened around my hand.

A wave of dread washed over me. Bracing myself, I looked up and found myself staring into those all-too-familiar eyes.

Emmett's eyes were red-rimmed, his expression completely wrecked, and he looked at me like he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Lydia, why are you here, dressed up like this?" he blurted out. "So you're really the one marrying Charles?"

Emmett was practically out of breath, and I could hear the anger creeping into his voice as he spoke.

I tried to pull my hand away, but he locked me in place.

Then, suddenly furious, he ripped the bouquet from my grip, hurled it to the ground, and stomped it into a mangled mess.

"Lydia, why did you betray me. Couldn't you wait just five years for me?" Emmett demanded, his voice trembling with anger and heartbreak.

I found it ridiculous. "When did I ever say I'd wait for you?"

My tone was full of mockery as I looked at him with nothing but cold contempt.

Karen recognized Emmett right away and snapped back to reality, instinctively rushing over to try and pry him off me.

But Emmett was obsessed; he refused to let go, gripping my hand tighter, and when Karen tried to help, he just shoved her away.

I was so furious that I couldn't hold back anymore. I snapped, "Emmett, have you lost your mind? What are you even doing here? Let go of me, right now!

"I never said I'd wait for you. You were the one who called off our engagement. We're over for ages. What gives you the right to show up here, shamelessly clinging to me?"

Emmett's eyes were so bloodshot that it was scary; he looked almost unhinged for a moment.

He stared at me like he couldn't believe what he was hearing, forcing out each word, "We're over?"

As he spoke, his grip was like iron, refusing to let go.

His eyes were wild and red, full of hurt and anger. "Didn't you say you'd wait five years for me? Why are you betraying me now?"

Seeing that entitled, self-righteous look on his face and the same cold expression he always wore, I couldn't help but snort with laughter. I shot him a mocking glare, taking in just how crazed and unfamiliar he looked now.