Chapter 3

As the Maybach pulled up in front of me, I shifted to the side, a bit confused.

The car came to a stop.

A man in his forties stepped out and walked over to me.

He gave me a friendly smile and asked, "May I ask if you're Ms. Nolan?"

I replied with a nod, "And you are?"

It turned out that he was the driver Henry had sent to take me home.

I couldn't help but smile. Maybe this marriage wasn't so bad after all.

When I got home, Lily was already there, scolding me as if she couldn't believe how hopeless I was.

She was on a roll, her complaints getting louder and more dramatic by the minute.

I hurriedly took out our newly issued marriage certificate.

That put out her fire instantly.

My father, Frank Nolan, sat by the piano and gave me a thumbs-up.

I lifted my chin, feeling proud of myself.

Lily mumbled, "Didn't you say that William...?"

"Wait, what?" Lily called out.

Her eyes went wide as she looked at the marriage certificate, then at me, then at Frank.

"What?" Lily called out again.

Seeing Lily, usually so composed, stunned, Frank, who had been watching from the side, came over as well.

After glancing at the names and photos on the marriage license, he looked at me with the same shocked expression Lily wore.

I strolled over to the couch and sat down, calling out for the maid to bring me a glass of water.

Lily and Frank sat down next to me, looking a little nervous. "Sweetie, what's going on?" they asked.

I replied with a nod, "Mom, Dad, I'm not marrying William anymore."

From now on, I wouldn't be chasing after him, getting jealous, or throwing tantrums.

The moment I finished speaking, they froze, then broke into smiles. "Sweetie, did you finally come around?" they asked.

I gave a firm nod.

I replied, "Yeah, I've already tied the knot with Henry."

Frank's face lit up instantly.

"You should have realized it sooner, honey. William is just a pretty face, nothing more. He's a total flirt, always trying to please everyone. I never liked that guy anyway," he said.

Lily waved the marriage certificate in the air.

"But sweetie, what about tomorrow's wedding?" she asked.

I looked up at her.

"The wedding is still on for tomorrow," I said.

I still had to go through with it.

The Nolan family had been in business for a hundred years. I was not about to let their name get tarnished on my account.

After graduation, I didn't go to work for the family business.

Thinking back, I had spent so much time swallowing my pride, chasing after him, getting jealous, and picking fights. Honestly, it was pretty pathetic.

After dinner, I started sorting through the engagement gifts the Stone family had sent over. William really cared about our wedding. He made sure every single thing was top-notch.

He really went all out.

But in the end, he still dumped me for Emily.

My phone started ringing, so I picked it up to see who was calling.

It was William.

October nights were already getting chilly, and the sky was sprinkled with stars. The breeze carried the fragrance of flowers and fresh leaves from the garden, making the whole scene feel almost magical.

I opened the gate.

Right away, I spotted William standing beneath the streetlamp.

He looked just as handsome as he did the very first time we met, with that calm, clear presence that always made him stand out.

When he saw me, his eyes seemed to spark with light.

He was really a sight.

I couldn't help but admit to myself why I had fallen for him all these years.

"Rachel, have you eaten yet?" he asked.

I asked with a nod, "Is there something you wanted to talk about?"

William looked at me, trying to read my mood.

"Rachel, I'm sorry about today. I missed our appointment," he said.

"It's fine. I'm used to it," I replied.

After Rachel hung up, William started to feel uneasy. All afternoon, he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd lost something important, so he decided to see her before flying to Nashvile.

Now, seeing Rachel so calm and collected, he couldn't tell if she was really okay or if something was bothering her.

After a moment, William finally spoke up.

"Rachel, are you mad at me? Mad that I left you at City Hall, mad that I postponed the wedding?" he asked.

See? He knew I'd be mad, but he still did it anyway.

Why? Guess I was just pathetic.

Every single time he chose Emily over me, I'd get mad and make a scene.

But I'd always end up forgiving him, because I was head over heels for him.

William knew I was crazy about him.

People who were loved could get away with anything, but he never gave me that kind of affection.

Seeing my expression turn colder, William assumed I was just upset, and that made him breathe a sigh of relief. A hint of smug satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

William thought, 'She's just mad. All I have to do is explain a little, sweet-talk her, and she'll be fine.'

William ruffled my hair, letting go before I could pull away.

"Rachel, Emily's ankle is seriously injured. She needs a specialist in Nashvile, and it's urgent. She has to have surgery within forty-eight hours, or she might end up with permanent damage. That's why I have to go with her," he explained.

My eyes flashed with mockery.

"Seriously? Is there no one else in the world? What about your assistant or the caregivers? Are they all useless? Does it have to be you? And you can blow off our wedding like it's nothing?" I shot back.

A look of disapproval flickered in William's eyes.

"Rachel, you're the only one I care about, okay? Don't be upset. Emily is like a sister to me, and I can't let her be alone in Nashville. Once she's settled, I'll come straight back to you," he said.

"And when I get back, I'll make it up to you with the most incredible wedding ever," he added.

I wanted to ask him if he knew what it meant to me, changing our wedding date for Emily.

But before I could say anything, his phone rang.