Chapter 31: Chapter 31

Annie halted in her footsteps. Everything around her dimmed. The time seemed to have stopped.

Staring at the couple who were exchanging vows passionately, their words echoed in her mind, going straight to her heart.

The shock hit her like a ton of bricks, she almost staggered. Looking at the girl, it was as if icy water had been poured on her on a cold winter morning.

“I– I am seeing things, right?” Mrs. Lin was the first person to recover from her shock.

Everyone that had accompanied them was like a statue. They couldn’t say a word. They could only watch the scene with eyes and mouths wide open.

“Mum, is this some kind of prank!?” Jason exclaimed. “Is that not Brother-in-law?”

No one noticed Annie and the others standing at the back. Because the bride and groom were still exchanging vows, their eyes were fixed on the altar.

It was only after the couple exchanged rings that someone finally took notice of them. And that person was Jason.

His gaze strayed directly to Annie. The guy appeared shocked for some seconds before retaining a calm demeanor.

Because the groom was staring too long in a particular direction, the guests and the other people present at the ceremony followed his gaze, curious as to what he was staring at.

Ah!

Whispers and gasps instantly broke out. Seeing a beautiful girl dressed in a wedding dress, the people were flabbergasted. They couldn’t make sense of what was about to unfold.

“If I’m not mistaken, she’s wearing a bridal dress.”

“I know, right? How can there be two brides at one wedding? I think it’s just a normal dress.”

“Look at it carefully, isn’t it the latest design that came out this season?”

Although the dress was a simple one, the fashion enthusiasts among the guests couldn’t mistake it.

“Eh? What is going on then?”

As the people whispered loudly, Annie broke out of her shock. She was surrounded by noises and every pair of eyes were on her.

The spectators gawked at her. They looked between her and the groom. Then they looked at the real bride.

Who was even the real bride? The one who just got married to the groom, right?

Among the guests was Mr. Wang and some of his friends. He stared at his bubbly daughter whose expression was turning dark and his heart jolted.

“Son-in-law, what are these people doing here!? Why is that girl also dressed like a bride!?” Mr. Wang shouted.

He was getting tired of the whispers. The people had begun gossiping about his daughter too and he couldn’t take it anymore.

Obviously, Mr. Wang was pretending as if he didn’t know who the girl was.

Mrs. Ju’an who was also shocked by the appearance of the girl was initially lost for words. She didn’t know how to tackle the situation until Mr. Wang’s statement gave her an idea.

“My Son, who is that new girl? Don’t tell me you have grown so popular that a lot of girls are vying to be your bride.”

Ahhh, was that it?

The guests finally understood what was going on. They didn’t think far anymore and began berating the girl.

“That is so shameless of her.”

“And isn’t she too late? They have already exchanged the vows.”

“Well, she just wasted her money on a pretty dress.”

Annie shook her head and let out a self-deprecating laugh. Her eyes flashed with a coldness that was directed at the groom. All this time, she didn’t look at anyone but him.

“Jason, you really know how to play your cards right.” She didn’t speak loudly. Her voice was calm. However, everyone heard her clearly.

The whispers quietened down and they watched the groom step forward.

“Annie, let’s stop playing the pretending game. You know this is all your fault.”

Annie almost laughed. “How’s it my fault?”

Everyone looking could tell that the smile on her face was only there. In her eyes was a look of hurt, despite her nonchalant tone.

“Don’t act like the victim here.” The once gentle man now looked nothing more than a stranger. “I am not a fool. If you wish to continue two-timing, you might as well find another guy.”

Jason couldn’t shake off the image of that night at the parking lot.

That night, all his expectations of her crumbled.

That night, the dream he had built for them both shattered.

That night, he lost faith in their relationship.

“I thought you trusted me, Jason. You told me you didn’t care about my past.”

“That was in the past.” Jason gave her the same cold look. “You are a mystery yourself, Annie. I have no desire to live on tenterhooks. Forget about your dishonesty, you wanted to set me up for something I might not overcome.”

“Jason–“

“Let me use this medium to announce this. It is over between us. As you can see, I have already picked my bride.”

“How much did they pay you, Jason?” Annie stared into his eyes. Overnight, this man had transformed into something she didn’t know. When did she set him up?

The guests watched the scene with keen eyes, hearing the girl’s last question. How was this related to money?

Priscilla’s heart burned as she watched Annie interact so easily with Jason. Contrary to her expectations, the girl appeared calm. Priscilla had wanted her to break into tears the moment she came in.

How could she let this girl go for snatching her spotlight?

“Why are you dragging questions!? Are you so dumb that you don’t understand simple words! Just accept your defeat, Annie. Pack your filthy parade and leave this place!”

Priscilla’s demeaning words incited anger from Annie’s mother and the people that accompanied them.

“Mr. Ju’an.” Mrs. Lin approached Jason. “Whatever my daughter has done to you, do you think you have the right to humiliate her in public?”

“Don’t give my son that look.” Mrs. Ju’an stepped out. “Your daughter brought the shame upon herself. My son doesn’t want to marry her, is that a crime!?”

“Don’t you know that Jason and I have been in love, Annie?” Priscilla chipped in. “You were always desperate to be in my place. You can’t even control yourself even on our wedding day.”