Chapter 1
“Ms. Caldwell, just to clarify–you want the entire wedding to proceed as planned, but the bride will be someone else? Did I get that right?”
Faced with the planner’s baffled expression, Emma Caldwell didn’t even blink.
She nodded, calm and composed, like she hadn’t just detonated a bombshell
“Yes, the wedding will go ahead in two weeks, as scheduled. I’ll send over the updated materials in the next few days.”
“Alright…would you like me to inform Mr. Donovan-”
“No!” Her tone was sharper than intended.
The planner flinched.
Emma caught herself and quickly softened her voice, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
“He’s been quite busy lately. From now on, coordinate everything with me directly.”
This wedding was her final gift to Marcus Donovan.
And like every perfect surprise–it only meant something if the person never saw it coming. Not until the very last second.
Emma left the wedding planning company and booked a ticket to leave
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Chicago on her phone. Just as the booking confirmation message popped up, Marcus’s call lit up her screen.
When she picked up, his gentle coaxing voice came through.
“Emma, Mom said she misses you and wants me to bring you home for dinner tonight.
“She also said she has something for you. Can you guess what it is?”
Everyone in Chicago knew Marcus was cold by nature–his words and actions always distant and composed, never letting anyone get too close. Women threw themselves at him, one after another, but from beginning to end, he only gave all his tenderness to Emma alone.
Until today, Emma had always believed this to be true.
Emma and Marcus’s mothers were best friends with an extremely close relationship. She and Marcus grew up together as childhood sweethearts.
However, back then, less than a month after Emma’s mother passed away, her scumbag father remarried her stepmother. Emma’s stepmother framed her and had her sent to a remote, impoverished area. When she regained consciousness, a drunk man was trying to assault her.
In a panic, she grabbed a scattered wine bottle from the ground and smashed it on his head. The drunk man convulsed on the ground a few times before going still. Just when she was scared and helpless, Marcus kicked open the creaky door and rushed in, holding her in his arms.
At that moment, in Emma’s eyes, he was like a savior descending from heaven.
Even after being rescued, Emma still suffered severe psychological trauma. from that incident. Marcus accompanied her day and night, persistently taking her to see famous psychologists for treatment and trying everything
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he could to make her happy. Slowly, she began to heal.
With that kind of devotion, even the coldest heart would be warmed. But because she had witnessed her scumbag father betray her mother with her own eyes, Emma became very cautious about relationships.
Before agreeing to be with Marcus, she had told him seriously.
“Marcus, I can only accept unconditional love. If you stop loving me, we can part peacefully. But if you betray me, I’ll make sure you never find me again.”
Marcus raised his hand to swear, both excited and nervous.
“Emma, I only want you for my entire life. I promise I’ll always love you and treat you well. Time will prove my love for you!”
His earnest promises from back then had echoed in her ears.
But now, time had delivered its verdict.
Marcus couldn’t stay true. He wanted it all–Emma and another woman, betraying their relationship.
Just last night, in the pocket of his discarded jacket, she discovered his marriage certificate to Claire Garrison.
The Donovan family had sponsored many poor students over the years, and Claire was one of them. Emma remembered Claire vividly, not because she was particularly outstanding, but because Claire had many scheming thoughts.
Emma had personally witnessed Claire showing interest in and pursuing Marcus. But at that time, Marcus coldly rejected her.
“Sorry, I have a girlfriend.”
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When Claire kept pushing, Marcus belittled her worthlessly and
completely crushed Claire’s hopes. From then on, Claire never appeared in front of Emma again.
But over a month ago, Marcus suddenly mentioned that Claire’s mother was critically ill and dying, wanting to see her daughter get married. before she passed. Marcus, who had never given Claire a kind look, actually asked for Emma’s opinion, expressing that he wanted to help with this favor.
Emma refused without hesitation and reminded Marcus word by word of Avhat she had said when she agreed to be with him.
“I only accept unconditional love. If you want to take part in it and give it to someone else, then we can only end things here.”
Hearing these words, Marcus’s expression immediately changed drastically, and he quickly swore that he would never betray Emma.
She thought this ridiculous matter had ended there.
But unexpectedly, Marcus not only secretly obtained a marriage certificate with Claire behind her back, but also kept her as a mistress. He entangled with Claire day and night, completely disregarding that they were supposed to have their wedding in two weeks.
Emma’s lips curved into a self–mocking smile. She was only grateful now that she had discovered all this before the wedding.
Not receiving a response, Marcus’s voice carried confusion. “Emma, are you listening?”
Emma responded softly, “I’m not home. I’ll go to the old mansion myself later. You don’t need to pick me up.
Marcus’s tone was concerned. “When did you go out? Why didn’t you ask
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me to accompany you?”
”
Emma heard the sound of fabric rustling, and a woman’s soft panting coming through the phone. Her expression turned icy.
“I prepared a surprise for you for our wedding day. I just came to discuss some things with the wedding planner.”
Marcus’s voice was filled with barely contained excitement. “What surprise?”
Emma’s lips twitched. “If I told you now, it wouldn’t be a surprise. You’ll find out on our wedding day.”
Marcus suppressed his excited feelings and responded gently,
“Everything’s up to you, Emma. I’ll look forward to this surprise. See you tonight.”
Before hanging up the phone, Marcus even made a few exaggerated kissing sounds. But Emma knew those weren’t sounds he made himself. He was actually kissing another woman.
She pretended not to know anything and looked calmly at the disconnected call. Her heart was already turbulent inside.
“Marcus, I hope in two weeks, when you see everything at the wedding, you’ll truly find it surprising,” she thought silently.
