In the second year of her relationship with her boyfriend, Dave Ferdinand, Kate discovered he was cheating on her.
The person he was cheating with was none other than her sister.
Even though they had both been adopted into the family, everyone doted on her sister more.
Even her own husband would abandon her in the hospital to go find that woman.
Kate’s heart turned to ashes. She secretly purchased a yacht without anyone knowing.
On the day of their wedding, she left and presented them with a grand gift.
“Congratulations to my sister on her wedding.”
***
“Miss, this yacht is on par with the Titanic back in its day. It’s the latest model, fully equipped and comes with round-the-clock service.”
Kate’s eyelashes fluttered as her gaze rested on the model in front of her. “Once I get on the ship, can I leave everything here behind?”
The service attendant’s enthusiasm instantly surged. “Absolutely! You can sail it wherever you want. The ship has everything you could possibly need and you might never even need to step off it for the rest of your life. Plus, there’s even…”
Kate interrupted him indifferently, pointing with her finger. “I’ll take this one.”
The attendant beamed with joy. “Got it! It’ll take a week to deliver this yacht, so you’ll need to wait a little while. If you’re planning to move aboard right away, you’ll also need to prepare properly.”
Kate glanced at the card handed over by the attendant and smoothly slipped it into her bag.
Before leaving, she reminded the attendant, “I don’t want anyone else to know about this.”
Only after receiving a satisfactory response did she leave.
Kate had made up her mind—to go to a place where no one could ever find her, never to return. After much thought, the yacht seemed like the perfect choice.
After all, they would never suspect that she planned to hide at sea for the rest of her life.
This time, she decided not to bring anyone along.
At that moment, Kate’s phone rang and Dave’s name appeared on the screen.
“Darling, don’t forget that today is the family dinner. Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”
Hearing the concern in his voice, Kate only felt nauseated.
Not long ago, she had accidentally seen Dave’s phone and discovered the truth—he had always been in love with her younger sister, Leona.
For an entire year, he had spent all his effort trying to make Kate happy.
He would show up whenever she needed him, providing her with a sense of security. Even on an ordinary day, he would create moments of ceremony just for her.
Even after being rejected 99 times when confessing his feelings, he never lost his enthusiasm.
He would promise her that his sincerity would eventually win her over.
But Kate never imagined that the person who seemed to love her so deeply actually harbored feelings for another woman.
She mocked her own two years of dedication, realizing it had all been a joke.
Kate couldn’t muster the slightest interest. If Dave hadn’t reminded her, she would have completely forgotten that today was the monthly family dinner—a day that always left her feeling miserable.
Her tone was indifferent.
“No need, I’ll go by myself.”
Without hesitation, she hung up the phone.
By the time Kate arrived, the sky was already dark. Everyone at the table cast cold, judgmental gazes at her—especially her sister, Leona.
Before Kate could explain, Leona spoke up first. “Kate, don’t you know we’ve all been waiting just for you?”
“Coming in and out of home, how could you not even learn basic manners? You’re about to get married, what will you do in the future?”
Kate looked up at her parents, but their expressions toward her remained cold and indifferent.
She couldn’t understand. Weren’t they both children brought back by their parents together?
Why was Leona the center of their parents’ love, while she was treated as if she didn’t matter?
Years ago, their parents had lost their biological daughter. When they found Kate and Leona, they discovered that both shared strikingly similar traits to their missing child. Thus, they decided to adopt them both.
However, to the outside world, they announced that Leona was their biological daughter, while Kate was merely an adopted child.
Kate had long grown accustomed to such treatment. Her life was a constant shadow to Leona’s dazzling spotlight.
Facing Leona’s questioning, Kate’s expression remained indifferent, her gaze icy and detached. “I’m sorry, I’m late.”
What Leona hated the most was the indifferent look on her face. “You don’t have to take me seriously, after all, you’ve always been like this since we were kids. But how can you not respect Mom and Dad?”
She spoke as if she were defending their parents.
Before Kate could respond, Dave, who had been sitting to the side, spoke up first. “Don’t be upset, Leona. Your sister didn’t mean it. Don’t argue with her.”
The first thing he said wasn’t to defend Kate, but to comfort Leona.
This wasn’t the first time. He already knew what words to use to comfort Leona.
The thousands of messages in his phone, each one expressing his love for Leona.
Kate felt utterly foolish—so foolish that it took her this long to realize that he had a secret account.
And everything in that account was about Leona.
The moments shared, the background, every little detail—none of it contained a trace of her.
It was as if they had never loved her at all.
Dave not only knew how to comfort Leona, but he also knew exactly how to please Kate’s parents.
It wasn’t just that his family was wealthy and prestigious enough to be worthy of the respected Shawn Family. It was also because he was obedient, sensible and the perfect son-in-law.
In no time, Kate’s parents were easily won over by his flattering words. They turned to Kate and said, “Alright, sit down. You’re really lucky to have Dave around.”
After receiving the praise, Dave seemed to shine, his face beaming with a smile as he looked at Kate.
But what he didn’t know was that Kate had always despised this sycophantic side of him.
She didn’t raise her eyes to look at him, but as she lowered her head, her peripheral vision caught the movement of his hand under the table—immediately reaching for Leona’s hand.
She quickly raised her head and for a moment, words failed her. All she could feel was a lump in her throat, choking her heart with an overwhelming sense of pain.
She had to pretend like she knew nothing and continued eating her meal.
She was desperately trying to control her emotions, not letting anyone see what she was feeling.
Her thoughts flashed to the date when the ship would set sail and she reassured herself that soon she would be able to completely leave this man in front of her and the suffocating home she was trapped in.
Early in the morning, Dave had called her awake. As she watched his lips coming dangerously close to hers, she immediately sat up on the bed, pushing herself away.
“What’s wrong?”
Dave flashed a bright smile and pulled her into his arms.
“Did you forget? We’ve made an appointment to try on wedding dresses today.”
Kate froze for a moment. So many things had happened in the past few days that she hadn’t reacted right away.
She gently nodded, realizing that there was only one week left until their wedding.
“Finally, I can marry you and bring you home, my wife. I’ve been waiting for this day for so long.”
Even the day of their wedding had been arranged with Leona in mind.
It seemed like in this life, Kate could never escape Leona.
From the moment they were both brought home from the orphanage, Leona had never intended for there to be two daughters in this family.
She constantly targeted Kate, framing her and causing trouble in various ways.
Kate coldly watched Dave without saying a word. On their wedding day, she would definitely give them a surprise.
Looking at Dave’s smiling face, it was clear he was truly happy.
At this moment, was he happy because he had finally married Kate, or was it because he had achieved his goal with Leona?
Perhaps, none of this mattered anymore.
When Kate arrived at the wedding dress store, she found that Leona was also there.
At a glance, Leona was wearing the wedding dress that Kate had customized.
What was worse, Leona had worn it without even asking for Kate’s permission. Every movement, every smile, she posed in front of the mirror, admiring herself.
Dave walked up to her, his gaze filled with admiration, as he looked at Leona and smiled lightly. “Wow, Leona, you look beautiful.”
Leona lowered her eyes and smiled shyly, as if she and Dave were the ones about to get married.
“Kate, is it okay if I try on your wedding dress? I really envy you, you’re about to get married. Unlike me, my parents are so reluctant to let me go.”
It wasn’t just the wedding dress; the man in front of her could also be hers.
Dave looked at the lively Leona, his gaze lingering on her. “Leona, you’re so adorable, of course, your dad and mom can’t bear to let you go.”
It sounded like a polite remark, but it was a genuine compliment from the heart.
Kate felt a surge of disgust and cast a cold glance at Leona. “Have you worn it long enough? Take it off.”
Leona looked at her in surprise. Although Kate had always had a cold demeanor, she had never been so direct before.
“I’m sorry, Kate, I didn’t know you cared so much about this wedding dress…”
She put on a look of grievance, but how could she not know that Kate cared? The wedding dress was designed by Kate herself, with every detail from the fabric selection to the decoration being done by her own hands.
From the proposal until now, she had placed so much importance on this love.
Dave glanced at Leona and immediately turned to Kate. “It’s not a big deal, don’t be angry, my dear. It’s her first time wearing it, as her sister, you should be a little more understanding.”
Kate turned her gaze toward him, her eyes cold. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t even feel anger anymore.
He knew Kate so well, how could he not know that she disliked wearing clothes that others had worn, even if it was her own sister?
For the first time, she felt that the man in front of her was so unfamiliar. He was no longer the persistent Dave who once chased after her.
She lifted her gaze to look at Leona, not wanting to argue. Her eyelashes fluttered and her voice was light and swift.
“I’ll give it to you,” Kate said and immediately turned to leave the bridal shop.
Dave quickly took a step forward, grabbing her wrist. “Darling, what’s wrong? Are you angry? Didn’t we come here to try on wedding dresses? Please don’t be mad. I’ll…”
Kate felt annoyed and immediately interrupted him.
“Nothing, I’m just a little tired. I’ll head back first. You can choose any wedding dress you like.”
As soon as Dave heard this, a smile appeared on his face. “I knew you were the most understanding, Darling.”
She left Dave alone in the bridal shop and went back home.
Before she left, she saw them playfully laughing and joking in the shop and a ripple stirred in her heart.
She turned her head away, her face devoid of any expression.
The wedding dress was meant to be worn for someone who truly mattered, but Dave was no longer worthy of seeing her wear the dress she had personally designed.
This marriage, from the very beginning, was nothing but a lie.
Leona posted a photo of herself in the wedding dress on her social media, along with a caption:
“This beautiful wedding dress seems tailor-made for me. The best part is, the person who took the photo put so much thought into it.”
Without even guessing, these photos were clearly taken by Dave for her.
Kate tossed her phone aside, too tired to argue. She just felt exhausted.
When she opened her eyes again, she realized it was already midnight. At this time, Dave was in the bathroom, getting ready for bed.
She slowly opened her eyes and the sound of a message notification caught Kate’s attention.
Her gaze shifted toward Dave’s phone. Perhaps Dave thought Kate had already fallen asleep and was not being cautious.
On the phone screen, it clearly showed his social media secondary account.
Normally, Kate didn’t have the habit of checking his phone. Dave was also well aware that even if she did, he would have countless ways to deceive her.
At this moment, a message popped up on the phone screen.
Curious, Kate opened it and saw several photos sent by someone saved as “My Ona” in the contacts.
In the photos, the woman was dressed in stockings and a cute, sexy outfit. Kate immediately recognized that it was Leona.
“Dave, come find me. Same old place…”
As she saw those photos and the flirtatious messages, Kate’s hand trembled uncontrollably.
It felt like the phone would slip from her hands at any moment.
Her breath quickened as she realized that, despite the wedding being only days away, they had already taken this step behind her back.
Seeing those messages with her own eyes again made her heart ache, as if the pain never truly left.
Hearing the sound of the water stop, Kate put down her phone, turned around and closed her eyes, lying down.
Dave picked up his phone, first glanced at Kate to confirm that she was asleep, then started typing a message.
His tone was flirtatious.
“But I just got back, babe. How about tomorrow?”
On the other end, Leona was chatty and even more audacious, directly calling with a voice message.
“Dave, don’t you miss me? I miss you so much, I just want to see you. By the way, did you like the wedding dress I wore today?”
Dave didn’t hesitate at all. “Of course, it looked great.”
Leona continued to press him. “Then, who looks better, me or Kate?”
Dave paused for a second, glanced at Kate, then replied into the phone.
“No one is as beautiful as my Ona.”
These words felt like a sharp needle piercing into Kate’s heart as they left his lips.
He had once said that Kate was the most beautiful and kindest woman he had ever known. Not long ago, Dave had even knelt on one knee in front of everyone to propose to her. The crowd had showered them with envious looks and even Kate herself believed that she would be happy for the rest of her life.
It was only now that Kate realized that Dave’s pursuit and proposal had always been about taking her away from the Shawn Family as early as possible. Only then could Leona safely take on the role of the Shawn Family’s daughter, all while keeping Kate under her control, within her grasp.
It seemed like Leona had heard the answer she wanted, as her tone immediately softened. “Then, are you coming to see me? I’m waiting for you today…”
Leona’s tone was soft and delicate and Dave couldn’t help but soften as well. “Your sister is asleep now, so wait for me.”
He stood up, grabbing his clothes, preparing to leave. Before he went, he made sure to send Kate a message.
“Darling, there’s something urgent at the company, I have to head back. Stay home and be good, I’ll be back soon.”
Kate didn’t know how many nights Dave had lied to her like this. Perhaps every night he claimed to have work was actually spent secretly meeting with Leona.
It had become impossible to count how many times it had happened.
She watched Dave’s retreating figure, a bitter feeling she couldn’t put into words.
Lying on the bed, she couldn’t help but let her tears soak the pillow.
She pursed her lips and closed her eyes. “Dave, this time, I’ll let you have it all.”
There were still five days until the cruise arrived.
Kate woke up early and immediately went to take care of the necessary procedures.
As soon as the ship arrived, she would board immediately, with the first stop being Polarisia. It has always been a place she wanted to visit. Once she resolved these matters, she would finally be able to live for herself.
She had already packed most of her things.
Dave returned early today. Seeing Kate running around busy, he thought she was preparing for the wedding.
He walked up and took Kate’s hand.
“Darling, you don’t have to work so hard. Once you marry me, I’ll take care of everything at home. You just need to enjoy it,” Dave said with a smile.
Kate paused for a moment, then slowly nodded.
Marry him? That was impossible now.
Seeing the smile on Dave’s face, Kate couldn’t help but feel exhausted for him.
Before long, he received a call from the Shawn Family.
“Today is the day for our two families to discuss the wedding details. You must be there.”
This wasn’t a discussion; it was a notification.
Even though Kate was unwilling, she had no choice but to play along and finish this act.
The venue was set in a park and the restaurant was decorated in the style that Leona liked the most.
Though it was supposed to be Kate and Dave’s special day, Leona was sitting in the seat of honor, wearing a red robe.
Dave’s parents were exceptionally fond of Leona, so naturally, she could sit wherever she pleased.
Compared to Kate, who was just an adopted daughter, they had always hoped that Dave would marry Leona.
Because of this, they had never treated Kate well.
In the past, it was Kate who loved Dave and was willing to swallow her pride for him, believing that one day they would change their attitude toward her.
But now, she no longer thought that way. She didn’t want to live this kind of life for even one more day.
When they saw Kate arrive, they merely glanced at her briefly. Their bodies, however, were still turned towards Leona as they chatted away.
They continued to criticize Kate without hesitation.
“Kate, if you were as lively and cute as Leona, that would be great! I really wish I had a daughter like Leona.”
This wasn’t the first time they had said such things and Kate had grown somewhat numb to it.
But she had always been cold and distant by nature and in front of these people, she couldn’t bring herself to show a different side of herself.
Leona replied with a smile, “It’s okay, just treat me like your daughter. Although my sister is not very likable, I’ll still try to win your favor for her.”
Her ability to talk smoothly was her strong suit and it didn’t take long before she had both Dave’s parents smiling with delight.
Meanwhile, Dave stood by, grinning from ear to ear. His gaze towards Leona was like that of an artist admiring his masterpiece, filled with satisfaction.
Throughout the entire gathering, Kate spoke very little, wanting nothing more than to leave quickly. Perhaps no one could understand how she felt. She truly hated these kinds of occasions.
In the past, Dave would always find excuses to leave with her, never caring about what others said. But now, as she looked at the man before her, he remained indifferent. Was it that he had hidden his true feelings too well, or had Kate only discovered the truth too late?
As it was time to leave, rain began to pour outside.
Leona was wearing a beautiful dress, her heels delicate and high. She didn’t even have to call out to Dave; he took the initiative to wrap her in his arms.
He held the umbrella with one hand and carried her in his other arm, with Leona curled up in his embrace like a small cat. Dave didn’t mind if his shoulders got soaked, as long as Leona stayed dry. He even forgot that Kate was still standing behind them.
She watched them walking towards the car, coldly observing their backs. It reminded her of the year she loved him the most, when he had also held Leona in his arms like this. Kate didn’t have time to think too much. With a burst of energy, she rushed into the rain and got into the car. It wasn’t until Leona had been comforted that Dave finally got out of Leona’s car.
Seeing Kate drenched in rain, Dave was momentarily stunned before quickly reacting, immediately explaining, “Leona has always been frail and if she gets caught in the rain, she might fall ill. I just sent her to the car first. You’re not angry, are you?”
“Darling, why didn’t you wait for me to help you up?” Realizing his actions, Dave quickly apologized.
Kate simply replied softly, “It’s fine.”
Dave, who knew that Kate wasn’t one to hold grudges, felt relieved when she said it was fine. He believed there was no issue.
But in Kate’s heart, Dave had long since decayed.
On the way back, Kate didn’t say a word. The two of them seemed like strangers who had just met. If she could, Kate would rather have never known him.
Kate went back to the Shawn Family, packed up all her belongings, leaving behind only a diary.
The diary contained all the memories of her childhood. She thought to herself, let it be her final gift to her parents.
No one knew the real reason she was packing her things, nor did anyone care. When her mother, Melanie, saw her carrying the suitcase out the door, she only left a cold remark.
“What’s this? Are you really planning to never come back? Then you’d better pray that nothing troublesome happens to you, because we won’t care anymore.”
Perhaps, from the moment they discovered that Kate wasn’t their biological daughter, they no longer considered her as part of the Shawn Family. They were eager to get rid of her and marry her off as quickly as possible.
Kate didn’t respond. Instead, she turned and glanced at the woman who had raised her for twenty years.
“Is there really no emotion at all?” She looked at her mother and slowly said, “Goodbye.”
Melanie had no awareness of it.
It was as if it was just another ordinary day and no one knew that this was her farewell.
She placed her things in a safe place, deciding that once she left, she would leave nothing behind.
When she returned home, it was already evening.
As soon as Dave saw Kate return, he immediately placed the wedding dress he had personally chosen in front of her. “The wedding is a one-time event, how can we settle for less? Quick, choose one you like!”
Kate stared at the neatly arranged white wedding dresses for a while, lost in thought.
When her gaze shifted back to Dave, her eyes inadvertently filled with tears.
It turned out that no matter how much love there seemed to be, it could all be faked.
He casually picked up a wedding dress and handed it to Kate. “This one suits you! Go try it on!”
Kate didn’t refuse, even though the dresses in front of her could never compare to the one she had designed herself.
When she came out in the second dress, she saw him answering a phone call. “Do I have to come out and shop with you now? But I’m with your sister trying on wedding dresses. Okay, I’ll be right there.”
His voice was soft and barely audible as he hid in the corner.
But Kate still heard every word clearly.
After hanging up the phone, he smiled and hugged Kate from behind.
“Darling, you look beautiful in anything. My company has a bit of an issue, so I might not be able to go with you. Pick whichever one you like!”
Kate knew this was just his excuse and that he was really going to accompany Leona shopping.
Kate didn’t ask further, simply nodding in agreement.
After he left, she called the servant over. Looking at the wedding dresses in front of her, her tone was cold. “Burn all of these dresses. Not a single one should be left.”
Even though the servant had questions, they didn’t dare to ask and could only obediently comply.
As the wedding dresses burned to ashes, it felt like not just the dresses, but her two years of emotions had been consumed by the fire.
A burning anger surged in Kate’s heart, as though it were breaking through the constraints of the world.
Later that evening, she saw the post on Leona’s social media.
Dave had bought her a new handbag and luxury items, being very generous.
Looking at the picture, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Kate’s mouth.
She had already decided what gift to give them—a hand-crafted folding fan that she had custom-made herself.
Originally, the fan was meant to be used on her wedding day, but now it seemed unnecessary.
Since Leona liked her things so much, she decided to give them all to her.
The day Kate left would be the day they received the gift. She would surely wish them a lifetime of happiness.
By the time Dave returned that evening, he had remembered to bring Kate her favorite chestnuts.
“When I came back, I happened to see someone selling roasted chestnuts, so I brought some for you.”
Some of them had already been peeled.
Kate was stunned for a moment. She remembered that she loved roasted chestnuts.
But ever since they were little, Leona always competed with her for everything—whatever she liked, Leona liked too.
Kate’s face hardened and her expression was unreadable. “No, I don’t want to eat.”
Dave thought Kate was still angry about what happened earlier in the day. He reached out and pulled her into his arms. “Darling, I really had something to take care of during the day. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to spend time with you. And you look good in anything, so I’m naturally at ease.”
These words held no credibility in Kate’s heart now.
She remembered what Dave had said to Leona. Thinking about it made her feel disgusted.
She gently pushed Dave away, her voice calm and emotionless.
“Okay.”
Dave smiled as soon as he heard her words. To him, Kate had always been the sensible and obedient one.
He gently took Kate’s hand, his eyes full of affection and his tone softened.
“The day after tomorrow is our wedding. The family has arranged for a premarital checkup. I’ll be sure to stay with you tomorrow.”
His slightly squinted eyes were fixed on Kate. She froze for a moment and a fleeting sadness passed through her gaze. She turned her head away and nodded quietly.
The next day, Kate still got up with Dave as usual. Early in the morning, she received a message from the cruise company.
“Your customized cruise will arrive in two days. You can prepare for boarding in advance.”
When Kate saw the message, her eyes flickered slightly.
“Darling, we need to get ready to leave!”
She quickly turned off her phone. When she looked up, Dave was holding a small bag in his hand, filled with carefully prepared items. He shook the bag in front of her, as if seeking praise like a child.
Kate didn’t speak, only offering a faint, bitter smile.
“Darling, I heard there are a lot of blood tests today. You’re always afraid of pain, but don’t worry, I’ll be right here with you,” Dave said, holding her tightly, almost as if he was more nervous than Kate.
Kate quietly waited in line, holding the form in her hand. After she finished the first vial of blood, Dave’s brow furrowed with concern as he looked at her. His face reflected his worry and it was clear he felt the discomfort on her behalf.
He gently comforted Kate, saying, “Does it hurt? Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”
In the past, when he said these words to Kate, her heart would warm with a sense of comfort.
But now, she felt nothing at all. She gently nodded her head. The pain of the blood draw was nothing compared to the hurt caused by him and Leona.
At that moment, the familiar ringtone sounded. Kate immediately recognized it— it was Leona’s exclusive ringtone.
He answered the phone behind Kate’s back, his voice laced with panic.
“What’s wrong?”
“Wait for me, I’ll come over right now.”
His concern was evident in his eyes, though he tried to hide it. He pursed his lips before speaking. “Something happened at the company. I need to go there now. I’ll come back to find you later.”
Kate didn’t ask any more questions. She knew very well what Dave was about to do. But the constant lies, over and over again, had grown tiresome.
Kate was left alone, having had six vials of blood drawn.
Usually, she was most afraid of pain. When her period arrived, the cramps would make her cry in agony. But now, as she watched the needles pierce her veins one by one, there was no trace of fear in her.
Her nose tingled and the fire in her heart burned and died, but she couldn’t say a word. In the end, there was only numbness left.
She returned home alone, where it was nothing but more torment.
Looking at the new post from Leona, a bouquet after bouquet of flowers were arranged in a high-end restaurant, accompanied by the caption:
“Today, the ones I love are all by my side.”
In the photos, her parents were beaming with smiles, while a figure sat quietly in the corner, almost unnoticed. Even without seeing the face, Kate could tell it was Dave.
It turned out, her whole family had been keeping her in the dark all along.
Kate’s hands trembled slightly and as she thought of these years, her eyes unconsciously began to redden.
She understood it all in her heart.
This family never truly had a place for her.
Even though she was the biological daughter of her parents, it seemed as if nothing she said would make a difference.
They only cared about what they thought in their hearts.
She no longer wanted to endure these days devoid of light. So, she wished them a lifetime together, never to be apart.
Dave didn’t come home all night, sending only a message to Kate: [Darling, I have to work overtime at the company. Go to bed early.]
Even on the eve of their wedding, he was still with Leona.
Kate could only feel the irony. Keeping him by her side at this moment was perfectly in line with Leona’s character.
She couldn’t be bothered to pursue it. Rather than having a big argument with them, she preferred to leave this place as soon as possible. Staying for even one more minute made her feel disgusted.
“Your ship will arrive at dawn tonight. Will you come during the day or…?”
Before the person on the other end could finish speaking, Kate interrupted. “I’ll go at dawn.”
“Alright, we’ll wait for you.”
With Dave not at home, it saved her a lot of trouble.
She packed everything up and sent it away, leaving only Dave’s belongings behind.
The news of their wedding tomorrow had already spread throughout the circle and she watched as messages flooded in.
“Wish you a happy marriage!”
“Happy wedding! Wishing you lots of happiness!”
“I’ve always felt that you and Dave are a perfect match.”
One message after another with blessings, but they were all just polite words.
Kate felt a sharp pain in her eyes as she read them. Wedding? Impossible.
She couldn’t be bothered to reply to a single one because she never intended to marry Dave.
She went to the wedding venue in advance.
Looking at the floral decorations, they were exactly what she had once imagined her wedding would look like.
But the people around her were no longer the ones from that time.
She looked at the photo of them, their smiles radiant.
In an instant, she tore the wedding photo in front of her.
Turning to the attendant beside her, she calmly said, “Take down all these photos. I don’t want to see them.”
The attendant didn’t ask further, simply thinking that she didn’t like them.
“Why get so angry? You’re about to get married and yet you still don’t know how to be a bit more mature and steady?”
A voice came from beside Kate’s ear. She looked up and met the gaze of Melanie.
Kate didn’t say anything. Since she was young, Melanie had always demanded that Kate be mature and steady, while Leona was allowed to be lively and mischievous.
Kate had long been used to her mother’s words.
With a look of disdain, Melanie took a gift box out of her bag. “This is your wedding gift.”
Kate was taken aback for a moment. Upon careful thought, it seemed that her mother had never given her anything before.
Her emotions were mixed and it wasn’t until after Melanie left that she opened the gift.
A sparkling diamond necklace appeared before her eyes.
She froze for a moment, the smile on her lips stiffening.
She remembered this necklace.
It was the one her mother gave to Leona on her fifth birthday.
And when her mother saw that Kate liked it too, she had promised to give it to her when she turned ten.
However, this wait stretched on for over ten years.
What Leona could easily get, she had to wait years for.
But after she became an adult, the first money she earned was enough to buy it for herself.
She remained silent for a long time. After stepping out, she threw it into the trash bin.
She no longer needed it.
Today was also the last time they would meet.
The day before the wedding, Dave and Kate could not stay in the same room. So, it also made it easier for her to leave that night.
For the first time ever, Kate received a blessing from Leona.
“Wish you a happy wedding, Kate. May you always be happy.”
Perhaps when she sent this message, she was lying in Dave’s embrace.
Of course, Leona was happy. Once the wedding was over tomorrow, their goals would be achieved.
Kate curled the corners of her lips into a smile as she looked at the boxes, big and small, in front of her and replied, “Thank you for your blessing, Leona. I will always be happy. By the way, I bought you a gift. You’ll receive it tomorrow.”
A few polite and hollow words.
Kate handed the gift she was going to give to Leona to the courier.
Right on time, when the wedding began, it would be the moment she received the gift.
Kate packed everything and put it into the car.
She turned around and looked at the home in front of her, feeling no sense of attachment.
She picked up her phone and scheduled a message.
“Sorry, Dave and I have canceled our wedding.”
“Please attend Dave and my sister’s wedding.”
She then attached a few intimate photos of Dave and Leona.
They met so frequently that taking a few candid shots was an easy task.
Once she boarded the ship, these messages would be sent out automatically.
This was also one of the gifts she was giving them.
Half an hour later, she saw the cruise ship that looked exactly like the model.
“Miss, may I ask where you are going?”
Kate looked out at the sea, a stretch of darkness that was impossible to see through.
Fortunately, there was light ahead.
“To Polarisia.”
As she watched the cruise ship sail farther and farther away, she pulled out her card and threw it into the sea.
She didn’t want anyone to contact her.
Thoughts flooded her mind and her eyelashes fluttered. She would never return to this place again.
Dave was woken up by the sound of his phone ringing.
“Hurry up, the wedding is about to start. Why can’t I reach Kate?”
It was his mother on the other end of the line, sounding a bit anxious.
Dave answered lightly and hung up the phone.
At that moment, Leona, who was beside him, was also woken up by the noise.
“Dave, will you still like me after you marry my sister?”
She looked at Dave with watery eyes, her fingers continuously poking his arm.
Dave pulled her into his arms. “Of course, everything I’m doing is for you.”
He looked at Leona affectionately and kissed her hard.
“Alright, baby, let’s get ready. We need to head to the venue.”
After Dave finished getting ready, he immediately called Kate.
He dialed once, twice and on the third call, it went unanswered. An inexplicable feeling of dread settled in his heart.
Did something happen to Kate?
Without hesitation, he quickly grabbed his things and made to leave for home, regardless of any objections from others.
At that moment, he also received a call from an unfamiliar number.
It was Kate’s voice.
“It’s me. My phone had some issues. Don’t worry, I’ll be at the venue waiting for you. I want to give you a surprise.”
Once Dave heard Kate’s voice, he finally felt a sense of relief.
Seeing that everyone was still looking for Kate, he smiled and reassured them.
“Kate just called me. Don’t worry, she’s preparing a surprise for me. Just wait a bit.”
He smiled as he spoke, radiating happiness and joy. Even at a time like this, she was still thinking of giving him a surprise, really making him feel valued.
Upon hearing this, his friends began to tease him.
“After all this time, you’re still so affectionate. Truly happy!”
“Wow, wow, wow, that’s so sweet!”
***
As the wedding ceremony was about to begin, Kate still hadn’t been seen by anyone.
Dave’s mother whispered in Dave’s ear, “Do you think she’s running away from the wedding? It’s been so long and we still haven’t seen her. If she dares to run, I won’t let her get away with it.”
Dave tugged at his mother. “She wouldn’t. She loves me so much, how could she run away? Besides, she said she was going to prepare a surprise for me!”
Even at this point, he still didn’t realize that this was no simple matter.
As the officiant began urging them to take the stage, Dave started to panic.
He could only stand shakily on the stage, trying to come up with an excuse for Kate’s lateness.
“Please, everyone, bear with us for a moment. Our wedding will start soon…”
Before Dave could finish, murmurs began spreading from the audience. People started taking out their phones and looking at him on stage.
Melanie rushed up to the stage, pulling him down and holding her phone in front of his face.
“What’s going on? Kate posted on her social media!”
Before meeting Dave, Kate had been a well-known designer. She was seen as a symbol of freedom and love by her fans.
But no one ever expected that such an outstanding woman would end up in this situation.
Dave stared at the post Kate had shared, unable to believe what he was seeing.
The Kate he remembered was thoughtful, obedient, understanding and always so kind to him in every way.
Dave didn’t expect that she had known about his relationship with Leona all along, but had been hiding it. How did she find out?
In an instant, he felt like a joke, being casually pointed at by others.
At this moment, he finally understood that everything that had happened today was all part of Kate’s plan.
And the so-called surprise he had been talking about was this.
A loud ringing sounded in his head and in an instant, his mind went blank. He stood frozen in place.
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