chapter 4

[What can they do even if they don’t approve? Maybe it’s a shotgun wedding. She does look pretty decent, after all.]

The comments grew more and more vulgar.

I had once believed the Carter family didn’t care about social status.

But now, I finally understood.

With Mrs. Carter’s age and shrewdness, there was no way she couldn’t see through Chloe’s so-called joke today.

She simply chose to let it happen.

Conveniently using Chloe’s hands to put me in my place.

To make me understand that compared to a wealthy heiress like Chloe, I was nothing.

And Ryan was the same.

He was certain I wouldn’t call off the wedding over this.

So he allowed Chloe to run wild.

A childhood friend of twenty years?

Never thought of her as a woman?

More likely, he wanted to keep her under the guise of friendship—

And enjoy the best of both worlds.

At last, Daniel Harris lifted the microphone and called out my name.

“Let’s give the warmest round of applause to welcome the true star of today—”

Just then, Chloe suddenly pushed open the door to the dressing room.

“Olivia, why are you still in here?”

Her voice was cloyingly sweet.

“They’re about to toss the bouquet outside. Come join the fun with us!”

I snapped the cap back onto my lipstick and turned to look at her.

“Toss the bouquet?”

I smiled.

“With the bride absent, who exactly is the bouquet meant for?”

“That’s exactly why we need you.”

Chloe stepped closer and affectionately looped her arm through mine.

“I know you’re not a fan of all those complicated wedding rituals anyway. Come on, I’ll go out with you. We can play a little game together—how about that?”

Without waiting for my answer, she pushed me straight into the spotlight.

I signaled to the staff I had already arranged to follow behind me with the item.

This wedding had already turned into a complete farce.

No one even cared about the bride’s proper entrance anymore.

I walked beside Chloe casually.

As we moved forward, I asked—

“What kind of game do you have in mind?”

“The bouquet toss, of course.”

She raised the lily-of-the-valley bouquet in front of my eyes.

“If I catch it, Ryan has to grant me one request—no conditions. But if you catch it…”

She paused, her smile deepening.

“I’ll return the bracelet Mrs. Carter just gave me. How about that? Fair, right?”

She deliberately stopped and glanced toward Mrs. Carter.

Sure enough, Mrs. Carter’s expression changed instantly.

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

She hurried over, shooting me a sharp glare before turning to Chloe.

“Chloe, that pearl bracelet was given to you by me personally. How could you possibly use it as a wager?”

Only then did she look at me.

“Olivia, Chloe likes to joke around. There’s no need for you to take her seriously.”

The surroundings fell quiet.

Everyone was watching me.

I let out a soft laugh.

“Auntie, the wager and the rules were both proposed by Ms. Carter. She’s already skipped over the original wedding procedures. It seems to me she’s quite eager to play this game.”

Mrs. Carter faltered, momentarily speechless.

I didn’t look at her again. Instead, I turned to Chloe.

“Since we’re playing, let me raise the stakes. If you win, I’ll give you a grand gift.”

Chloe’s eyes lit up.

“What kind of gift?”

“You’ll find out in a moment.”

A clearing had already been made in the center of the banquet hall.

Their friends formed a semicircle, ready to compete for the bouquet.

Chloe wore a confident, determined smile as she stepped into the middle of the crowd.

Among the groomsmen, those childhood friends exchanged subtle glances and quietly positioned themselves behind her.

Daniel began the countdown.

“Three.”

The groomsmen subtly edged half a step forward.

“Two.”

Chloe had already risen slightly onto her toes.

“One!”