chapter 5

I swung my arm hard and tossed the bouquet backward.

The arc it traced through the air was clean and decisive.

Sure enough, the groomsmen all leapt up at the same time, their hands reaching in the same direction.

Chloe was shielded right in the middle of them.

Someone struck the bouquet midair, sending it spinning off course.

The cluster of lily-of-the-valley sailed past every outstretched hand—

And flew straight toward Ryan.

He caught it instinctively, without even a second of hesitation.

Then immediately stuffed the bouquet into Chloe’s hands.

The entire hall fell silent for a heartbeat.

“Well, I thought Ryan would take his own bride’s side. Didn’t expect Chloe to be the first person on his mind.”

“Uh-oh. Careful—the bride might not let you into the room tonight.”

“What’s there to worry about? Chloe’s wearing a wedding dress too. If there can be two brides today, why not two brides on the wedding night?”

“Exactly. With the friendship between Chloe and Ryan, Chloe can just make another sacrifice, right?”

It wasn’t until the suggestive cheers broke out that Ryan seemed to realize what he had done.

He looked at me with an awkward expression.

“Olivia, don’t take it the wrong way. She’s been thinking about this bouquet all day. If I didn’t give it to her, she would’ve made a scene again.”

Chloe hugged the bouquet to her chest, her cheeks flushed, and lightly punched Ryan in mock annoyance.

“Listen to you. You make it sound like Olivia is petty. She’s always been the most generous one, hasn’t she, Olivia?”

I looked at her, and suddenly remembered how she used to speak the same way in college—

Using an innocent tone to deliver the sharpest blows.

Back then, Ryan had flown overseas just to prepare my very first birthday gift—

A pink diamond necklace he had personally secured at auction.

But the very next day, it was hanging around Chloe’s neck.

I stared blankly at that necklace.

Ryan rubbed the back of his neck, not yet having a chance to speak, when Chloe chimed in with a voice full of envy.

“I’ve had my eye on this necklace for so long. There’s only one in the world, and he snatched it before I could. Ryan said he’d let me borrow it for a while. That’s okay, right, Olivia?”

She had stuck out her tongue back then.

“Olivia is the most generous. She definitely won’t be mad.”

Ryan had echoed her words from the side.

“Exactly. It’s just a necklace. I’ll pick out an even better one for you next time.”

But I never received another necklace.

That pink diamond ended up sitting in Chloe’s jewelry box, gathering dust.

“Olivia? You’re not really angry, are you?”

Chloe’s voice pulled me back to the present.

I gave a faint smile and answered gently.

“It’s only a bouquet. Why would I care?”

Ryan suddenly looked at me, as if realizing something.

He had just started to walk toward me when Chloe grabbed his arm.

“You already promised—you have to grant me one request, no conditions. Come closer.”

I watched as Chloe rose onto her toes, her lips brushing against Ryan’s ear.

His ears instantly turned bright red. He tried to lean away, but she pulled him back again.

Standing at the edge of the crowd, I took in everything before me.

Ryan’s instinctive choice.

Chloe’s sense of entitlement.

The smile on Mrs. Carter’s face.

The suggestive cheers from the guests.

I turned around and walked toward the rolling display stand that had been sitting quietly in the corner of the banquet hall.

The sound of my high heels against the marble floor was soft—

But each step carried me steadily through the crowd.

The noise gradually faded.

All eyes turned toward me.

I stopped in front of the stand, placed my hand on the edge of the red silk cloth, and yanked it away in one sharp motion.

“Mr. Carter. Ms. Carter.”

My voice carried clearly through the microphone.

“Congratulations on your wedding. And may I also congratulate myself—”

“From this moment on, I will have nothing more to do with the Carter family.”