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  • 1 hour ago
Billionaire Vows For My New Life
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00:00Everyone listen! This whole thing is a mistake! I'm the Harmon bride!
00:06The day before the wedding, I just found out that my fiancé is already married.
00:10Not the past.
00:12But now, the bride is his closest friend.
00:15I didn't cry, nor did I make a scene.
00:17I just suddenly wonder if marriage can be a joke.
00:20Then what were these six years of mine?
00:22I photographed it and texted him.
00:24Explain this.
00:25I figured it was some kind of prank.
00:27Then his friend's voice message came through.
00:2960 seconds.
00:32Hey, I'm so sorry.
00:33We were at a bar last night, had a stupid idea, got a little drunk, and just went and did
00:38it.
00:38Don't worry. Once the 30-day waiting period is up, we're filing for divorce immediately.
00:42We'll give him right back to you.
00:44I was quiet for two seconds.
00:45Then I blocked her.
00:47Three hours later, Ethan came home.
00:49I was already at the bottom of the stairs, luggage in tow.
00:52He glanced at the certificates, sitting on the coffee table and pressed two fingers to his temple.
00:58It's not a big deal.
01:00She was just messing around. You're really going to hold this over everyone?
01:03You've been waiting for this wedding for six years. You can't wait one more month?
01:07I smiled. I didn't deny it.
01:10No. I can't.
01:12Ethan blinked.
01:12He stepped in front of me on instinct.
01:16Mia, stop. Don't do this.
01:18The invitations are already out.
01:21If you leave now, what are our families supposed to do?
01:24I moved his hand aside and kept walking.
01:26His voice finally went cold.
01:28You're going to throw away six years over something this small?
01:31I stopped. I turned around.
01:33Six years?
01:35Ethan, when you signed that certificate with her, did you think about those six years at all?
01:41He had nothing. He forced out something useless.
01:44The bar was loud. The guys kept pouring drinks.
01:48She took a lot of them for me. She was pretty out of it herself.
01:51Everyone was egging us on. I wasn't thinking straight. They basically dragged us there.
01:58It was a joke. We'll fix it.
02:01I looked at his unbothered face and didn't even have the energy to argue.
02:05A joke. If marriage could be a joke, what in this world was actually serious.
02:09I turned away. His phone rang.
02:13He looked at it.
02:14It's Cassie. She knows she's screwed up. She wants to apologize to you.
02:18I ignored him and opened the door.
02:21Cassie was already standing outside, keys dangling from one hand.
02:28You're actually leaving?
02:29I wheeled my suitcase around her.
02:31Cassie clicked her tongue and grabbed the handle.
02:32Really? I said I'd apologize.
02:35Isn't that enough?
02:36I'm the one who talked him into it.
02:38I'm the one who kept pouring.
02:39If you're mad, be mad at me.
02:42Don't take it out on Ethan.
02:44Cassie, be respectful.
02:46Give her the bag.
02:47Cassie didn't give it back.
02:48She pulled it further behind her.
02:55If I do, who's he going to swap rings with tomorrow?
02:59Air?
03:01Look, unlike you, I don't spend my whole life orbiting some guy with zero career of my own.
03:07But even I know.
03:09A guy like Ethan, the dinners, the schmoothing, the situational flirtation, that's just business.
03:16We grew up together.
03:18I helped him fight his battles.
03:20You weren't even the picture back then.
03:22Getting all dramatic over one little joke.
03:25Can't you act like a grown-up?
03:27Since you're so mature, and so concerned about him.
03:32Then you go.
03:34Tomorrow.
03:35To the wedding.
03:38You be the main event.
03:40That certificate becomes the real thing.
03:47I pulled my suitcase back.
03:49Cassie's expression cracked.
03:51Her chest rose and fell twice.
03:53Then she smirked.
03:55Fine.
03:56She dug into her bag.
03:58Pulled out her copy of the certificate.
04:01This little thing bothers you that much?
04:03Then I'll just tear it up.
04:07Consider it my apology.
04:09The certificate split straight down the middle.
04:11Cassie dropped both halves on the floor.
04:14Done!
04:15Happy now?
04:16If you can't take a joke, you can't take a joke.
04:19This is so boring.
04:21Ethan's expression went dark.
04:22Cassie.
04:24What are you doing?
04:27Fixing your problem.
04:29Certificate's gone.
04:30She can calm down now, right?
04:32She turned to me.
04:33Satisfied?
04:34Then she shot me a look.
04:37Eyes already going red and ran.
04:40Then I looked at Ethan.
04:44That's her apology?
04:46He watched the spot where she disappeared.
04:48Rubbed his forehead, irritated.
04:49She's impulsive.
04:51She was trying to let you vent.
04:53Let me vent.
04:54I nearly laughed.
04:56She tore up the marriage certificate.
04:59Before you two can file for divorce, you'll have to go replace it.
05:03Ethan!
05:03She wasn't letting me vent.
05:06She was rubbing salt in the wound on purpose.
05:08She didn't think that far.
05:10Right.
05:11She didn't have to.
05:12Because in the end, it's not her problem.
05:14I stopped looking at him, grabbed my suitcase, turned around.
05:19The driver helped load it into the trunk.
05:24Ethan caught up, pressed his hand against the door before it closed.
05:28He leaned down to look at me.
05:31Mia, go to your parents' place.
05:33Cool off.
05:34Think about whether you're being unreasonable.
05:36But tomorrow, every guest and every reporter will be there.
05:40You know how to show up as a proper bride.
05:43Our family's reputations are not yours to throw around.
05:46I slowly lifted my head.
05:47There it was again.
05:49Our family's reputations.
05:51Six years.
05:53Every time Cassie crossed a line in the name of best friends.
05:57Because he was sure I couldn't leave.
05:59Not emotionally.
06:00Not financially.
06:01He never once thought about putting distance between himself and Cassie.
06:05I did believe nothing physical had happened between them.
06:07I spent six happy months planning a wedding.
06:10And then...
06:11A marriage certificate.
06:12A bar.
06:13Her name on it next to his.
06:15First, it was all the small things.
06:17Now she'd even slipped herself into the legal definition of his spouse.
06:21As a joke.
06:22Our family's reputations.
06:24I repeated it softly.
06:26You keep them.
06:28That's your job.
06:29The wedding.
06:30I'm not coming.
06:31As for the bride.
06:34I pulled the door shut.
06:37Marry whoever you want!
06:39The car pulled out.
06:41Miss, where to?
06:43The airport.
06:44My phone vibrated the whole way there.
06:46Ethan.
06:47My mom.
06:48His mom.
06:49Mutual friends.
06:50I declined every call.
06:52Turned it off.
06:53For the first time.
06:54I was not being good.
06:57And I felt something I hadn't felt in years.
07:00Light.
07:01But just when I thought I was free.
07:03That lightness shattered the moment we pulled up to the terminal.
07:06My parents were there.
07:08My brother Jamie.
07:08And the family's adopted daughter, Sierra.
07:11Jamie grabbed my suitcase handle.
07:12Mia, what is wrong with you?
07:14If you leave, what happens to us?
07:16The comp is on on life support waiting for the Harmon Group investment.
07:19My mom took advantage of the distraction and snatched my purse.
07:22Sweetheart, I heard everything.
07:24Just wait for them to divorce in a month and it's like it never happened.
07:28Stop causing a scene.
07:29Sierra drifted over.
07:30Sis, I know you're hurting, but we're family.
07:37Can't you think of us just this once?
07:40Just this once.
07:41Was that really what it was?
07:42At 18, I signed over Grandpa's shares to her.
07:45At 21, when she had her eye on someone, I stepped aside from the engagement.
07:49Grandpa had arranged for me.
07:50An old money family, the Yates.
07:52At 22, I drank until I was hospitalized to smooth over a business dinner for the family.
07:56At 25, I took the fall for Jamie's embezzlement to protect the heir's clean record.
08:01Every single time, written off as family.
08:03And it is what you do.
08:04Since the day I was brought into this so-called home, had anyone ever thought about me,
08:08my parents' warmth and favoritism had always flowed straight to Sierra.
08:12The good daughter.
08:13The one they'd raised from childhood.
08:14Jamie had been carried his whole life.
08:16He was a leech, and he knew it.
08:17If it hadn't been for Ethan walking into my world like a light through a window,
08:21I wouldn't have lasted this long.
08:22He saw through my silence, understood the things I couldn't say, with him there.
08:26Sierra's digs and my parents' favoritism had stayed in check.
08:29I fell in love with him, depended on him.
08:31I held on like he was a life raft.
08:32I'd pushed so hard for him to marry me sooner.
08:35Convinced myself that once I had my own home,
08:37I could finally leave this suffocating place behind.
08:39For that, I told myself Cassie's boundary crossing was something I could tolerate.
08:43But now, even that last stupid hope was gone.
08:46Give me my bag.
08:47I held out my hand to my mother.
08:49Come home first.
08:50We'll talk when you've settled down.
08:52Jamie groaned and stamped his foot.
08:54Mia, I'm begging you.
08:56Just get through this one thing.
08:58Once the funding comes in, after that, you can do whatever you want.
09:02I looked at this brother who'd been pampered his whole life.
09:04How much money would it take to save this family?
09:07So it doesn't have to sell off another daughter.
09:09Jamie flinched.
09:10He gave me a number.
09:11It was staggering.
09:12Pulled out my phone.
09:13Found an unsaved number.
09:15Pressed call.
09:16It rang five times before someone picked up.
09:18Three million in cash is a wedding gift.
09:20If you agree, we get married tomorrow.
09:24Three million in cash is a wedding gift.
09:27If you agree, we get married tomorrow.
09:30The breath on the other end paused.
09:32Agreed.
09:33Okay.
09:35Three million.
09:37It'll hit the account.
09:38Jamie stared at me.
09:39Mia, are you serious?
09:41My parents' faces went from desperate to flooded with relief.
09:44My mom moved to grab my hand.
09:46Sweetheart, you can't just talk money with Ethan over the phone like that.
09:50It damages things.
09:52Sis-in-law will think less of you.
09:55People will call you a gold digger.
09:58All right, all right.
09:59The amount doesn't matter.
10:01What matters is that it's settled.
10:03The original agreement with the Harmons was 500,000 up front.
10:07This time he's offering three million.
10:09It means he values Mia.
10:12Mia.
10:14I don't want to hear you say selling daughters again.
10:18Embarrassing.
10:19You and Sierra are both our girls.
10:21We love you the same.
10:27If it's the same, why didn't you offer Sierra for this one?
10:31The Yates are older money than the Harmons, stronger by a mile.
10:34Sierra went white.
10:35The Yates were more prominent.
10:37And because of it, stricter about bloodline.
10:39When they'd come to discuss the engagement, they'd looked at me the whole time.
10:44Sierra hadn't even been formally introduced at that meeting.
10:47The Yates hadn't wanted her.
10:49Everyone in that room knew it.
10:51Why bring up old history?
10:53Then we won't.
10:54The money's coming.
10:55Problem solved.
10:57Let's go home.
10:58You want me walking down the aisle tomorrow, don't you?
11:00I left without waiting for an answer.
11:05Back in the car, my phone buzzed once.
11:07But at this hour, there was only one person it could be.
11:10A location pin.
11:12Then a second message.
11:13Tomorrow, I am looking forward to seeing you in a white dress.
11:17Back at the house.
11:18The air was thick.
11:19I went straight upstairs.
11:21The Harman side had already been told.
11:23The bride has returned.
11:25Wedding is on.
11:26Satisfied, presumably.
11:27The crisis was over.
11:29The ceremony would proceed.
11:31That was enough.
11:33Whether or not the bride was willing, no one thought to ask.
11:36The next morning, the house had none of the warmth the wedding day should carry.
11:40No bustle.
11:41No joy.
11:42Just a cold and indifferent quiet.
11:44My parents only changed into appropriate clothes when the housekeeper reminded them.
11:49Ethan's motorcade arrived on time.
11:51His suit was immaculate.
11:53His expression composed.
11:55The groomsmen surrounded him.
11:57The energy among them was easy and warm.
11:59But no one from the bride's side came to block the door.
12:02They were just awkwardly ushered in.
12:04My mom held a practice smile.
12:06Jamie looked like he hadn't slept.
12:09Ethan scanned the room.
12:11No family friends.
12:13No laughter.
12:15Where is she?
12:16Still getting ready?
12:17Oh, probably still upstairs doing her makeup.
12:20Go check.
12:21Is she ready?
12:25Relax.
12:26A bride's supposed to make you wait.
12:28Ethan's brow stayed locked.
12:30He pulled out his phone and opened Mia's messages.
12:32A red exclamation point.
12:34His fingers went still.
12:36She still has you blocked?
12:38The ceremony's about to start.
12:40A cold unease expanded in his chest.
12:44Ma'am?
12:45The young miss isn't in her room.
12:47We checked everywhere.
12:48She's gone.
12:49What?
12:52By the time they pulled the security footage, they found she'd left hours ago.
12:56Ethan's chest went airless.
12:58He'd told her to come back.
13:00She'd still pulled this.
13:01Ethan, look at the group chat.
13:03Someone posted a video.
13:05Wait, isn't that Mia?
13:07Ethan grabbed the phone.
13:09The video was from the same seven-star hotel where their ceremony was booked.
13:14A woman was led toward the bridal suite by a staff member.
13:22See?
13:22I told you.
13:24She just wanted a dramatic entrance.
13:26She's there.
13:26That's what counts.
13:28This girl.
13:29Couldn't say a word.
13:30Gave us all a scare.
13:31Let's get to the hotel.
13:32Don't miss the timing.
13:35The motorcade reached the hotel.
13:37Ethan exchanged brief greetings with arriving guests.
13:39It's a wonderful night.
13:40It's a beautiful party.
13:41I'm so glad you could make it.
13:43I need to go to the restroom.
13:44Excuse me.
13:44The efficient was ready.
13:45He turned and headed for the bridal suite.
13:48He stopped at the flower-decorated door.
13:50Knocked.
13:51Mia, it's time.
13:52Are you ready?
13:54Silence.
13:55His expression tightened.
13:57He turned the handle.
14:03The room was bright and empty.
14:05And then the thing that turned his blood to ice.
14:07Cassie was standing in the middle of the room.
14:09Ethan!
14:10You can't just come in.
14:12What are you doing in here?
14:14Where's Mia?
14:16His temper surged hard.
14:17Why are you yelling at me?
14:19The ceremony was about to start and she wasn't out yet.
14:22I came to check if she needed help.
14:24She wasn't here.
14:26The dress was just hanging there.
14:28I just...
14:30It's so beautiful, I couldn't help it.
14:33I tried it on.
14:35The vein in his temple jumped.
14:37Take it off.
14:39Now, if Mia sees this...
14:41Cassie's lip pressed together, then someone knocked.
14:44Mr. Harmon, the ceremony start time has passed.
14:47The officiator's asking if the bride is ready to enter.
14:50Also, Mr. Harmon, the ballroom next door has just begun an unscheduled ceremony.
14:55The timeline is quite tight on their end.
14:57If your side is unable to start just yet,
15:00would you consider briefly yielding the corridor?
15:02We'd hate to disrupt the other event.
15:05It's a Yates-Carter wedding.
15:09A Yates-Carter wedding?
15:13Which Carter?
15:15I'm not entirely sure of the details.
15:18A nameless unease moved through him, but he had no time to chase it.
15:21He dialed the groomsmen group.
15:23Mia's not in the suite.
15:25Split up and find her.
15:28Then he turned back to the manager.
15:30This wedding was booked six months ago.
15:32We're not moving.
15:33Mr. Harmon, the timing really is...
15:34There's no conflict.
15:36Let my fiancé hear that her aisle is being cleared for someone else.
15:39His voice dropped.
15:40She won't be happy.
15:43His phone buzzed.
15:45A photo from one of the groomsmen.
15:47A slender figure in a wedding gown, half-turned, on a call.
15:51The dress was simpler, elegant.
15:54She was stunning.
15:55All the tension melted away.
15:57He would marry her.
15:58He would have a home with Mia.
16:00Maybe children soon.
16:02Don't you think I looked better in it?
16:05Looks like she didn't love the one I picked.
16:07Fine.
16:08He pocketed his phone and turned to go find her.
16:10Ethan.
16:11Cassie grabbed his arm.
16:12She asked the question that broke through every layer of best friends,
16:15and it means nothing.
16:17When you walked in just now,
16:19and saw me in the dress,
16:21what did you feel?
16:23He looked at her red-rimmed eyes,
16:24at the expensive gown on her body.
16:26The faint warmth the photo had put in his face drained away.
16:29Cassie in a wedding gown was,
16:30undeniably striking.
16:32There was something arresting about it.
16:34What he felt toward Cassie was closer to a man's possessiveness
16:36over someone who belonged in his orbit.
16:38Liked feeling needed, admired.
16:40But he liked more.
16:41The ease of holding two women in careful balance.
16:43He'd never imagined having to choose.
16:46Cassie's tears.
16:47Her question.
16:48They tore the paper screen open.
16:50He was still for a moment.
16:51Not now.
16:52His throat moved.
16:53He looked past her eyes.
16:55Cassie, not now.
16:56This isn't the moment.
16:58Change out of the dress.
16:59He turned and walked out toward Mia.
17:01I was on the terrace outside the ballroom,
17:03finishing a call.
17:04I turned to go inside.
17:08Mia!
17:09You're here!
17:14The groomsman and Cassie poured in behind him,
17:16filling the doorway.
17:18Sis-in-law, you're something else.
17:20Gave us a serious scare.
17:21Wandered over to the next venue?
17:24Cassie, you're here.
17:25Is this a location comparison?
17:28Didn't like the decor on our side?
17:29Cassie stepped to my side.
17:31You nearly gave Ethan a heart attack.
17:33She laughed and scanned my gown.
17:35That's pretty, too.
17:37But the star of today isn't here for someone else's party.
17:41Come on.
17:42Everyone's waiting.
17:42By the way,
17:44you'd technically be the other woman right now.
17:48But don't stress about it.
17:49We know the truth.
17:52Congratulations on the wedding, though.
17:54I looked at her.
17:55Her smile stalled.
17:57Ethan stepped in front of me.
17:58Done with your call?
17:59Let's go back.
18:00We've lost time, but we can still make it.
18:02If you actually like this room set up,
18:05I'll talk to the Yates.
18:06We might be able to switch.
18:08Whatever makes you happy.
18:10He said it so naturally.
18:11His groomsmen watched,
18:13certain waiting for me to do what I'd always done.
18:15He reached for me.
18:16Palm up.
18:17I looked at his face,
18:18the handsome face with its faint impatience,
18:20in front of everyone watching.
18:21I turned slightly and spoke quietly
18:23to the hotel attendant at my side.
18:25Could you please let the officiner know
18:27we're ready to begin?
18:28Of course, Mrs. Yates.
18:29Mr. Yates has been ready.
18:31Mrs. Yates, the certainty on Ethan's face split open.
18:34He looked at her red-rimmed eyes,
18:36at the expensive gown on her body.
18:38The faint warmth the photo had put in his face drained away.
18:40Cassie in a wedding gown was,
18:42undeniably striking.
18:43There was something arresting about it.
18:45What he felt toward Cassie was closer to a man's possessiveness
18:48over someone who belonged in his orbit.
18:50Liked feeling needed, admired.
18:51But he liked more,
18:52the ease of holding two women in careful balance.
18:55He'd never imagined having to choose.
18:57Cassie's tears.
18:58Her question.
18:59They tore the paper screen open.
19:01He was still for a moment.
19:03Not now.
19:04His throat moved.
19:05He looked past her eyes.
19:06Cassie, not now.
19:07This isn't the moment.
19:09Change out of the dress.
19:10He turned and walked out toward Mia.
19:12I was on the terrace outside the ballroom,
19:14finishing a call.
19:15I turned to go inside.
19:19Mia!
19:20You're here!
19:25The groomsman and Cassie poured in behind him,
19:28filling the doorway.
19:29Sis-in-law, you're something else.
19:31Gave us a serious scare.
19:33Wandered over to the next venue?
19:36Right.
19:37Is this a location comparison?
19:39Didn't like the decor on our side?
19:41Cassie stepped to my side.
19:42You nearly gave Ethan a heart attack.
19:45She laughed and scanned my gown.
19:47That's pretty, too.
19:48But the star of today isn't here for someone else's party.
19:52Come on.
19:53Everyone's waiting.
19:54By the way,
19:55you'd technically be the other woman right now.
19:59But don't stress about it.
20:01We know the truth.
20:04Congratulations on the wedding, though.
20:05I looked at her.
20:07Her smile stalled.
20:08Ethan stepped in front of me.
20:10Done with your call?
20:11Let's go back.
20:12We've lost time, but we can still make it.
20:14If you actually like this room set up,
20:16I'll talk to the Yates.
20:18We might be able to switch.
20:20Whatever makes you happy.
20:22He said it so naturally.
20:23His groomsman watched,
20:24certain waiting for me to do what I'd always done.
20:26He reached for me.
20:28Palm up.
20:28I looked at his face,
20:29the handsome face with its faint impatience,
20:31in front of everyone watching.
20:33I turned slightly and spoke quietly
20:35to the hotel attendant at my side.
20:36Could you please let the officiner know
20:38we're ready to begin?
20:39Of course, Mrs. Yates.
20:41Mr. Yates has been ready.
20:42Mrs. Yates, the certainty on Ethan's face split open.
20:45He was betting on the last six years,
20:48betting I'd soften,
20:49betting that none of this was real enough to hold.
20:51Somewhere the music had stopped.
20:53Every person in the room was watching me.
20:55I lifted my eyes.
20:56I looked at the man I had loved for six years
20:58and waited on for six years.
21:00He looked in this moment very far away.
21:02I didn't look at Ethan.
21:03I just said it,
21:04one word at a time.
21:06Ethan,
21:07look carefully.
21:08I turned slightly.
21:10This dress,
21:11you didn't choose it.
21:13This ring,
21:14you didn't give it.
21:15I looked past his pale face.
21:17Today,
21:18standing here,
21:19marrying Nathan Yates,
21:20that's me,
21:21Mia Carter.
21:22I paused,
21:23one breath,
21:23then the last sentence,
21:25the one that severed everything.
21:26Your wedding,
21:27your bride,
21:28none of that was ever mine.
21:29I didn't look at his face go gray.
21:31I placed my hand steadily into the curve of Nathan's arm.
21:34Let's continue.
21:35Nathan looked at me for a moment,
21:37then nodded at the officiant.
21:39The next second,
21:39the wedding march filled the hall again,
21:41fuller than before.
21:42It swept over everything.
21:43Nathan walked me forward,
21:45step by steady step,
21:46toward the altar at the end of the aisle.
21:47On both sides,
21:48guests began to clap.
21:49My family's composed expressions had long since collapsed.
21:52None of them had seen this coming,
21:53that the man I was marrying today had nothing to do with the Harmons they'd spent years courting.
21:58That it was the Yates,
21:59who operated on an entirely different level,
22:01who wouldn't have thought twice about the Harmons.
22:03As for how I'd gotten Nathan Yates to put three million on the table,
22:06that was my business.
22:07It had nothing to do with their scheming,
22:09nothing to do with the hollow shell my family had become.
22:12The guests who had been invited by my family,
22:14who were supposed to be here for the wedding on the other side,
22:16every single one of them had drifted to this room instead.
22:19Not out of loyalty to the Carters,
22:21out of instinct for the more valuable alliance.
22:23Their applause built into something that filled the entire hall.
22:26Behind me, silence like a held breath.
22:28I didn't need to turn around to picture Ethan's face,
22:30but that was no longer mine to carry.
22:33The ceremony reached the moment that mattered most.
22:36The officiant's voice was warm and measured.
22:39Mia Carter, do you take Nathan Yates to be your husband,
22:42to have and to hold, in sickness and in health,
22:45for richer or poorer, for as long as you both shall live?
22:49The room held still, every eye on me.
22:51I do.
22:53No!
22:56Ethan's voice cracked across the room.
23:03His eyes were red, fixed on me.
23:09Mia, I won't allow it.
23:11You're mine!
23:12You are leaving with me right now!
23:14He lunged toward the altar.
23:15Two security guards caught him before he made it two steps,
23:18locking his arms.
23:19Get your hands off me!
23:20Do you know who I am?
23:22Mia, look at me!
23:24I'm the one you're supposed to marry!
23:26Nathan!
23:27Let go of her!
23:29The Yates family elders in the front row frowned faintly,
23:32but didn't seem alarmed.
23:34They had clearly planned for disruption.
23:37Then a figure in white burst from the side of the crowd.
23:40Cassie.
23:40She'd put the gown back on.
23:42She pushed to the front,
23:43held her phone high with the screen facing out,
23:45and screamed.
23:48Everyone listen!
23:49This whole thing is a mistake!
23:51I'm the Harmon Bride!
23:56Look at this!
23:58We already have a marriage license!
24:02Her hands were shaking as she angled the screen toward the guests,
24:05the efficient, the Yates family.
24:07On the screen, a marriage certificate,
24:10open to the interior page.
24:12Look at her!
24:13She's the one who went behind my back!
24:14She got caught,
24:15and now she's running to someone else!
24:17I don't care how powerful the Yates are!
24:19You can't change the fact that she's the other woman!
24:21She will always be a joke!
24:22The room erupted.
24:25Gasps, whispers.
24:26Eyes moving rapidly between Cassie's phone screen and me.
24:29My family's faces had gone from blank to ash.
24:32Everyone was holding their breath,
24:33waiting for the Yates to react.
24:35Waiting for me to fall apart.
24:37Cassie stood tall,
24:38certain she'd just played the card that turned the game.
24:41But the first person to crack was not the Yates family.
24:43It was not me.
24:44It was Ethan.
24:47Cassie, shut up!
24:48What are you saying?
24:49He wrenched his head toward her,
24:50still held by the guards,
24:52voice ripped raw.
24:53I'm not lying!
24:54You won't even admit I'm your wife?
24:56Right here in front of everyone?
24:58It's not real!
24:59It was a bar stunt!
25:00It doesn't count!
25:02He couldn't admit it.
25:03Not here.
25:04Not in the Yates house.
25:06Not in front of Mia.
25:08Nathan, who had been silent, spoke.
25:10If it doesn't count,
25:11we can just check the county records.
25:13He leaned slightly toward an assistant
25:15and said something low.
25:17The assistant nodded and leapt quickly.
25:19Ethan and Cassie were escorted from the room.
25:21The officiant lifted his voice.
25:24Let's ask everyone to settle.
25:26We'll continue with the ceremony.
25:29Toasts, the receiving line.
25:31Farewells, everything moved with a quiet, mutual warmth.
25:34The room felt like what it was supposed to feel like.
25:37Two families joining.
25:38Genuinely.
25:39By the time the last guests filtered out,
25:41I sat down in one of the private rooms
25:43the hotel had reserved
25:44and let out the first real breath
25:46I'd taken all day.
25:47Nathan handed me a glass of water.
25:49Tired?
25:49His voice was attentive.
25:51Not intrusive.
25:55Today.
25:57It was agreed to.
25:58The Yates keep their word.
26:00As for your family and the Harmons?
26:02Before he could finish,
26:03a knock.
26:03The hotel manager stepped in
26:05and addressed Nathan quietly.
26:06Sir,
26:07Mr. Harmon is still outside.
26:08He's insisting on a few minutes with Mrs. Yates.
26:12Do you want to see him?
26:14I looked at my reflection in the floor
26:16to ceiling window,
26:17still in the dress.
26:17I shook my head.
26:21Everything that needed to be said,
26:23I said it.
26:27Tell Mr. Harmon my wife needs to rest.
26:30She's not receiving visitors.
26:32If he continues to linger,
26:34you know what to do.
26:36Yes, sir.
26:41I knew the Yates had the reach
26:42to make Ethan walk away tonight
26:44and keep him from getting close again.
26:46That was part of why I chose Nathan.
26:47Part of why I chose this.
26:48I needed somewhere safe.
26:50I needed something sharp enough
26:51to cut through every knot
26:52I'd tied myself into.
26:55I changed out of the gown,
26:57put on something comfortable,
26:58settled into the car.
26:59It pulled away from the hotel slowly.
27:01The city lights moved past the window.
27:02I leaned my head back
27:03and closed my eyes.
27:04Not the flood of relief I'd imagined.
27:06Not grief either.
27:07A flat, open calm,
27:08and somewhere under it,
27:09something faint and new.
27:11Like the first edge
27:11of wanting something again.
27:13I knew Ethan wouldn't let go easily.
27:16But this time,
27:17I was not standing still.
27:18I had married...
27:19someone else.
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