Chapter 1

Stepping out of the city hall, Emelie Richmond stared at the piece of marriage certificate in her hands and felt momentarily dazed.

She couldn't believe she was married, much less to a stranger she'd met only once.

The certificate still felt warm to the touch.

Tyler Vaughn's name was written on it, and beyond that, Emelie knew nothing about him.

"When should we hold the wedding? I'm in a bit of a hurry," said Tyler who was standing next to her.

Emelie pondered for a moment. "In two weeks. I'll need some time to prepare."

Tyler's lips curled into a faint smile, and his eyes softened slightly. "Alright. You don't need to worry about anything. Just wait for me to pick you up on the wedding day."

Emelie nodded with a small smile. "I'm staying at Blue Sky Residence with the Horton family. I'll be waiting for you."

Just as Tyler wanted to say more, his phone rang, and a Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of them.

"Sorry, something urgent's come up."

After Emelie gave him an understanding look, he got into the car and left promptly.

Moments after the car disappeared into the distance, three luxury cars with distinct styles pulled up in front of Emelie.

The doors opened and out stepped three men, each strikingly handsome in his own way but vastly different in personality.

Anthony Horton, the eldest among them, approached first. He casually adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and said, "Mel had a fever. I was busy taking care of her and couldn't make it in time."

Marcelo Horton, the second eldest, followed closely behind. His tall figure stood out in a sleek black trench coat. He said, "Since you've been undecided about which of us to choose, it doesn't matter we're late today. Let's just postpone the wedding plans until next year."

Connor Horton, the youngest, smirked nonchalantly as he chimed in, "Forget next year. Push it back a few years and let her take her time deciding."

However, Emelie simply shook her head and pulled out the marriage certificate from her handbag with a serene smile. She declared, "I'm not choosing between you three. I'm already married."

The three's faces froze, shock flickering across their eyes as disbelief set in.

Anthony's sharp gaze narrowed slightly, and his brows knitted together in disapproval. "Emelie, are you trying to scare us because we missed the appointment?"

Marcelo's smile faded, and he scolded, "You know Mel saved our lives from that car accident. We owe her. You also know how we feel about you. Can't you be a bigger person?"

Meanwhile, Connor tugged at his tie with an irritated look. "The whole Warlington knows we've been chasing you. Who'd dare marry you besides us? They'd be asking for trouble. And now you're faking a marriage certificate? Really, Emelie?"

With that, Connor snatched the certificate from her and swiftly tore it into pieces.

The shredded paper fluttered to the ground like snowflakes.

Emelie stared at the remnants bewilderedly. She wanted to argue but forced herself to stay calm.

This was supposed to be a joyful day for her. Besides, there was no point getting angry over a torn certificate. It could easily be reissued anyway.

Emelie looked at them with a composed expression and said, "Tearing up the certificate doesn't change the fact that the marriage is valid. My wedding is in two weeks. You're welcome to attend."

The brothers exchanged glances, each seeing the disbelief mirrored in the others' eyes.

As close as they were, they were united in their suspicion that this was just a ploy to provoke them.

Marcelo stepped closer and uttered coldly, "This little act is getting old."

"I'm not acting."

"Fine, fine, you're not. Happy now?" Connor responded with mock patience. "If you insist, I can't wait to see how you keep this up in two weeks."

Frowning, Anthony was about to speak when his phone rang abruptly.

Melissa Blackwell's frail, tearful voice came through when he answered the call.

"Anthony, Marcelo, Connor… where are you guys? I feel awful…"

Instantly, their expressions shifted into panic.

Anthony's voice softened at once as he hurriedly comforted Melissa, "Mel, I only stepped out to get your favorite snack. I'll be right back."

"Don't worry, Mel. I'm coming now," Marcelo added.

"Hang tight, Mel. I'm on my way," Connor chimed in.

As soon as the call ended, all three of them rushed into their cars and sped off, leaving Emelie standing there in the cold.

The chilly wind blew her hair into her face, blurring her vision.

She watched as their cars vanished in the distance. Then, a faint smile tugged at her lips, though a sense of loss lingered in her chest.

Even now, Emelie couldn't understand how things had come to this between her and the Horton brothers.

When she was seven, her parents had died in an accident, and she was taken in by the Horton family, who had been close friends with her own.

There had been an arranged marriage between her and one of their sons.

That day, dressed in a delicate dress, a soft and sweet-looking Emelie had made her first appearance at the Horton residence—and all three brothers had taken a liking to her instantly.

They fought over her from the moment they met, each declaring she'd be their future bride.

Their parents, Ezra Horton and Kaitlyn Gould, initially dismissed it as childish infatuation. Nonetheless, the brothers' feelings for Emelie only grew stronger over the years.

They cherished her like a treasure, protecting her fiercely and driving away any boy who dared approach her with even a hint of romantic interest.

As they grew older, Anthony became the family heir, Marcelo rose to fame as a global superstar, and Connor achieved legendary status in esports.

Despite their differences, they remained steadfast in their mutual affection for Emelie, each determined to win her over.

Exasperated by their sons' rivalry, Ezra and Kaitlyn finally announced that Emelie would choose one of them to marry on her 22nd birthday.

When that day arrived, Emelie showed up, whereas the three men who had once vowed to love her above all else failed to appear because of Melissa.

Melissa was the daughter of a new maid at the Horton residence. Ever since she arrived, she'd schemed to endear herself to the brothers with small, calculated acts of kindness.

She would bake cookies for them, remind them to eat their meals on time and run through the rain to deliver medicine when they needed it.

At first, the three of them had dismissed her efforts with disdain. They treated her just as they had rejected other women before—calling her pretentious and avoiding her at all costs.

But everything changed after the car accident.

Melissa had thrown herself in front of a speeding car to save them. While they were unharmed, she'd suffered severe injuries and nearly lost her life.

From that moment on, their attitudes toward her changed dramatically.

Their hearts gradually leaned toward Melissa, and they began to hurt Emelie repeatedly for her sake.

When Melissa sprained her ankle, they abandoned Emelie on a dangerous mountain populated by snakes, insects, and rodents.

When Melissa whined about wanting to go to an amusement park, they heartlessly left a sick and feverish Emelie behind to fulfill Melissa's wishes first.

When both Emelie and Melissa fell into the water, all three of them chose to save Melissa.

Incidents as such had happened far too often. Even when it was agreed that she would get married to one of them on this particular day, they had missed the appointment.

Not a single one of them, who once swore to marry no one but her and claimed they couldn't live without her, had shown up on time.

For years, the Horton brothers had publicly and passionately expressed their affection for her, and everyone in their social circle knew about it.

Now that she'd been abandoned by them, the humiliation threatened to tarnish the Richmond family's reputation. So, to preserve her family's dignity, Emelie had married a stranger.

The arranged marriage was over.

From this day forward, her ties with the Horton brothers were severed.

Chapter 2

Emelie picked up the torn pieces of the marriage certificate from the ground and hailed a cab back to the Horton residence.

The moment she walked through the door, she saw Anthony, Marcelo, and Connor in Melissa's room. Their tall figures instantly made the spacious room feel cramped.

Emelie glanced at them and pursed her lips upon noting their anxious and concerned expressions as they doted on Melissa.

This room used to be hers. It was the best room in the house and closest to the three of theirs. They had poured their hearts into decorating it, creating a dreamy princess room that anyone would envy.

Back then, anything fun or delicious was sent straight to her. They used to say with unshakable affection, "Emmy, you're our little princess. You deserve the best of everything."

And Emelie had believed them.

Nonetheless, after Melissa took the brunt of a car accident to save them, they used her recovery as an excuse to move Emelie into a guest room.

It was at that moment she realized she was no longer their cherished princess.

Forcing a smile, Emelie returned to the guest room to rest.

The next morning, Emelie was woken by the deafening sound of celebratory fireworks from downstairs.

When she went down, she saw the living room overflowing with exquisitely wrapped gift boxes.

Melissa, dressed in a beautiful gown, stood in the center surrounded by Anthony, Marcelo, and Connor. Her face was beaming with delight.

Anthony gazed at her gently and handed her a car key. "Mel, congratulations on recovering from your cold. This is the car you said you liked. I bought it for you."

Marcelo presented a rosary. "I specifically went to the church to get this. There were so many people there, and I bumped into some fans, too. But I managed to get it. They say it's very effective."

Connor grinned as he placed a trophy into Melissa's hands. "I won this at a competition. Mel, if luck and safety could be transferred, I'd give them all to you. I wish you a life of peace and joy."

The three of them piled their gifts into Melissa's arms until she could barely hold them.

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she exclaimed, "Why are you all making such a fuss over a little cold I had? You're spoiling me too much. I don't even know what to do!"

Her laughter was radiant, and when she noticed Emelie descending the stairs, she deliberately called out in feigned curiosity, "Ms. Richmond, it was your birthday yesterday. What gifts did you get? Can I see?"

Emelie's fingers tightened around the hem of her shirt, and she said nothing.

Only then did Anthony, Marcelo, and Connor realize they had completely forgotten Emelie's 22nd birthday. They hadn't gotten her anything.

Anthony approached her and offered a black card, saying, "Mel was sick yesterday, and it slipped my mind. I'll make it up to you later. Use this card and buy whatever you like."

Marcelo and Connor followed suit, handing over their cards as well.

But Emelie didn't take them. She calmly refused, "No need. It's fine if you forgot."

Their eyes flickered with surprise. They'd expected her to be upset and had prepared to coax her. Yet, her indifferent demeanor caught them off guard.

Still, they recalled her lie about getting married and assumed she was merely throwing a tantrum.

"Suit yourself. But don't regret it."

The three of them studied her reaction.

Unexpectedly, her expression remained calm and unaffected. "I won't."

That evening, Ezra and Kaitlyn returned from a business trip abroad.

During dinner, Melissa was supposed to assist her mother, Stephanie McKenzie, in the kitchen as it was her duty as the maid's daughter.

However, Connor grabbed her hand and pressed her into a seat beside him. He said, "The kitchen's crowded enough. Just sit here and eat with us."

Melissa tried to stand, but Anthony and Marcelo each held her down, signaling for her to stay put.

Ezra and Kaitlyn's expressions soured, and their displeasure was evident in their gazes, but they said nothing. Instead, Kaitlyn intentionally ignored her sons and turned to Emelie with a warm smile.

"Emelie, yesterday was your birthday. Did you decide who to marry? I've already picked a venue for the wedding. It's such a joyous occasion, and we must celebrate it in style. You deserve nothing less."

Her words plunged the table into silence.

After a while, Anthony stated, "Mel was sick yesterday, so I didn't go."

"I was busy taking care of Mel, so I didn't go either," Marcelo added lazily, his tone dismissive.

Connor added, "Neither did I. Besides, Emelie hasn't even chosen yet. The wedding can wait."

Their remarks stoked Ezra's and Kaitlyn's simmering anger. Just when they were about to erupt in fury, Emelie's phone buzzed with a message from Tyler.

Attached was a photo of a wedding ring.

"Do you like it? If not, I'll take you to pick something else."

The ring in the photo had a huge, heart-shaped pink diamond surrounded by countless smaller diamonds that sparkled like a galaxy.

It was breathtaking—enough to make any woman's heart race.

Chapter 3

With a small smile, Emelie handed her phone to Ezra and Kaitlyn.

"Mr. and Mrs. Horton, I just got married. The wedding is set for two weeks from now. Look, this is the wedding ring my husband picked for me. I love it."

The room fell silent once again due to the incredulous news.

Ezra and Kaitlyn stared at her, struggling to find their words.

After a long pause, Ezra stammered, "Emelie, are… are you being serious?"

Before Emelie could answer, Anthony said curtly with a gloomy expression, "Enough. It's fine if you want to pull this joke on us. But bringing this nonsense to Mom and Dad is crossing the line."

Marcelo's ever-present smile vanished. "Emelie, this is getting old. Stop joking about this."

Connor impatiently set his cutlery down and said, "Twice you've claimed to be married. How's that even possible? You still have that love letter in your drawer. It's meant for—"

Anthony and Marcelo's expressions faltered immediately. Losing their cool, they anxiously grabbed Connor and demanded, "What love letter? Who's it for?"

Connor shrugged them off. He avoided their gaze and answered awkwardly, "I didn't read it, okay? I wouldn't dare. How would I know?"

Emelie let out a bitter laugh.

Yes, she had written a love letter. And yes, among the three brothers, there had been someone she once loved. But that was all in the past.

Even before she'd gotten married to Tyler, she had already made her choice.

Now, it was no longer worth discussing.

Emelie was about to speak when Melissa suddenly gasped in surprise.

"Ms. Richmond, isn't that ring just an image you found online? I saw it in a magazine. It's one of a kind and worth a fortune. Who on earth did you marry?"

Emelie's mind went blank. She hadn't known the ring was so valuable. As for Tyler's identity, she truly didn't know much and had no explanation to offer.

Before she could say anything, Stephanie came in with a pot of soup. After exchanging a subtle glance with Melissa, she gave an almost imperceptible nod.

The next second, Stephanie pretended to lose her grip and deliberately tipped the steaming pot.

"Careful!"

Anthony, Marcelo, and Connor immediately moved to shield Melissa.

On the other hand, Emelie was left defenseless.

"Ah!"

The scalding soup spilled all over Emelie, and she cried out in pain. Her skin turned glaring red, and the agony made her eyes well up with tears.

Noticing the smug satisfaction in Stephanie's gaze, Emelie shook with anger and bellowed, "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

Stephanie froze for a moment before tears started streaming down her face. "Ms. Richmond, how could you accuse me? I know it's my fault for spilling the soup, but you can't just slander me!"

Melissa stepped out from the brothers' protective circle and stood resolutely in front of Stephanie.

She said tearfully, "Ms. Richmond, my mom and I may be poor, but we have dignity and pride. We won’t tolerate your insult. If you think so little of us, we'll leave!"

Melissa then turned to take Stephanie's hand, and the two left together.

Anthony glared at Emelie and reprimanded her in fury, "Emelie, Stephanie's been diligently serving us. It was just an accident. Why did you accuse her? Can't you stop being so selfish and willful?"

Marcelo frowned and looked at her with disappointment. "Melissa is kind-hearted like her mother. Why would they purposefully harm you for no reason?"

Connor snapped in condemnation, "Even if Stephanie did it on purpose, so what? It was just soup. Did you have to drive them away over it?"

Emelie felt overwhelmed by countless emotions. Tears filled her eyes, but none of them cared. They merely glanced at her coldly before running out to chase after Melissa.

It wasn't until the three of them were gone that Emelie felt the full force of the pain. A large patch of her skin burned fiercely.

She tried to stand up, but the ache made her body sway, and she collapsed onto the ground.

"Emelie!"

Ezra and Kaitlyn rushed to her side to help her up and then hastily took her to the hospital.

When Emelie woke up, the first thing she saw was Ezra and Kaitlyn by her bedside.

Seeing her awake, Kaitlyn wiped away her tears and gripped Emelie's hand tightly as she apologized.

"Emelie, we checked the security footage. Stephanie did it on purpose. We knew they had ulterior motives, but we didn't expect it to be this bad.

"Don't worry. We'll make Anthony, Marcelo, and Connor apologize to you. They'll see Melissa's true colors. And please, don't say you're married again just to spite us."

Emelie shook her head weakly. "Mrs. Horton, it's not a lie. I really am married."

She reached into her handbag and pulled out a bank card and a delicate gold necklace she'd prepared, placing them in Kaitlyn's hands.

"This is all the money I've saved over the years. It should cover what I've spent while staying with your family. As for this necklace, it's the family heirloom you said was meant for your future daughter-in-law. I can't accept it anymore. Please, take it back."

Staring at the items, Kaitlyn finally realized Emelie wasn't joking.

Ezra couldn't help asking once more, "Emelie, are you really married? Please don't lie to us."

Emelie nodded firmly. "Yes, I'm married."

Chapter 4

After a long silence, Ezra and Kaitlyn let out heavy sighs.

"It's our sons who aren't worthy of you. We're sorry."

Then, they accepted the gold necklace but firmly refused to take the bank card.

"Emelie, keep the money with you just in case you ever need it."

Emelie gently smiled and pushed the card back to them. "I'd feel uneasy if you didn't take it. In fact, my parents left me a sizable inheritance I haven't touched.

"Besides, after living with you all these years, I've long thought of you as my parents. Soon, I'll be leaving home now that I'm married."

Helplessly, Ezra and Kaitlyn accepted the card.

In the following days, neither Anthony, Marcelo, or Connor had come to visit Emelie.

Eventually, Ezra and Kaitlyn learned from the household staff that the three of them had been spending all their time coaxing Melissa. This only angered them further.

"Emelie, wait here. We're going to drag them over to look after you. I can't believe they didn't even drop by to visit you. This is unacceptable!"

"No, you don't have to. Having you both here is more than enough." Emelie quickly stopped them.

Seeing that she genuinely meant it, they had no choice but to relent.

The day Emelie was discharged, Tyler called her. His usually cool voice sounded unexpectedly warm as he said, "I designed a wedding dress and had it delivered to your house.

Emelie asked in astonishment, "You design wedding dresses?"

Tyler chuckled lightly. "Sometimes. I just wanted to give my wife something special and heartfelt."

Emelie's cheeks flushed red. She stammered a few vague replies, completely missing whatever else Tyler said. While her mind had gone blank, a warm feeling surged in her heart.

When she got home and opened the door, her eyes landed on a stunning white wedding dress.

The vast train was adorned with countless sparkling diamonds and shimmered as though starlight had been sewn into the fabric.

The only flaw was that Melissa was wearing the dress.

Holding up the hem of the dress, she twirled and asked coquettishly, "Guys, how do I look in this dress?"

"Beautiful, just like a fairy."

"Even more gorgeous than most of the actresses I've worked with."

"Mel, if you ever get married, you'll be the most stunning bride in the world."

Anthony, Marcelo, and Connor showered her with compliments. The smile on Melissa's face was impossible to hide, and she even seemed a little bashful under their relentless praise.

Emelie felt her blood boil.

She stormed toward Melissa and yelled, "Melissa, this is my wedding dress! Who gave you permission to wear it? Don't you know taking something without asking is stealing? Take it off right now!"

Melissa flinched, and her eyes filled with tears of grievance. "I didn't know it was yours. I just thought it was pretty and wanted to try it on. I'm sorry, Ms. Richmond. I didn't mean to."

Yet, despite her words, she made no move to take off the dress and even smoothed the fabric with obvious affection.

"Then hurry up and take it off!"

Emelie clenched her fists, barely restraining her fury.

But Melissa remained reluctant as she clutched the dress tightly.

"I've never worn such a beautiful wedding dress before. This is exactly like the one in my dreams. Ms. Richmond, you're not even getting married. Can't you just give it to me?"

"Are you deaf? I've already said my wedding is soon. This is my wedding dress. If I give it to you, what am I supposed to wear?" Emelie snapped.

Melissa froze, and her eyes turned red-rimmed before she could speak.

Seeing her pitiful expression, Anthony, Marcelo, and Connor immediately leaped to her defense.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Anthony said in annoyance, "That's enough. It's just a wedding dress. You're not actually getting married anyway. You bought it just to fool us. Aren't you taking it too far?"

"That's right. You just want to make us jealous. I've already told you to stop playing games like this last time, yet you're doubling down," Marcelo added impatiently.

"It's just a prop. Since Mel likes it, just give it to her. Where did you buy it? I'll pay for it," Connor said while pulling out a black card.

Emelie took a deep breath, exasperated.

"For the last time, this is not a prop! I'm seriously married, and my husband designed this dress himself. It's priceless to me. Melissa must take it off and return it to me now!"

The brothers' tempers flared when they heard her say the word "husband".

Just as they were about to argue, Melissa clutched their sleeves and sobbed, "Anthony, Marcelo, Connor, don't fight because of me. I'll take it off, okay?"

With that, she ran off crying.

When she returned, she held the wedding dress in her arms—now shredded to pieces.

"Sorry, Ms. Richmond. I accidentally tore it while taking it off," she said meekly, though a hint of triumph glinted in her eyes.

The dress was clearly cut to ribbons with scissors.

Emelie was so furious she had a hard time catching her breath. She roared, "Do you take me for a fool? You did this on purpose!"

"I didn't! I'm really sorry, Ms. Richmond. I'll pay you back! How much does it cost?" Melissa whimpered, and her crying only intensified.

Before Emelie could explode, Anthony pulled Melissa into his arms.

"Stop! How long are you going to keep up this act? Fine. If your so-called husband actually designed this dress, call him now. Let's see how much it costs. I'll pay for it myself."

Marcelo and Connor chimed in, "Yeah, call him right now."

Their goal was to expose what they thought was Emelie's lie.

Listening to her constantly mention marriage, her husband, and her wedding dress drove them insane. They felt like they were losing their minds.

Now, the only way to stop her from making a joke out of these things was to expose her.

To their shock, Emelie gritted her teeth and spat out, "Fine."

Then, she dialed Tyler's number in front of everyone.

Chapter 5

The phone rang over and over without anyone picking up.

Anthony, Marcelo, and Connor were initially on edge and worried that Emelie might be telling the truth all along. However, when her calls went unanswered, they began to relax.

Anthony snorted. "What's the matter? Didn't coordinate this ahead of time?"

Marcelo also let out a relieved sigh, his tense expression easing. He remarked, "I really thought you had something up your sleeve. Is this all?"

"Alright, we'll each give you ten million dollars. Consider it payment for the wedding dress," Connor said nonchalantly, then turned to gently wipe away Melissa's tears.

"Don't cry, Mel. I'll take you shopping. You can pick whatever you want, even a wedding dress more beautiful than this one."

After that, he escorted her to the car, while the other two followed close behind.

The moment they left, Emelie's phone vibrated suddenly.

Tyler had sent a text. "In a meeting. I'll call you later. Is it urgent?"

She quickly replied, "No, it's fine. Sorry for bothering you. I just wanted to say… I'm sorry. The wedding dress got ruined by someone. I was careless."

His response came almost instantly. "No problem. I'll have a new one made and sent over."

When Ezra and Kaitlyn returned home, their faces darkened as soon as they saw the shredded dress. After hearing the full story, their expressions turned thunderous.

"I only took pity on Stephanie and Melissa, thinking it wasn't easy for a single mother and her daughter. Turns out that they're both rotten to the core!" Kaitlyn fumed.

She then instructed Griffin Brown, the family's butler, "Griffin, fire them right away. Let this serve as justice for Emelie!"

Taking Emelie's hand, she continued tenderly, "Don't worry, Emelie. With us here, no one will let you suffer unjustly."

Emelie was moved. After murmuring her thanks, she left with the tattered wedding dress in her arms.

No matter what, Tyler had specifically designed it for her. She had to find a way to repair it.

True to their word, Griffin acted swiftly. By the time Emelie returned, both Stephanie and Melissa had been evicted from the Horton residence.

Finally, she breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she could have a few peaceful days before her wedding.

However, stepping into her room, Emelie was greeted by complete chaos—her belongings were scattered everywhere.

It wasn't hard to guess who the culprit was. Melissa must have done this to vent her anger.

Resigned, Emelie began tidying up, only to hear heavy footsteps outside.

The next moment, the door was flung open, and Anthony, Marcelo, and Connor stormed in.

"Emelie, how could you be so cruel to Mel? It was just a wedding dress. We've already paid for it. Why did you still force her out of the house?" Anthony barked, gripping her wrist tightly.

Emelie yanked her arm free, her patience completely worn thin. "Think what you want."

Her dismissive tone infuriated Marcelo, who scowled with disbelief. "What's with your attitude? Are you not going to apologize to Mel?"

"What do I have to apologize for?" she asked, genuinely perplexed.

Connor didn't wait for her to protest further. He grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the door. "You're coming with me to apologize!"

That was the final straw. Emelie couldn't take it anymore.

She wrenched herself free with all her might and shouted, "Enough! There are only ten days left! My wedding is in ten days; after that, I'll be out of your lives for good.

"We'll have nothing to do with each other anymore. I'm begging you—just endure these ten days and stop bothering me!"

With that, she mustered every ounce of strength she had to shove the three of them out of the room, slamming the door shut and locking it behind her.

Outside, silence fell.

After what felt like an eternity, Connor's cold voice came through the door.

"Emelie, drop the act. We're not buying it."

Emelie slid to the floor and leaned against the door as exhaustion overtook her.

Whether they believed her or not didn't matter anymore. It was a fact that she was already married.