Chapter 4

The room fell dead silent for a second before exploding into a collective roar of laughter.

"Chloe, stop acting. Don't you get tired of living in a web of lies?"

"Seriously, Brad is being so sweet to you. Don't break his heart!"

"Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!"

Watching me get humiliated, Ethan didn't look worried at all. Instead, he joined in on the chanting.

"Honestly, Chloe, I think you and Brad make a perfect couple."

I clenched my fists, staring Ethan dead in the eye.

"I said, I have a husband."

"If you don't believe me, you can come to City Hall right now and see for yourselves!"

To prove my point, I reached into my bag to grab the wedding invitation, only to realize I had mailed out the last of the physical ones last night.

Seeing my hesitation, Serena stepped forward, putting on her best fake-nice face.

"Chloe, you know I’m always on your side. But this time, you're being really unfair to Brad."

"He gathered so much courage to confess to you. Even if you want to reject him, you shouldn't make up such a pathetic lie to hurt him."

"After all... everyone knows you've been chasing Ethan for a decade. How could you suddenly have a husband?"

"Don't be mad. Everyone is just looking out for you. Lying like this is only going to ruin your own life."

The moment Serena finished speaking, the crowd nodded in agreement.

"As expected of a classical music student—so elegant and sensible."

"No wonder Ethan loves her. If I were him, I'd choose her in a heartbeat over someone as crazy and dramatic as Chloe!"

Hearing their praise, Serena frowned slightly, looking at me with mock pity.

"Chloe, just apologize to Brad, and we can all pretend this never happened, okay? We’re still friends."

There it was. That line again.

Every single time there was a conflict, she would play the mediator.

She always pretended to support me, but in reality, she was just forcing me to bow my head and apologize.

And Ethan and his friends absolutely ate it up.

I pulled out my phone, tapped the screen a few times, and held it up in front of their faces.

"The paper invitations are gone, but I still have the digital e-vite."

"If you guys are so curious, you’re more than welcome to join. I’ll make sure you're well accommodated."

A few of them leaned in to look at the screen.

Suddenly, one of them gasped.

"Holy shit... a private island wedding?!"

"Isn't that Sterling Island? That place is worth hundreds of millions!"

Ethan scoffed and slapped my phone down.

"Please, it’s obviously fake."

"Look at Chloe. Does she look like someone who could get married on a private island?"

"She probably just photoshopped her name onto someone else's invitation. Talk about desperately trying to look rich."

The mocking sneers on everyone's faces deepened.

"Chloe, your delusions are getting out of hand!"

"Exactly! As if a billionaire who owns a private island would ever look at someone like you!"

Serena walked over, trying to grab my arm gently.

"Chloe, please don't do this to yourself."

"Why must you embarrass yourself like this?"

"Ethan might not love you back, but he’s always treated you like family. Doing this is only going to make him hate you more."

Ethan laughed dismissively.

"Serena, don't waste your breath on her. You can't talk sense into a crazy person."

I let out a soft sigh and slowly pulled off my glove.

On my ring finger, a massive, flawless pear-cut diamond ring caught the light, sparkling brilliantly.

Serena gasped, her eyes widening in shock.

"Is that... 'The Star of the Ocean' from the Christie’s auction?!"