Chapter 2

Lucas pulled Sienna by the hand toward a dining table, constantly getting shoulder pats along the way.

"Lucas, Sienna's really something! You really don't want to marry her?"

Lucas laughed and punched the guy's shoulder.

"Get lost, stop talking nonsense."

But he never let go of Sienna's hand, escorting her all the way to Mrs. Harper's side.

He leaned down to tell Sienna:

"No more fooling around, okay? Emma's still waiting for me. Just sit next to my mother."

A guest asked in confusion.

"Who is this young lady?"

Mrs. Harper smiled and pushed Sienna forward.

"This is Sienna, Lucas's childhood friend. She's like our own daughter. Today we really have her to thank for livening up the atmosphere. Otherwise how could the wedding be this lively?"

Sienna sweetly raised her glass.

"I'm Sienna. I'm happier than anyone about Lucas getting married. The bride will be out soon."

She was charming, making a round of toasts that delighted all the elders.

Mrs. Harper suddenly removed the jade bracelet from her wrist and slipped it onto Sienna's hand.

"Good girl, thank you for your hard work today."

That bracelet was a Harper family heirloom passed to daughters-in-law.

Last month Mrs. Harper had personally given it to me, saying to wear it on the wedding day.

I didn't accept it, claiming it was too precious and I was afraid of damaging it. The truth was I wanted to save it for the most important moment.

Now it adorned Sienna's wrist, jade-green and translucent against her snow-white skin.

Sienna gasped.

"Mrs. Harper, this is too precious..."

"If I'm giving it to you, wear it. Later, I'll pick out something new for Emma." Mrs. Harper pressed her hand down, eyes full of affection.

All the guests at the table saw it, their expressions varied.

Someone teased.

"Mrs. Harper, why didn't you just have Lucas marry Sienna directly?"

Mr. Harper laughed heartily.

"If Sienna married into our family, we'd be laughing in our sleep!"

Sienna blushed and hid behind Lucas, who laughed and stood in front of her.

"Mom, Dad, stop talking nonsense. I don't even see Sienna as a woman. I only want to marry Emma for the rest of my life!"

I laughed coldly, looking at my watch.

It was already forty-four minutes past the scheduled wedding time.

Yet no one had asked where the bride was.

My phone screen lit up—a message Lucas sent five minutes ago.

[Emma, Sienna was just joking, don't take it to heart.]

[I'll have them restart the wedding ceremony now.]

The phone's glow illuminated the dim corner of the dressing room.

Sienna's livestream account was still on.

The camera pointed directly at the wedding venue.

The comments kept refreshing.

[Holy shit, is this not the bride? She's gorgeous!]

[Wait, it's Lucas's wedding? He's so handsome! They look perfect together!]

[Hold on, isn't today supposed to be Lucas and Emma Smith's wedding? How is Sienna the bride?]

[Anyone who knows them? They just said the girl in the wedding dress is Lucas's friend of twenty-something years. It's for views, just messing around. The real bride is backstage.]

[This isn't cool. The real bride must be fuming.]