Restoring the surveillance footage took a while.

While Patrick worked, he mentioned he'd majored in computer science, and that we'd actually gone to the same university.

I was a little stunned. Back then, all my attention had been on Preston. I never even spared a glance for any other man.

If I had, there was no way someone like Patrick wouldn't have stood out.

Across the room, Roxanne tugged nervously at Preston's sleeve. "Pres, didn't you buy me ten wedding dresses? This one is ruined, but I can change into another. Let's just go ahead with the ceremony."

Preston shook off her grip and stared in the direction where Patrick and I had just left, irritation clouding his face. For reasons he couldn't quite explain, he felt like things were slowly slipping out of his control.

"Let's do it on another day. Be patient."

He ignored the plea in her eyes and insisted on canceling the weddi

Roxanne was clearly in a foul mood. At first, Preston tried to placate her patiently. He promised he'd make it up to her with an even grander, more perfect wedding next time, and that he'd take her on a honeymoon across Eurasia.

However, she still wouldn't let it go.

Preston narrowed his eyes. "Rox, when did you get so ungrateful?"

Roxanne panicked immediately. Forcing out tears, she cried prettily, her voice trembling. "Pres, you've got it wrong.

"I was just really looking forward to our wedding today, and then everything fell apart. Of course, I'm upset."

Preston's tone softened. "I already punished Lexi for you."

Roxanne wanted to scream that it wasn't nearly enough.

She wished Lexi were dead. They came from similar circumstances, yet Lexi seemed to have an easy, comfortable life. Meanwhile, she had to fight, plot, and bend over backward just to get by.

However, she swallowed 

My dress had been hacked into shreds, barely covering anything.

Patrick Lloyd shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it over me, then used his tie to wipe the smeared lipstick from my face, as if to shield me from embarrassment.

Only then did he spare a glance at Preston.

"Do you need me to spell it out? I'm Lexi's boyfriend."

Preston's fists tightened at his sides, his eyes glued to Patrick's hand wrapped firmly around my waist.

He wore a bracelet that matched mine—a couple's set.

Two seconds later, Preston's tense posture relaxed ever so slightly. A look crossed his face, like he suddenly saw through everything. "Lexi, you're something else. You even brought someone to help you put on a show.

"Where did you hire your actor? Quite convincing, I must say."

Seeing his attention drifting, Roxanne quickly piped up, crying pitifully.

"Lexi, since you already have a boyfriend, shouldn't you let go of whatever feelings you had for Pres? Why make such a scene today? Are you trying to two-time both of them?

"If I don't get married today, are you hoping to have another chance with Pres?"

Preton scoffed. "In her dreams."

My parents must have heard the commotion. They hurried over from the main hall.

They didn't know the full story, only seeing me in Patrick's arms, in an intimate pose. They exchanged a glance, confused.

They had startled looks on their faces. "Mr. Lloyd, what's going on between you and Lex?"

The second the words left their mouths, Preston froze. His expression flickered, and he muttered under his breath, "Patrick Lloyd from the Lloyd family in Juville…"

He finally realized who Patrick was. Unease rippled across his face, but he forced himself to stay calm, chin lifting with fake composure.

"Who would've thought that Mr. Lloyd would have so much free time? Coming all this way just to pretend to be some woman's boyfriend?"

Patrick didn't bother responding to him. He simply answered my parents politely, "Liam, Patricia, I'll explain everything between Lexi and me later. Right now, we need to deal with what's happening."

That was when my parents noticed Roxanne hiding behind Preston, her eyes swollen and tear-stained.

"Rox, why are you crying? What happened? Did someone bully you?

"Tell us. We'll take care of it."

Roxanne choked twice, glancing at me with scared, trembling eyes. "N-no one… No one bullied me."

She looked like she was swallowing her frustration, forcing herself to stay silent.

"Rox is kind-hearted. She doesn't want to make things harder for you," Preston said calmly.

"Lexi ruined Rox's wedding dress out of jealousy and even wrote 'go die' on her mirror. That's downright cruel. So I gave her a little punishment."

My parents' faces were drained of color. They looked at me, stunned and hurt.

"Is that true? Lex, didn't you promise Mom you were over him? Why would you do something like this?"

"Say something, Lexi. If you did it, admit it. If you didn't, explain yourself!"

My tears soaked through Patrick's shirt as he held me tighter.

It was infuriating to be misunderstood by Preston. However, when my parents didn't believe me, it hurt so much that I felt completely hollow inside.

I lifted my head. When they saw the smudged lipstick on my face, with faint letters barely visible, they all gasped.

"Dad, Mom, it wasn't me. They set me up. They didn't even give me a chance to speak."

My dad's gaze snapped to Preston, anger shaking his voice. "So before you even had evidence, you just decided it was my daughter's fault? And you dared lay your hands on her?

"That's what you call a small punishment?"

Preston met his glare without flinching. "The surveillance footage was deleted. The most likely culprit has to be Lexi. There's no one else."

Patrick raised an eyebrow. "Deleted? Well, that's convenient. I happen to be an expert in data recovery."

Roxanne went pale instantly.

Restoring the surveillance footage took a while.

While Patrick worked, he mentioned he'd majored in computer science, and that we'd actually gone to the same university.

I was a little stunned. Back then, all my attention had been on Preston. I never even spared a glance for any other man.

If I had, there was no way someone like Patrick wouldn't have stood out.

Across the room, Roxanne tugged nervously at Preston's sleeve. "Pres, didn't you buy me ten wedding dresses? This one is ruined, but I can change into another. Let's just go ahead with the ceremony."

Preston shook off her grip and stared in the direction where Patrick and I had just left, irritation clouding his face. For reasons he couldn't quite explain, he felt like things were slowly slipping out of his control.

"Let's do it on another day. Be patient."

He ignored the plea in her eyes and insisted on canceling the wedding.

Sensing his mood change, Roxanne didn't dare push him.

When I heard the news, I was shocked as

Chapter 5