Sylvia let out a slow, controlled breath.
Before the ceremony had begun, she had doubted she would even make it to the exchange of vows without breaking down.
Yet somehow, she had endured every step of it.
Perhaps it was because there was nothing left inside her to shatter.
This had never been her wedding.
It had never been the life she dreamed of.
It was simply the first day of the prison she had agreed to enter.
But for her grandmother… It was worth it.
The old man took a step forward and took her hand.
“Leslie,” he called gently.
Sylvia was about to correct the name when she remembered she had not only replaced her sister but also had to take her name.
Otherwise, the Quinn family’s deception would be exposed…
and and her grandmother would be in danger again.
She swallowed the bitterness and slowly lifted her veil off her face.
“I am sorry you have to go through this alone, but Damian couldn’t be here due to his situation.
I hope you understand?” Sylvia listened with little interest.
If anything at all, she wanted to leave here, to take a breather outside and possibly review what had really happened.
“When are we leaving?” she asked instead.
The old man paused for a moment before replying.
“I am sorry.
If you’re ready, we can leave right away.” Sylvia nodded.
“I am,” she replied curtly.
The man stared for a few seconds longer as he took note of her cold face and nodded.
“Good, I will be right back.” Sylvia nodded, and the man left.
A warm wave of relief swarmed through her body.
Sylvia closed her eyes, ready to relive what happened, but then… The anxious voices of her parents as they closed the distance between them cut through her thoughts.
She slowly opened them as her mother grabbed her hand.
“Sylvia, you did well.
The Quinn family will remember your sacrifice.” Sylvia stared at her hand holding hers for a moment.
It should have felt warm, but all she felt was coldness.
“Really?
Will they remember?” Eloise nodded.
“Of course, you saved the company from the brink of extinction…it’s a meritorious service.” Sylvia’s lips curled up slightly in mockery.
‘What a beautiful way to frame it.
Meritorious service indeed.’ “Then, I only hope you wouldn’t delay grandmother’s treatment and wouldn’t back out of the agreement.” Eloise patted the back of her hand.
“What are you talking about?
The sincerity of your parents…don’t you know better?” Sylvia wasn’t sure what she meant or what she had in mind, but she really had a bad feeling about her gentleness.
The next moment, her mother leaned in gently.
Her voice lowered into a cold whisper.
“Remember, you are taking on Leslie’s name…you can’t let the Evercrest family find out.” Sylvia raised an amused brow.
“I remember agreeing to marry in her place but not to take her name.” “Sylvia…” Morgan called in a low growl that mirrored his dissatisfaction.
“Marrying in your sister’s place was all a tactic to avert the doom unleashed on us by your sister.” “My sister?” She repeated the words slowly and sighed.
“The last time I checked, she was your favourite daughter…and now…” “Sylvia,” Eloise called gently.
“There isn’t time for both of you to argue.
Just remember to do us that favour.” From the corner of her eyes, she caught sight of the old man returning, and she smiled.
She slowly pulled her hand free.
“Don’t worry,” she said calmly.
“I know what I have to do.” Her voice was emotionless, making it impossible for anyone to tell what she was thinking.
Eloise nodded with relief.
“You are really my good daughter.” Morgan finally let out the breath he had been holding.
“Good.” He nodded with satisfaction.
“Once you arrive at the Evercrest family, behave yourself.
Don’t cause trouble, and don’t let anyone suspect anything.” Sylvia listened attentively, then she smiled.
“I understand, Father, but I hope you can keep the end of your promises.” “As long as you keep this matter sealed.” Sylvia gave no reply.
There was nothing left to say.
From the moment she uttered those two words… I do.
She understood her fate had already been sealed.
She was no longer Sylvia Quinn.
At least, not in the eyes of the Evercrest family.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to explain.
So, from this day onward…she would publicly live as Leslie Quinn, the runaway bride who had disappeared without a trace.
And somewhere out there…The real Leslie was probably celebrating her freedom, unbothered that someone else had stepped into the prison that was meant for her.
Sylvia closed her eyes briefly.
When she opened them again, every trace of hesitation had disappeared.
Sylvia or Leslie…that would be her decision on her own terms.
“Mr.
Quinn, Mrs.
Quinn…we have to trouble you to handle the guests.
She needed to go home.” The old man explained.
Morgan and Eloise were much more willing to do that.
In Country M, power, recognition, and alliance meant so much.
And to be recognized as the Evercrest in-laws meant a lot even though it was the crippled, discarded son…he was still an Evercrest.
“You don’t have to worry.
I guess she must have been too stressed…it’s understandable,” Morgan replied.
The man glanced at Sylvia, who had been quiet by the side and her face expressionless.
He nodded.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Sylvia nodded and followed him, her steps careful not to trip.
“Let me see her off,” Eloise said and followed, holding her arm like a mother who would miss her daughter dearly, her eyes red.
Sylvia really praised her acting skills.
‘If only she had that as a career,’ she mused.
Today, her knowledge of her mother had been truly refreshed and rewritten.
‘Had she always been like this?’ No matter how much she thought about it, the answer was eluding her.
Sylvia stepped out of the wedding hall.
A row of cars stood waiting, reporters swarmed the area.
Camera flashes clicked non-stop, while the Evercrest bodyguards fought to keep them at bay.
Sylvia’s heart sank the moment she stepped outside.
She had thought it would be a quiet wedding, and she would just pass through the formality.
Who would have thought it was all a high-profile wedding?
She couldn’t understand why the Evercrest family would make such a grand spectacle out of the wedding of a discarded, blind heir.
She really didn’t want that attention.
She was clear in high society, such attention meant dying faster if one had no backer.
And she was just a substitute bride of a crippled, blind heir; she was really off the charts, and now she had no backer.
Not the Quinns who had sold her for money and not the Evercrests who knew nothing about her.
And ironically might not want to see her.
While helping her sister prepare for this wedding, she heard a rumour that the Evercrests marrying the Quinn daughter home was their way to keep the blind heir in check.
Sylvia’s fingers curled into a tight fist beneath the folds of her gown.
If no one was going to protect her, then she would become her own shield.
She swiftly lowered her head to avoid the cameras.
Her fist clenched tightly on her gown as they guided her towards the car like a prisoner headed for trial.
Eloise did a few poses for the cameramen who were anxious to capture the details.
Sylvia boarded one of the cars, her head still lowered until the door slid closed.
She exhaled, her shoulders sagged.
The man entered through the other side of the door.
And their cars left the hotel.
====== Evercrest Mansion—Study.
The room was bright and warm.
The curtains were drawn, sunlight filtered into the room.
Damian Evercrest’s hand clenched tightly against his wheelchair as he stared into space, the dark shade of his glasses a sharp contrast against his fair face.
The voice of the vows said earlier still echoed in his ears.
“I do.” Mark, Damian’s personal assistant, stood quietly at the side, his gaze locked on the large LCD screen on the wall.
At a glance, it was as though he wouldn’t want to miss any detail of the wedding…not even the smallest.
Right from the moment the wedding began, they had been in the study watching the live feed.
While Mark viewed the wedding and explained the visuals, Damian listened to the voices.
Over the past few months, it had been a tug of war between him and the Evercrest family concerning this marriage.
He had practically rejected the marriage.
‘Why bring home a woman who would mock and taunt him for being blind and crippled?’ More than anyone else, Damian was much clearer about one truth …human beings are too fickle.
Once the untouchable and golden heir of the Evercrest family, now he was practically reduced to nothing.
‘What kind of woman would really want him?’ But his grandfather had insisted on finding a wife for him and like the icing on the cake he had even gone out of his way to plan the wedding and bring the bride home.
As though his grandfather hadn’t humiliated him enough, the old man had deliberately chosen the one family Damian despised above all others—the Quinn family.
And even that morning, Damian had repeated his stand hoping his grandfather would take a step back but the Old man was as stubborn as a bull.
Damian’s fingers tightened around the armrest of his wheelchair until his knuckles turned pale as he thought of it all.
“Boss,” Mark’s quiet voice cut through the silence of the study.
“The wedding envoy is coming back.”