At the County Clerk’s Office, Daniel Walker finally let out a sigh of relief only after we had completed the registration and received our marriage certificate.
The entire way there, he had been worried I might change my mind.
As we stepped outside, I looked at the burgundy-covered certificate in my hands, a wave of emotion washing over me.
“My father liked you a lot,” I whispered. “He mentioned you to me several times. If only he could see this.”
Daniel’s voice was low. “No word from Mr. Bennett yet?”
I nodded faintly. “It’s been three years since he went missing.”
Three years ago, my mother, Julia Bennett, died in a car accident overseas.
My father, Richard Bennett, went abroad to investigate, but then mysteriously disappeared. We never heard from him again.
Out of concern that, as a young woman, I might be mistreated or misled, Robert Collins had invited me to live with the Collins family while waiting for news of my father.
I never expected that wait to stretch into three years. And in that time, I had nearly become a Collins daughter-in-law.
Just then, a bespectacled young man hurried past and accidentally bumped into Daniel, spilling coffee all over his suit.
The young man was flustered, stammering apologies.
Daniel, in high spirits after our marriage, smiled. “It’s fine.”
He turned to me. “Wait here a moment, I’ll clean this up in the restroom.”
I nodded.
But no sooner had Daniel rushed off than a group of men closed in around me.
Startled, I tried to step aside, but they lunged, seizing my arm.
I opened my mouth to call out, but one of them quickly covered it with his hand.
I recognized one of them immediately—it was Eric Collins’ bodyguard.
He made a quick call. “Mr. Collins, we’ve found Miss Bennett. We’re bringing her to the wedding venue now.”
Eric’s cold voice came through the phone: “Hurry.”
The next second, I was shoved into a car.
Half an hour later, I was dragged into the hotel banquet hall where Eric was waiting.
His face was icy. “Sophia Bennett, were you really planning not to show up?”
“All because of a dog—you’d throw away our wedding?”
“I’m not just disappointed in you, I’m heartbroken.”
At that moment, Margaret Collins came out and snapped at him, “The guests are waiting. Start the ceremony immediately. Bring her in.”
As she passed me, she shot me a sharp glare. “Sophia, you’re far too unruly. On your wedding day of all days, you kept everyone waiting over an hour. After this ceremony, I’ll see to it you learn some proper discipline.”
Eric waved his hand, and two bodyguards forced me toward the hall.
I struggled. “Eric, I have nothing to do with you anymore. I’ve already married someone else!”
He looked at me as if I were insane. “Sophia, do you think lying like this is amusing?”
“Making a scene at our wedding will get you nothing but my disgust.”
“My advice? Know your place, and stop squandering the love I’ve given you.”
They dragged me to the entrance of the hall.
There, I froze.
A massive poster hung by the doors.
On it was my photo—next to Eric’s black dog.
Beneath it, bold letters read: Sophia Bennett & Blackie — Joyfully Wed.
Blackie. That was the name of Eric’s dog.
The hotel had turned it into a spectacle. Guests gathered around, taking pictures, laughing as they posted them online.
Lily Harper bounded over, grinning. “Sophia, I designed that poster myself. Do you like it?”
I clenched my teeth in rage.
But Eric didn’t so much as glance my way—he only urged the bodyguards on, dragging me into the hall.
