Sean took Lily back to the Vance manor.
When she was five, Lily had been abandoned by her parents and left by a roadside trash can. If it hadn't been for Grayson Vance, she would have died that winter.
She needed to say goodbye to him.
"Over these years, Uncle has long treated you as his own daughter."
"If you want to leave, Uncle won't stop you. But know this—the Vance family will always have a place for you."
Coming out of the manor, Lily's heart was a tangle of emotions. If it weren't for that so-called enlightener, if it weren't for Ada's appearance, her life would have been complete.
But life never goes smoothly all the way.
When she got home, Lily found the nanny moving everything out of her room and piling it into storage.
Before she could ask what was happening, Ada emerged from her room with a warm smile.
"Miss Gilbert, I'm staying here for a few days. You don't mind, right?"
Lily froze. Was this Joshua's idea too?
"Lily, let Miss Swanson stay in your room for now. You'll stay with me these two days."
Lily clenched her fists, so angry she laughed. "Joshua, you moved my things without my consent. I want her to apologize."
"And I'm not sleeping with you."
In Joshua's memory, this was the first time Lily had ever spoken to him so sharply.
Staring into her dark eyes, he felt like he was looking at a stranger.
Ada seemed unable to stand the stifling atmosphere.
She flicked her wavy hair. "If Miss Gilbert doesn't want me here, forget it. I have plenty of places to go."
With that, she left, swaying gracefully.
Joshua hesitated for a second, then grabbed his coat and chased after her. The scene stabbed at Lily's eyes.
Once upon a time, Joshua would have paid attention to her emotions like that.
Lily lay wearily in the empty room and fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, she was roughly yanked up by the makeup artist Joshua had hired.
"Miss Gilbert, the young master is holding the wedding again at the amusement park you two often visited as children."
"Time is tight. Please cooperate."
Lily suppressed her anger. "Please leave. I'm not going through with this wedding."
But the makeup artist kept working on her. Lily's temper flared and she stood to leave.
The woman jabbed a needle into her arm.
Lily's pupils shrank. Her whole body went limp as she was dragged to the venue.
The entire amusement park was covered with red roses—romantic and dreamy.
Lily was helped out of the car. When she looked up, she saw Ada holding Joshua's arm, smiling brightly.
Looking around, the entire park had only staff. No guests.
"Miss Gilbert, I apologize for my rude behavior at the wedding the day before yesterday. To show my sincerity, I personally designed this make-up wedding. Do you like it?"
So that's why she'd been forcibly dragged here.
"Joshua, I'm not marrying you. Hold this wedding with whoever you want. I have things to do."
But Ada's hand shot out faster than Lily could move.
"Miss Gilbert, I've always been fawned over by people. You're really not giving me any face, are you?"
Joshua frowned, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Lily, that's enough."
"Miss Swanson went to all this trouble for you. You should be happy."
He automatically categorized everything Lily said as angry words. In his mind, Lily had been his wife since she was five.
The wedding was just a formality anyway.
Lily tried to shake off Ada's grip, but she had no strength.
"Miss Gilbert, I hired a professional photographer for your wedding photos. I read online that roller coasters make for the best shots."
Lily's blood ran cold—she had severe acrophobia.
But Ada gave her no chance to refuse. She pulled her onto the roller coaster.
Four seats. Joshua sat in the middle.
Lily kept her eyes shut the entire time. Every sound amplified in her ears.
"Joshua~ If there's a next life, you have to wait for me!"
"Joshua, I know you agreed to let me design this wedding as a roundabout way of giving me the wedding I always wanted. Thank you!"
Joshua's voice, thick with affection, reached her ears. "Sorry I can only satisfy you this way."
So his so-called make-up wedding was to fulfill Ada's wish to marry him.
Lily's chest tightened until she couldn't breathe.
At that moment, she felt like the villain breaking up a loving couple.
Suddenly, the car shook violently. The next second, it derailed, grinding out intense sparks.
The sensation of weightlessness made Lily's heart leap into her throat.
The car crashed to the ground. In the instant the pain hit, Lily saw Joshua shielding Ada beneath him.
How ironic.
