The wedding day was fast approaching.
After the engagement, Valerie and Simon were inseparable, lost in a whirlwind of romantic dates and spontaneous weekends away.
Ashlyn, however, was a world apart. Since her discussion with Dylan in his study, they hadn't been in contact. She had thrown herself completely into her research projects.
The Robertson and Brooks families had agreed on a joint ceremony.
On the eve of the wedding, Sean Harvey, Dylan's assistant, arrived with a gown and a selection of jewelry.
Just as Dylan had promised, he was keeping up appearances, granting her all the status and respect that came with her position.
"Ms. Brooks, this is a French haute couture gown," Sean said, his tone professionally respectful. "Mr. Robertson commissioned it three months ago." He gestured to the accessories. "And the jewelry is set with an exceptionally rare blue diamond. Mr. Robertson flew to Italy personally to have it designed by an atelier renowned for its traditional craftsmanship."
The gown and necklace were both breathtaking.
Ashlyn's expression, however, remained perfectly composed. She simply offered a polite, "Thank you."
Sean's words were likely embellished, but Dylan's intent was clear. As long as she upheld her end of their agreement, he would treat her fairly.
As Sean left, Ashlyn turned and saw Valerie standing in the living room.
"Feeling important, are you?" Valerie's voice was laced with sarcasm. Her eyes glinted with bitter resentment. "Marrying the future heir to the Robertson empire certainly changes things."
Knowing what Valerie had done in her last life, Ashlyn had no desire to get tangled up with such a petty schemer. She simply said, "You and Simon clearly care for each other. I'm sure he won't neglect you. That gown and jewelry from him are chosen with care."
Ashlyn's mind drifted back. In her last life, Simon had worn a meticulously crafted mask, and he hadn't let it slip until three months after their wedding. The gown and jewelry he'd prepared for her back then hadn't been on the same level as what Dylan was providing now, but they were far from shabby.
What she didn't realize was that her calm words had struck a nerve.
Simon had specifically told Valerie that with both ceremonies happening together and Dylan being the official heir, it wouldn't do for their own arrangements to outshine his brother's.
The gown and jewels Simon had provided for her, though high quality, seemed like pale imitations compared to what Ashlyn now possessed.
"Feeling smug?" Valerie sneered, a sinister glint in her eyes. "You won't be for long."
She had destroyed Dylan once before. In her last life, she had ruined him, leaving him scarred and confined to a wheelchair. This time would be no different.
As long as Simon loved her, she could easily push him into the heir's position.
Ashlyn only nodded, offering no further comment as she brushed past her.
At four o'clock the next morning, the Robertson family's glam team arrived, and the two brides began their makeup in separate rooms.
Ashlyn hadn't slept much, having stayed up late reviewing research materials.
Even now, a complex data set was still running through her mind.
"Strange," the makeup artist murmured, frowning at a lipstick. "This one looks... off. Maybe it's expired?"
"N-no, I don't think so," the assistant stammered, her voice trembling slightly. "That's just how this brand is. We're short on time—let's just use another one for Ms. Brooks."
The makeup artist shrugged, set the odd lipstick aside, and picked up a different one to start on Ashlyn's lips.
"Wait." Ashlyn held up a hand. Her tone was polite, but it left no room for argument. "May I see that lipstick?"
She shot the assistant a sharp glance, catching the flicker of panic that crossed the young woman's face.
The makeup artist handed it over without a second thought. "The texture is weird, but that might just be their signature formula. Good thing we have backups."
"Exactly," the assistant jumped in, a little too eagerly. "We can just keep this one aside. If your makeup smudges during the ceremony, we can use it for a touch-up."
Ashlyn lowered her head, opened the tube, and inspected it closely. She then brought it to her nose and inhaled softly. A slow, knowing smile curved her lips.
Someone had mixed peanut powder into the lipstick. And Ashlyn was deathly allergic to peanuts.
She didn't need to guess who was behind it. Only one person would pull such a vicious, underhanded stunt.
After all, in her previous life, Valerie had an entire arsenal of similarly twisted tricks.
Ashlyn handed the lipstick back with a serene smile and beckoned the makeup artist closer.
When the artist leaned in, Ashlyn whispered something in her ear.
The assistant couldn't hear a word, her anxiety spiking as she watched them.
A steely resolve replaced the confusion in the artist's eyes. She gave a short, determined nod. "Understood."
Once the makeup was done, the maid of honor arrived.
Ashlyn had only one bridesmaid—Paige Shaw, her ride-or-die best friend since childhood.
Paige walked in and gave her a mischievous wink. She leaned close and whispered, "The mission you gave me is all set. But how did you know Cathleen Dunn would cause a scene? Are you sure she's going to show up?"
Cathleen was the woman Dylan had loved from afar. In Ashlyn's last life, Valerie had stopped at nothing to target Cathleen in her obsessive quest to win Dylan's affection.
Ultimately, Valerie's scheming had become so depraved that she conspired with outsiders, setting a trap that betrayed him in the worst way imaginable.
It left him permanently scarred and confined to a wheelchair, a shadow of his former self.
And Cathleen, the woman Dylan had sworn to protect, had stayed by his side for only three months. Once she realized he was of no more use to her, she walked away without a backward glance.
"I don't know for sure," Ashlyn said with a gentle smile. "Call it a precaution."
Because at the wedding in her previous life, Cathleen had indeed appeared and created a massive, humiliating scene—for Valerie.
Paige nodded. "Fair enough. I know your marriage is just a contract and you have no intention of getting between them, but Cathleen doesn't know that. A little extra caution never hurts."
On this, Ashlyn had never hidden the truth from Paige.
How could she? In her last life, Paige had died trying to rescue Ashlyn from Simon's clutches.
This time, she would protect Paige with everything she had.
The grooms arrived to pick up their brides. Skipping the drawn-out formalities, the group soon reached the ceremony venue.
The four of them stood before the grand doors of the hall.
Ashlyn and Dylan were side-by-side in the front, with Valerie and Simon positioned directly behind them.
The doors swung open.
Applause erupted from the crowd.
With practiced chivalry, Dylan offered his arm. Ashlyn placed her hand on it with a polite smile, and they began their walk down the aisle.
To the guests, they were a strikingly handsome couple, the very picture of perfection.
Valerie followed right behind them.
Just before stepping forward, she had quickly reapplied her lipstick, checking her reflection to ensure she was flawless. Satisfied, she looped her arm intimately through Simon's and took her place.
But the moment she stepped into the spotlight, an abrupt, unnatural hush fell over the crowd.
Her heart plummeted. Something was wrong. A burning, stinging sensation was spreading from her lips across her cheeks.
In a panic, she turned to Simon, her voice trembling. "Simon! What's happening? Is there something on my face?"
"It's nothing," he said flatly. His brow furrowed, more from annoyance than concern. "Just a small allergic reaction. Nothing serious. I'll have someone bring you some cream."
Valerie froze. An allergy? How could that be? It was Ashlyn who was supposed to be having this reaction.
A venomous hatred blazed in her eyes as she stared at Ashlyn's back.
Ashlyn. It had to be her. She must have done something to the lipstick.
That wretched, scheming woman.
When had she become so damn cunning?
