Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Adrian stood nearby, his expression dark and impatient. “Mom, what kind of nonsense has she been feeding you?”
Lucas sneered. “Even with amnesia, we remember what’s important. The unimportant things… aren’t worth remembering.”
Maxwell was even more direct: “Natalie is the only one we care about.”
The parents turned ashen with anger. Adrian’s father scolded, “You’ll regret treating her like this once your memories return!”
Stella lowered her eyes, silent for a moment, then suddenly pulled out a gold–embossed invitation from her drawer. “Thank you for your concern, but… I’m getting married,” she said softly.
“What?!” The parents were shocked.
Adrian’s mother opened the invitation in disbelief. “Stella, you can’t be serious? James is in a vegetative state!”
Lucas’s father urgently explained, “Stella, didn’t our families agree? Your future husband would be chosen from among these three…”
Maxwell’s mother anxiously clutched her hand. “Stella, please wait. They’ll remember eventually! When they do, they’ll go mad if they find you’ve married someone else!”
“There’s no need to Owait,” Stella smiled faintly. “I’ve made up my mind. Between us… it simply wasn’t meant to be.”
Only then did Adrian, Lucas, and Maxwell realize-
The prayer card she’d written at the chapel hadn’t contained their names at all.
It was… James.
A strange surge of anger and pain instantly flooded their hearts. Their expressions changed dramatically, though they couldn’t understand where these emotions came from.
“The wedding is tomorrow,” Stella said softly. “You’re all invited.”
Adrian finally recovered, his face cold. “I have no interest in attending your wedding.”
Lucas mocked, “We’re taking Natalie to a private island tomorrow. We don’t have time for this.”
Maxwell turned away. “What’s the point of attending a vegetable’s wedding?”
With that, the three men turned to leave.
“Wait,” Stella suddenly called after them.
She walked to the wine cabinet and poured three glasses of red wine. With her back turned to them, she secretly
16:39
Chapter 7
sprinkled the memory–recovery powder into the drinks.
“Since you won’t attend, at least have a toast to my happiness.”
She handed them the glasses, her gaze steady.
Adrian stared at her for two seconds, then smirked and drained his glass in opg gulp.
Lucas and Maxwell frowned but drank theirs as well.
“Terrible,” Maxwell said, slamming his glass down before walking out without a backward glance.
On the wedding day, Stella sat in the dressing room when she received a call from Natalie.
“I heard you’re getting married today? Congratulations!” Natalie’s voice was sickeningly sweet. “Enjoy spending your life with that vegetable!”
She boasted proudly: “Adrian gave me a pink diamond today, Lucas chartered an entire cruise ship for my birthda and Maxwell even transferred shares of the Sullivan Group to me… How should I repay them, do you think?”
Stella checked the time and suddenly smiled.
“Natalie,” she said softly, “this beautiful dream of yours is about to end.”
Natalie’s voice faltered. “What do you mean?”
“They’re about to regain their memories very soon.”
“No! Impossible!” Natalie screamed hysterically. “What did you do?!”
Stella couldn’t be bothered to listen anymore and hung up.
4
At the wedding venue, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson looked at her apologetically. “Stella, though James remains unconscious, our family will never mistreat you.”
Seeing their concerned expressions, Stella felt a lump in her throat.
This was warmth she had never experienced from her own parents.
“Mom, Dad,” she said softly, “I will stay loyal to James for life.”
She walked toward James in his wheelchair.
His eyes were closed, his face pale yet still strikingly handsome, as if he were merely sleeping.
Exquisite floral arrangements and brilliant lights transformed the venue into a dreamlike scene.
The spotlights illuminated Stella, her diamond–studded wedding dress flowing like the Milky Way, breathtakingly beautiful.
With everyone bearing witness, the host began:
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Oops. Thou For…
“Does the bride willingly take this man to be her husband, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and
in health, to cherish for all your days, until the end of time?”
Just as Stella was about to say “I do…”
BANG!
The ballroom doors were violently thrown open!
4
Chapt
