Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Uncovering Lies

I always had a unique kind of mind-reading ability—I could hear the thoughts of people who didn't truly love me. Thanks to this ability, I could effortlessly tell whether someone's feelings for me were real or not. It allowed me to quickly pull away from fake friends and remain completely unaffected, even when someone I had a crush on for years confessed his love. It even came in handy for mundane things—like choosing pumpkins. Hearing a vendor's silent grumbles about which ones were overripe or hollow meant I always left with the best pick. I could hear every word people thought with complete clarity. Therefore, I avoided eye contact with strangers in daily life to keep the noise to a minimum. But when I met Shawn Bacon for the first time, the whole world went quiet. All I could hear was our voices, clear as crystal. "Hello, would it be all right if we got to know each other?" I hesitated, waiting for the inevitable murmur of his inner thoughts. But there was nothing. When our eyes met, I couldn't read his thoughts. "Hello." During the time he pursued me, my world stayed beautifully simple and free of distractions. I had a notion that he truly loved me. We fell in love, dated, and began planning our wedding. For two whole years, I never once heard his thoughts. But just the day before our wedding, I suddenly overheard his thoughts. Because of all the wedding preparations, Shawn had been especially busy lately. He came from a well-off family and had recently taken over his father's position, now running the Bacon Family's Finance Group. With the wedding drawing near, there were so many details for us to handle, especially over the past couple of months. Between work and wedding preparations, there had been little time for us to spend together over the past few months. But today, as we finalized our wedding outfits, I felt a flutter of excitement. … When I arrived at the studio, he was already there, trying on a pair of shoes. He turned briefly to give the staff some instructions before stepping outside to take a call. His tone was low, full of reassurance, as though soothing the person on the other end of the line. I understood his busy schedule. Managing a company wasn't simple, especially with him being one of the main heirs to the Bacon Family empire. We shared a brief look, a moment of unspoken understanding. But then, his thoughts broke through in my mind. 'Wendy said she will show up unexpectedly to disrupt the wedding tomorrow, so I think it would be more convenient to wear a pair of sneakers to escape.' 'Wendy? Show up unexpectedly to disrupt the wedding?' Hearing this, I froze in place, staring intently at his mouth. After confirming that this was indeed his thoughts, I was momentarily at a loss as to how to react. A sudden chill gripped me, piercing through the summer heat outside. For the first time in two years, I could hear his mind. And that could only mean one thing. From the corner of my eye, I watched as the staff, following his earlier instructions, slipped a pair of lightweight sneakers into his wedding suit bag. Shawn caught my gaze, gave me a quick nod, and headed toward the exit. It was a silent understanding between us. He probably had urgent business to handle. But the words I had just heard weren't a mistake. I was sure that I had never been wrong about them before. Almost without realizing it, I found myself following him, my disbelief swelling as I called out, "Shawn?" I was desperate to catch more of his thoughts, to understand what was running through the mind of the man I was supposed to marry. Why, of all times, would he change his heart on the day before our wedding? At the sound of my voice, he paused just as he was about to slip into the back seat of his car, but only for a moment. He turned briefly, offering me a hurried explanation before instructing the driver to speed off. "Sorry, there's an emergency with a client. I need to head over right away." He was lying. But his thoughts told a different story. 'I can tell Wendy's upset just by hearing her voice on the phone. If I don't smooth things over, she won't let me come home tonight.' I have never been the type to sit and stew in anger. Instead of agonizing over unanswered questions, I would rather take action. So, I found a reason to meet privately with Shawn's secretary, all while using my mind-reading ability to uncover more of the truth.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2 His Secret Lover

Her name was Wendy Seyfert. She was Shawn's first love. Wendy was the illegitimate daughter of the Seyfert Family. She was never acknowledged by Mariah Seyfert, her foster mother. She lived in the shadows, never truly belonging. Unfortunately, Shawn's family tore them apart. Wendy, too proud to endure the humiliation, chose to leave him and disappear without a word. And me? His so-called 'love at first sight' with me? It was nothing more than a coincidence—I bore a passing resemblance to her. Now that the real Wendy was back, he no longer had any use for a stand-in like me. The timing of her return? Oh, it just so happened to coincide with the past two months when Shawn had been too busy to give me the time of day. It all made perfect sense now. Hearing this story, I couldn't help but shake my head, laughing at the absurdity. Who would have thought this cliché of the stand-in lover would play out in my own life? But Wendy's return wasn't exactly subtle. She had a grand plan—to crash my wedding, claim Shawn as hers, and rub it in my face that I had only ever been keeping her seat warm as "Mrs. Bacon." Meanwhile, Shawn saw this as the ideal setup to prove his undying loyalty to her, trying to win over his sulking sweetheart and pressuring his family into accepting her. And as for me and this wedding? It was just another prop in their carefully staged play. This world really felt like one big cheesy CEO romance novel. Honestly, it was so ridiculous I almost wanted to laugh. Or curse. … That night, my house stayed brightly lit. While other brides might have been dreaming of their big day, I was busy packing my bags. I didn't stop for a moment—not even to rest. Two hours ago, I booked a first-class ticket abroad. If they wanted drama, I would give them drama. If Wendy could show up unexpectedly to disrupt the wedding, then I could just as easily disappear on a 'runaway bride' trip of my own. Fortunately, my family had already settled abroad long ago, which made the logistics of the wedding simpler. We hadn't gone through the trouble of inviting relatives and friends from overseas, limiting the guest list to a few close friends from around here. The plan was to hold a second ceremony abroad later, sparing our relatives the hassle of long-distance travel and language barriers. Ironically, that plan certainly made it easier for me to slip away from marriage now. I shared the idea briefly with my best friend, Tonya Harding. She took the box I was packing, and her expression was suddenly serious. I couldn't quite read her thoughts, but seeing her reaction prompted me to ask, "Tonya, are you trying to stop me?" She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Of course not. My dad got you a sturdy fertilizer sack. That'll hold everything just fine." Right. I had forgotten her family was in the pesticide business. … The day of the wedding arrived, and there I was in my reception gown, standing alongside Shawn as we greeted guests who had traveled for the occasion. Today, his thoughts were so loud I could barely stand it. 'Has Wendy arrived?' 'Finally, I can be with Wendy. Three years. It's been three years of waiting. She'll finally be Mrs. Bacon.' 'This stunt she's pulling, showing up unexpectedly to disrupt the wedding—Wendy will finally believe I've been true to her all along.' And it went on and on. I felt a chill run down my spine and couldn't help but cast several sidelong glances of disgust at Shawn. Yet he maintained his calm, gentlemanly demeanor, even asking me with apparent concern, "Helena, you don't look well. Maybe you should rest in the lounge for a bit. I can handle greeting the guests, and you can come back in time for the ceremony." 'Fine with me. Honestly, I'm about ready to find an excuse to make my exit anyway,' I said inwardly to myself. I agreed, intending to change into casual clothes, but just as I was heading out, I ran into Wendy at the door. Thanks to our similar looks and my mind-reading ability, I recognized her immediately. I held back Tonya—who was dressed as my bridesmaid and clearly itching to teach the mistress a lesson—and pretended not to know who she was. "You must be a friend of Shawn's," I said. "Go on in. The wedding starts in just a few hours." Wendy's smile froze. She was clearly displeased by my casual familiarity with Shawn. Her tone turned sarcastic. "Miss Bonham, sorry, but it seems we've ended up in matching outfits. Someone who didn't know any better might mistake me for the bride." Her smug thoughts echoed in my mind, full of arrogance. 'Laugh while you can. In three hours, your groom will be leaving you at the altar for me. Let's see if you're still smiling then.'

Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Runaway Bride

I kept a slight smile, shaking my head as if unbothered, and directed a nearby waiter to show her to a seat. 'You fool, I've spelled it out for you. Can't you see I'm here to make trouble?' Wendy said inwardly. As soon as she walked past, Tonya couldn't resist letting out her frustration. "Just look at her, strutting around like she owns the place. I can't stand it." I shrugged. 'Right now, she thinks I'm the laughingstock. In her mind, Shawn's ready to throw me away for her. She's about to star in the perfect 'lovers reunited' scene, forcing the Bacon Family to accept her.' The wedding venue wasn't far from the airport. As I sat in the quiet terminal, the ceremony hadn't yet begun. I kept my eyes on the time, waiting for the show to start. Suddenly, a steady stream of notifications lit up my phone. Tonya, practically buzzing with excitement, was sending me updates in real time. 'Helena, it's happening! She's actually doing it!' 'Damn, they're cheating but acting like some star-crossed lovers. It's shameless.' Barely five minutes into the official ceremony, Tonya sent me a video of the wedding hall. Shawn had gone onstage first, per the schedule. The host was mid-sentence, delivering a sentimental spiel about love and destiny when Wendy made her move. Dressed in a gown identical to mine, she strode confidently into the hall and snatched the microphone from the host. The murmurs in the crowd grew louder as she launched into a heartfelt declaration of love. Her voice trembled with emotion as she spoke of their years apart, her devotion, and her dreams of being reunited. Shawn's eyes began to glisten. "Shawnie, will you come with me?" Gasps erupted from the audience. To whisk away the groom on his wedding day—this wasn't just 'showing up unexpectedly to disrupt the wedding.' It was a full-blown scandal. And the worst part? Shawn didn't hesitate. His expression softened as he stepped toward her, taking her hand. "I will," he declared. The crowd erupted in shock and whispers. Wendy, basking in her triumph, wore a smug smile. Turning toward the grand door where I—the bride—was supposed to make my entrance, she began her 'acceptance speech.' "I know you love him deeply," she said, her voice dripping with condescension. "But Shawn and I share a bond that can't be broken. Please, understand, and let us be happy." In the video, Shawn was wearing sneakers that were completely mismatched with his formal suit, and the satisfaction in Wendy's expression was impossible to hide. I figured Wendy was eagerly anticipating my reaction. She probably already had her words of comfort rehearsed, ready to deliver with smug satisfaction. "I hope you'll support this romance story between Shawn and me.""Miss Bonham?" She called out, waiting for her dramatic showdown. Silence. The atmosphere grew palpably awkward. After all, if the target of her grand performance wasn't even there, her 'bold declaration of love' would look less like a dramatic coup and more like a circus act. "Miss Bonham?""Miss Bonham?" … She called out several times, but there was no reply. Finally, one of the ushers stepped forward and opened the grand doors. Beyond them lay no bride, no elegant figure ready to counter Wendy's theatrics. Only a discarded veil lay carelessly abandoned on the floor. The murmurs in the crowd swelled to a roar. "No way… Did the bride just ditch the wedding?" someone shouted.