Chapter 1 Chapter 1

On the day of our wedding, Liam Hopkins seemed restless, and I knew why—it was because of Sharon Hall. The Hall and Hopkins families had been close for generations, and Sharon had grown up as Liam’s childhood sweetheart. When I first found out about her, Liam had just made our relationship official by posting it on social media. Sharon saw it, threw a tantrum, and even slammed her head against the wall in protest. Liam, shaken and left with no choice, deleted the post. From then on, he never mentioned our relationship again, not even our friends dared to bring up my name in front of Sharon. That was when I realized Sharon wasn’t just a delicate soul. With her chronic health problems, mounting psychological pressure, and episodes of depression, she weaponized her vulnerability, resorting to threats of self-harm whenever things didn’t go her way. When she didn’t show up at our wedding, I knew something was wrong. Sure enough, just as I finished getting my makeup done and the officiant announced it was time for the ceremony to begin, Liam’s phone rang. It wasn’t Sharon on the other end but the police. Liam’s face darkened as he hung up. “Sharon’s standing on the bridge, threatening to jump. I have to go.” My heart sank, but I immediately stopped him. “Don’t go! This isn’t the first time she’s done this. Every time we’re together, she stirs up trouble like this. Haven’t you had enough?” His brows furrowed deeply. “Diana, this is a matter of life and death. Don’t make this harder than it already is.” With that, he tried to pull away from me, but I stood my ground. “Liam, if you walk out that door today, we’re done. I can’t keep tolerating her coming between us and destroying what we have.” I couldn’t stand by and let him keep choosing her over me every single time. His bloodshot eyes met mine, his phone buzzing again. He answered, and Sharon’s tearful voice echoed through the line. “Liam, are you really going to marry that woman? The water here looks so cold. I…”“Wait for me! I’ll be there soon!” he shouted, then ended the call. Turning to me, he said, “Diana, I’ll make it up to you. I’m sorry!” With that, he tore away from me and ran out the door. I didn’t stop him this time because I realized that this man was no longer someone I could rely on. The makeup artist beside me looked at me, wide-eyed and stunned. I smiled, straightened my dress, and walked off to find Liam’s family. I, Diana Clark, was never one to suffer in silence. The banquet hall was bustling with activity. Even though the groom hadn’t arrived, the guests continued mingling as if nothing was amiss. I scanned the room before dialing his number. “Liam has run away from the wedding. Your family owes me a groom. Find me one!” Across the room, I spotted him—dignified and composed, striding toward me with purpose. “Miss Clark.”“Mr. Hopkins, Liam left to chase after Sharon. I refuse to marry a two-faced man like him. Your family needs to make this right. Find me a new groom, and we’ll call it even.” Sigmund Hopkins paused, pulling out his phone to verify my claim. After a moment, he glanced up and said, “Do you have anyone in mind?” I thought about Sharon. Among the eligible men in the Hopkins family, Liam was undeniably the best, and whoever I chose wouldn’t be able to hold their ground against her. Except for the man standing in front of me. “You’ll do, Mr. Hopkins.” His expression remained unreadable, but my heart pounded. Before I could second-guess myself, I added, “Your family owes me. A child’s faults stem from their parents. His father is too old, the others are too young, and you’re just right. Becoming Liam’s aunt-in-law would give me immense satisfaction. I’d let this go without stirring up trouble. “Sigmund, let’s set some ground rules. I’ll preserve your family’s reputation, and you’ll protect mine. How about that? A year from now, we can divorce.” This was the best solution I could think of.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

As time slipped away, Sigmund remained silent. The officiant, growing nervous, finally approached. “We’re running out of time. The groom…” I didn’t respond, keeping my gaze fixed on Sigmund. Finally, he spoke. “Alright.” Relief flooded through me. I grabbed his arm, giving him a quick once-over. “Perfect. Good build, dressed sharply—no need for adjustments. You’ll do just fine!” Looping my arm through his, I turned to the officiant. “Stop standing there and get started. The bride and groom will enter together. Keep it simple and quick!”“His name is Sigmund Hopkins. Don’t forget it!” I added. The officiant looked stunned, glancing between us before nodding hesitantly. Everything felt like a blur until the ceremony was over. The Hopkins family’s expressions ranged from shock to confusion, clearly struggling to process why the groom had suddenly changed. My parents, sitting among the guests, were equally baffled. Still, they didn’t seem opposed to the unexpected swap. Once the guests were gone, Liam’s mother, Jasmine Gordon’s face turned dark. “Diana, this was unbelievably reckless. Do you know what kind of scandal this could cause if word gets out?”“If it did, everyone would know I did it for the Hopkins family’s reputation,” I replied smoothly. “Jasmine, the next time you see Liam, kindly remind him to prioritize the bigger picture.” Without waiting for her reply, I hooked my arm through Sigmund’s and walked off. What a joke. Back when I was dating Liam, Jasmine had always looked down on me, thinking I wasn’t good enough for their family. Sure, my background wasn’t as prestigious as theirs, but I still graduated from a top university and had built a successful career of my own. If the Hopkins family wanted to humiliate me, they shouldn’t expect me to go down quietly. Once we stepped outside, Sigmund smirked. "You’ve always come across as so composed around me. I didn’t expect you to have such a fiery, sharp edge."“Of course,” I said, tilting my chin. “When I’m dealing with elders, I’m naturally respectful. But now that we’re married, Jasmine and I are equals. There’s no need for me to hold back.” The shift in my attitude felt seamless. In the past, I’d bent over backward to accommodate Liam’s mother. But now? Those days were gone. I only gave my reply to her out of respect for Sigmund. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered saying a single word to her. Sigmund chuckled but stayed quiet, his eyes lingering on me. Feeling my cheeks heat up, I turned away, trying to shake off the awkwardness. At that moment, Sigmund smiled but didn’t say a word, his eyes fixed on me. Feeling my cheeks flush, I awkwardly turned away just as my parents walked over. “Dia, what’s going on here?” I shrugged casually. “Liam ran off to find Sharon. The Hopkins family gave me a new groom.” My mom’s eyes widened, her expression shifting to anger, but before she could say anything, Sigmund took my hand. “It’s Liam who acted irresponsibly. Diana is wonderful and marrying her is my honor.” His words caught me off guard, and I glanced at him. He looked completely serious. Our eyes met, and I felt my face flush again. Was I blushing? My mom, speechless, didn’t know how to respond. However, my dad nodded solemnly. "If that’s the case, then take care of each other and make it work." When I was dating Liam, they had never approved of him, saying he was too unreliable and always running off to Sharon whenever something happened. Yet now, seeing me with Sigmund, they said nothing more, only nodding before walking away. Once the guests were gone, it was just me and Sigmund. I decided to break the silence. “Um, when we go back, I…”“I’m heading to the office. There’s still work I need to handle. The driver will take you home,” he interrupted, then paused briefly. “My home is your home now.” I blinked in surprise, realizing what he meant—he wanted me to move in with him. The house Liam and I were supposed to live in had already been prepared. But now... As if sensing my hesitation, Sigmund added calmly, “I’ll take care of everything else.”

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

"Since it was Liam’s mess, let his parents deal with it." I nodded, deciding to leave it at that. The driver took me to Sigmund’s place. When I stepped inside, I glanced around. The space was immaculate, with decor that matched my taste perfectly. However, it lacked a lived-in feel. It seemed some personal touches would be necessary in the future. The housekeeper respectfully guided me upstairs. “Ma’am, the room has been prepared. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.” I nodded, took a long shower, and finally settled into bed, enjoying a moment of peace. Checking my phone, I noticed not a single call or message from Liam. Sharon was clearly not done stirring up trouble. I could only hope that when Liam found out I was now his aunt-in-law, he’d remain as calm as he was today. Just then, a message from Sharon popped up. “I’m sorry, Dia. I wasn’t feeling well today, so I asked Liam to check on me. I didn’t mean to ruin your wedding. Next time you get married, I’ll make sure to send you a great gift!” Her faux-apology was dripping with sarcasm, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Without hesitation, I replied, "Don’t call me ‘Dia’. We’re not that close. Also, if you’re unwell, see a doctor. The Hopkins family won’t entertain the idea of Liam marrying a mentally unsound woman.” With that, I deleted her. What a ridiculous woman—going to such lengths just to rile me up! The next morning, I woke up feeling completely refreshed. After getting dressed, I headed downstairs to find Sigmund sitting at the dining table. He glanced up at me. “Awake? Come and eat.” I quickly joined him, taking a seat beside him. “I got home too late last night. I’ll find some time today to sort out those ground rules for you.”“No rush. What’s the plan for today?”“I’m taking you to meet my relatives.”“Your relatives?”“Yeah, at the family estate. Things were a bit chaotic yesterday. Today’s a chance to meet them properly—and maybe collect a few incentives while we are at it.” His comment made everything click instantly. I smirked, fully understanding his meaning. He was the youngest son of the patriarch, William Hopkins. William had Sigmund during his later years. In the Hopkins family, any celebration meant the patriarch was the one expected to foot the bill, especially when it came to his youngest son. However, Sigmund was already thirty and still unmarried. Now that he’d stepped in as a last-minute replacement for the wedding, he could definitely receive some nice incentives. Sigmund was no doubt a businessman—sharp as ever. I quickly understood. After finishing breakfast and tidying up, Sigmund drove us to the Hopkins family estate. As soon as we stepped inside, William called him into the study. Meanwhile, the matriarch, Mary Young, approached me, gently patting the back of my hand. “Don’t worry. Sigmund is a good man. If he’s willing to marry you, it means he truly cares for you.” I paused, caught off guard. I knew Sigmund wasn’t her biological son, yet she seemed completely supportive of our marriage. She gave me a warm smile and said, “In life, sometimes you have to overlook a few things, and before you know it, it’s all in the past. The Hopkins family depends on him now. “I’m not expecting much from my second son’s side once I’m gone. I just hope they can live quietly and stay out of trouble.” Then her tone shifted, a glint in her eye. “When you were with Liam, I didn’t interfere. But now that you’re with Sigmund, you need to understand where you stand.”“I understand,” I replied firmly. “I have no interest in creating any chaos, and Liam’s mistakes have nothing to do with me.” Mary’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she smiled. “Good. We’ve had our talk. Let’s go see how everyone’s doing in the main hall.” Without waiting for my reply, she grabbed my hand and led me toward the front. That was when I noticed Liam had arrived as well. When he spotted me, his brows furrowed deeply. Judging by his expression, he hadn’t yet learned about my marriage to Sigmund. The moment he saw me, his tone turned impatient. “Diana, what’s the meaning of this? Why did you block me?”“It’s just one wedding. I’ll make it up to you next time!” he scoffed. “And what did you say to Sharon last night to make her cry? Apologize to her!” This piece of work thought I should apologize? Over my dead body. Crossing my arms, I took a step back and pointed at him. “Liam Hopkins, have some manners! You’re speaking to your aunt-in-law right now. Get down on your knees and apologize properly!”