"Brodie Jones, do you take Adeline Francis for your lawful wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor, comfort, and cherish her from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto her for as long as you both shall live?"
Asked by the priest, Brodie Jones seemed hesitant. Looking at his expression, Adeline Francis in a wedding dress felt her palms sweaty. She compressed her lips tightly and seemed to be full of worries.
"I..."
"Brodie won't marry you."
As the voice fell, Isobel Francis walked toward them in the same wedding dress as Adeline. Looking at her sister's dressing, Adeline's heart skipped a beat. It seemed that something was wrong.
"Isobel, didn't you say you are sick?"
Isobel did not answer Adeline. She gently laid her slim hands on her belly and lowered her head, making herself look like a good girl. But a hint of malice flashed in her eyes. When she raised her head again, she smiled Anna.
"I'm pregnant, my sister."
The shocking news made Adeline widen her eyes. The bridal bouquet in her hand fell to the ground.
"Isobel, whose child is it?"
Adeline's eyes were red. She stared at her younger sister with a stubborn look but the panic in her heart was getting bigger. She kept telling herself that it couldn't be what she was thinking.
Tears in Isobel's eyes seemed to fall down to her tiny face the next second. She looked so delicate and touching that it aroused Brodie's desire to protect her. Brodie stood in front of her and looked impatiently at Adeline, who was supposed to be his wife today.
"Adeline, come after me but don't push Isobel."
Looking at her beloved man protecting her sister, Adeline realized what was happening. She forced a wry smile while feeling as if her heart was wrenched with great pain. She couldn't believe such dramatic thing would happen to her.
She turned to look at her parents and their expressions told everything.
"Adeline, save your words till we are home."
Kara Doyle was putting on a poker face with an unrefusable attitude and her tone sounded like she was talking to a stranger.
"Mom, I'm also your daughter!"
Under Adeline's questioning, Kara avoided Adeline's gaze. At this time, a dignified scolding voice came. "Shut up! Isn't it shameful enough?"
Looking at her father whom she had always worshipped, Adeline burst into tears while the pain in her heart spread. She said in a hoarse voice, "Today is my wedding day, Dad."
Listening to the pleading in Adeline's tone, a glimmer of a smile flashed in Isobel's eyes but wasn't hidden by her bangs as she had her head down. She raised up to look at Adeline with grievance.
"Sister."
Looking at Isobel's swollen belly, Adeline was desperate. She pulled off the bridal veils with even a few strands of her hair together and threw them on the ground. Then she ran out in despair with messy hair.
A harsh braking sound burst in the air outside the church. Adeline couldn't dodge and fell to the ground awkwardly. Her arms and wrists were grazed.
A bitter smile appeared on Adeline's face as she saw herself in such a mess. She felt so desperate that she took off her high heels and smashed them to the luxurious Maserati. Thinking of she was even being hurt by a car, she couldn't help but crying with her arms folded while sitting on the street.
"You are really not good at scamming."
A low but attractive voice came from above Adeline's head. Adeline raised her head in confusion. When she saw his eyes, she felt like flying in a starry sky. "Who was he? Why do I feel familiar with him?"
Looking at Adeline whose make-up was messed up because of crying, Layton Booth felt pity for her. But then he felt at ease. Fortunately, she was fine and she was not married yet!
