Xinshui City, Chen Villa.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long, golden shadows across the lawn, the cool evening air whispered through the trees.

The soft rustling of leaves accompanied the calm of the moment. It was a peaceful afternoon, and Chen Lin, holding her bouquet, felt an overwhelming sense of serenity wash over her.

Today was the day—the culmination of months of anticipation and planning. The wedding day had finally arrived.

"Linlin..."

At the sound of her grandfather's voice, Chen Lin turned, her eyes softening as she saw him slowly making his way toward her without his cane.

She rushed to him.

"Grandfather, where's your walking stick?" She asked, reaching out to steady him.

Chen Hai chuckled. "How could I walk you to the chapel with a stick on your wedding day?"

"You could barely take a few steps the other day," she teased, a playful glint in her eyes as she watched him. "And now you're suddenly full of energy?"

"Ah, what are you talking about? I've been saving my strength just for this day, so I could walk you down the aisle and hand you over to that Changming boy."

"Grandpa, stop calling him a boy. He's a grown man."

"Should I stop calling you my little girl, then?"

"Of course not. That's a different matter altogether," she pouted, tightening her grip on his arm.

No matter her age—whether she was ten or twenty-three—she would always be her grandfather's little girl. He had raised her after her mother died in childbirth, and her father, Chen Jie, was little more than an absent figure.

Chen Jie had never been the father she needed. To Chen Lin, he was more of a stranger than a parent. But her grandfather, who had lovingly raised her, was the one who had been her constant.

Now, with age and frailty beginning to catch up with him, her grandfather's greatest concern was her future—her marriage.

So, to put his mind at ease, she had proposed to Wu Changming, her boyfriend of two years. And today was the day that promise would be fulfilled.

"Linlin, Grandpa Chen! What are you still doing here? The bridal car is waiting! The wedding's about to start!"

Chen Lin looked up to see Shi Yuan, her close friend, rushing toward them.

She smiled warmly at the sight of Shi Yuan.

"Yuan, you're here," the old man beamed, his face lighting up at the sight of the girl.

Shi Yuan, along with Liu Yanmei, had been a part of Chen Lin's life for as long as she could remember.

"Sorry for the delay, Grandpa. I've just been making sure everything is in order. You know I can't relax unless I've checked everything myself."

Despite the team they hired to handle the details of the wedding, Shi Yuan couldn't help but ensure that every moment would be perfect.

Today was a momentous day for her friend, and she would see it through.

There's no room for error. 

"It's fine, how can I blame you?" Chen Hai smiled. "Now that Linlin is married, I hope to see the same happen for you one day."

Chen Lin chuckled. "Ah, Grandpa, don't rush it. Maybe you should try persuading Yanmei instead. I think that girl's already in love."

Shi Yuan's history with love had been complicated. After a painful breakup, she had sworn off relationships entirely.

Liu Yanmei, on the other hand, no longer bonds with them as much, and the girl has been busy since then.

Chen Lin can see that her friend's eyes were sparkling with love, her friend is clearly in a relationship with someone.

"Aiya, stop talking about that and get inside already!" Shi Yuan hurried them along.

As the old man entered the car, she pulled Chen Lin aside.

"Where's Yanmei? Is she going to be late?"

"She's already at the chapel. Why?"

"I just called my brother, and she wasn't there. I've been trying to reach her, but she hasn't answered."

Chen Lin frowned, her concerns growing.

She hadn't seen Liu Yanmei all morning, but she had assumed she was already at the chapel.

"What's going on with Yanmei? Should we start without her?" 

Is there something that caused Yanmei to miss the most important event in her life?

Due to their packed schedules, they hadn't seen each other in three days.

Something had to have happened.

Shi Yuan rolled her eyes, "It's not like she's the bride for us not to start the wedding."

Chen Lin paused for a moment before nodding.

***

Inside the chapel, the guests had already taken their seats, filling the space with an air of quiet anticipation.

Chen Lin had intentionally kept her wedding private, so if reporters were present, they would be stunned by the array of distinguished guests in attendance—from renowned actors and business moguls to influential figures from every corner of society.

The chapel was filled with people whose names could make headlines, yet they had all gathered to witness her wedding.

The ceremony space itself was a sight to behold. White blossom garlands adorned the walls, cascading like a river of petals, while tall vases filled with multicolored flowers lined the aisle, creating a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere.

It was breathtaking.

"Madam Wu, how are you? Your smile hasn't left your face all day," a guest remarked as they approached Wu Changming's family to offer congratulations.

"Who wouldn't be this happy with such a wonderful daughter-in-law?" another added.

Shao Fenfang, Wu Changming's mother, smiled lightly in response.

She was undeniably proud—her son was marrying Chen Lin.

Who hasn't heard of that girl?

She had entered the entertainment industry at the tender age of fifteen, forging her own path without the benefit of her grandfather's connections. Through sheer grit and determination, she had worked tirelessly from the bottom, taking on countless minor roles before eventually earning her place at the top. Today, she stood as an A-list celebrity with millions of followers, a portfolio full of prestigious works, and numerous accolades from major film festivals.

This marriage would finally solidify her status as the Madam of the Wu Family, putting an end to any lingering whispers about her past and ensuring that no one could ever again claim she was merely a mistress.

"Where has Wu Yuxuan gone? I heard he just closed another international deal that has significantly boosted his company. I wanted to speak with him, but I haven't seen him around," one guest remarked, noticing his absence.

Madam Wu's smile tightened.

Any mother would be proud to hear of her son's accomplishments, but not her.

Because Wu Yuxuan was not truly her son.

He was born to Wu Zhou's first wife, and though Madam Wu was now his second wife, that did little to soothe the lingering discomfort in her heart.

Wu Yuxuan was a constant reminder of her position in the family, and she couldn't help but see him as a thorn in her side—one she couldn't quite remove.

"That boy has been busy these past few days, but I'm sure he'll show up today," she said with forced calm, trying to mask her discomfort.

Before the conversation could continue, the distant sound of a bell or chime rang out, signaling that the wedding ceremony was about to begin.