As expected, Rain's father brushed aside her news about her marriage and demanded that she attend the meeting regardless. It was nothing new, her voice was consistently disregarded, and he always expected her to comply with his wishes. As such, Rain decided to show up to teach him a lesson.
In the evening, she arrived at the Oasis Hotel, one of the most luxurious hotels in the city for the dinner meeting. Rain couldn't help but snort in irony; her father was willing to splurge so much money only when it came to marrying her off.
He had never done anything like this for her - it was always Dina who got the elaborate birthday celebrations at hotel ballrooms, while she didn't even get a slice of cake. In her father's eyes, she wasn't a daughter, she was a puppet, a bargaining chip to get benefits from the mayor.
But everything would change today. She had a trump card - her new marriage certificate was tucked into her bag.
With that thought, she quickly got into the elevator. However, just as the doors were about to close, Dina stepped inside with a wide smile plastered on her face, her smugness radiating off her as she stood next to Rain.
Rain's heart sank at the sight of Dina, but she steeled herself. She refused to show her scheming half-sister her weakness. This time, Dina would not get her way.
"Well, well, well," Dina began with a mocking tone, "Someone has learned a good lesson! It's a good thing you decided to show up today. It's about time you met your future husband. A perfect match for an illegitimate child. Someone like you should know her place."
Rain clenched her fists hanging at her sides, refusing to give Dina the satisfaction of a violent reaction.
"You never deserved Paul," Dina continued, her voice dripping with contempt. "And he would never marry someone like you. It's better you understand that now before you embarrass yourself any further."
"Dina, you can have Paul all to yourself, " Rain said, meeting her half-sister's eyes coldly, "But I have no intention of marrying anyone I meet here tonight. Father knows it too."
Dina's eyes narrowed, confusion flickering across her face. "What do you mean?"
Rain simply smiled cryptically, and she walked out of the elevator doors.
But Dina grabbed her wrist to stop her from leaving.
"What are you planning, bitch?! Did you beg Paul to come here and gate-crash this meeting?!" Dina fumed, her face reddening anger with insecurity clouding her mind.
Rain smirked, loving how furious Dina was. She shook off the hand gripping her wrist, "Like I said, you can have Paul all you want. He will never be an option for me."
With that, she made her way to the meeting room. But before stepping inside, she turned to Dina one last time and remarked with a wide smile, "Ah, by the way, I forgot to thank you."
Dina frowned, confused. "Are you crazy?"
"Thank you for picking up my trash, Dina." And with that, Rain entered the room with her usual poker face, leaving Dina seething in the hallway.
Rain walked directly to her father, Tim Clayton, without hesitation. She reached into her bag, pulled out the copy of her marriage certificate, and handed it to him.
Tim glanced at the paper briefly before his face twisted with anger. Without a word, he took the certificate and crumpled it, then shredded it into pieces.
"Take your seat, Rain. The Astor family is now entering the room," he ordered coldly.
Rain's jaw clenched, but she did as she was told. She took her seat, her heart pounding in her chest as the door opened and the Astor family walked in. Mayor Richard Astor entered together with his wife, Mary Astor, followed by their teenage son, Rudolf, who wheeled Michael behind them in his automated wheelchair.
There was an exchange of pleasantries, and Rain could feel Michael's lustful gaze on her since he entered the room, his eyes scanning her body from head to toe.
"Hello, future wife," he grinned. Rain clenched her jaw and gave the man a curt nod. He maneuvered his automated wheelchair to the space beside her as everyone took their seats.
Rain was startled when she felt Michael very close to her. "How about the two of us… go out after dinner and have a practice session for our honeymoon first," He shamelessly whispered in her ear. Rain balled her fist but stayed patient.
"Michael himself has asked to marry Rain. Although she's an illegitimate child and has average looks, she is passable as Michael's wife since she has a good educational background. I heard she has passed the bar exam and is now working as a lawyer at Smith Legal Firm," Richard Astor, the mayor of Meta City, remarked.
Rain fought the urge to roll her eyes. Richard Astor was a wolf in sheep's clothing, exactly like how her detective friend Brandon had warned her. She never liked this family; everyone in it acted as if they owned the whole city.
"We don't want a grand wedding. It's better if the two of them just go and register their marriage and get their marriage certificate by tomorrow," Richard continued.
That was her cue to interrupt. She was already itching to leave. "I'm sorry, but I think you are all mistaken. I can't marry tomorrow because I'm already married," Rain casually said, even as her heart started to beat faster.
"What the hell are you talking about?! What nonsense is this?!" Richard suddenly barked.
"Oh, no, Richard. Rain is just blabbering senselessly. She isn't feeling well right now. She will register her marriage with Michael tomorrow, and I assure you of that," her father quickly replied as he sent death glares at Rain.
Rain looked at the mayor straight in his eyes and said, "I'm feeling quite well, Mr. Mayor. I don't know why my father is pushing me to marry your son when I have clearly told him that I'm married. Why don't you all consider my sister Dina instead? She's the single one—"
"Rain! Stop your nonsense instantly!" her stepmother, Sylvia interrupted angrily, her voice screeching high that it made Rain's ears hurt.
Rain took a deep breath, her eyes still on the mayor. She smiled at him and added, "I'm sure you, Mayor Richard, have all the means to verify if I'm married or not with just a phone call…"
"Rain is lying!" Sylvia shrieked, her voice echoing in the room. "She's just trying to avoid her responsibilities."
Rain calmly faced the mayor. "If you don't believe me, like I said you can verify everything I said with a call, Mayor Richard."