Spent My Love, Cleared the Score

On the day I'm supposed to pick up my bride for the wedding, Tracie Mayer, my supposed wife-to-be as well as the heiress of the Mayer family, is replaced by Jayne Cooper, a widowed fishmonger.

Everyone in the groom's party laughs and makes fun of me.

"Since when are you this thirsty? You don't mind women who have already given birth before, huh?"

"I can't believe the heir of the Reeve family is about to marry a widowed fishmonger! Everyone's going to be tickled pink once word gets out!"

My family driver's son, Everett Huffman, provokes me on the spot.

"This is for treating me like a lowly servant and ordering me to drive you around! That's why Adeline and Tracie decided to avenge me on your big day!"

Realization dawns on me immediately. My older sister, Adeline Reeve, and Tracie are standing up for Everett by putting me down.

As I turn to stare at Adeline with red-rimmed eyes, she replies nonchalantly, "It's just a wedding ceremony. Endure it like a tough guy you are.

"You and Tracie will still get married. We won't let you marry a widowed fishmonger for real."

The butler who had arrived with the groom's party started pacing frantically when he realized that the bride had been swapped.

"This is madness! Ms. Mayer, you've been engaged to Mr. Reeve for over a decade. Are you just going to stand by and watch him marry a widow who guts fish for a living?"

I looked toward Tracie Mayer, my so-called fiancee, who was clinging to Everett Huffman's arm. The two of them wore matching couple outfits as they stood among the wedding party.

At the mention of our engagement, she frowned and coolly said, "Everyone knows that engagement was just a silly joke as kids. If he thinks he can tie me down with that, think again."

Though our engagement was approved by both families and known throughout Crisea, she denied it without a hint of shame. Whatever promises that once existed were now nothing more than a joke.

Everett casually raised his hand to show off the matching ring he shared with Tracie. "Everyone's waiting for the wedding to start, so don't waste time. Hurry up and take the bride away."

My older sister, Adeline Reeve, chimed in and teasingly urged, "We're doing this just to give Everett a laugh and let him blow off some steam.

"You don't have to go through with the actual wedding, Aston. Just suck it up and get it over with."

I dug my fingernails into my palms as my heart throbbed painfully.

In the room, I looked around the crowd of mocking faces and perfectly understood that this was a scene specially staged by Adeline and Tracie, all to make me the laughingstock of Crisea and please Everett.

They were certain I would flee like a coward, but I wasn't going to let them have it their way.

I walked up, knelt on one knee before the