The Joyful Wedding Duet That Ended In A Shocking Family Secret

The blissful atmosphere shattered the moment my older sister, Clara, stepped onto the stage. The applause died down as she snatched a microphone from the stand, her face devoid of any warmth. I smiled nervously, expecting a toast, but the coldness in her eyes made me freeze.

"That was a beautiful performance, Kevin,"

Clara announced, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"You really play the part of a loving husband well. But I think it is time Lauren knows the price of your devotion."

The Shocking Contract

Before anyone could stop her, Clara tapped her phone, and the giant projector screen behind us flickered to life. My father, Arthur, stood up abruptly from his front-row table, his face turning an ashen white. He shouted for her to turn it off, but it was too late. On the screen was a scanned legal document titled "Private Guardian and Spousal Agreement." My eyes raced across the text, absorbing the horrifying details. My father had agreed to pay Kevin five hundred thousand dollars to date, protect, and eventually marry me, ensuring I remained under my father's control after my accident.

I turned to Kevin, my chest heaving as tears blurred my vision. He was staring at the floor, his face pale and his hands trembling.

"Kevin, please tell me this isn't true,"

I whispered, begging for a denial. But his silence was deafening. Clara's voice boomed through the speakers, confirming that our entire romance was nothing but a paid transaction. Devastated and unable to breathe, I gathered my heavy tulle skirt and ran out of the hall, ignoring the gasps of the crowd. Kevin ran after me into the cold night, catching up to me in the parking lot and desperately holding out a worn white envelope.