Chapter 1 The Wedding
After Iliana Carson agreed to marry the man her family picked out for her, her stepbrother Bryson Jefferson suddenly showed up with a bouquet of irises, confessing his love.
He believed that as long as he asked her to stay, Iliana would forgive him for his past mistakes.
But Iliana had long stopped loving him or the irises.
Her husband pulled her into his arms and sneered at Bryson, “She’s pregnant. Stop bugging her!”
***
Iliana Carson told her brother that she’d be coming home over the phone.
Gregory Carson immediately replied, “I’m glad you’ve come to your senses. I never understood why you had to run off to Whiteville after graduation. It’s been three years! Mom and Dad were starting to wonder if you had run off with some jerk. Thank goodness that you’re finally coming back.”
Gregory sounded relieved.
Yeah, it had been three years. Iliana choked up, “Sorry for making you worry. I’ll leave my wedding to you.”
“Don’t worry,” Gregory reassured. “The man Mom and Dad picked for you is perfect. You’ll like him.”
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Chapter 1 The Wedding
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Gregory didn’t mention who the groom was. Soon, he changed the subject.
“Oh, right, Iliana, make sure you invite Brys. He’s in Whiteville, too. You used to follow him around all the time, remember? Not sure what he’s been up to lately, though. We haven’t been able to reach him these past few days.”
Iliana’s family had no idea she’d been dating Bryson Jefferson.
A bitter smile tugged at Iliana’s lips.
As for why Gregory couldn’t reach him, it was because Bryanna Vaughn came back a month ago.
Lately, he had been busy meeting up with her.
He always seemed happy around Bryanna, while Iliana could never quite make that happen.
After a moment of silence, Iliana whispered, “He probably won’t be able to make it to the wedding…”
“What wedding?”
Before the words had fully left her lips, a husky male voice interrupted.
As soon as the door swung open, Iliana ended the call.
Looking up, she saw Bryson putting down his suit jacket, tall and dashing.
He walked over and pulled her into his arms, asking, “Who’s getting married?”
With one hand gripping her waist, he buried his head in her neck,
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Chapter 1 The Wedding
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sniffing her to put himself at ease.
“A friend of mine,” Iliana replied softly.
She didn’t need his presence or blessing for her wedding.
Bryson didn’t sense anything unusual. He casually yanked off his tie and undid a few shirt buttons, exuding an effortless charm.
“I thought it was you,” he teased.
Iliana met his gaze and asked, “What if it is?”
“Stop kidding.” Bryson paused for a beat, brushed a strand of hair from her face, and gazed at her. “You’re so young. No need to rush.”
No rush? Or did he never plan to marry her?
Bitterness filled her heart as Iliana murmured, “Are you really gonna marry me?”
Bryson instinctively wanted to say yes, but hesitation flickered through his eyes.
A moment later, he replied in a soft and reassuring voice, “Of course, Iliana. You followed me all the way to Whiteville. I won’t let you down. Once the time is right, we’ll get hitched…”
His words melted into a kiss, his cool lips gliding from her lips to her neck.
The tingling sensation made Iliana tremble slightly.
Iliana closed her eyes but didn’t push him
away.
She knew Bryson would actually get physical with her.
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Over the years, there were many times when things had almost gone out of control. But Bryson had always pulled back, never taking that final step.
At first, she was confused. Shyly biting her lip, she had told him she was fine with it..
But Bryson only gently stroked her hair, his gaze tender. “You’re still young. We’ll do it after we get married.”
Back then, she had taken that as Bryson’s way of cherishing her, so she had blushed and buried herself in his arms.
When Bryanna returned, Iliana finally learned the truth.
It was a gathering with Bryson’s friends. Iliana arrived late. Just before pushing the door open, she overheard someone saying, “Brys, now that your sweetheart’s back, when are you gonna dump that substitute Iliana?”
Someone else chimed in, “Yeah. Bryanna hates her guts. If not for her, Bryanna wouldn’t have suffered so much.”
Bryanna’s mom worked as a nanny for the Carsons.
To give her daughter a better life, she swapped Bryanna and Iliana at birth. So they had been living each other’s life for fifteen years.
When the truth was out, the Carsons brought Iliana home and returned Bryanna to the Vaughn family, even giving 1.5 million dollars as compensation.
Not long after, Bryanna went abroad and lost touch with the Carsons.
Iliana never expected Bryson’s friends to view her as the source of Bryanna’s suffering.
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Chapter 1 The Wedding
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In fact, the first 15 years of Iliana’s life in the Vaughn’s place were far from happy. Even after returning to the Carson family, she and her biological parents had always been distant.
Bryson knew the truth about her and Bryanna better than anyone.
And yet, he didn’t bother to explain to his friends at all, just cutting them off with three words, “Don’t say that.”
At that moment, Iliana finally realized Bryson had never truly loved her.
He wouldn’t touch her because he only wanted to do it with Bryanna.
All along, she had only ever been a substitute.
As she snapped back to reality, Bryson’s action confirmed her guess.
Even though she could feel his body tense with desire, Bryson still pulled away, holding himself back.
Iliana glanced at her now–empty hands, a wave of sadness overwhelming her.
She and Bryson had practically grown up together.
When she first returned to the Carson family, she was withdrawn and cold. A few of Bryanna’s friends made things hard for Iliana, even hiring thugs to corner her in an alley.
It was Bryson who took a knife for her.
The thugs were driven off, but the blade had pierced his chest.
Despite being covered in blood, he smiled and comforted her softly, “I’m fine. Don’t be scared, Lia.”
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Chapter 1 The Weding
From that moment on, she had fallen for him head over heels, even following him to Whiteville and becoming his secretary after graduating college.
She had gone from a naïve, innocent girl to a capable, irreplaceable secretary.
To help him win projects, she once worked nonstop for three days, sleeping only four hours. And still, she managed to cook for him just so he wouldn’t get a stomachache.
But her three years of effort ended up in vain. His heart still belonged to Bryanna.
“What are you spacing out for?”
Noticing her absent look, Bryson chuckled and raised a brow. “It was just a kiss. Why are you still not out of it?”
Iliana shook her head with a wry smile.
Usually, after a moment of intimacy, she and Bryson would sleep in
separate rooms.
Just when Iliana was about to return to her room, Bryson’s phone rang.
He didn’t avoid Iliana, just answering it openly, even putting it on speaker.
It was one of Bryson’s friends calling.
“Bryson, it’s been a while since we last had a drink together. Why don’t you come to Glam Club tonight?”
“I’ll pass.”
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Chapter 1 The Wedding
Bryson glanced at Iliana, smiling, “I have to keep my sweetheart company. Unless she agrees to come with me, I’m not going anywhere.”
Laughter and teasing immediately burst from the phone.
“Iliana, just come with Bryson!”
“Yeah! We rarely get to hang out. Have a drink with us!”
Bryson stood there smiling, his eyes filled with mischief and affection.
He seemed so sincere and considerate, and his friends were
enthusiastic.
Yet Iliana felt her heart stung.
Because not long ago, those same people had talked about Bryanna the
same way.
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