Chapter 1 A New Groom
District III, August, Year 3021 of the Interstellar Era.
Two of the district’s aristocratic families–the Schraders and the Cowans–were celebrating their long–awaited marriage alliance.
The streets and alleys were adorned with large screens playing the couple’s wedding video on a loop.
The bride was gentle and sweet, while the groom looked refined and handsome. Their perfect match was the talk of the town.
The wedding was held in the banquet hall on the 88th floor of
the central tower in District III.
Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, and the tableware was
nothing short of exquisite. Laughter mingled with the clinking
of glasses, the air thick with opulence and prestige.
The wedding drew not only the nobles of District III. Word had
it that even two major figures from District I had shown up.
Clearly, all eyes were on this wedding, a testament to the influence and standing of the Schrader and Cowan families.
However, while the banquet hall was buzzing with celebration,
the bridal lounge next door was steeped in tension.
Elaine Richardson asked anxiously, “Still no word from
Wynfield? Could he be in trouble or something? Maybe I should go speak to his family again.”
Erwina Schrader, clad in a white wedding dress, lowered her gaze, her eyes falling on the diamonds embellishing her skirt.
Just then, her starphone beeped, and a call from her fiancé, Wynfield Cowan, came through. She raised her hand and
answered it.
“Wina, I’m so sorry. Meg’s aircraft crashed in District VII. I gotta
go save her!”
“Aren’t there rescue teams for that?”
“Seriously, Wina? Meg is in trouble. How could I turn a blind
eye?”
Erwina replied coolly, “Did you forget that I’ll turn twenty in just a few hours? If you don’t come back and marry me, the central system will auto–assign me a husband!”
“I’ll do my best to make it back. No one wanted this to happen, right?”
Did his best? So there was a chance he couldn’t make it.
Erwina remained silent.
Wynfield, however, was a bit annoyed. He snapped, “Wina, I know you’re upset, but you can’t be so selfish. Meg is your sister! She’s seriously injured, and I can’t just leave her. Anyway, that’s
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- it. I’ll try to get back as soon as I can. Don’t go to my parents.”
He ended the call.
Staring at her reflection in the mirror, Erwina sneered.
Megan? Her sister?
Selfish?
When Erwina was 13, the aircraft she was on was attacked by interstellar bandits. Luckily, the interstellar guards showed up in time to rescue her.
But she still got badly hurt and had to be put in a cryochamber, frozen for five years.
No one knew that during those five years, her soul had traveled back over 1,000 years to ancient Earth.
When she came around, there was a new girl called Megan Schrader in the house. The girl was half a year younger
Erwina, adopted from District VII. According to her dad, Ethan Schrader, Megan was the daughter of his friend.
Megan was cunning and knew her way around currying favor.
Not only did Ethan treat her like his own, but Erwina’s two
brothers saw her as part of the family too.
And now, even Wynfield, who had been engaged to Erwina
since they were kids, was abandoning Erwina at the altar
because of her.
What a perfect coincidence. Just hours before the wedding,
Megan was in a crash.
“Wina…” Elaine’s voice trembled with concern. She gazed at
Erwina with worried eyes but had no idea how to comfort her.
Erwina gave her a reassuring smile. “Mom, it’s okay. We’ll still
have the wedding.”
“Still have the wedding?”
“Mhm. Could you go to the banquet hall and keep things going
for me? I gotta step out for a bit.”
Elaine hurried toward her. “Where are you going?”
While closing the door, Erwina said, “The groom is gone. I’m
gonna find a new one.”
