Evadne''s eyes widened in disbelief, her gaze fixed on him, her eyes rimmed with fiery red.


    Avery''s actions seemed considerate, a disy of his thoughtfulness.


    But to her, it felt like a knife twisting in her heart, a mockery!


    It was a betrayal, a strike at the soul!


    "Mr. Chambers, are you kidding me right now?"


    Hans nced at Evadne''s pale face and then at Avery, who was full of hope, and let out a coldugh, "I''m not Ms. Evadne''s kin, and certainly not your buddy. Why would I y the part of your best man?


    Standing here is unbearable enough, let alone being part of it. Don''t make me sick."


    Tears welled up in Evadne''s reddened eyes as she looked pitifully at Hans.


    Hans blinked, turning away.


    He wasn''t sure if he couldn''t bear to look or just couldn''t stand to see.


    Seeing Hans''s refusal, Avery wasn''t upset. Instead, he gazed lovingly at the woman in his arms, his joy at bing a groom was unmistakable:


    "It doesn''t matter. The sky and the earth are witnesses, that''s enough."


    His voice choked up, tears pooling in his eyes as he looked up at the exquisite statue of a goddess.


    The statue, with its half-closed eyes, was majestic, beautiful, and pure, bearing a striking resemnce to Evadne, crafted in her image.


    Outside the ss conservatory, the shadows of the trees thrashed wildly, casting a strange and mournful atmosphere over the ceremony.


    "Under the witness of heaven and earth, I, Avery, take Miss Evadne to be my wife."


    Avery forcefully pried open Evadne''s clenched hands, his voice hoarse but firm as he vowed, "From this day forward, through joy and sweetness, through the mundane and the trivial, I will cherish her, protect her, with unwavering fidelity, never to part.


    I will love her forever, until my heart ceases to beat, until my lifees to an end."


    Tears streamed down Evadne''s pale face, but she couldn''t pull her hand from his grasp.


    This was no wedding.


    This was a heart-wrenching torture, a torment as excruciating as being consumed by fire.


    ...


    When the ceremony ended, the storm had somewhat abated.


    Evadne was soaked through by the sea breeze, shivering uncontrobly as Avery carried her back to their room.


    "Evadne, let me hold you, we''ll take a bath." He ced her on the bed, leaning down to kiss her.


    Evadne turned away, her eyes filled with loathing:


    "I don''t want to bathe!"


    Avery gazed at her trembling shoulders, beautiful as butterfly wings, and chuckled softly:


    "Shy, are we? We''re husband and wife now..."


    "We...are husband and wife?"


    Evadne bit her lip, her wordsced with a venomous hatred, "Avery, your boring, disgusting, and


    delusional y-pretend t


    now." .


    ends


    "It''s not a delusion, Evadne. We just had our wedding. You''re my wife now."


    Avery''s eyes simmered with an overwhelming intensity as he suddenly pulled her


    close, then loomed over her.


    "Avery! Don''t touch me!"


    Evadne looked up at the man above


    her, his eyes aze with


    she trembled with fear, stire, and


    desperately.


    "We have time," Avery breathed heavily, slowly undoing the buttons of his shirt, "enough for a night of passion, to celebrate our wedding until dawn."