Here Comes the Bride's Corpse

I had only been lying on the bed for a while before a pair of strong arms wrapped around me from behind. I was so startled by the sudden touch that I started to thrash around. However, the person behind me tightened his hold on me.

It was Wales, and he reeked of alcohol and perfume that made my nose sting. I had smelled this scent on Anna before, and it made my stomach churn.

He signed to me, "The birthday party was for you, Joey. Why did you leave before cutting the cake? Did something make you upset?

"I'll bring you to see our new home tomorrow. I bought it just for you, and I've already renovated it, too. Once we're married, we can move there together."

He tried to kiss me after he was done speaking, but I turned my head away and said, "It's fine as long as you've made the decision. I don't feel like going."

When he noticed my indifferent response, his expression turned confused, and he signed, "Joey, do you not want to marry me anymore?"

Wales was acting so cautiously at that moment. Gone was the imposing air that usually surrounded him when he was moving about in the outside world. If I had not heard how he wanted to keep me a cripple with my own two ears, my heart would have melted at his careful behavior.

I wanted to come clean and tell him that I didn't want to marry him anymore. After all, he was the one who cheated on me first. He was the one who was enjoying the affections of another, extinguishing any hopes or expectations I once harbored for the wedding.

What right did he have to accuse me of not wanting to marry him anymore?

But I decided it wasn't yet time to expose his betrayal. At the end of the day, Wales was an extraordinarily powerful man in Anaxia. If I showed my hand to him too early, there was a chance that I wouldn't be able to leave Anaxia alive.

Under his watchful gaze, I sighed quietly and signed, "No. It's just that my legs are hurting. We can visit the house tomorrow."

The new house was located next to Anaxia's most affluent area, Middleton Garden. Wales had hired a famous interior designer from Fraux to supervise the renovation process. Every sharp corner of the house had been smoothed down into a curve to prevent me from accidentally bumping into it.

All the tables, chairs, and counters were also shorter than most furniture that was sold on the market, all to make it convenient for me to use them while I was in my wheelchair.

Wales had planned everything out perfectly with my wheelchair-bound state in mind. It was clear that he never once considered allowing me to stand up on my own two feet again.

As the designer introduced the different furnishings in the house, Wales translated his words to sign language for me. I didn't miss the envious glint in the designer's eyes as Wales caressed my shoulder with a smile. "Do you like it, darling?"

I looked around the room. I couldn't deny that the house fit my previous image of a dream home perfectly.

When we were dating, I had once told Wales that I wanted massive floor-to-ceiling windows in the house. I wanted to be able to stand at the windows and admire the blooming tulips in the yard outside.

Wales had remembered everything I told him and had made my wishes a reality. Unfortunately, he had forgotten something crucial. No matter how perfect the house was, now that I had lost his love, the house would remain just that—a house instead of a home.

"Joey, I've reserved this wall for our photos. We'll take a photo somewhere in the house every Christmas and hang it up on this wall. It'll be our tradition until we grow old."

I met Wales' gaze and saw how his eyes were filled to the brim with love. My heart clenched painfully, and I almost wanted to ask him why he chose to be unfaithful. However, I managed to suppress my sorrow at the last moment.

I signed, "Will your love for me last forever?"

Wales rushed to sign back as if he was afraid I would misunderstand if he took his time to respond. "You're the woman I chose. I'll love you for the rest of my life."

I turned my head away, not wanting to look at his traitorous face. He had already betrayed our promise, and yet, he could still lie to my face so easily.

The sound of a ringing phone cut Wales' passionate confession short. He picked up the phone while shooting me a smile. A flash of desire flickered in his eyes as he murmured, "Don't rush me. I'll be there soon to spoil you, my bunny."

He pretended that nothing was amiss after ending the call. He apologized, explaining that something urgent had come up at the company that he needed to handle. He told me to tell the designer if there was anything about the house that I wasn't satisfied with.

Assuming I couldn't hear him, Wales had flirted with Anna right in front of my face. I barked out a self-deprecating laugh. When the designer asked me if there was anything I wanted to change, I shook my head.

As the driver chauffeured me away from the house, I thought to myself that I wouldn't be able to watch the tulips in the yard blossom.

My plan was to leave on the day of the wedding while my corpse took my place on the altar. Naturally, I wouldn't move into this house after that. What the house ended up looking like after the renovations would have nothing to do with me.