Love Is but an Illusion

Our wedding was set on the day after my discharge from the hospital.

I would leave once the wedding ended.

I put on the wedding dress that Sebastian had custom-made for me a year in advance and did my makeup beautifully. I wanted him to remember me at my most beautiful moment.

The wedding venue was covered in pink rose petals, but I wasn't happy about it. I didn't like pink roses. I preferred red roses that were passionate and bold, just like my love for Sebastian.

It was Cassandra who liked pink roses.

I looked up and noticed that the dress Cassandra was wearing was from the same collection as my wedding dress.

"Ms. Robinson, congratulations on your wedding. Do you think my dress looks nice? This is a bridesmaid's dress. How about I be your bridesmaid today?"

Cassandra shot me a provocative smile when she caught sight of me. "Ms. Robinson, this dress doesn't quite fit you, does it? Sebastian is really too much. Why didn't he order a different design for you?

"Instead, he gave you the wedding dress he designed for me a few years ago. Even if he doesn't like you, he shouldn't be so perfunctory about it." Her words felt like a bucket of cold water that had overturned and drenched me from head to toe.

She continued, "Ms. Robinson, I know you really love Sebastian and want to get his attention. That's why you're willing to wear the wedding dress he designed for me. You want to be me.

"However, love isn't something you can force. You will never be me even if you're wearing this dress. At most, you're just a stand-in. Even if you got plastic surgery to look like me, do you think Sebastian would love you?" Her voice was gentle, but her eyes betrayed her mockery and scorn.

I was so furious that my whole body trembled, but I couldn't say a word. Sebastian had told me that he designed this wedding dress for me, but I never expected that its original owner was Cassandra.

"Look, I still have the original sketch with me!" She showed me the sketch on her phone. My heart ached so much that I could hardly breathe.

In the end, I was nothing but a fool.

If I had known the truth about this wedding dress, I wouldn't have waited until after the wedding to leave.

Just then, Sebastian walked in. He didn't seem surprised when he saw Cassandra in her bridesmaid's dress. "Joan, you don't have many female friends, so I asked Cassandra to be your bridesmaid."

Cassandra put on an aggrieved expression and said, "Sebastian, Ms. Robinson doesn't seem to like that I'm wearing a dress from the same collection as hers. She also doesn't want me as her bridesmaid…

"I can leave if you don't like me, but don't send thugs after me again. I heard those guys are desperate criminals. If they come after me again, I might actually get beaten to death without Sebastian there to protect me." As she spoke, tears started welling up in her eyes.

I turned to Sebastian with reddened eyes and tried to explain, "I didn't…"

The surrounding guests noticed the commotion and started to gather around. They whispered among themselves, "Wow, why is this woman wearing the wedding dress that Sebastian designed for Cassandra?"

"Maybe she just wants him to pay more attention to her."

"Everyone knows that she's just using her looks and the fact that she took care of Sebastian back then to force him into marrying her!"

"She cried and made a fuss just to marry him! What a desperate woman."

"She's not even officially Mr. Ford's wife yet, and she's already bullying others. She really is just a driver's daughter. She's obviously up to no good!"

The guests around pointed their fingers at me, and their words stung as they reached my ears. I bit my lip and forced back the tears.

Sebastian lowered his head and whispered to me in a low tone, "Joan, I forgave you the first time regarding the thugs, but I don't want to hear about it happening again.

"From now on, we're husband and wife. Rumours like these will only embarrass us. Alright, today is a happy occasion. Let's go and cut the cake together."

The waiter pushed an elegant wedding cake to the center of the hall. Sebastian extended his hand to invite me, but Cassandra quickly stepped forward and took his arm. "Sebastian, we haven't seen each other for so long. Today is your wedding day. I want to help you cut the cake to celebrate, okay?"

Sebastian glanced at me as he hesitated for a moment.

Cassandra continued acting coy. "Sebastian, please? Just think of it as my blessing for your marriage!"

Sebastian couldn't resist her coquettish demeanor and finally nodded. "Alright."

It felt like a knife was stabbing my heart as I watched their intimate figures walking away. I was supposed to be the woman standing beside him at our wedding, receiving everyone's blessings.

But now, another woman had taken my place beside him. I looked like the third party in our relationship.

I couldn't bear the pain within me. I made an excuse to touch up my makeup and fled to the restroom. I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water against my face. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't wash away the bitterness inside me.

I didn't know how much time had passed before I finally composed my emotions and prepared to return to the banquet. Just as I reached the door, I saw Cassandra standing at the entrance, looking at me with a smirk. "Ms. Robinson, have you been crying?"

I lowered my head without a word, intending to walk past her and leave. However, she reached out and grabbed my hand. "Ms. Robinson, I have something to say to you."

I instinctively frowned. "What do you want to say?"

She leaned in closer with a smug smile that pierced my eyes. "Joanna, do you really think you're worthy of Sebastian? You're just the daughter of a driver.

"Now that your father is dead, you have no power nor status. What else do you have other than your beauty? What makes you think you can compete with me?" Her sharp words were cutting, and her gaze was full of disdain.

I clenched my fists on both sides as I struggled to suppress the anger rising within me. "Cassandra, don't go too far! This is my wedding!"

She laughed scornfully. "So what if I do? What can you do about it? Your wedding? Don't make me laugh. Everyone knows this is just a fake wedding! Is your fake marriage certificate not enough to make you realize that Sebastian doesn't love you?

"Joanna, I'm telling you. Sebastian is mine. You're nothing but a passerby in his life. Don't think that you can compete with me just because you took care of him for a few years!" With that, she walked away triumphantly. I was left standing in front of the mirror, feeling humiliated.

I could only tremble with rage as I watched her retreating figure. I knew that she was right. I was just a powerless and weak orphan. What right did I have to compete with her?