Marrying My Childhood Friends’ Older Brother

Someone pulled off my wig during the chaos. I felt horrible at the thought of the hair I shaved off.

While I was distracted, the Sinclair brothers took the opportunity to press my head into a pool next to the man-made hill. I was not prepared for it and swallowed some water.

I could not stop myself from screaming due to the suffocation from drowning, but the force pushing me down the water refused to relent. I swallowed more water and could no longer breathe.

"Nancy could've married me if it weren't for you. She wouldn't need to suffer so much in your home!"

"This is your retribution for bullying Nancy, Paige!"

I scratched at the hand pushing me down with everything I had, but it was pointless. The last of my energy had been exhausted, and I began to fall into darkness. Just as I was about to descend into despair and give up struggling, I was suddenly released.

I heard a familiar voice. "It's not gentlemanly to bully a woman."

My eyes shot open after taking in many sharp breaths. It was Cole's assistant. He looked coldly and sharply at the wedding gown Nancy donned.

"I understand that Paige Edwards is the one getting married tomorrow. An adopted good-for-nothing snuck around to put on her wedding gown, and now, two men are bullying the bride while the thief is in their arms. Is this how the Sinclairs brought you up?"

The Sinclair brothers looked extremely upset but did not dare retort.

"We're just joking around with our fiancée."

"What are you doing here, Mr. West? Does Cole need anything from us?"

Julian West shook his head coldly. "I'm here for Paige Edwards."

The Sinclair brothers were surprised that Julian was here to see me. They wanted to find out more, but Julian chased them off. "If you don't take Nancy Edwards to the hospital, she won't be able to stop pretending that she passed out."

The brothers' faces turned red as they turned to leave with Nancy in their arms.

Julian looked at me after they left. "Mr. Jefferson doesn't have your contact. He told me to inform you that he'll be out of the city for an auction. He'll be a few minutes late for the wedding tomorrow. This is his personal number. You can call him if you need anything."

I was in a mess. I thanked Julian and quickly returned to my room to change. After I was done, someone knocked on my door. It was an employee from a high-end wedding gown boutique. He was holding a brand-new gown in his hands. He told me that it was from Cole.

There were also wigs of different lengths and colors that came along with the gown.

My tears fell as I looked at all these.

After the employee left, Ryan and Luke returned.

"Why do you insist on having the one Nancy was wearing when you have other gowns, Paige?"

"You're not only unscrupulous, but you're also full of jealousy. We won't let your wish come true. We won't marry you since you insist on being this way."

They picked up a bag from the couch and left after that.

Ryan and Luke had only come back to pick up Nancy's things.

I changed the password on the door and stood in front of a mirror while I tried on the gown Cole sent over. Tomorrow would be the day I wore it to marry Cole. I would just pretend that Nancy was the one who saved Ryan and Luke.

They did not return home that night, and I did not say anything about the groom being someone else.

…

The wedding started on time the next day.

My parents kept pushing me to change into my wedding gown and put on my makeup. After that, they stood on the wedding stage quietly.

Time passed, and the guests began to whisper among themselves. The groom had not arrived.

Both sets of parents began to look upset. My mom threw me a questioning look. However, there was more disappointment and anger in her eyes than bewilderment.

Just as everyone could no longer take it, the doors to the hall were pushed open.

I saw three figures that stood against the light.

Ryan and Luke stood on either side of Nancy, who was in the middle. She was wearing the wedding gown from yesterday.

"Have you been waiting long, Paige? This is our surprise for you. Do you like it?"

"You're a scheming woman who bullies your sister constantly. You're a troublemaker and took credit for something you didn't do for five years, misleading us. Nancy has been suffering for the past five years. What right do you think you have to marry us, Paige?"

The reporters who had rushed to the venue began clicking away on their cameras. The camera flashes blinded my eyes.

I was thinking about my agreement with Cole when I took the microphone from the host's hands. I responded to them coldly, "Ryan and Luke Sinclair, I never said that you're the ones I'm going to marry."