My Groom's Brother Married Me

Standing beside Elina was a man dressed in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo. His sharp jawline and piercing eyes were as unyielding as steel.

Nathan Valmont.

Jeremy's older half-brother.

"What are you trying to do, Nathan?" Xavier asked, seeking confirmation. "Don't make this situation any worse."

Nathan looked at him calmly.

"Please don't worry, Uncle."

Then he turned his attention back to Elina, ignoring Xavier's confusion.

"Keep walking, Elina," Nathan whispered beside her ear. His voice was calm, yet carried an unmistakable authority. "Don't let them see you fall apart."

Elina held her breath.

She looked at him in confusion.

"Nathan? What are you doing?"

"Saving what's left of your dignity," Nathan replied flatly without looking at her. His eyes remained fixed on the stunned guests. "Hold onto my arm a little tighter if you want to walk out of this hell as the winner."

Elina could hardly believe what Nathan was doing.

He urged her forward with unwavering determination.

The whispers throughout the ballroom suddenly vanished, replaced by an oppressive silence as Nathan Valmont escorted Elina down the red carpet.

His steps were calm and steady, his commanding presence intimidating everyone in the room.

Elina tightened her grip on Nathan's arm.

Her heart pounded violently, torn between confusion and disbelief.

"Nathan," she whispered without taking her eyes off the aisle. "What does all of this mean?"

"You have two choices, Elina," Nathan replied quietly, his voice barely audible to anyone else but perfectly clear to her. "Leave this room as the woman who was abandoned, or finish this wedding with me and make Jeremy pay for what he did to you."

Elina glanced sideways at Nathan's sharply defined profile.

"Have you lost your mind? You're Jeremy's brother!"

"And Jeremy has just dragged your family's reputation through the mud," Nathan answered coldly. "Marry me instead of letting you and your father live with this humiliation for the rest of your lives. Roswell Corp.'s stock will plummet tomorrow morning if you walk away now."

Elina caught her breath.

Nathan's words struck the deepest part of her heart.

She looked ahead.

Xavier Rosswel had returned to his place near the altar, standing motionless. His face was deathly pale, and the devastation in his eyes was unmistakable.

Her father had sacrificed everything to raise her.

She could not bear to see him become the laughingstock of the city's upper class because his only daughter had been abandoned at the altar.

Jeremy had chosen Rachel.

He had treated Elina like nothing more than an option he could discard whenever he pleased.

*If Jeremy isn't the one marrying me, then I'll accept anyone else.*

The pain inside her froze into cold determination.

She would never beg Jeremy for love again.

Elina tightened her grip around Nathan's arm and straightened her back.

"Do it."

Nathan showed no surprise.

He merely gave a slight nod before leading Elina onto the altar to exchange wedding vows with him—the man she had never imagined would become part of her life.

Xavier hurried toward them, breathing heavily.

"Nathan! Elina! Are you both certain about this?"

"Uncle," Nathan said firmly, looking the older man directly in the eyes. "Jeremy has abandoned his place. I will take his place instead. Trust me. This is the best way to protect Elina's honor."

"But—"

"Father, please," Elina interrupted gently yet firmly, looking at him with pleading eyes. "Let this happen."

Xavier stared at his daughter for a long moment.

Seeing the determination in her eyes, he finally clenched his fists and stepped back, giving them his blessing even though the confusion had not completely disappeared from his face.

In the front row of the Valmont family...

Velicia—Jeremy's mother—stood frozen in disbelief.

Her breathing became uneven as she clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.

She was about to rush forward to stop the wedding, but Trevor Valmont's firm grip on her arm held her back.

"Trevor! Stop him!" Velicia hissed through gritted teeth. "Nathan is stealing Jeremy's bride!"

"Keep your voice down, Velicia," Trevor growled without taking his eyes off the altar. "Look around you. The reporters are everywhere. If you cause a scene now, the Valmont family will be ruined."

The ceremony proceeded quickly and without warmth after the unexpected change of groom.

There were no sweet words.

No loving gazes.

Only solemn vows spoken by Nathan in a steady voice without the slightest hesitation, followed by Elina's equally resolute response.

When the vows were complete, Elina officially became Nathan Valmont's wife.

Nathan turned to face her.

His long fingers gently lifted the bridal veil from her face.

When their eyes met, Nathan lowered his head.

His lips brushed lightly against Elina's cheek in a brief, formal kiss—a gesture of protection rather than desire.

"This marriage is now official," Nathan whispered into her ear before meeting her gaze once again.

The wedding reception ended shortly afterward.

Nathan canceled the traditional first dance and the lengthy speeches, citing health concerns as an excuse to conclude the event quickly before the media.

The hundreds of guests continued whispering among themselves, but no one dared to ask a single question after seeing the icy look in Nathan Valmont's eyes.

Exactly one hour after they exchanged their vows, Nathan's black sedan pulled away from the entrance of the Grand Royal Valmont Hotel, leaving behind a scandal that was destined to shake City the following day.