The Bride He Replaced

As Shawn picked up my phone, his expression changed.

I let out a breath of relief, thinking he would finally believe me. However, the next second, the corner of his lips lifted in a mocking sneer. “Tiana, don’t tell me this is your husband. So what if he is?”

Jessica took the phone, glanced at it, and burst out laughing. “Ms. Larrinson, if you’re going to lie, at least make it believable. This is Zack Lynch—the famous Mr. Lynch. A man like him would never fall for someone like you, a trash picker.”

The next second, Shawn hurled the phone to the ground. The screen shattered instantly. His expression darkened as he looked at me on the floor, then he picked up Tessa and strode out.

At last, Tessa broke down, crying uncontrollably.

“Tessa!” I staggered after them. The pain in my back was blurring my vision.

Guests in the banquet hall began to gossip.

“What’s going on?”

“Looks like that woman snuck in and got caught.”

“I heard she used to be Mr. Chandler’s ex-girlfriend. Now, she’s picking trash…”

I had no time to explain. All I wanted was my daughter back.

In Shawn’s arms, Tessa struggled desperately, her little face flushed red from crying.

“Bad guy! Let me go! I want Mommy!”

“Shut up!” Shawn snapped, startling her so badly that her whole body trembled, her face turning pale. “I’m your father. You’re coming home with me!”

“Shawn!” I rushed forward and grabbed his arm. “You’re scaring her! Give her back to me—”

“That’s enough!” he cut me off. His voice was filled with disgust.

“Tiana, five years ago, you abandoned me over a wedding dress, and now, you’re bringing a child here to ruin my life again?”

A wave of murmurs rose around us. “Oh my God, this woman has no shame…”

"She brought a kid to pester her ex-boyfriend?”

“Look at what she’s wearing. How did she even get in…”

Every word stabbed into my heart like a knife.

“That’s nonsense!” I pointed at Shawn, trembling with anger. “You were the one who let Jessica wear the wedding dress and made me wear a bridesmaid’s dress!”

A gasp rippled through the crowd.

Jessica’s expression changed instantly, and then she put on a pitiful expression. “Ms. Larrinson, how can you twist the truth like that? You were the one who thought the wedding gifts Shawn gave you weren't enough…”

“Yeah, getting married in a bridesmaid’s dress? That’s impossible!”

“Is she mentally unstable…”

“Record this and post it online. Let everyone see…”

Phone cameras turned toward my face. I raised my hand to block them, but accidentally knocked over the champagne tower beside me.

The crash of shattering glass drew even more attention. A waiter glared at me with disgust.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…” I quickly crouched down to pick up the broken glass, cutting my finger in the process.

“Still playing the victim,” Shawn sneered. “Everyone here should know how hard it is to get an invitation to this charity gala. How did someone who rumbles through the trash like her get in?”

Security guards rushed over. “Ma’am, please show your invitation.”

My invitation was in my bag. However, I had no idea where it had gone during the struggle just now. I looked around frantically, searching.

“See? She doesn’t have one.” Jessica lifted her chin smugly. “Security, throw her out!”

“Wait!” I tried to explain. “I was invited by the organizers. These donated clothes are mine.”

Shawn looked at me with disdain. A mocking smile appeared on his face. “Tiana, how long are you going to keep lying? These clothes clearly belong to Mr. Lynch’s wife. Everyone knows Mr. Lynch dotes on his wife. How could he possibly be interested in a secondhand woman like you?”

Laughter erupted from the crowd.

My face burned, and I was traumatized by the laughter.

Tessa was still crying hoarsely in Shawn’s arms, “Mommy! I want Mommy!”

My heart felt like it was shattering.

Just as despair set in, I suddenly spotted my bag under a nearby table. I rushed over, grabbed it, and shakily pulled out the invitation.

“Look! This is my invitation!”

A guard reached out to check it, but Jessica snatched it away, glanced at it, and tore it in half. “It’s fake! Security, throw her out!”

“You!” I watched the pieces fall to the ground as despair struck me.

The guards grabbed my arms. “Ma’am, please come with us.”

“No! My daughter!” I struggled desperately, tears streaming down my face. “Shawn! Give Tessa back to me!”

Just then, the lights in the banquet hall suddenly dimmed, and a spotlight fell on the central stage.

The host’s clear voice rang out. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight’s charity gala! First, let us welcome the hosts of this evening, the president of Lynch Group, Mr. Zack Lynch, and his wife, Mrs. Tiana Lynch!”

The next second, a family photo appeared on the big screen. It was the same photo as the one on my phone. Shawn’s expression froze instantly.