Chapter 1

Outside the marriage registration office, Liam Reed and I were going over our documents.

Mom watched the papers in my hands, her eyes rimming with red.

"My little girl, the one I raised all these years—today she's really getting married."

I was about to comfort her when hurried footsteps echoed from outside.

Lily Reed came rushing in.

She was Liam's adoptive sister—no blood relation whatsoever—and for the past five years, she'd been the one person who could change his mind with a single sentence.

"Liam!" she called out, gasping for breath. "I got the date wrong! Last night when I was reading the star chart, I realized today isn't good for you two to register. This same day next year—that's the best date. It'll be better for our whole family."

I didn't stop. I kept walking toward the entrance.

But Liam stopped.

He looked at Lily, his voice gentle.

"Okay. Whatever you say."

Lily beamed immediately. She turned to look at me, her eyes wide and innocent.

"Emma, you've already waited five years for my brother. One more year won't make a difference, right?"

Liam chimed in to persuade me.

"Babe, the registration is just paperwork. It doesn't matter when we do it. Lily's had good instincts since she was little. If she says today isn't right, she must have her reasons."

I looked at him.

Both sets of parents were here. Every document was ready. But none of that mattered against a single word from Lily.

I nodded, took out my phone, and posted a geotagged status update on my social media.

"The first man who gets here before noon today—I'll marry him on the spot."

Less than three minutes later, a chat window that had been silent for a long time lit up.

"Delete that. Wait for me. I'm on my way."

My heart suddenly felt steady.

Beside me, Liam—completely oblivious—was still teasing Lily.

"You little troublemaker. Why didn't you say something earlier? You made both families come out here for nothing."

Lily stuck out her tongue.

"Anyone could make that mistake. Good thing I got here in time. Otherwise, if you two had registered today, it would've been bad for the Reed family."

She linked her arm through Liam's affectionately, then winked at me.

"Emma, don't be mad. I really wasn't trying to ruin things. It's just that when I was reading the star chart last night, I found out today would hurt my brother's fortune. This day next year is the best time for you two to register. By then his career will be going well, and the family will be more stable."

Liam smiled at me.

"Lily would never do anything to hurt us. Trust her. She's never wrong."

I didn't want to watch their little performance anymore.

I asked him, "Right. Since the day we started dating, when have you ever not listened to her?"

The air went silent in an instant.

From the moment Liam and I got together, Lily had always found a reason to interrupt our dates.

On my birthday, all I wanted was for him to have dinner with me. Lily ran to the riverbank in tears, saying she was having a breakdown, that she didn't want to live anymore. Liam rushed over immediately, carried her back, and stayed with her the entire night.

On our first anniversary, Lily said she wanted a cake that he'd personally go buy. Liam dropped everything and left me sitting in a private dining room with a group of friends who'd come to celebrate.

There were too many incidents like these to count.

Whenever Lily opened her mouth, Liam always put her first.

He had never once seriously considered my feelings.

Lily pouted, her voice dripping with grievance.

"Liam, Uncle, Auntie—is Emma mad? But I was only thinking of our family. If she really can't understand that, I can apologize..."

"Lily, you did nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize."

Liam immediately stepped in front of her, shielding her. When he looked at me, his tone carried a hint of impatience.

"Emma, stop throwing a tantrum. It's just one year. Our relationship is solid enough—this little bit of time won't matter."

He paused, then added, "Lily is our family's lucky star. We can't just dismiss what she says. For the sake of a smooth marriage and a stable life together, just bear with it."

Bear with it.

Even something as important as our marriage registration—the moment Lily opened her mouth, I was expected to step aside.

I suddenly laughed.

So five years of love weighed less than one casual sentence from Lily.

But it was fine. Someone was already on their way to register with me.

Today wouldn't be a waste after all.

Still, I wanted to hear him say it clearly.

"Liam, since you care so much about what Lily says, why did you agree to be with me in the first place?"

Liam frowned.

"Emma, what are you talking about? It's just postponing registration by a year. How is that a big deal? What's there to question?"

So in the end, I was the one in the wrong.

I asked calmly, "If I say I have to register today, what will you do?"

Liam's expression darkened.

"Emma, both families are here. Don't embarrass me."