Chapter 13
Theodore came from an elite family and held significant power in his own right. He had long since seen every kind of flatter manipulation women could throw his way.
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Patricia wasn’t even particularly skilled at playing the game. Her little tricks and subtle attempts to charm him were laughably transparent in his eyes.
Theodore didn’t even extend a hand, nor spare her a glance.
Her outstretched hand hung awkwardly in mid–air. When it became clear he had no intention of responding, Patricia’s smile froze, and she quickly pulled her hand back with a pitiful look
“Sorry about that. I was just curious about how Calista suddenly got a fiance. I thought I’d introduce myself,” she said with a small, embarrassed laugh.
Watching his beloved get snubbed like that, Noah rushed to pull her into his arms and whispered something in her ear to soothe her
His voice was unusually gentle, a side he had never once shown Calista.
Instinctively, he glanced over at her. She was standing quietly at Theodore’s side. He fully expected her to snap, to be jealous and flustered, unable to stand the sight of him with someone else.
He thought she would break down and confess that Theodore was just a hired actor, someone she had roped in to make him jealous and win him back
But none of that happened.
Calista stood calmly beside Theodore without sparing Noah so much as a glance. His gentle whispers to Patricia meant nothing to her now. It was as if she had already moved on.
Theodore checked the time and turned to her. “It’s getting late. Let’s go get the marriage certificate.”
Calista nodded quietly. “Sure. I’ll follow your lead.”
Without hesitation, she slipped her hand around his arm, and the two of them walked toward the courthouse like any couple about to start a life together.
That was when Noah finally understood. It wasn’t an act.
Panic hit him.
Without a second thought for Patricia, he stepped forward and blocked their path.
“Calista, you’ve loved me for 12 years. How can you just throw that away and marry some guy you barely know? Do you even know who be is? His family, his past?
“You’re only doing this because I’m marrying someone else, aren’t you? You think marrying him just to get back at me is going to solve anything?”
He fired off every question like a lifeline, but Calista only gave him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
Before she could reply, Theodore placed a hand gently over hers and spoke first. “You’re Noah, right? Call mentioned you on the phone. Before she agreed to marry me, we talked about everything.
“She told me about you, and I told her about myself. We know each other’s family background. There’s no need for you to worry.
“And no, she’s not marrying me just to get back at you. She made that decision after thinking it through, after finally deciding to walk away from you.
“You never loved her the way she deserved. You had your chance, and you wasted it. If she’s choosing her own happiness now, what’s wrong with that?
“Today is our wedding day. I consider myself the luckiest man in the world to be marrying her. I’m in a good mood, so I’ll let this slide. But if you keep saying this nonsense, don’t blame me for being less polite.”
Theodore’s eyes narrowed slightly, sharp and commanding, his presence suddenly turning cold and imposing. Everyone around them instantly understood. His words weren’t empty threats.
Warmth spread quietly through Calista’s chest. It had been a long time since someone had stood up for her like that.
Theodore had only been in her life for a few months, yet here he was, shielding her without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Noah–her childhood sweetheart, the one she had once loved–had never protected her like this.
Calista had poured everything into Noah, into both his company and his life. Through every challenge and crisis, she stood by his side, always putting him first.
But no matter what she did, Noah had never once stood up for her.
Now, looking back, she felt nothing but relief. She had pulled herself out just in time. Marrying Theodore felt like the first real decision she had ever made for hersell
Ignoring the stunned faces around them, Theodore gently took Calista’s hand and led her into the courthouse.
When Theodore asked a staff member to take a quick photo for them, the man known for his cold, unreadable expression allowed a rare softness to show. He slipped an arm around Calista’s waist, his gaze full of quiet affection.
Calista’s smile was bright and genuine. She truly wanted to build a future with him.
Their photo turned out beautifully. The two looked inseparable. They were deeply in love and effortlessly matched. It was the kind of photo that made people stop and admire.
Right behind them were Patricia and Noah, but the contrast couldn’t have been sharper. Both seemed distracted, just going through
