A Love Without Anchor

Half an hour later, Xavier sat in a taxi, staring at the black G-Wagon parked not far away.

Elizabeth opened the sunroof. In less than a minute, the black G-Wagon began to shake violently.

People nearby stopped to watch, murmuring in astonishment.

"Wow, outdoor action, huh? That must be thrilling."

"Tsk tsk, that pretty lady sure knows how to have fun. Lakeside, a G-Wagon, a man dressed as a butler—seems like someone's in for an unforgettable night."

Xavier's eyes burned red as he watched the swaying G-Wagon. A chill spread through his body. His hands trembled as he recorded a five-minute video.

Then he sent it to his secretary, his voice hoarse as he instructed, "Play this video on the wedding day."

After sending the message, he called his mother.

"Mom, I'm coming to Neirway in seven days to see you and Dad."

On the other end of the line, his mother immediately sensed something was off. Her brows furrowed tightly.

"Is Elizabeth coming with you?"

"I'm coming alone."

"Alright, don't be sad."

She already had an idea of what had happened. With a sigh, she reassured him, "I'll be at the airport to pick you up."

It was past midnight when Elizabeth returned, making enough noise to wake Xavier.

She was drunk, her breath heavy with alcohol. Wrapping her arms around his face, she kissed him over and over again.

Maybe she sensed his anger from earlier in the night. She whispered anxiously, "Honey, I love you so much. You can be mad at me, you can yell at me, even hit me, but don't ever leave me, alright? Don't worry, I'd never cheat on you."

Lying on the big bed, Xavier stared at her coldly.

She must have forgotten to cover the marks on her neck before coming home.

Yet, there was no deception in her eyes—only genuine affection.

The next morning, Xavier woke in a daze.

Elizabeth had already squeezed toothpaste onto his brush, poured warm mouthwash, and picked out his clothes for the day.

Once he finished getting ready, she walked downstairs with him.

At the dining table, her phone vibrated. She glanced at the message, then looked at Xavier with an apologetic smile.

"Honey, I won't be home tonight. There's a gathering I need to attend."

Xavier paused mid-bite. He knew she was meeting Connor tonight but didn't bother exposing her.

"Alright."

After Elizabeth left, he hailed a taxi and followed her.

Twenty minutes later, she drove into an upscale residential complex.

From a distance, Connor stood waiting, wrapped in a gray trench coat with a matching scarf, exuding effortless charm.

Seeing Elizabeth's Bentley, he smirked and waved before slipping into the car.

They stayed inside for a while before the Bentley pulled out of the complex.

Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of a bridal photography studio.

Connor stepped out of the passenger seat. As Elizabeth approached, he naturally took her arm and walked inside with her.

The receptionist greeted them with enthusiasm. "Ms. Eaton, Mr. Walker, welcome! We've cleared the venue for you. Let me take you to see the styles of wedding photos we'll be shooting today."

From inside his car, Xavier watched the scene unfold, his expression unreadable as a cold wave engulfed him.

His phone rang suddenly.

He glanced at the screen. It was his friend, Vincent Mallark.

He picked up. Vincent's cheerful voice came through. "Where are you? Let's grab a drink."

Xavier gave him the address.

There was a brief silence before Vincent groaned in mock envy. "You and Elizabeth have been married five years, and now you're taking wedding photos again? Damn, growing more in love, huh? Every day, you make us single guys jealous."

Xavier stared ahead blankly, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Vincent, she's not taking them with me."

Vincent paused. Then his voice sharpened. "With another man? Elizabeth is cheating? Hold on, I'll be there in twenty minutes!"

Twenty minutes later, Xavier slid into Vincent's car.

Xavier explained how Connor had returned a month ago and how Elizabeth had betrayed him.

Then, he played the taunting voice message Connor had sent from Elizabeth's phone.

Finally, he pointed toward the bridal shop with a bitter smile. "As you can see, it's Connor's birthday today. Elizabeth is celebrating by taking wedding photos with him."

Vincent followed his gaze.

Inside the shop, Elizabeth adjusted Connor's suit collar, her expression gentle, her touch careful, as if handling a priceless gem.

Vincent clenched his fists. "I can't take this. I'm going in to beat them up for you."

He rolled up his sleeves, ready to charge in, but Xavier stopped him first.

"Wait. I want to see what else they'll do."

Half an hour later, Elizabeth and Connor walked out of the bridal shop.

He was dressed in a crisp black suit, she in a snow-white, form-fitting wedding gown. Hand in hand, they climbed into the Bentley.

They drove to the lake.

To prevent paparazzi, the area had been cordoned off in advance. The photographers were already waiting.

As the couple arrived, one of them grinned obsequiously. "Ms. Eaton, Mr. Walker, you two look perfect together. In fact, you're the most attractive couple I've ever photographed."

Connor wrapped an arm around Elizabeth's waist, chuckling. "I have good taste in women. My wife is drop-dead gorgeous."

Over the next half hour, they changed into three different wedding outfits.

The winter air was cold. During breaks, Elizabeth draped a thick coat over Connor's shoulders.

When his poses weren't coming out right, she encouraged him patiently, helping him find the right mood.

The shoot ended, but Elizabeth didn't leave immediately.

Instead, she suddenly dropped to one knee.

Connor's eyes widened in surprise as she pulled out a bouquet of roses and a ring.

"You once said you envied Xavier because I was the one who proposed to him first. I told you I could do the same for you, but you kept saying I didn't have to. But I can't let you feel like you're second best. Connor, will you marry me?"