My Binding, His Charade

Lyssandra's POV

“If you’re not happy with it, we don’t have to buy it. Eira can help you get a unique one later,” he offered.

I shook my head faintly and declined.

“No, this one is fine. Am okay with it.”

Eira, however, looked deeply pertinent, her eyes brimming with tears once again.

“Lyssandra, I’m going straight to the studio to work on the design. I’ll make sure you have a perfect and unforgettable wedding!”

With that, she zoomed off.

No matter how much Kellan screamed after her, she didn’t look back.

“Lyssandra, what’s the matter with you? It’s just a ring—why are you making a big deal out of nothing ?”

I was flabbergasted.

“What am I making a fuss about?”

He glared at me, gritted his teeth together and pulled me out of the store.

“I have a client to see. We can take the wedding photos later.”

“Or, you could take your lone photograph first and I’ll have the designers Photoshop my suit onto them for the wedding.”

“Okay.”

Kellan’s explanations got caught in his throat.

He looked at me for a long moment before gently embracing me.

“Lyssandra, I promise, once I’m done with work, I’ll take you on a honeymoon trip and we can do a travel-themed bridal photoshoot.”

To me, his dismissive promise of a honeymoon felt like an embarrassment.

He had no time to visit me , but he had ample time to accompany Eira to the mountains far outside Shadowvale to see the penguins and to the icy plains of the mountains to watch the northern lights.

Seeing his location and profile picture hurrying towards Eira’s Interior decoration studio, I went back into the store and returned the ring to the customer's service representative.

As I expected, Kellan didn’t return home for that day.

He was accompanying Eira to the beach for their wedding photos.

And indeed, he had someone photoshop our faces onto their wedding pictures.

Resolute to avoid the wedding, he’ll probably only come back for my mom's death anniversaries.

I went to the cemetery with bouquets of orchids and pansies to pay her a visit.

I also added the caretaker on the chatterbox to manage things in the future.

“I’ll cover the management fees for my mom from now on. Just refuse any payments from Mr. Kellan Zane.”

The caretaker was dumbfounded after checking the system.

"Miss Rowena, the management fees for your mom's grave have been overdue for three months. We've tried contacting the family, but the phone has been unreachable."

Realizing that I had lost my initial contact after traveling to Crimson Moon pack. I couldn’t help but feel frustrated with myself.

Kellan no longer cares about me; how could he not remember my deceased mother?

I paid the outstanding fees and also made an advance payment for five years, then left feeling betrayed.

But just as I was walking out of the cemetery, I heard a voice I’d never forget in this lifetime.

“Kellan, it’s impressive that you remember today is Eira auntie's memorial day! If the old woman knew you came to keep her company for a drink, she’d probably be floating up from the grave.”

I turned around stiffly and saw Kellan, flanked by Eira, her mother and her sister climbing the steps.

“Auntie, this is what I should be doing.”

“Don’t be silly, call me ‘Mom’ in a few days!”

Kellan chuckled heartily and, without hesitation, called her "Mom."

With tears building up in my eyes, I quietly went to meet my friends.

I hit the nail on the head and told them that the proposal and wedding was canceled.

They were dumbfounded. They exchanged glances and then cautiously asked me,

“Lyssandra, you already k

now?” I was puzzled why they also knew.

In a moment of fury, they pulled out photos of Kellan and Eira together at the clinic for their pre-marital checkup.

Lyssandra, we obliged your decision to attend the wedding. I’d love to see what a wedding without a bride looks like—Eira showing up to steal the wedding will be a huge joke!”

Their words stirred up hope and liveliness in me. It made me somewhat look forward to it.

The day before the binding ritual and wedding, Kellan returned with a pair of brand-new running sneakers.

I asked him gently, “Aren’t you the one who hates running sneakers?”

He was speechless for a moment, then patted my head.

He chuckled and said, “Tomorrow, I’ll need to run fast with the bride on my back!”

He wasn't referring to me. That I was aware of.

The amusement and smiles that suddenly appeared on his face wasn’t because of me either.

It seems that spotlighting me in a wedding larceny to prove his love for Eira will give him unrivaled fulfillment.

The next day, I walked around the wedding venue.

Enormous placards and larger format posters had magnified every trace of photo-editing on the wedding pictures.

I pulled out a pair of scissors, extracted my bright and youthful appearance and then took a cab to the train station.

When the train was filled. They gave a signal of its departure.

As we started the journey,I tried switching off my phone. At the moment Kellan's calls started flooding in.