That’s My Bouquet!

Just as expected, Ian, Sean, and Flynn immediately rushed onto the stage to shield Selena behind them.

Sean swung at me, but I dodged nimbly. In turn, he lost his balance and stumbled toward the edge of the stage. I didn’t hesitate to give him a firm kick and sent him tumbling down. Thankfully, I had switched my heels for flats in the car earlier.

I turned my gaze back to Selena, a faint, mocking smile tugging at my lips.

“Do you have any idea what it is you just smashed?”

“It’s just a glass bouquet!” Selena’s eyes reddened as she pretended to look pitiful.

“You can find those for ten bucks online!” she argued again.

Sean’s face darkened from below the stage. “Enough. If you like it so much, I’ll order you a truckload of them! Get down now. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

After all, it was still my wedding day. No matter how furious he was, he didn’t dare make a scene in front of everyone.

“Trisha, if you keep making things hard for Selena, then this wedding’s off,” Ian threatened coldly, his gaze sharp with warning even as he looked at Selena with tenderness. “She’s not like you. Selena’s been through so much just to get here.”

“Well then, fine,” I shot back with a smirk. “Let’s call the wedding off. We never even signed the papers since you refused. Are you afraid your heart already belongs to someone else?

“In any case, I’ll leave the stage to you three. Enjoy your lives together. That’s more important than anything.”

I looked at him with nothing but ridicule in my eyes. In my past life, I must have been blind to have ever loved a man like this.

“You rich people take everything for granted,” Flynn jumped in self-righteously. “Selena worked so hard for this wedding. We’ll compensate you for the bouquet. Here’s one hundred bucks. Keep the change.”

Their shamelessness almost made me laugh.

“Compensate? Do you really think it was just glass? Forget the fact that it was top-grade jadeite…” I replied. “But it was hand-carved by my granddad, West Scott, one of the most renowned master artisans in the country. Its value exceeds a hundred million dollars.”

The crowd gasped in shock. The older generation, especially, knew the truth.

Flynn’s face drained of all color. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

“Enough! We’ll settle this privately,” Sean barked, trying to drag me off the stage as he sensed the tide turning against them.

However, I stepped aside calmly, speaking loudly and clearly, “You don’t need to compensate me.”

The four of them froze, having been caught off guard. My sudden change in words left them utterly confused.

“This jade bouquet has been sold to City Museum for one hundred million dollars. The funds will be donated to children in the mountains. The paperwork was finalized just earlier. The ones you owe compensation to… are not me.”

I turned my gaze back to Selena, her face pale as paper, my tone righteous and unyielding.

“Selena Greene, if I recall, you grew up in those same mountains. Your mother worked as our housekeeper after my mom took you both in. My family gave you shelter, support, and the chance to get where you are today. You, of all people, should understand that countless children still need help.

“You can’t forget your roots. You can’t take away someone else’s umbrella just because you once stood in the rain. Do you know how many children have lost their chance at education because of your vanity, your recklessness, and your ignorance?”

The press erupted, cameras flashing wildly. This was a massive scandal.

“Didn’t you say you’d pay me back?” I sneered at Flynn, who shrank back like a coward.

“You expect us to believe it’s worth a hundred million?” he stammered.

Before he could finish, Mr. Crossby entered with a group of people.

“Miss Scott, on behalf of City Museum, thank you. Rest assured, the funds will reach those children in need. And look, I even brought Mr. Lincoln with me.”

Sean’s vision blurred. It wasn’t just the museum director; there were also several prominent political figures in the room.

As their eyes fell on the shattered remains scattered across the stage, Mr. Crossby fell silent.

“Miss Scott, these fragments… Are they jadeite? And where is the bouquet itself…”