The Lies of Marriage, The Price of Love

She watched Dave’s retreating figure, a bitter feeling she couldn’t put into words.

Lying on the bed, she couldn’t help but let her tears soak the pillow.

She pursed her lips and closed her eyes. "Dave, this time, I’ll let you have it all."

There were still five days until the cruise arrived.

Kate woke up early and immediately went to take care of the necessary procedures.

As soon as the ship arrived, she would board immediately, with the first stop being Polarisia. It has always been a place she wanted to visit. Once she resolved these matters, she would finally be able to live for herself.

She had already packed most of her things.

Dave returned early today. Seeing Kate running around busy, he thought she was preparing for the wedding.

He walked up and took Kate's hand.

“Darling, you don’t have to work so hard. Once you marry me, I’ll take care of everything at home. You just need to enjoy it," Dave said with a smile.

Kate paused for a moment, then slowly nodded.

Marry him? That was impossible now.

Seeing the smile on Dave's face, Kate couldn't help but feel exhausted for him.

Before long, he received a call from the Shawn Family.

"Today is the day for our two families to discuss the wedding details. You must be there."

This wasn't a discussion; it was a notification.

Even though Kate was unwilling, she had no choice but to play along and finish this act.

The venue was set in a park and the restaurant was decorated in the style that Leona liked the most.

Though it was supposed to be Kate and Dave’s special day, Leona was sitting in the seat of honor, wearing a red robe.

Dave's parents were exceptionally fond of Leona, so naturally, she could sit wherever she pleased.

Compared to Kate, who was just an adopted daughter, they had always hoped that Dave would marry Leona.

Because of this, they had never treated Kate well.

In the past, it was Kate who loved Dave and was willing to swallow her pride for him, believing that one day they would change their attitude toward her.

But now, she no longer thought that way. She didn’t want to live this kind of life for even one more day.

When they saw Kate arrive, they merely glanced at her briefly. Their bodies, however, were still turned towards Leona as they chatted away.

They continued to criticize Kate without hesitation.

"Kate, if you were as lively and cute as Leona, that would be great! I really wish I had a daughter like Leona."

This wasn’t the first time they had said such things and Kate had grown somewhat numb to it.

But she had always been cold and distant by nature and in front of these people, she couldn’t bring herself to show a different side of herself.

Leona replied with a smile, "It's okay, just treat me like your daughter. Although my sister is not very likable, I'll still try to win your favor for her."

Her ability to talk smoothly was her strong suit and it didn’t take long before she had both Dave's parents smiling with delight.

Meanwhile, Dave stood by, grinning from ear to ear. His gaze towards Leona was like that of an artist admiring his masterpiece, filled with satisfaction.

Throughout the entire gathering, Kate spoke very little, wanting nothing more than to leave quickly. Perhaps no one could understand how she felt. She truly hated these kinds of occasions.

In the past, Dave would always find excuses to leave with her, never caring about what others said. But now, as she looked at the man before her, he remained indifferent. Was it that he had hidden his true feelings too well, or had Kate only discovered the truth too late?

As it was time to leave, rain began to pour outside.

Leona was wearing a beautiful dress, her heels delicate and high. She didn't even have to call out to Dave; he took the initiative to wrap her in his arms.