My Bride Chose Her Publicity Stunt

When our number is finally called at the courthouse, my fianceé takes the appointment slip I'd spent three hours waiting for and hands it to her male best friend. "Zach and I will go in first. It's better for PR. You can take the next slot." Zach Jones slips my wedding ring onto his finger and flashes a smile at me. "Don't worry, man. I'm a PR professional. We're just signing some paperwork and taking a few courthouse photos. It's no big deal." Then, they walk hand in hand toward the registration office, neither one of them caring enough to notice my reaction. I close my eyes. For seven years, to avoid public suspicion, Eva Sinclair has used Zach as her stand-in for PR events. When photographers catch me entering her house, she responds by posting photos of herself and Zach lounging around in matching pajamas. When news of our engagement leaks, she surprises Zach with 999 roses on Valentine's Day as a grand declaration of her love. Even when it comes to our marriage, her first priority is still managing her image, and Zach takes my place, as usual. He's the first to try on the tuxedo. The wedding ring is sized for him. And now, he's going into the courthouse before me. I used to believe this was all to protect Eva's public image. But moments after collecting a new appointment slip, I open social media to see that Eva has already posted photos from inside the courthouse, along with the signed marriage certificate complete with the official seal at the bottom. Zach leaves a comment below the post. "There wasn't any need for PR this time, but she still made it public." It turns out that Zach's role as the "PR stand-in boyfriend" has stopped being just an act for Eva. Somewhere along the way, the act has become real. I don't cancel my appointment. Instead, I take a photo of the slip and send it to Eva's biggest rival. "Didn't you want to steal the groom? They're calling my number in 30 minutes. If you make it here in time, I'll marry you instead." If Eva cares so much about her image, then I'll find someone else to go public with. Chapter 1 Elliot's POV I received a reply almost immediately, saying, "I'm on my way," along with a screenshot of the navigation route. I set my phone down calmly, only to look up and find Eva Sinclair standing a few steps away, staring at me. A second later, she frowned and said, "Delete it." I froze. Without waiting for a response, she snatched my phone, and, with practiced ease, opened my photo gallery and deleted the picture I'd just taken of the appointment slip. Only after checking my messages to make sure the image wasn't saved there as well did she hand the phone back. "It's for appearances." A bitterness rose in my chest. This wasn't the first time she'd taken my phone. Over the seven years we'd hidden our relationship, Eva had imposed countless rules in the name of protecting her image. Checking my phone was one of them. After dates, she'd check my phone. After our engagement, she checked my phone. Even after we were intimate, she'd always check my phone. She was terrified I'd keep photos of us or somehow leak evidence of our relationship and ruin all the effort she'd spent keeping us a secret. In seven years, Eva and I had taken less than a hundred photos together, and every single one of them was locked away in a safe at home. Without her permission, I couldn't even revisit the memories of our relationship. For the sake of appearances, she treated her own fiancé like a criminal. What a joke. I smiled bitterly and held up my phone, showing her social media post. I asked, "So, marrying Zach and making it official was for appearances too?" Eva glanced at the screen and nodded as if the answer were obvious. "Yes." The atmosphere was tense. Just then, Zach Jones quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "It's my fault. I was worried people wouldn't believe it, so I suggested using hard proof to show the public. I didn't think about how it would make Elliot feel. Eva, maybe we should delete the post. I'll just say the photos were edited. It doesn't matter if people at work make fun of me…" Eva grabbed Zach's wrist, then turned to look at me, disappointment clear in her eyes as she spoke. "Elliot Young, Zach is one of the best PR consultants in the industry. He's trying to help us avoid public scrutiny. Stop judging him through your own narrow-minded perspective. "As for the marriage certificate, we can always get a new one later. This isn't the time for you to demand special treatment." The veins on the back of my hand bulged. A cold sneer escaped me. So, in her mind, going public with Zach was considered professional, whereas actually getting married to my own fianceé was me asking for special treatment. Just like the anniversary dinner reservation I'd queued five hours for, only for her to give the table to Zach. Just like the honeymoon I'd spent months planning, only for her to reward Zach with the trip as a year-end bonus. Just like the project I'd poured two years of my life into, only for her to credit Zach with the success. Every time I objected, Eva accused me of abusing our relationship for personal gain and expecting special treatment. If our relationship existed only as an excuse for her to favor Zach openly, then I didn't want that kind of special treatment anymore. Clutching the appointment slip, I sat back down. Eva seemed to mistake my silence for an attempt to pressure her. She sighed, then slid my wedding ring off Zach's finger. Then, she said to me, "Elliot, I know you've waited seven years, and I know you've sacrificed a lot. But my career is taking off right now. I can't give you everything you want. Just be patient a little longer. Once things settle down, I'll marry you, okay?" She gently took my hand and pushed the ring onto my ring finger, but it stopped at the knuckle. I looked down at the ring, which was a size too small, then said softly, "This is someone else's ring. It doesn't fit me. And there are some things I can't keep tolerating." Eva didn't even look up. Instead, she pushed harder. A dull pain shot through my finger as an angry red mark appeared beneath the ring. "If you can't tolerate it, it means you simply haven't tried hard enough." The ring was on my finger. But my heart ached deeply. Ignoring Eva's satisfied expression, I opened my private account. There was a new message from just a minute ago. "I'm waiting at a red light. I'll be there in 15 minutes." Chapter 2 Elliot's POV Seemingly convinced she'd already smoothed things over with me, Eva stood up and reached for my appointment slip. I flinched as though I'd been electrocuted and stared at her stubbornly. "Eva, do you remember what day it is today?" Her hand froze in midair, and a flicker of impatience crossed her face. "I don't care if it's our anniversary or your birthday. I've already made myself clear. I'm not marrying you today. Elliot Young, you're already 35 years old. It's time you learned to look at the bigger picture instead of using emotional blackmail." It felt like a blade had pierced through my chest. She had forgotten. Six years ago, on this day, I drank myself into a stomach hemorrhage while trying to secure clients for Eva's startup. She sat beside my hospital bed, crying, and swore that before I turned 35 years old, she'd build a successful company and give me the wedding I deserved. But now, six years later, she had a successful career. Yet for appearances, she'd signed a marriage certificate with someone else. And now, she was even using my age as a weapon, treating my years of devotion like a bargaining chip she could use however she pleased. I let out a self-deprecating laugh and held the appointment slip to my chest. "Then, let me be clear too. I'm getting married today—if not to you, then to someone else." Eva frowned. But before she could question me further, a male voice interrupted from the entrance. "Ms. Sinclair, sorry we're late. Your number hasn't been called yet, has it?" It was a couple from our department at work. The moment Paul Howard spotted me, he burst out laughing. "Elliot, you actually came! Don't tell me you really stood in line twice? That was a smart move by Zach, leaking the news that Ms. Sinclair was getting married, so you'd come running to line up. It saved both Zach and me the trouble of doing it ourselves!" I stared at Eva in disbelief. She was standing beside Zach as he laughed so hard that he could barely breathe, her expression affectionate. Then, she turned to me and said casually, "It's just a joke. Give them the appointment slip. Think of it as coworkers helping each other out." It turned out Eva had never planned on marrying me in the first place. Instead, she'd allowed Zach to turn me into a joke so he could do a favor for someone else. I clenched my jaw and tightened my grip on the appointment slip. "I waited for this appointment. I'm not giving it to anyone." Eva stared at me for a long moment before finally letting out a laugh. "Fine. Let's see how you plan to get married without your ID." I froze, then immediately pulled out my wallet. But where my ID used to be, there was only a public transport card. Zach laughed so hard that he nearly fell over. "Elliot, you should get your eyes checked. How did it take you this long to notice?" Paul held up his phone, pointing it at me. "I got it all on video! Everyone's losing it in the group chat. Zach, you're a genius for coming up with such a hilarious prank." Instinctively, I checked my phone. The company group chat was completely normal. Looking around, I saw Paul, Zach, and Eva smiling at their phones. That was when I understood that they had created another group chat without me in it—a group where they made fun of me all day. My phone buzzed with a message from Eva. "Zach's only trying to help you fit in with the team. It wouldn't look good for me to interfere. It's all for appearances. You should laugh along. Don't make Zach feel bad." Zach always said that the best PR strategy was what people saw with their own eyes. As long as our coworkers saw that Eva never favored me, nobody would suspect we were together. So, no matter how much Zach made fun of me or how much our colleagues mocked me, Eva would never stop them. In fact, she was more concerned about Zach's feelings than mine. I did laugh. It was a bitter, mocking laugh. Then, I looked at the latest message from that person. "I'm at the intersection. Eight minutes away." Without hesitation, I replied, "I need to get my ID. Wait for me." Chapter 3 Elliot's POV Ignoring everyone's laughter, I tightened my grip on the appointment slip and ran out of the courthouse. Fortunately, the house Eva and I had bought was nearby. I reached there in three minutes. But the moment I stepped inside, a burst of confetti exploded in my face. "Congratulations—" The coworkers who had been hiding in wait suddenly froze. "This is Ms. Sinclair and Zach's new house. Why are you here?" I looked at the person who'd spoken. It was my childhood friend, Frankie Smalls. I asked in return, "Why am I here? You really don't know?" Frankie's eyes darted away. Under the confused gazes of everyone else, he forced himself to answer. "How would I know? I'm guessing you're trying to sneak in before Zach gets here so he'd suspect Ms. Sinclair. Then you can wreck their marriage and steal her for yourself." Even though I'd expected it, the words still stung. Three years ago, Frankie had been laid off. Despite his lack of experience, I'd spent a month begging Eva to give him a position at the company. He was also the only other person who knew about Eva and my secret relationship. Yet, within a week of joining the company, he'd noticed how distant Eva was with me and immediately joined the others in pushing me aside. He even became one of the loudest voices teasing Eva and Zach for being the perfect couple. Ignoring their smug expressions, I headed straight toward the master bedroom. "Don't mind me. I'm just here to get my ID." The others followed anyway. When I tripped slightly over a pair of slippers by the door, one of them chortled. "Even the shoes don't fit you, and you're still pretending. Why would your ID be in Ms. Sinclair's house?" I said nothing. I felt a lump in my throat that I couldn't swallow down or spit out. Eva's obsession with keeping up appearances even extended into our home. The door handles had been installed for Zach's left-handed habits. The house slippers were his size. The kitchen cabinets had been customized for his smaller frame. To search for my ID, I had to crouch awkwardly before the low cabinets until my back ached. But regardless of how much Eva had changed the house, I had still lived here for two years. The moment I found my ID, my coworkers' laughter stopped. Everyone stared in shock. No one even noticed when Eva and Zach entered the house. Their eyes moved back and forth between us. Someone whispered, "Why would Elliot's ID be in Ms. Sinclair's house? Are they actually together?" "Then, what does that make Zach? Don't tell me he's the other man?" As Zach's face grew paler and paler, Eva finally spoke. She barked at me furiously, "Elliot, I don't know how you got into my house or how you planted that there, but you're trespassing! This property belongs to me. If you don't leave right now, I'll call the police." I stared at the woman I had loved for seven years. For the first time, she felt like a complete stranger. She was threatening me. Because of her need to keep up appearances, nobody knew I was her fiancé. Because of her need to keep up appearances, the house was registered solely in her name. If she called the police, I would have no leg to stand on. Everyone's eyes settled on me. Humiliated, I lowered my head and checked my phone. That person had arrived. I took a deep breath and said, "Fine. I'll leave!" I forcefully yanked the wedding ring from my finger. Under Eva's gaze, I tossed it into the trash can. Then, I turned and walked away. But just as I was about to step through the front door, someone tripped me. My body fell forward uncontrollably, my forehead slamming into the doorframe. A protruding nail ripped through my skin, leaving a long gash. Bright red blood poured out immediately. Eva's pupils contracted. For a split second, she rushed toward me. But then, Zach suddenly cried out and collapsed. Without hesitation, she changed direction, reaching out toward Zach to catch him securely in her arms. My coworkers crowded around Zach at once, showering him with concern. Even Frankie shot me a furious glare. "Elliot, have you lost your mind? You actually tripped Zach just to get Ms. Sinclair's attention?" Looking at Zach's pale face, Eva's expression darkened completely. She pulled out her phone. Before I lost consciousness, the last thing I heard was her cold voice. "I'd like to report a crime. Someone trespassed in my home and assaulted my partner. I have more than a dozen witnesses." Chapter 4 Elliot's POV The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes again was the doctor's sympathetic expression. "You've already had a tetanus shot, and we put in 17 stitches. You also have a mild concussion. The person who called the ambulance couldn't even tell us which floor you were on. "If your neighbor hadn't come down to guide the paramedics, a delay of just a few more minutes could've left you with permanent complications." For a long moment, I was in a daze, still recovering from the dizziness and shock. When I finally picked up my phone, dozens of messages from Eva flooded the screen. There was no comfort or concern, only cold accusations. "You went too far this time. Not only did you hurt Zach, but you also almost destroyed our seven years of hard work. The police have officially opened a case. Apologize to Zach in the company group chat, and I'll consider withdrawing the police report." My fingers paused. Then, I opened the company group chat. Pinned to the top was an announcement already posted under my name. "I, Elliot Young, sincerely apologize for trying to interfere in the relationship between Ms. Sinclair and Mr. Jones. I recognize that I'm no longer qualified to manage the company's overseas projects. As a gesture of goodwill, I recommend that Mr. Jones take over moving forward…" The message had been posted two hours earlier, right when I was unconscious. A second later, Zach tagged me in the chat, saying, "Elliot, since you've offered such a heartfelt apology, I'm willing to let this go. By the way, Ms. Sinclair covered the 300 dollars for your hospital bill. Don't forget to pay her back." As if worried I might make trouble, Eva sent me a private message. "Be good. It's only for appearances. Go along with Zach's PR plan, and I'll go with you to get married next week." It felt as though a hole had opened in my chest, letting a cold draft in. My heart turned completely cold. While I'd been unconscious, Eva had found time to write a public apology in my name and hand over the project I'd spent years building to Zach. Yet, she didn't have the time to direct the paramedics to me. And to keep up appearances, she even expected me to reimburse the medical bill for my injury. The last trace of warmth in my heart vanished. I closed my eyes, then transferred the money. I posted the transfer notice in the group chat. "300 dollars—medical expenses." The debt was settled. And so was our seven-year relationship. I submitted my resignation. Then, I opened another conversation and typed, "Are you still there?" Within seconds, I received a photo showing a new courthouse appointment slip, along with the reply, "I never left." That morning, my appointment number was 103. The number on her slip was now 278. I didn't know how many hours she'd waited. My eyes stung. I typed back immediately, "I'll be there soon." After checking myself out of the hospital, I took a cab straight to the courthouse. The moment the official seal came down on the certificate, everything between Eva and me ended. We officially had nothing to do with each other. … Third-Person POV Meanwhile, Eva barely noticed Elliot's absence from work over the next few days. She simply assumed he was throwing a tantrum. But as the date she'd promised to marry him kept drawing closer, something felt off. Normally, he would've sent dozens of messages, confirming every detail of their appointment. But this time, there was nothing. Irritated, Eva opened their chat. The message she'd sent that morning remained unanswered. "We'll get married tomorrow," it read. For some reason, a faint sense of unease crept into her chest. Unable to shake it, she opened social media, trying to find any news about him. That was when a post from a rival company caught her eye. Uploaded just a few minutes ago, the post read, "Congratulations to the newlyweds! Frost Group CEO, Emily Frost, is officially married and ready for the next chapter of her life." Attached were photos of the marriage certificate and an elegant wedding invitation. The wedding was to be held that night at 8:00 p.m. at the Garden Hotel. The bride was Emily Frost, while the groom was Elliot Young.