Chapter 3 Changing the Groom

Michael had left. It was like he had never been there, as there was almost no trace of his presence from last night, except for the ache between her legs and the soreness in her body, which reminded her of everything that had gone down.

She got dressed, took a quick look around to make sure everything was in place, and then opened the door. Her stepmom, Sophia Brown, and her half-sister, Bianca Taylor, walked in.

"Isabella, did you get your marriage certificate with John yesterday? Show it to me." Ever since the wedding date with John was set, Sophia had been treating her like gold.

"Sophia, I didn't get the marriage certificate with him," Isabella said flatly.

"What about the wedding tomorrow?" Sophia exclaimed. "The invitations are out. How am I supposed to explain this to everyone?"

"The wedding will proceed as planned, just with a different groom," Isabella replied calmly.

"What? A different groom? Have you lost your mind?"

After Sophia finished venting, Isabella explained, "John cheated. I caught him in the act. I can't marry him."

"What about the bride price? Do we need to return it?" Sophia asked anxiously. "And who's this new guy? Will he pay?"

Isabella didn't say anything. In her mind, the bride price from the Williams family would definitely have to be returned. She didn't know whether Michael would pay a bride price, and she didn't want to ask. He was already doing her a favor by having the wedding with her, so asking for more would be too much.

"The bride price from the Williams family are with me. Think of it as payback for raising you. I'm not returning them," Sophia said. "If they ask for the bride price back, you're on your own! Consider this money as your way of showing respect to your grandma."

Though angry, Isabella had no other choice. She had to return the money to the Williams family.

Just then, the styling team arrived. Isabella ignored Sophia and went straight to change into her dress.

With her natural beauty, Isabella needed only minimal makeup after putting on the wedding dress to look stunning.

Seeing Isabella in the wedding dress she had wanted for herself, Bianca couldn't contain her jealousy and sneered, "John doesn't want you anymore, yet here you are wearing the wedding dress he bought. How embarrassing!"

Isabella frowned, realizing she had overlooked this detail. Everything for the wedding had indeed been prepared by the Williams family, and she hadn't even told John she wouldn't be marrying him.

She needed to notify John immediately that their wedding was canceled.

Isabella kept calling John's phone, but there was no answer.

She figured John probably didn't care about this wedding anyway.

Suddenly, there was a commotion downstairs, and someone shouted, "The groom's cars are here!"

Sophia and Bianca rushed downstairs.

Below, leading the procession was an extended Rolls-Royce, followed by over a dozen luxury vehicles. Bianca stood there speechless, her mouth agape.

Sophia declared firmly, "Must be some old man! Where else would all this money come from?"

Bianca waited eagerly, expecting to see a short, balding old man with a pot belly step out.

John, seeing the missed calls on his phone, thought Isabella had given in and rushed to the hotel.

At the hotel entrance, seeing the line of luxury cars, John assumed the Taylor family had arranged it all to impress the Williams family. He sneered inwardly at their desperation.

When John saw Isabella, her beauty in the white wedding dress stunned him. She looked like an ethereal fairy. He had dark thoughts about what he'd like to do to her.

"Isabella, I'm here," John called out dramatically, rushing to her side.

Before Bianca could speak, Sophia pulled her back, wanting to watch Isabella make a fool of herself.

Isabella stepped back, avoiding John's touch.

John put on a pitiful act, saying, "Isabella, I know I've been busy lately, but it was all for our wedding!"

Trying to avoid a scene, Isabella said quietly, "Let's part ways peacefully."

Despite being caught in bed with another woman, John knew Isabella had no proof. He turned the tables. "Part ways? The Taylor family must have found someone better and wants to dump the Williams family!"

Sophia quickly grabbed John's hand, saying, "John, I still approve of you as my son-in-law. I'll make the decision—take Isabella, and our families will remain connected."

Knowing Sophia's authority in the Taylor family, John took her words as permission, stepping forward to grab Isabella and pull her away, with Sophia and Bianca helping him.

Isabella cried out in panic, "Let go of me! I'm already legally married to someone else!"

Everyone froze. John, recovering from the shock, put on a hurt expression, "Isabella, I was just busy for a while, how could you... marry someone else?"

The crowd began whispering and pointing at Isabella, who stood there with her head down, nearly in tears, not knowing how to explain.

"Is twisting the truth part of the Williams family's upbringing?" The Rolls-Royce door opened, and a long leg in crisp trousers stepped out. Michael strode towards Isabella, protectively pulling her to his side.

Michael hadn't expected so much drama to unfold during his brief phone call.

Bianca stared at Michael, almost crying with envy.

Sophia angrily pushed Bianca aside, saying dismissively, "He's just a hired actor."

John agreed with Sophia, inwardly sneering at how desperate Isabella must be to get married.

"Isabella, I was just busy with work, you need to understand that. How could you hire an actor just to spite me?"

Michael, not wanting to waste words with John, instructed his assistant, "Aaron, clean this up."

The man called Aaron gestured, and two burly men came forward to remove John from the scene.

Michael walked to Isabella's side and swept her up in a princess carry, drawing gasps from the crowd.

Never in her life had Isabella received so much attention. It was quite showy, but she loved it!

The wedding was held at the luxurious Carlton Royal Hotel, decorated throughout with orange roses, creating an atmosphere as warm and vibrant as sunlight.

As the clock struck twelve, the officiant indicated they could begin, but Michael said to wait—an important guest hadn't arrived yet.

Isabella assumed it was one of his relatives and said nothing.

Aiden complained, "What important person? Making everyone wait at such an important occasion."

The usher signaled someone's arrival.

Michael ignored Aiden's complaints and led Isabella toward the entrance.

Isabella smiled gracefully beside Michael, trying to hide her nervousness to avoid embarrassing him in front of this important person.

As they reached the entrance, the staff slowly opened the doors. In the brilliant noon sunlight sat Ella in a burgundy velvet brocade dress, her snow-white hair immaculately styled, seated in a wheelchair, her wrinkles like blooming flowers.

Isabella excitedly embraced her grandmother Ella. For her, having Grandma witness this wedding made it perfect.

Ella gently patted Isabella's back, comforting her, "My dear child, I know everything. Michael is a good boy, live well with him."

Isabella rested her head on her grandmother's shoulder, nodding firmly.

Standing up, Isabella pushed her grandmother's wheelchair toward the ceremony venue, looking at Michael and asking softly, "Did you arrange for Grandma to be brought here?"

Michael placed his hand on the wheelchair, pushing it together with Isabella, and said in a voice only they could hear, "Yeah. Isabella, we are one. You can trust me with everything."

Isabella didn't respond, thinking to herself, 'You don't trust me and tell me your things. Why should I?'

Despite her thoughts, she couldn't hide the happiness and sweetness on her face.

The wedding was mostly attended by the bride's relatives, with only a few tables for the groom's side. The wedding ceremony was simple yet dignified.

When the officiant announced that the groom should kiss the bride, Isabella instinctively tried to avoid it. However, Michael firmly and assertively kissed her.