Hijacked Vows

1 On my wedding day to Gideon, my father stood before high-society guests to deliver his speech. But at the altar receiving blessings were Gideon and his childhood sweetheart, Amy, hand in hand. Father gripped his speech, trembling, as he spotted me in plain clothes at the back of the hall. His heart bled for me. Gideon offered a chilling smile. “Speak up, Father-in-law. We wouldn’t want gossip that the family bullies a poor orphan girl.” The groomsmen laughed. “Amy’s always been our real sister-in-law! If her parents hadn’t died, you wouldn’t be up there!” Father swallowed his humiliation and kept reading for my sake. Amy had planned the entire wedding, with decorations to her taste and her friends as bridesmaids. Because she was an orphan, my parents were forced to bless her on stage. “Gideon,” I asked quietly, “do you even remember whose wedding this is?” He frowned. “Amy just wanted to experience being a bride. Stop being narrow-minded. It’s not like I’m refusing to register our marriage later.” After a long silence, I nodded. “If that’s the case, I’ll find someone else to experience being a bride with. My actual fiancé.” … Gideon burst out laughing. He looked down at me as if watching a throw an embarrassing, childish tantrum to save face. “Don’t make me laugh. You aren’t some high-society heiress. Where would you get a fiancé?” “Besides me, who else would ever marry you?” Amy covered her mouth, giggling softly. Her lavish bridal gown shimmered dazzingly under the crystal chandeliers. That exact gown was the one I had fallen in love with at first sight while planning the wedding. Gideon had even told me how beautiful I looked in it. Yet the moment Amy mentioned she liked it too, Gideon bought it for her without a second thought. Amy claimed her childhood dream was to have a grand wedding and be the most beautiful bride. So the wedding that belonged to me was handed over to her on a silver platter. And I was left standing in the dark corner of the hall, enduring the cold, mocking, and pitying gazes of the guests. When my father finished reading the speech, he seemed to have aged ten years in a single moment. Looking at me in the corner, his eyes swelled with sorrow. In the end, he simply stooped his back and let out a long, heavy sigh. Gideon swept a condescending glance over my father. “Father-in-law, on such a joyous day, please refrain from sighing.” “I wouldn’t want Amy’s happiness to be ruined by your constant sighing.” My father lowered his head even further, stammering an apology. “I… I’m sorry, son-in-law. It’s all my fault. Please… please don’t take it out on my daughter…” I bit my lip so hard I almost drew blood, fighting back the burning tears in my eyes. My father was a retired, respected schoolteacher who had lived his whole life with dignity. This was the first time he had ever lowered himself so humbly before anyone. All because Gideon was the man I had insisted on marrying. He just wanted me to be happy. “Understood,” Gideon replied coolly. “As long as you cooperate, I won’t blame her.” The wedding host stepped in with a practiced smile. “Now, the father of the bride may take the bride’s hand and hand her over to the groom!” “Eww! I don’t want this old man holding my hand! What if he takes advantage of me?” Amy whined in disgust. My father rushed to explain. “Miss Amy! I would never do such a thing! My family comes from generations of educators, we would never…” Gideon cut him off with an impatient wave of his hand. “Amy is young, her concern is understandable. Father-in-law, just make a gesture. Don’t actually touch her.” “Alright… alright.” My father’s embarrassment deepened. His hands fumbled nervously with the hem of his suit. That suit was the one he had bought five years ago when he first met Gideon. It was outdated, yet ironed so meticulously that not a single wrinkle showed. I felt more sneering eyes drifting toward me. Amy’s bridesmaids stood nearby, throwing malicious glances my way as they whispered loudly. “How embarrassing! If I were her, I’d find a rope and hang myself right now! How does she even have the nerve to stand here?” “Gross! Don’t say that! If she dies here, Amy will think it brings bad luck!” Finally, one of the groomsmen who grew up with Gideon couldn’t bear it anymore. He patted my shoulder, whispering softly, “Don’t take it to heart. They’re just messing around. Actually…” “Actually, we all know Gideon still cares about you in his heart. He just pities Amy because she lost her parents. He treats her like a sister.” I nodded quietly, subtly shifting my shoulder to avoid his touch. On stage, my father walked Amy through the sea of flowers. Without touching her, he gestured toward Gideon, placing her hand into Gideon’s grip. Amy smiled sweetly, letting Gideon slide a massive diamond ring onto her ring finger. Thunderous applause erupted across the hall. I lowered my eyes and pulled out my phone, scrolling to the very bottom of my contact list. The last message in our chat history was sent by him a year ago. [YES OR NO?] After a full year of silence, I finally typed my reply. [YES, I DO.] 2 After the ceremony ended, the feast began. Gideon walked arm-in-arm with Amy, going from table to table offering toasts. The two of them showered in the blessings of the crowd. It was only when Amy went backstage to change into her second gown that Gideon finally remembered my existence. Seeing me sitting alone in the corner, he strolled over and affectionately pinched my nose. “Still throwing a tantrum? It’s a happy day, eat something.” He grabbed an orange from the table, carefully peeling it for me. He remembered that I disliked the white pith, so he patiently stripped every last bit of it away. “I’ve served you personally, are you finally done being mad?” Gideon leaned in with a smirk, planting a kiss on my cheek. “I told you, Amy is just a younger sister I protect. You’re my wife, which makes you her sister-in-law. Can’t you just yield to her a little?” A suffocating lump lodged in my chest, making it hard to breathe. Just as I reached out to take the peeled orange, a sudden wave of murmurs swept through the hall. “The bride is back! Look at that gown! She looks stunning!” Gideon’s attention was instantly snatched away. Amy had changed into a vibrant red mermaid gown, stepping gracefully into the hall. Unconcealed admiration filled Gideon’s eyes. Without a second thought, he turned on his heel and walked straight toward her, completely abandoning my hand hanging mid-air. Below the stage, Gideon’s friends and Amy’s bridesmaids began hooting together. “Whoo! May you be blessed with a baby soon! We’ll come back for the month-old celebration!” “Now this is what I call a gorgeous couple! Not like some people who look miserable and unlucky all day long!” “Alright, it’s a happy occasion, don’t say such things,” Gideon scolded the bridesmaid softly, though a smile played on his lips. He took Amy’s hand into his. “Come on,” he said softly. “Let’s make the rounds for the toasts.” The first table they visited was the immediate family table. Gideon’s parents held up their wine glasses, looking at Amy with immense warmth and affection. “Our Gideon has been close with Amy since they were kids. We’ve been waiting to drink your wedding wine for years.” “Here, take this.” Gideon’s mother unclasped a fine, glowing jade bracelet from her own wrist and slipped it onto Amy’s hand. “Wonderful, it suits you perfectly. This was passed down from Gideon’s great-grandmother. It’s good to see it go to the right person.” “Thank you, Auntie!” Amy squealed with joy, caressing the smooth jade. My parents sat on the other side of the table. Under the mockery of the entire room, the backs of the two elderly people, who had stood tall their whole lives, finally slumped in defeat. I bit my lower lip so hard that my fingers dug into the wooden armrest of my chair, drawing blood under my nails. “Oh, right,” Gideon’s mother added nonchalantly. “We have one for the other girl as well. Our family doesn’t favor one over the other.” “Come over here, Gwen. What does it look like, sitting there all by yourself? Do you even remember that you’re supposed to be our daughter-in-law?” I let out a soundless laugh, though there was no joy in my eyes. I wondered if anyone in this crowded room actually remembered that I was the one marrying into their family. Still, I walked over to Gideon’s mother. “…Mother.” “Mmm,” she responded coldly, pulling out another jade bracelet from her bag. It was also white jade, but while Amy’s was translucent and luminous, mine was dull, milky, and completely opaque under the light. Gideon stared at it in surprise. “Mom! Isn’t that bracelet made from the leftover scraps of Amy’s jade? Why are you giving that to Gwen?” “The quality of the person determines the quality of the bracelet,” his mother replied dismissively. The bright lights overhead hit me like a physical blow. I felt as though I had been slapped across the face in front of everyone. I accepted the bracelet, lowered my head, and quickly turned to leave. Gideon chased after me. He blocked my path at the entrance, his tone coaxing. “Gwen, don’t be mad. You know how my mom is. Amy grew up right under her eyes.” “Don’t hold it against them. Be good, okay? When the wedding is over, I’ll buy you a much better bracelet.” I smiled softly. When Gideon proposed to me, he gave me an engagement ring worth ten thousand dollars. At the time, I felt it was far too expensive and spent weeks looking for a gift to return the gesture. Yet today, he casually handed Amy a diamond ring worth millions. I shook my head, gently pushing his hand away. “There’s no need.” “You don’t need to blame your mother.” After all, you are no different from her. 3 When the banquet ended, my parents found me in the lobby. “Gwen… we’re planning to head back early.” My hometown was a coastal town in the south, and my parents had traveled all the way here specifically for my wedding. I hadn’t expected them to leave before the event was even fully over. I knew I had disgraced them. “…I’ll book your flight tickets,” I said, my voice thick with guilt. Gideon stepped up behind us at that moment. He frowned. “Mom, Dad, the reception isn’t over yet. So many guests are still here, it’s not proper for you to leave now.” My mother finally snapped. She raised her hand and delivered a ringing slap across Gideon’s face! Tears streamed down her face as she yelled, “Gideon! My daughter has done nothing wrong to you! Our family saved your life, and this is how you humiliate her?!” Gideon’s eyes darkened, but out of respect for my mother, he restrained himself. “I’ve said it again and again, Gwen is my only wife. How am I humiliating her?” he declared coldly. “Amy and I grew up together. Everyone in our circle assumed we would end up together.” “Even though I only view Amy as a sister, I had to give her this respect today.” Though he spoke to my mother, his dark, accusing gaze landed squarely on me. “Gwen, you are being completely unreasonable.” I didn’t know who was truly being unreasonable. Six years ago, Gideon and a few friends took a sailboat out to sea after graduation. They ran into a severe storm and suffered a shipwreck. Fortunately, the accident occurred near the peninsula where my family lived. I rescued Gideon and his friends, including Amy. I had intended to send them back as soon as they recovered. Yet when Gideon woke up, he refused to leave. He sent everyone else away, insisting that Amy go home first despite her tearful protests. He stayed at my house for an entire summer. During those months, I took him to the beach to catch crabs, taught him how to fish, and showed him how to read the weather at sea. Every time, his eyes would light up with admiration. “Gwen, you’re amazing. You’re like a goddess of the sea.” I laughed at his exaggerated praise. “I just grew up by the coast. My mom is a doctor, my dad is a teacher, and I’m just a normal student.” “I don’t care. To me, you’re the most incredible girl I’ve ever met.” On a clear, breezy afternoon, we took a small boat out onto the calm water. We lay side by side on the deck, watching sea birds glide across the blue sky. “Gwen, be my girlfriend.” “I promise to treat you well in this life, the next life, and every life after that.” I agreed. Back then, I had no idea that the Gu family was a massive corporate empire, or that a simple girl like me was far out of his league. Later, when I discovered he was an heir to a elite family in the capital, I tried to end things multiple times. Yet Gideon refused to let go. “I don’t care about any of that! I told you, I will only love you forever! Gwen, you can’t abandon me!” My heart softened. Even my parents, who initially opposed our relationship, were moved by his relentless persistence. At Gideon’s earnest begging, I packed my bags and moved to the capital alone. Yet I had forgotten that Gideon had a precious younger sister named Amy. Over the past few years, Amy mocked me, belittled me, and tried to humiliate me in front of the entire social circle. I endured it all, reminding myself that her parents had died young and that she grew up alongside Gideon. Gideon kept reassuring me that he had no intention of marrying Amy. “She is just a sister to me.” Even though I had saved Amy’s life back then, she once threw a kitchen knife at me during a tantrum. Despite my quick reflexes, a chunk of flesh was sliced from my thigh. To this day, a jagged scar remains on my leg. That night, Gideon held me frantically as he rushed me to the hospital in the pouring rain, even getting into a massive fight with Amy for the first time. I had wanted to break things off then, but seeing Gideon’s terrified, heartbroken expression like an abandoned puppy, my heart melted again. I closed my eyes tightly. This time, my heart would not soften again. My phone vibrated in my palm. The man had replied to my message. [I’m glad you’ve finally come to your senses.] [My Miss Mercer.] 4 Gideon blocked my parents from leaving and refused to let me book their flight, forcing them to stay at the hotel. That evening, a group of groomsmen and bridesmaids gathered in the hallway, clamoring to crash the bridal suite. Gideon frowned. “What era are we living in? Let’s skip these crude pranks.” “Haha, come on, Gideon! It’s all just for fun and to bring good luck!” “Don’t worry, we’re just fooling around to create a lively atmosphere!” Amy stood beside them, giggled softly. She threw a calculating glance at me. “Gideon said his wife is Gwen. Since that’s the case, you guys should give Gwen a proper initiation!” I froze, stepping back. Before I could ask what she meant, the crowd cheered in agreement as if it had all been orchestrated in advance. “Right! Gwen is the real Mrs. Gu! Come on, Mrs. Gu, step inside!” “Mrs. Gu, you wouldn’t want to ruin everyone’s fun, would you?” Realizing something was terribly wrong, I refused loudly, but the groomsmen and bridesmaids grabbed my arms, forcefully dragging me into the hotel suite. It was just a luxury hotel room set up for the wedding night. They threw me onto the bed covered in red silk sheets. I scrambled to climb off, but several hands pinned me down with loud, mocking laughter. Through the door, I heard my parents crying out in terror. “No! What are you doing to Gwen?! Gideon! Gideon, stop them!” Gideon’s voice sounded hesitant outside. Yet in the end, he spoke up, “It’s fine, Mom, Dad. I’ll watch them to make sure they don’t go too far.” “It’s just a harmless prank to bring good fortune to the wedding.” “Gideon!!!” My mother’s voice cracked in utter despair. I closed my eyes as hot tears spilled from the corners of my eyes. My hair was torn messily around my shoulders, and I could only use my hands to cover my torn clothing as best as I could. Until a cold, commanding voice echoed at the doorway. “What do you think you’re doing to my fiancée?” A brief, dead silence fell over the room, followed by gasps of shock. “Mr. Gavin?! What… what are you doing here?!” The next second, I was lifted into a firm, warm pair of arms. A rich scent of cedar and bergamot wrapped around me as a soft wool blanket was draped over my body, covering my torn dress completely. “I’m sorry I’m late,” he rasped quietly. I opened my eyes, meeting Gideon’s furious, disbelieving gaze a few feet away. “Gavin?! Why the hell are you here? Who are you calling your fiancée?!” The man holding me answered calmly, “Gwen is my fiancée.” “We are registering our marriage tomorrow, and holding our wedding the day after.” “Im possible!!!” Gideon charged into the room, reaching out to tear me away from Gavin. “What nonsense are you spewing?! Gwen is my wife! She’s the future matriarch of the Gu family!” “Today was our wedding! What does any of this have to do with you, you bastard?!” Gavin let out a cold, mocking smirk. “Today? Your wedding with Gwen?” His dark eyes drifted meaningfully toward Amy standing at the door. Amy stood frozen like a stone statue, her face pale with shock. “Then what about her?” Gavin asked. “Amy is just my sister!” “Sister?” Gavin’s large hand held me securely against his chest, preventing Gideon from touching a single thread of my clothes. “Holding a wedding, wearing bridal gowns, reciting vows, and exchanging rings with your ‘sister’?” “How… how do you know all that…” Gideon stammered. “Because I have been waiting for this day for ten whole years.” “Because I knew that a man like you could never give Gwen happiness, nor do you deserve to. So, I am replacing you.” Gavin didn’t waste another second on the crowd. Carrying me in his arms, he strode out of the suite, while his assistants promptly escorted my parents out behind us. I leaned against Gavin’s warm, solid chest. Behind us, Gideon screamed my name hysterically, giving chase with everything he had. I never turned back.

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