Chapter 1

“Will you please continue with the wedding ceremony first? Other matters can wait for now.” “Rachel

Grey, you know very well that our marriage is just a trade. Being Mrs. Smith is all you want from me.

So, stay out of my business.”

Her lips lifted into a mocking snicker, she had never thought that the three years she’d spent with him

was just a trade in his eyes.

They have been together for the past three years, spending most of their time together. She could forgo

everything for him, falling out with her family and leaving them. All he had in return was he couldn’t

control his feeling for his old flame, Olivia Cruise.

“Here is 200 thousand dollars. It should be enough for you to lead a stable life in the countryside.” He

said.

Apparently. the past three years she spent with him were worth only 200 thousand dollars. He wouldn’t

have known that the 200 thousand dollars were nothing to her, actually he didn’t even know who she

really is.

“Louis Smith, your family’s wealth meant nothing to me, nor do I care about being Mrs. Smith. And I will

not accept any form of apology and compensation from you. Remember this. There’ll never be

reconciliation between us.“Her face seemed laced with ice, and nothing was in her eyes except

indifference and determination.

As the wedding march played in the background, Rachel walked down the aisle in her white bridal

gown toward Louis Smith, who is bearing a bouquet in his hand at the other end of the hall.

Louis was wearing a matching white tuxedo. When the golden light shone on him from behind, it

created a gentle halo–like effect that enveloped him, making him appear bright and youthful.

They had known each other for the past three years and had weathered many trials and tribulations

together. Today was the day her dream came true; she was finally getting married to him.

Her only regret was that her family was against her marrying Louis. So, She’d never gotten the blessing

from her family to marry him.

Tears of joy shone in her eyes when he walked towards her and handed her the bouquet in his hand.

The priest on the platform gazed upon the bride and groom with gentleness. “Mr. Louis. Smith, do you

take Ms. Rachel Grey for your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for

worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”

Rachel controlled the waves of emotion she was going through as she gazed hopefully at Louis,

wanting to hear the word of affirmation from him.

Louis did not seem overjoyed by this occasion, and there wasn’t any excitement on his face.

He stood there hesitantly, not saying the word Rachel wished to hear.

At this very moment, Jane Smith bolted in through the door from the outside, interrupting the

procession happening in the church.

“Louis‘ It’s Olivia…” Tears streamed down her face like a helpless child as she muttered,

“She..”

A gush of bad omen hit Rachel’s heart as she gazed at Louis in confusion. Her grip on his hand

tightened involuntarily.

Rachel knew the weight that Olivia Cruise carried in Louis’s heart.

For Louis, Olivia was the one that got away, the one that would never belong with him.

After the fall of the Smith family, Olivia left him for the opportunity to go overseas. Being a proud man,

Louis cut all contact with Olivia and chose to be with Rachel instead.

But a month ago, Olivia came back into his life.

Louis immediately paled as he anxiously asked, his voice hoarse and panic–stricken, “What’s wrong

with Olivia?”

“Olivia bled so much, and I couldn’t stop the bleeding. The doctor said that she’s in danger of losing her

life,” Jane spoke.

Louis flung Rachel’s hand away and sprinted out the door after hearing about Olivia from

Jane.

“You can’t leave!” Rachel grabbed Louis‘ hand as her entire body shook uncontrollably. She had her

eyes fixated on him, and she said, “Louis, it’s our wedding day today. Are you sure you want to leave?”

Their guests were murmuring at each other, and some even threw them mocking stares that stabbed

through her heart like sharp knives.

She stared at him with her reddened eyes as she begged for him to stay, “Louis, Will you please

continue with the wedding ceremony first? Other matters can wait for now.”

“Olivia got into an accident trying to save me, and she’s now in the hospital, fighting for her life. I can’t

leave her just like that.”

His expression gloomed when he realized she wouldn’t let him leave the church without completing the

ceremony. His glance at her hardened as she spoke, “Rachel Grey, you know very well that our

marriage is just a trade. Being Mrs. Smith is all you want from me. So, stay out of my business.”

All the years she’d spent with him, and everything she’d done for him, was just a business

transaction to him.

Her pupils shrunk as she stared at Louis‘ gloomy face in disbelief. The shock in her eyes slowly turned

scornful.

Her lips lifted into a mocking snicker as she spoke, her gentle voice laced with despair, “Everything that

we’ve been through was just a trade to you?”