She wasn’t his daughter!!

But he’d already taken money from the Hart family. That money had already gone toward paying his debts. He couldn’t return it. Some of it had even been used to send people to Beijing to find Annabelle Winters.

The Hart family had said that after the wedding, they’d give him another sum.

With Annabelle Winters missing, if he didn’t hand over a bride to the Hart family today, there was no way he’d get away with it.

"Uncle An, she says she’s not Annabelle Winters. Can you check if it’s really her?"

"Uncle An, are you sure you haven’t got the wrong person?"

"She insists she isn’t!"

"Wanwan, stop this nonsense!" Mr. Winters stormed forward. "Come home and get married like a good girl!"

She’d seen shameless people before, but none as shameless as this man.

No matter whether she was Annabelle Winters or not, there was no way she’d let him control her.

In the circles of the wealthy, arranged marriages for business were still considered reasonable—at least the parents would vet things properly.

But what Mr. Winters was doing wasn’t arranging a marriage, it was selling his daughter!

"She’s just lived too long in the big city and now looks down on us town folk. Doesn’t want to marry? Well, with her mother gone, this is my decision. If I say she’ll marry, she’ll marry!" Mr. Winters stood there, oozing patriarchal authority. "Bring her inside!"

A few middle-aged women reached out toward Olivia Young.

"Don’t you dare come near me!" Olivia Young snapped, her voice clear and fierce. "You’re all already guilty of kidnapping and interfering with my freedom to marry!"

People hesitated, but were still tempted to act.

Olivia Young’s gaze turned icy cold, sweeping over the crowd. "Nobody move. Don’t touch me. The second you lay a hand on me, you’re committing a crime and you will go to jail!"

Mr. Winters was panicked inside, but forced a calm front. "Don’t listen to her scare tactics! Just because she’s lived in the city she thinks she’s the law now?"

"We know exactly who Wanwan is!"

"Wanwan, listen to your father. Xiao He will treat you well!"

"I’m not Annabelle Winters!" Olivia Young’s head throbbed with anger. "You can’t even recognize your own daughter!"

Mr. Winters pointed at her. "You put on makeup and now you can’t recognize your own father? You unfilial brat!"

In this place, being called unfilial was the greatest taboo.

"How could you not be filial to your dad? He worked so hard to raise you!"

"Come on, let’s go! You’re about to miss the auspicious hour!"

Not good! Time to run!

But Olivia Young didn’t make it.

Damn it!

She and Frederick Fairfax had never even worn wedding clothes. She hadn’t even taken wedding photos with him, and here she was about to be forced to stand beside another man.

Olivia Young was dragged off by the aunties.

A whole crowd marched alongside, afraid she’d make another break for it.

Mr. Winters, at the front, kept glancing back at her.

He knew she wasn’t Annabelle Winters—and still planned to marry her off pretending she was.

A man like this didn’t deserve to be called a father!

Olivia Young felt like spitting in his face, but couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Hugh Hart stood at the entrance. The moment he saw Olivia Young, his eyes lit up.

Was this Annabelle Winters? She looked a little like her—only prettier!

What was going on?

Whatever the reason, the Winters family had accepted his bride price—he was getting their daughter, after all!

If Annabelle Winters wouldn’t come back, this woman would do. She was even more attractive; by his count, he was making a killing.

Hugh Hart stepped forward, excited. "Wanwan, if you have any complaints about me, I can change after the wedding. We’re about to miss the auspicious hour. Let’s head inside."

Olivia Young aimed a sharp kick right at his groin.

This bastard wanted to force Annabelle Winters into marriage—he deserved all of this.

Not just Hugh Hart, but everyone else froze in shock.

In their minds, Annabelle Winters had always been docile and gentle. Who could have guessed she had this fierce side?

"Annabelle Winters, what are you doing?!" Mr. Winters bellowed.

Olivia Young wrenched her arm free from the aunties and slapped Mr. Winters hard across the face.

"Why are you yelling? Aren’t you glad I didn’t hit you harder?!"

Everyone looked utterly stunned.

A daughter dare to strike her father? It was absolutely unheard of!

Olivia Young wasn’t the least bit afraid.

She could hear the sound of cars approaching. If Frederick Fairfax hadn’t shown up, who knew if she’d ever be able to get back to her own home again.

Mr. Winters was shaking with fury. Never in his life had he suffered such humiliation.

He raised his arm viciously toward Olivia Young.

Olivia Young stepped back.

"Dad, it’s fine, it’s fine!" Hugh Hart rushed forward, grabbing Mr. Winters’s wrist. "You brought her back all of a sudden for the wedding, of course she’s upset. Don’t get mad. Don’t get mad. This is a happy day. Whatever it is, let’s talk later."

Olivia Young rolled her eyes in disgust.

Was her original persona in the book this popular? Even after being kicked, he’d still play the hero… She didn’t buy it. He probably just wanted to marry her so he could torment her.

For the sake of the money, Mr. Winters composed himself, but his expression was still fierce.

"Wanwan, ceremony’s about to start. Let’s go in!"

Hugh Hart reached for Olivia Young’s hand, his smile soft and his eyes totally captivated.

"Don’t touch me!"

"Everyone, back away!"

Five or six cars screeched to a stop—including a police car.

At the front of the group, a man stood tall and imposing. His eyes were so deep and cold, they could slice like blades.

Police pointed their guns, and the crowd hastily parted to clear a path.

Annabelle Winters climbed out of one of the cars, anxious.

"Annabelle Winters?!"

"So this is Annabelle Winters—then who’s she?"

"She really wasn’t lying!"

"See, I told you this lady looked prettier than Wanwan—you all said it was just makeup!"

"How’s that our fault? Old An can’t even recognize his own daughter!"

"That’s the celebrity! I’ve seen her on TV!"

"A celebrity—let me take a picture with you!"

Hugh Hart shielded Olivia Young. "Who are you?!"

"I’m her husband. We’re legally married."

Frederick Fairfax shoved Hugh Hart out of the way and pulled Olivia Young into his arms.

The same man whose eyes were cold enough to kill a moment ago now looked so heartbroken he could cry.

He hugged Olivia Young tightly. "I’m sorry I’m late, honey."

"It’s fine. At least you came before they literally forced me to marry someone else." Olivia Young forced a bitter smile.

This day had been pure hell, and Frederick Fairfax looked just as worn out, his eyes bloodshot.

He’d probably been up all night searching for her.

It was all these people’s fault!

Frederick Fairfax held Olivia Young’s soft hand in his. Only now did it feel real—he’d finally found her.

His voice was deep and low. "Chief Zhang, they’ve obviously broken the law. Arrest everyone involved—we’re not dropping charges."

The police chief nodded repeatedly. "Don’t worry, Mr. Feng. We’ll handle this strictly according to the law."

"Don’t arrest me! He took my bride price to marry his daughter to me—I had no idea this woman wasn’t Annabelle Winters!"

"An! How dare you scam me!"

"I didn’t! They just look too much alike!" Mr. Winters, hands cuffed behind his back, glared at Annabelle Winters. "I’m your father! Say something and explain!"

"Explain what? You did something wrong, so tell it to the police!" Annabelle Winters had never expected he could act like this.

If only Olivia Young hadn’t wandered into the flower boutique that day. If only those kidnappers hadn’t only used the photo and just grabbed whoever looked kind of similar… none of this would’ve happened.

She owed Olivia Young. She’d let her bear all this pain.

The chief barked, "Take them all in! Don’t let a single one get away!"

"Especially you!"

Mr. Winters shrank back, trembling in terror, legs suddenly too weak to stand.