Leave a Man, Gain an Empire

Tomorrow is my wedding day, and I'm sitting in the makeup room, the lace from trying on my wedding dress still lingering at my fingertips. Mia Lynn, my bridesmaid, walked over carrying a glass of orange juice, her smile a little too sweet, almost forced. "Grace, drink some juice to stay hydrated—you'll need to look perfect all day tomorrow." I didn't think much of it and took a big gulp from the glass. The juice tasted a little off, but I just figured it had some special fruit bits in it. The dizziness hit suddenly and violently; everything went dark, and I lost consciousness. When I woke up again, I was surrounded by noisy voices and festive music. I found myself standing at the end of the red carpet at the wedding banquet, still wearing that pristine wedding dress. No, this isn't the venue where my wedding is supposed to take place tomorrow. What sent chills down my spine even more was that the groom, Mason Collins, who should have been standing by my side, was gone. In his place was a big rooster wearing a red silk ribbon around its neck and a small red flower on its head. The guests around whispered among themselves, their eyes full of mockery and pity. "What is going on here?" I struggled against the dizziness, my voice trembling. A woman in a pink dress approached—Ruby Collins, Mason's adopted sister. She looked me up and down with a scornful glare. Ruby curled a mocking smile and said with disdain, "Grace, what else could it be? Mason suddenly had something come up, so he sent that rooster to stand in for him in the wedding ritual with you." "What did you say?" I stared at her in disbelief. "I said, the wedding ritual." Ruby stepped forward, reaching out to push me. "Don't hold up the auspicious time. Mason said once the ritual's over, he'll be back." I jerked my hand away from her, fury surging through me. "No way! Where's Mason Collins? Get him out here to face me!" "What's all the shouting about?" A familiar voice cut through the tension. I turned to see Mason Collins striding over, dressed in a crisp suit but wearing a look of irritation. "Mason, what the h*ll is going on?" I stepped quickly up to him and grabbed his arm. Mason yanked his arm free and stepped protectively in front of Ruby Collins. "Grace, knock it off." He frowned, his voice sharp and cold, "Ruby was only joking. Can you stop being so ungrateful?" "A joke?" I was shaking with anger, tears welling up in my eyes. "Using a rooster to marry me—is that supposed to be funny?" Ruby hid behind Mason, showing half her face, her voice plaintive: "Mason, I just thought it was a joke. I didn't expect Grace to take it so seriously... Sorry, it's all my fault." "Alright, stop crying." "Mason comforted her softly, then turned to scold me, 'Grace, Ruby's still young and doesn't know better. Can't you go easy on her? Today's a happy day—don't spoil it for everyone.'" Seeing his blatant favoritism, the last trace of hope in my heart was shattered. "Let her have her way?" I sneered quietly, my voice low but sharp enough for those around to hear clearly. "Mason Collins, have you forgotten who begged me in the first place to bring my dowry and marry into your Collins Family?" Those words struck Mason like a slap across the face, his expression instantly turning deathly pale. "What nonsense are you talking about?!" he shouted harshly. "Whether I'm making nonsense or not, you know the truth in your heart." I took a deep breath, swallowing the sharp pain in my chest, and said slowly, "I'm calling off this wedding. From this moment on, I, Grace Scott, have nothing to do with you, Mason Collins." After saying that, I turned and, ignoring the uproar behind me and Mason Collins's furious shouts, walked step by step out of this place that had humiliated me.