Chapter 163

"Did you toss the ring after an argument? There's still a faint mark from the ring on your finger. Trust me,once you've experienced our wedding rituals, you two will patch things right up, the stylist said with a knowing grin as she draped the veil over Hannah's head.

An overwhelming sense of irritation washed over Hannah.

Two staff members held Hannah firmly by each arm and guided her forward from behind the curtain.

Her eyes met Vincent's, and she instinctively looked away. Every part of her wanted to bolt, but the staff edged her even closer to Vincent.

Onstage, the host enthusiastically announced,"Groom, now's your moment, lift the bride's veil!"

The crowd responded with enthusiastic applause, eager for the spectacle.

Vincent drew in a steadying breath and carefully peeled back the delicate veil.

As the orange-tinted fabric slipped away, Hannah met his eyes with a frozen, unreadable stare.

Hannah then turned to the host, voice sharp. "Is that it? Can I go now?"

Unfazed, the host kept the energy high. "Our bride's in a hurry tonight! But before you leave, let's have the couple exchange floral bracelets. These beautiful pieces are handmade by our team, real flowers, just for you."

Hannah wasted no time, slipping the bracelet onto Vincent's wrist like she was checking off a chore.

Vincent, on the other hand, took his time. "Doesn't this feel a bit like our wedding day, exchanging rings?"

"Not even close. Let's just finish this." Hannah thrust her hand toward him, but Vincent unexpectedly caught her wrist, his fingers tracing gentle circles along her skin. Luckily, there wasn't even a hint of injury, and he let out a quiet breath of relief.

Hannah snatched her hand away and shot him a wary look. "Can't you just put it on? Why the extra touching?"

Vincent offered an apologetic shrug. "I got distracted. Sorry about that."

Vincent grabbed her hand and slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.

As soon as they'd swapped bracelets, the host beamed. "Now, for the most exciting part of all-let's see a kiss to mark this special occasion!"

Chants of "Kiss! Kiss!" erupted from the audience,fueling the excitement.

Off to the side, Brinley and Felix looked thoroughly displeased.

Hannah immediately stepped away and then firmly answered, "That won't be necessary." Vincent was quick to back her upo. "I'll respect her wishes."

At that moment, the host lost his footing and "accidentally" collided with Vincent.

The momentum carried Vincent straight into Hannah,and his lips brushed against hers before either of them could react.

Both Hannah and Vincent froze in shock, wide-eyed and stunned.

A warm tingle lingered on Hannah's lips, while Vincent could hardly steady his own breathing as his heartbeat thundered in his chest.

The crowd responded with wild applause, celebrating the moment.

Not missing a beat, the host amped up the excitement. "Let's give the happy couple a little more time together!"

Under the stage lights, the orange veil danced in the air, casting a soft glow over the pair, making them seem like a perfect match in that fleeting moment.

Daphne watched, caught up in the magic of it all,but quickly leaned over to Brinley, who was clearly upset.She whispered, "Don't let it bother you, Brinley.It's all just for show."

Brinley pursed her lips, saying nothing, her gaze toward Hannah increasingly resentful.

Hannah snapped out of her daze, immediately shoving Vincent aside and retreating, scrubbing at her lips with obvious disgust.

Vincent frowned, clearly irritated. "It's not like this was our first kiss, you know."

Hannah shot him a cold glare while wiping her lips again. "I just want nothing to do with you."

"A simple kiss and you think we're suddenly connected? Didn't know you were so old-fashioned,"Vincent couldn't help but tease.

Hannah didn't hesitate to fire back. "Believe whatever you want. The truth is, my mood soured the moment I saw you tonight."

Reaching up, she tried to pull off the veil herself.

Suddenly, Vincent's teasing expression vanished,replaced by a serious look. "Don't you see how romantic this is? We're freshly divorced, and here we are, roped into a wedding ceremony together.Maybe the universe is sending a message."

"Nonsense. Our story ended, and that's that,"Hannah retorted, her voice sharp as glass.

Vincent's mood soured, his expression hardening.

Hannah continued trying to remove the veil in vain.

Noting her frustration, Vincent chimed in, "Looks like you could use your ex-husband's help right about now."

Hannah ignored him completely and turned to the staff for assistance instead.

But the staff only shook their heads. "Sorry, the rules say the 'groom' has to take off the veil."A bitter laugh escaped Hannah. This whole situation was beyond ridiculous.

Hearing the staff's instructions, Vincent marched over to Hannah and, without hesitation, reached behind her neck. "Let me handle it," he said.

Hannah frowned, her patience thinning. "Then hurry up."

Vincent leaned in, fumbling with the veil, clearly unfamiliar with how it was secured.

Annoyance prickled at Hannah's scalpas the tugging became uncomfortable. "Are you sure you even know what you're doing?"

Once again, she turned to the staff for help, but they simply gestured for her to be patient and wait.

"Just a second," Vincent muttered, his breath warm against her ear, pushing her patience past its limit.

"That's enough," she snapped, pushing Vincent away. "I'll keep the veil on." Her words were directed at the staff this time. Lifting her dress, Hannah strode forward, then turned to the staff and declared, "I don't need anyone else to give me happiness. I can make it on my own."

The staff stood frozen in surprise as Hannah dashed off, the veil trailing behind her like a burst of color.

Noticing the growing tension, the host quickly jumped in to ease things. "Okay, that concludes our activity. Let's hear it for our pair tonight!"

All eyes followed Hannah as she left. Her steps were light, the blue-green fabric of her dress swirling around her legs, while the orange veil fluttered behind her like a butterfly on the breeze.

Vincent couldn't look away, captivated by her defiant grace. Something inside him urged him to go after her. Before he knew it, he was moving, chasing after her without a second thought.

He caught up as Hannah, startled, collided with his chest. Rubbing her nose, she backed away, irritation flashing in her eyes. "What is it now?"Vincent locked eyes with her. "If this were an actual wedding,would you have said yes?"