Chapter 4

So, she put her trust in Silas. He had once said he owed her a life, and that meant if she ever needed something, she could ask him for anything. It was a secret known only to the two of them.

So, after her rebirth, she went straight to him. "I need your help."

Then, she laid out her plan.

Since Gideon wouldn’t marry her, and canceling the wedding was not an option, she would marry someone even more remarkable!

Silas agreed. He even persuaded Eamon on her behalf.

Eamon had always doted on her, and this wedding had been something she insisted upon. But now, instead of marrying Gideon, she had chosen Silas.

Silas didn’t object, so neither did Eamon.

“Are you sure about this?” Silas stood, his tailored suit accentuating his imposing six-foot-three frame, broad shoulders, and narrow waist. Even standing still, he exuded an air of power.

“Yes,” Calliope nodded.

Truthfully, she was nervous.

She had saved Silas’s life once—that was the debt he spoke of. But Silas was no ordinary man. He was both respected and feared, the formidable head of the Baker family, managing an entire business empire. In all of Capitalton, no one dared to cross him.

When she first proposed that he become her groom, she hadn’t expected him to agree. And yet, not only did he accept, he arranged everything with Eamon.

After all, he was still Gideon’s uncle.

This wedding, meant to bind her to Gideon, had now transformed into a marriage with him. It would be a scandal.

But Silas had assured her it didn’t matter. No one would dare speak against him.

Silas walked over to her and extended his arm. “Let’s go.”

Arm in arm, they walked to the entrance of the banquet hall.

The staff worked quickly; the photos of her and Gideon at the entrance had already been replaced with ones of her and Silas.

She had originally suggested they simply Photoshop a few. But Silas had insisted on taking real wedding photos with her.

And now, they were coming in handy.

Inside, the guests remained unaware of the change.

Monty, who was meant to escort Calliope down the aisle, turned and froze.

Silas stood beside her, dressed unmistakably as the groom.

“Mr. Myers?” His voice wavered in shock. “What are you doing here?”

“The groom is supposed to be here,” Calliope replied, her chin held high. “You don’t need to walk me in; we’ll manage just fine.”

“Calliope, what kind of game are you playing? Where’s Gideon?”

“You must be mistaken. I’m marrying Silas. What does this have to do with Gideon?”

Monty looked bewildered.

“If you don’t believe me,” Calliope gestured, “look over there.”

He followed her gaze to a poster beside them—Silas stood tall in a crisp tuxedo, his name elegantly scripted next to Calliope’s.

Monty rushed forward, as if needing to confirm reality itself. He stared at the poster, then back at Silas, then at the poster again…

At that moment, Lisette stepped out. When she saw Calliope holding Silas’s arm, her eyes narrowed, but she quickly masked her emotions.

“Calliope, is Gideon not back yet?”

She tilted her head, feigning concern. “What are you going to do about the wedding? You can’t possibly go through with it alone. If you do, you’ll be the talk of the town. I mean, who’s ever heard of a wedding without a groom? Gideon’s nothing special, you know. He’s run off with his true love. So… what now?”