The staff opened the dressing room door. Hannah followed Charles toward the banquet hall. The guests were already seated, all the hall's lights focused on the flower-petal-strewn carpet in the center. Charles led her to a pink floral archway and then to the stage, awaiting her arrival. The wedding march began.

Hannah, holding her father's hand, walked down the petal-covered carpet, the lights following her every step. Everyone smiled; she was breathtaking.

"Dad," Hannah said suddenly.

"Um?" Miguel replied.

"Don't be surprised by what happens next."

"Hmm?" He frowned, already aware she planned to call off the engagement publicly. He and Michelle, however, hadn't anticipated the specifics. They'd assumed she'd abandoned the plan.

"It's all my doing," she clarified.

"Okay," he nodded, trusting her implicitly.

She reached Charles, who extended his hand. He looked impeccably noble and elegant, earning admiring glances. Miguel placed Hannah's hand in Charles's and patted his shoulder. Charles nodded, a gesture promising her well-being. The audience applauded.

He took Hannah's hand and they faced the priest. The priest smiled benignly. "I'm honored to join this couple in holy matrimony," he announced into the microphone. "But first, the groom has a special message for the bride."

Another round of enthusiastic applause followed. This mirrored her previous life. Before the ceremony, he'd delivered a heartfelt confession, convincing everyone of his profound love—making Hannah the envy of many. She'd believed it then, even shedding tears of joy. Now, however, she simply watched impassively as he held the microphone, speaking in a gentle voice:

"Hannah, when I first saw you, at age ten, while our grandfathers played chess, you sat beside your grandfather, your face flushed and adorable. I fell in love then. When my grandfather told me you'd be my bride, I was ecstatic, even at thirteen. I've looked forward to marrying you for twelve years. And finally, I have my beautiful bride…"

A faint smile touched her lips. Even Susan Phillips, standing nearby, was moved by Charles's sincerity. In Susan's eyes, he clearly loved Hannah deeply. Why then, was Hannah so detached? Susan even felt Charles undeserving of such indifference.

"Vows of sickness and health, of poverty and wealth, can't express my love," Charles continued. "Hannah, I only hope to care for and protect you, in this life and the next, forever." His eyes welled.

His devotion was evident to all. Hannah watched intently. This confession, she realized, was a performance—a payment for her death in her previous life. The tears in his eyes were likely self-inflicted. She noticed him subtly pinching his thigh in the shadows.

Knowing the truth, she found the situation absurdly funny. The woman expected to weep was laughing innocently. Charles, despite his emotional control, couldn't maintain his composure. His eyes could redden no further. He frowned; she was supposed to be crying. He'd planned to comfort her, embrace her, bringing the wedding to a dramatic climax. Instead, he was flustered.

He regained his composure, taking her hand again. "I have a surprise for you," he said.

Hannah smiled impassively. He’d soon learn if it was a surprise or a shock. He turned them both toward the large HD screen visible throughout the hall. She felt fortunate for her rebirth; everything was predictable. She knew the wedding's progression and the perfect moment to expose him.

Everyone focused on the screen. Charles smiled, anticipating their emotional response, as he had in her previous life. He'd meticulously prepared a slideshow of their lives together: their first meeting, their first crushes, their first hand-hold, their first kiss, and countless other treasured memories. Who could doubt his love, given such effort? The memories were flawlessly documented.

Yet Charles had done all this without love, deceiving everyone. The large black screen illuminated. He was confident, almost smug. This wedding would make him the world's best man in the eyes of others. Anticipation filled his face. Then, his smile froze. Instead of a love story, the screen showed two bodies entwined, accompanied by suggestive sounds. An uproar erupted among the guests.