Chapter 1 The Sudden Wife

The grand hall of the Hale Mansion glimmered with chandeliers, their light reflecting off the silk-covered tables. A string quartet played a mournful tune, which only added to the absurdity of the moment. Guests whispered behind their champagne glasses, their eyes darting between the altar and Rosalind, who stood alone at the end of the aisle.

The murmurs grew louder.

"She's actually going through with it... Can you believe it?"

"Marrying a man who's not even conscious."

"Well, the Hales must need that Blackwood money desperately."

"I heard it was a million pounds anyway. So what if he has a strange disease?"

Rosalind caught some of their curious glances and smirked to herself. 'Let them talk. It would be far better for me to marry Julian Blackwood than to live with those two-faced members of the Hale family.'

The hem of her ivory gown coiled around her feet like a pretty, useless prop. She held her bouquet of white roses loosely, deliberately crushing the petals just to watch them wilt.

With each step forward, she held her head high. The polished marble beneath her feet felt solid, grounding her.

The officiant cleared his throat, a nervous sound lost beneath the hum of gossip. "Shall we begin?"

With a stiff nod from Rosalind, the officiant began the ceremony.

"Do you, Rosalind Hale, take Julian Blackwood to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"I do."

A ripple of whispers echoed across the room.

"And do you, Julian Blackwood..." The officiant trailed off, realizing too late how absurd the question sounded. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he skipped ahead. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Rosalind stood motionless, staring at the empty air where her groom should have been.

On May 9th, the capital witnessed a grand yet unusual wedding. The event was packed with guests and made headlines across the city, but it also turned the Hale family into a subject of ridicule.

In the world of high-society marriages, a wedding where the bride stood alone in her elegant gown, reciting vows with no groom present, was unheard of.

Before long, the news headline 'Hale Family Sells Daughter for an Extravagant Bride Price' was trending across all major platforms.

...

The night was tranquil, the moon casting a gentle silver light across the room. Rosalind stood by the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed on the man lying there. Despite his pale, colorless face, his noble demeanor remained intact. The faint aura of violet that had once surrounded him was nearly gone, seemingly absorbed by something malevolent.

Since her rebirth, Rosalind had gained the ability to perceive the aura surrounding people-whether it was white, red, black, or yellow. Each color represented different fates, but violet was the rarest, seen in only a few individuals, including herself and Julian.

Suddenly, the man's eyelashes fluttered, and he opened his deep, bleary eyes. Without hesitation, he pushed aside the blanket and sat up, noticing a striking figure standing at a distance. In the dim light, her profile was breathtakingly beautiful.

He frowned, his voice hoarse from his long slumber. "Who are you?"

"Julian, you've finally woken up! Finally!" Old Lady Blackwood, supported by Mrs. Blackwood, approached with trembling steps. Her voice quivered with a mixture of surprise and relief, tears welling in her eyes. She grasped his hand tightly. "Do you feel any discomfort?"

"Grandma, Mom, I'm fine," Julian replied softly, a faint smile touching his lips. He was accustomed to his frequent bouts of unconsciousness. "How long have I been out this time?"

"Half a month," Mrs. Blackwood said with a sigh of relief. "You usually only faint for a few hours or a day or two at most, but this time you truly frightened us."

Her gaze shifted to Rosalind, who stood composed in the shadows. "Julian, your prolonged unconsciousness has caused great concern for both your grandmother and me. We consulted an esteemed astrologer to discern your fate. She advised that the most suitable course of action would be to marry someone whose astrological profile is perfectly aligned with yours."

She continued, "It appears the astrologer's counsel was indeed wise. The wedding has just concluded, and you've awakened at last. Rosalind, you are truly a blessing to our family-a rare treasure."

Old Lady Blackwood beamed with joy, motioning for Rosalind to step closer.

As Rosalind moved forward, Old Lady Blackwood took her hand and placed it on Julian's large, elegant hand. "Though the circumstances were not ideal, you are now husband and wife. I hope you will cherish and support each other. Julian, you must treat Rosalind well and ensure she is never unhappy."

As her cool hand touched his, Julian felt a strange warmth spread through his skin, causing him to shiver slightly. His eyes darkened as he absorbed the warmth, his expression inscrutable.

Rosalind glanced at their joined hands, her red lips pressed into a thin line, her almond-shaped eyes flickering with subtle emotion.

"Rosalind, I am sorry you had to endure all of this today," Mrs. Blackwood said softly, her eyes reflecting guilt and sympathy as she thought of the wedding and the online gossip.

"Mom, there's no need to mention it. The wedding was my choice. There's no suffering to speak of," Rosalind responded with a calm, emotionless tone.

After a brief conversation, Julian's face clouded with a somber expression. It was absurd to him that, after a month of unconsciousness, he had somehow ended up with a wife.

He studied her cold, stunning face, his brows furrowing in confusion.

At Old Lady Blackwood's insistence, he reluctantly ate a small amount before the two elders departed, leaving the newlyweds alone on their unconventional wedding night.

The room fell into deep silence. Rosalind poured a glass of water and handed it to him.

Julian looked up, meeting her steady, cool gaze. He accepted the glass, took a sip, and then heard her clear, melodic voice. "Let me introduce myself. I am Rosalind Hale, a news anchor, and your new wife."

Julian paused mid-sip. "Should I introduce myself as well?"

"If you wish," she replied nonchalantly.

"Julian Blackwood," he said, placing the cup on the table before heading to the bathroom.

Rosalind remained unmoved by his curt introduction. She had long been familiar with his details.

When Julian emerged from the bathroom, he saw Rosalind reclining gracefully on the bed. Her long, pale legs were visible beneath her robe, the sash accentuating her slender waist. Her collarbones were elegantly exposed as she scrolled through a tablet with ease.

Noticing the heat in his gaze, Rosalind slowly lifted her eyes to meet his. He was shirtless, clad only in shorts.

***