Claire was both confused and shocked. She was running a high fever, and Dennis's sudden marriage proposal was the last thing she expected.
"If you sleep with me, you gotta take responsibility. Don't even think about marrying anyone else, not even your so-called boyfriend," Dennis said, gripping her hand with an intense, commanding look.
Tears streamed down Ivy's face, a mix of despair and disbelief overwhelming her. Why? Why wasn't she the bride?
Claire's head buzzed, her fingers trembled slightly, and she bit her lip. How should she respond?
After a moment of silence, she took a deep breath and gave a faint smile. "Okay, I'll marry you."
Dennis smiled at her response.
"Have the guests wait for an hour," he instructed the bodyguard behind him.
Claire nodded.
Ivy shook her head. "No! I'm supposed to be your wife."
Dennis, expressionless, opened the door and ordered the bodyguard to take Ivy away.
Ivy screamed that she was Dennis's wife, but Dennis calmly replied, "The one I love is Claire. Don't worry, I'll compensate you."
In the hallway, Dennis made a phone call, his tone urgent. "Get the makeup artist and stylist to the hospital, quickly."
Then he called Qiana. "Grandma, the wedding ceremony will be delayed by an hour."
"Alright, I'll be there soon. The bride is feeling a bit unwell," he vaguely responded to Qiana's inquiry about Ivy's makeup. Meanwhile, Zachary and Raymond sat in the front row of the chapel.
With an hour to go before the ceremony, the chapel was already filled with guests.
Zachary kept checking his watch. His plan was to play a prepared video when Dennis and Ivy took the stage, exposing Hayden's inhumane actions and Ivy's deceitful nature.
But... Dennis hadn't shown up, nor had any of his people.
Could it be that Dennis had run away from the wedding?
He ran away!
Zachary was uncertain. Dennis didn't seem like the type to disregard family honor.
Melinda scanned the room but still didn't see Claire. She frowned slightly and turned to Kathy beside her, her tone concerned. "Kathy, where's Claire? Do you know how she's doing?"
Kathy turned and replied, "Mrs. Thomas, Claire texted me. She said she's not feeling well and won't be coming today."
Melinda's frown deepened. "Not feeling well? Did she say what exactly is wrong? Is it serious?"
"Don't worry too much. She just said she has a headache, probably didn't sleep well last night. I told her to rest today," Kathy reassured.
Melinda nodded, still a bit uneasy.
A few minutes later, the makeup artist finished her work. Claire removed the IV from her arm and put on her high heels.
Ivy stormed out of the hospital, dragging her wedding dress, her face full of resentment.
Unwilling to give up, she asked the bodyguard to drive her to the chapel.
When refused, she bit her lip in despair, regretting slapping Claire earlier. She should have waited until after becoming Dennis's wife. Feeling increasingly wronged, she called Cleo to vent.
Her wedding was canceled, Dennis was marrying Claire, and she questioned if Hayden's drugs were ineffective, failing to make Dennis forget Claire.
Cleo, still unwilling to give up, said, "Ivy, don't cry. We still have a chance. Just hold on."
"Mom, I can't accept this," Ivy choked out. "I was so close to marrying Dennis."
Cleo replied, "Ivy, wait a bit. I'll come get you." Hearing this, Ivy felt slightly better.
In the hospital room, Claire now wore a white wedding dress, her elegant makeup and red nails highlighting the occasion. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, adorned with a sparkling diamond tiara.
Dennis, looking sharp in his suit, extended his arm. Claire, feeling shy, took it, and they walked out of the room together.
The nurses were surprised and delighted by the scene. They had expected Ivy to be the bride, not Claire.
The luxurious wedding car waited quietly. Dennis carefully helped Claire into the car.
The bodyguard opened the door.
Claire, nervous, clutched her chest and took a deep breath.
Dennis held her hand to comfort her. "Don't worry. I've got everything under control."
Claire nodded.
Dennis gently massaged her shoulder and neck, and Claire shyly nodded.
She turned her body to lean against his shoulder.
Dennis discreetly freed one hand to support her.
As the car started, they headed to the chapel.
At that moment, Claire received a message from Melinda asking about her health. Claire replied briefly and put her phone away. Just as she was about to put it back in her bag, Dennis snatched it.
"Let me see what your boyfriend looks like."
Claire slowly smiled.
Dennis flipped through her photo album, pausing in surprise before his lips parted slightly.
"How long have you been with him?"
Claire didn't answer. She took the phone back, found a photo, and showed it to him.
"This is my boyfriend." Dennis's pupils contracted in disbelief.
"How is that possible?"
Claire smiled. "Why not?" He looked at her smiling face, his breath catching.
His chest felt heavy, and his voice was hoarse.
Claire didn't answer, looking up at him. "But I really missed you."
Dennis trembled.
His breath hitched, his chest feeling like it had been struck. He suddenly realized why Claire had cried upon seeing him. They had been lovers, and he had forgotten her.
Claire was smiling when Dennis pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing her forehead. He apologized for forgetting her but promised to remember.
Claire's eyes welled up, almost crying. She quickly looked up to hold back the tears, worried about ruining her makeup.
Dennis felt guilty, thinking how heartbroken Claire would have been if he had married Ivy.
Claire hesitated, asking if Dennis would regret marrying her if he couldn't remember their past.
Dennis's gaze was deep. "If we loved each other once, we'll love each other again in the next life."
Claire worried that Qiana wouldn't like her and feared hurting Qiana.
Dennis was confident. "Grandma wants my happiness. If marrying you makes me happy, she'll be happy."
Dennis held Claire's shoulders tightly, smiling as he looked at her seriously.
"This time, I'm looking into your eyes. You won't disappear again."
Claire felt uneasy, sensing something, and instinctively covered her mouth.
Then, Dennis suggested that after the wedding, Claire should tell him about their past. Claire said she had already forgiven him.
When it came to lipstick, Dennis complained that Claire's was too light. Claire hurriedly looked for her lipstick, but Dennis claimed he could "save" her, pulling her in for a kiss.
Claire blushed, realizing that even without his memory, Dennis's playful nature hadn't changed.
Meanwhile, Ivy anxiously waited for Cleo at a nearby café. When Cleo arrived with her assistant, Ivy tearfully explained that Dennis had taken Claire to the chapel. Cleo confidently assured her that Qiana and the family wouldn't accept Claire, suggesting they expose Claire's seduction of Dennis at the wedding.
This would turn everyone against the marriage. Ivy regained her confidence and urged Cleo to hurry to the chapel.