Towards the end of June, Lucius stopped coming.

Vanessa knew exactly what he was doing.

He was getting married.

Although she was mentally prepared and thought she could face it calmly, sitting on the bed, Vanessa couldn't help but feel sad.

She looked around the bedroom in a daze. There were traces of Lucius's life everywhere, the newspapers he read, his quill, his parchment, his perfume, and his clothes hanging in the closet.

There were traces of him everywhere, but there was no sign of him anywhere.

He probably couldn't calmly tell her where he was going, so after he left, he didn't contact her again.

Looking at the dusty double-sided mirror on the table, Vanessa raised her hands to cup her face.

On the first day of July, Vanessa returned home from Saint-mango in the evening. Instead of eating, she took a shower and carefully tidied herself up.

She tied her long blonde hair into a bun, put on her best clothes, squatted in front of the table, and took out an invitation from the bottom drawer.

Today was Lucius and Narcissa's wedding day.

It was also her birthday.

But she didn't plan to celebrate her birthday. She was going to attend the wedding.

Vanessa told herself, You have to go, you have to see, you can't immerse yourself in this sweet life of only each other for almost a month, because that sweetness was stolen, it was fake.

You have to wake up.

Slowly exhaling, Vanessa pressed the wax seal on the invitation and felt her navel being hooked. Then the scene in front of her changed, from her cramped muggle house to the luxurious and huge Malfoy Manor.

She looked up at the tall and elegant building in front of her. Vanessa was surrounded by people who came to attend the wedding. They all came together, and no one was alone like Vanessa.

She stood there, wrapped her long black coat tightly around her, and walked step by step towards the manor's gate.

Vanessa's beauty increased with age.

She had just gotten off work today, and although she was a little tired, after careful makeup, her beautiful face and slim figure still exuded a unique charm in the night.

Although the passersby felt that her clothes weren't fancy enough and that she didn't fit in, they were still impressed by the young woman's beauty and secretly wondered which family she was from.

Vanessa walked to the Malfoy Manor's gate without looking sideways. There was no moment when she felt the difference between her and Lucius more than now. The grander Malfoy Manor was, the smaller she was.

She raised her hand and put the invitation on the magic vines at the manor's gate. The vines immediately changed into "Welcome to Miss Vanessa Wilson".

This was the benefit of magic.

Even if her surname was Albert when she sent out the invitation, after she changed her surname to Wilson, the surname on the invitation automatically changed.

Vanessa ignored the inquisitive gazes and walked into the manor's gate. The whole Malfoy Manor's tone was reserved, chic, and noble. It couldn't be said to be luxurious, and even a little dull. If she had to describe it, it would be … a typical Slytherin style manor.

Vanessa's gaze passed through the chatting crowd and saw the two stars of the night.

Lucius and Narcissa stood side by side with the same arrogant smile on their faces. Even if the guests at the banquet were all of the same status, their arrogance was understandable. One was from the Malfoy family, and the other was from the Black family. They had the right to be proud. It would be strange if they weren't.

Vanessa took a few steps back. She thought that maybe she still didn't have the courage to face the scene in front of her. Seeing the man she loved standing beside another woman and receiving blessings like a couple, her heart felt like it was tied up by a rope and almost couldn't beat.

She panicked and turned her head away. Her bun was a little messy, and a few strands of blonde hair fell and floated around her ears.

She quickened her pace and walked to the table where the champagne was placed. She picked up a glass of champagne and drank it quickly.

The cool liquid slowly flowed into her body, and Vanessa calmed down a lot. She clenched the glass in her hand and put it back on the table. The empty champagne glass immediately disappeared on its own. This was obviously the work of the house elves.

As an ancient pure-blood noble family, the Malfoy family had many house elves. Vanessa had seen Dobbi and Jedda before, but she didn't know about the rest. She wouldn't have the chance to find out in the future.

With her back facing Lucius, Vanessa lowered her head and picked up another glass of champagne. Just as she was about to drink, she saw someone walking towards her from the corner of her eye.

It was Simon Lestrange.

Recalling what Lucius had told her, Vanessa's face darkened. She wanted to dodge, but Lestrange was very fast and caught up with her.

"Miss Wilson!"

Lestrange chased after Vanessa for a while and almost forced her to stop. When she turned around in annoyance, he froze for a moment and pursed his lips. "Please don't misunderstand. I was just … just …"

"Mr. Lestrange," Vanessa interrupted him.

Vanessa interrupted him and said, "Maybe it's my fault. I haven't responded to your feelings directly. I think it's time.

We're not suitable for each other — whether it's in terms of status or character. Your family must think so too.

So, can you please pretend you don't see me when you see me in the future? "She was practically begging him." I really don't want to cause trouble. Do you understand what I mean? "

Simon Lestrange must have thought about the list of names. His face was pale as he said, "I'm sorry. I didn't know that would happen …"

Vanessa didn't want to stand next to him for too long. It was too obvious. She pulled away from him, and this action hurt him.

He laughed self-deprecatingly and nodded. "I know. When I see you in the future, I'll pretend I don't see you … I'm really sorry."

He turned to leave and almost fell as he walked away. Vanessa knew that she shouldn't be so rude, but when it concerned her own safety, she couldn't care less.

Vanessa held the champagne in her hand and found a corner in the manor hall to sit down in annoyance. She planned to stay here until the wedding was over and then go home.

Lucius's wedding would last for three days. The house elf had prepared a room for every guest. Malfoy Manor was so big that it could accommodate everyone, but Vanessa couldn't stay here.

Absolutely not.

Every second she spent here was torture. She felt like she was looking for a beating by coming here today.

Leaning against the wall behind her, Vanessa's position was very inconspicuous. She could relax for a moment.

She slowly raised her eyes and looked at the wedding scene with misty eyes. She knew some of the people, and some of them she didn't. The man she was most familiar with, so familiar that she knew every inch of his skin, was standing in the center of everyone's attention with another woman standing beside him.

Finishing the champagne in one gulp, Vanessa stood up and placed the glass on a table. She was about to pick up another glass when her vision suddenly turned black. Then the scene changed and she was in a room.

This was Malfoy Manor. No one else could bring her to a room so casually.

Vanessa raised her head and looked at the tall man standing in front of her. He was wearing a black tuxedo, a white satin vest, and a collared shirt. There was an elegant bow tie with black diamonds at the collar. His platinum hair fell softly behind his shoulders. It was Lucius.

He was the groom today. He was so dazzling that she couldn't even look at him directly.

He was supposed to be standing outside with the bride to receive the guests, but he was standing here now. This made Vanessa even more flustered.

"… You don't have to receive me, Mr. Malfoy."

Vanessa took a breath and said, "I can take care of myself. You can go and receive the guests with Miss Black … No, I should call her Mrs. Malfoy now."

She didn't dare to look at Lucius when she spoke. Her eyes drifted everywhere. Lucius was watching her the whole time. He brought her from the wedding banquet to this room when she was at a loss. Then he grabbed her hand and forced her to look at him.

"You said before that you didn't have time to receive me."

Vanessa bit her lip. Her green eyes were fixed on him. Her voice was slightly choked.

Lucius opened his mouth for a long time before he said dryly, "I did say that." But he couldn't help but come over when he saw her sitting in the corner drinking alone.

He didn't know what he was doing. Was he under the Soul Seizing Curse?

"You really don't have to care about me."

Vanessa forced a smile and said, "I'll leave this place very soon. I'm only here to … to take a look. I think I should come and take a look at this grand wedding, and then …" Then I'll give up on you completely.

She couldn't say the last sentence because Lucius didn't give her a chance.

He lowered his head and kissed her lips roughly. Vanessa struggled hard. When she finally broke free from him, she said in disbelief, "Are you crazy?"

Her green eyes widened. "This is your wedding. Do you know what you're doing, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Lucius." He approached her, his face impassive all the while.

Vanessa was stunned. "What?"

"Lucius."

He spoke again. His voice was very low and contained extremely complicated emotions. "Call me by my name, Nisha.

You always politely call me Mr. Malfoy, but I want to hear you call me by my name. "He hugged her and pressed her heavily into his arms." Call me by my name, Nisha. "

Vanessa froze in his arms. Tears fell inexplicably. She was silent for a long time before she said hoarsely, "I can't …"

"You can."

Lucius pressed his hand on her waist so hard that it was as if he wanted to rub her into his body. "Call me by my name, Nisha, please …"

He was almost begging her. He had never lowered himself so much.

Vanessa wasn't even sure if the person hugging her was the always superior Malfoy.

She was held by him passively. After a long time, she said, "Lucius …"

The person hugging her froze. Slowly, he let go of her.

She looked up, and he lowered his head to kiss her again. It was a quick, clean kiss.

Vanessa stared into his eyes. Lucius's gray-blue eyes were brilliant, restrained and deep. At that moment, Vanessa seemed to see love in his eyes.

"Do you know?" he asked inexplicably, his words incoherent.

Vanessa looked at him in confusion and asked, "What?"

I hope you're the one marrying me today.

That was what Lucius wanted to tell her in his heart.

But in the end, he just turned his head away and said with a self-deprecating smile, "Nothing."

With that, he pulled away from her and tidied her hair with his slender and fair hands. He said softly, "I have to go. There are many people waiting for me outside."

His wife was also waiting for him.

A wife of noble status who could support the Malfoy family.

Vanessa froze. She nodded and watched him leave.

Lucius looked at her deeply. When he finally left, he didn't look back.

Vanessa didn't walk out of the room until some time after he left.

The room was on the first floor, far away from the crowd. It was very secluded and no one had noticed what had happened here.

She walked into the crowd step by step and looked at the center with everyone.

The dazzling groom had returned to the scene and stood next to his newlywed wife. He was as noble and elegant as ever, as if everything that had happened was just Vanessa's imagination.

The wedding officially began.

They exchanged rings, they kissed each other, and they became husband and wife amidst everyone's blessings and praises.

In the crowd, Parkinson and Greengrass, who used to study together, looked at Vanessa with disdain, as if mocking her for overestimating herself and getting close to someone else's husband.

Vanessa forced herself to open her eyes and look at it all. She told herself to remember this moment clearly. Remember that when she was seventeen years old, on her birthday, the man she loved the most married another woman.

She forced herself to remember, to remember the feeling of her pride and love being crushed into dust at this moment. She told herself to keep smiling. This was the only thing she could maintain. She told herself to swallow all the pain and tears. Now that everything was her own choice, she couldn't cry, she couldn't even show any signs of depression. She had to smile. She had to smile for everyone to see. She had to let herself understand that from this moment on, those feelings were a thing of the past. Since she couldn't get him, she shouldn't throw herself at him like a moth. From now on, she had to be nicer to herself.

After the ceremony, the Malfoy couple slowly walked down the steps and approached the crowd. Vanessa took a few steps back. For a moment, her high heels missed a step and she almost fell.

Someone caught her. She looked over with red eyes and met a pair of gray eyes.

"You look like a mess."

Cyrius Black was here for the wedding. As Narcissa's cousin and the heir of the Black family, he had a legitimate reason to be here.

He was wearing a black velvet robe. There was a hint of annoyance on his young and handsome face. He held her in his arms so that she wouldn't fall. At this moment, everyone's attention was on Lucius and Narcissa. No one noticed this little episode.

Except … Lucius, who seemed to be focused on the wedding, but was actually paying attention to Vanessa.

"Do you need me to take you away from here?"

Cyrius whispered in Vanessa's ear. "Or should I put it another way, do you need me to save you?"

He grinned. It was a typical aristocratic fake smile. Vanessa had seen it on many Slytherin faces, but this was the first time she saw it on Cyrius.

She lowered her head in silence. She didn't say anything, but she subconsciously grabbed his arm.

Sirius's insincere smile disappeared, and he snorted coldly. Holding her arm, he allowed her to lean on his body and brought her out of Malfoy's manor. They were far away from the main entrance. His Phantom Translocation was a good distance away.

Vanessa looked at the sudden change in the scene. The pressure in her heart lessened a lot. She told herself to calm down and not lose her composure like a young girl who was heartbroken. But she stood there, unable to maintain her composure as a senior.

"I warned you."

Black stood in front of her and said expressionlessly, "Damn it, you didn't seem to listen to me at all.

I really don't know what's so good about Malfoy that all of you have to jump into the fire pit. "

Vanessa opened her mouth, wanting to defend herself, but she quickly realized that he was right. He was right. She couldn't refute him. She could only shut her mouth and wait with a pale face for him to explode with anger and blame.

But there was none.

There was nothing.

She seemed to hear him sigh, and then his voice sounded again.

"Where do you live?" He asked coldly in a businesslike tone.

Vanessa then noticed that they were standing by a lake. She didn't know the name of the place, but it was probably a random place Cyrius had chosen.

She subconsciously reached out to him. Cyrius seemed to be stunned for a moment, but quickly grabbed her hand. Then the two of them used Phantom Shift again.

This time they appeared at Vanessa's house.

She finally calmed down and forced a smile, "What do you want to drink?

I don't have that many choices here. I only have coffee and water. "

Cyrius stared at her and didn't answer her question, "You don't have to smile if you don't want to. Do you know how annoying it is when you force yourself to smile?"

She didn't know.

But she would pay attention in the future.

Vanessa pursed her lips and turned to pour him a glass of water. She whispered, "It's late. Coffee might affect your sleep. Drink water." She waved her wand and warmed the water. Cyrius didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Are you stupid?

It's summer. Who would want to drink hot water? "

Vanessa came back to her senses and turned the water cold again. She blushed and said, "I'm sorry. I … really shouldn't have done that."

She put her wand on the table and lowered her head in silence for a moment. Then she smiled and said, "Do I look like an idiot now?"

Cyrius said expressionlessly, "You don't look like an idiot. You are."

He walked up and pulled her into his arms. He said firmly, "I told you not to smile if you don't want to. If you want to cry, then cry. I can pretend I didn't see it.

But I have to remind you, Vanessa, that this is just this once. If you cry because of Malfoy again, I can't promise what I'll do. "

Vanessa leaned into his arms. The young man's body had a refreshing scent mixed with the faint smell of tobacco. She said absentmindedly, "You smoke?"

Cyrius's expression stiffened. He said irritably, "Why do you care so much?

It's just a few Muggle cigarettes. Potter got them. He took me to Evans' house. She lives in the Muggle world and has a lot of interesting things. "

Vanessa smiled. This time it was from the bottom of her heart. She felt a lot more relaxed. She moved back to put some distance between them. "Thank you, Cyrius. If it wasn't for you tonight, I don't know how I would've gotten through it."

Cyrius stood beside her. He stared at her and said, "Are you hinting that I should spend the whole night with you?

In case you don't know what to do. "

After he finished speaking, he took another step forward. Vanessa instinctively stepped back and leaned against the table behind her.

Cyrius bent down. She looked up and bent down. The two of them maintained this position, one moving forward and one retreating. Cyrius's gray eyes gradually turned into a smile.

"You look so much like those Muggle women in the posters."

He raised his hand and held her chin. He said in a low voice, "Even if you don't say anything, you seem to be seducing me."

Vanessa stared at the young man's handsome face so close to hers. She held her breath. Her brain was about to explode.

Just when she thought he was going to kiss her, Cyrius suddenly smiled and said in a strange tone, "What are you expecting?"

Vanessa came back to her senses and pushed him away. She said in shame, "Nothing!

Go away!

Don't come close! "

Cyrius stood there proudly. He took out a beautifully wrapped jewelry box from his pocket and said with a smile, "Not going?

How can I do that? How can I give you a birthday present if I don't go? "

A birthday present.

Vanessa looked at him in surprise. How did he know?