Chapter 2

"It's Ethan! What made you think to call me? Remember to pick me up next Saturday for your wedding."

George put on his reading glasses and squinted at me affectionately.

Seeing him so calm and composed, I relaxed a bit and asked casually, "George, what's today's date?"

George smoothed his graying hair and said with a smile, "Today's the 14th. Our Ethan's wedding is on the 21st. What's wrong? Getting anxious to marry your bride?"

He had always doted on me most. He would never lie to me about something as important as my wedding.

My tense nerves relaxed slightly.

But then I thought -- why would Vanessa and Liam put on such an elaborate show to deceive me?

I clenched my fist, veins bulging on the back of my hand.

Seeing me zone out, George said gently, "Ethan, make sure you rest well these next few days. You need to be the most handsome groom on your wedding day."

I was silent for a moment, then finally just said "Got it" and hung up.

On the screen by the shore, the date was clearly visible: June 14, Saturday.

I pulled up the invitation photo. June 21st, no mistake.

My phone screen kept flashing. Vanessa was calling again.

Before I could speak, Vanessa's voice came crashing down. "Ethan! You gave my mother a heart attack! She's in the hospital! If anything happens to her, I'll never forgive you! Where are you?"

I took a deep breath, suppressing my anger. "Vanessa, I've been preparing this wedding for half a year. The date is set for June 21st. What's the point of this scene you're making today?"

Vanessa's voice turned cold. "You think I'd use my own mother's health to put on an act? Even if you don't want to get married anymore, we can sit down and talk. You called all the elders here, then left them hanging while you vacation at the beach?" She paused, her voice becoming hoarse. "Ethan, I never realized you had this much nerve."

My heart tightened. "Elders? What elders?"

Vanessa turned the camera.

George was standing in the hotel lobby, his wrinkled face filled with exhaustion.

Seeing that familiar face, my head buzzed. I had to grip the railing to keep from falling.

George faced the camera, his voice carrying a disappointment I'd never heard before. "Ethan, you've been so sensible since you were little. How could you joke about something this important today? You made Vanessa's mother so upset she had to go to the hospital! Come over right now and apologize to everyone properly."

Vanessa took back the phone, her tone ice-cold. "If you have any sense of responsibility left, get over here now."

As soon as she finished speaking, she sent a hotel location.

It was exactly where I'd died in my past life.

My hand holding the phone began to tremble.

I had just talked to George on the phone. He was grilling meat at the farm.

How could he possibly appear at a hotel in the city center in just a few minutes?

I immediately called George again.

"Ethan, sweetheart, what's wrong?"

Hearing such caring words, my heart didn't warm at all. The video background was clearly next to the grill in the farm's backyard.

I steadied my emotions. "Nothing, George. I just missed you."

I hung up and sent the call recording to Vanessa. "My grandfather is at the farm right now. I don't know who that person you found is."

A few minutes later, Vanessa sent a video.

George was pacing back and forth at the hotel entrance, occasionally looking anxiously outside. When he heard any sound, he rushed out anxiously, tripped on a chair, and fell hard.

My heart clenched watching it.

Then Vanessa's messages kept popping up. "Ethan, you're really something, using AI video to deceive me. Your grandfather is at the hotel right now. He's been waiting all morning!"