They didn’t want to see what happened to my second aunt re-happened again. She fell for the groom and, on the wedding day, begged the emcee not to sign the agreement. She wanted to choose love instead. But the ones who can fall for us are exactly the most virtuous people.

Before she could even finish her life, the groom sold her off to the mountains. There, on her thirtieth birthday, she was turned into a wisp of black smoke by the first ray of sunlight.

The emcee and I exchanged a glance and began reading the fake vows:

“Do you take this woman to be your wife? To love her, be loyal to her, in poverty or wealth, in sickness or health, until death do you part. Do you?”

Evan responded eagerly, “I do!”

Of course, he wanted to. He knew there’d be a small villa afterward, and he couldn’t have been happier.

I smiled with satisfaction. The emcee presented the vow for us to sign, and I signed it immediately. Ordinary people couldn’t read the real words on it, and even if they could, they wouldn’t understand our clan’s language.

Evan hesitated with the pen, his right eye twitching. He looked at his parents, then back at me.

I was sweating and nervous, and our clan members were on edge. “Sign it, Evan, what are you waiting for?” Vivian urged.

Evan’s eye continued to twitch, and he remained silent. I grew anxious and asked, “Evan, do you still love someone else?”

I started crying and added, “Don’t you love me enough?”

Evan got flustered and said, “I do! I’ll sign, I’ll sign!”

He signed his name, and the audience erupted into applause—my fellow clan members leading the charge, which encouraged Evan’s relatives to join in.

The emcee smiled slightly and put away the agreement. I couldn’t wait to check my lifespan in the mirror left by the emcee. Looking into the mirror, I saw my countdown of one year transform into a demon’s horn, signifying my transition into a real demon.

Evan, noticing my preoccupation, asked, “Aria, what are you doing with the mirror?”

“I just cried and wanted to check if my makeup was okay. Fortunately, it’s fine. I love you, Evan.”

Actually, I love your life, Evan.

He sensed something was off but didn’t dwell on it. Later, he went to his brother’s place to drink, but he seemed distracted.