Chapter 1
Walking out of the Registration office, Katerina stared at the red marriage certificate in her hand, momentarily dazed.
Had she really gotten married?
And to a stranger she'd only met once, no less.
The marriage certificate was still warm to the touch, bearing the name "Joshua." Everything else about him remained a mystery to her.
"When should we hold the wedding? I'm rather pressed for time," said the stern-faced man standing beside Katerina, his gaze fixed steadily upon her.
After a moment's contemplation, she replied, "How about in two weeks? I need some time to prepare."
Joshua's lips curved into a slight smile, a hint of tenderness appearing in his deep, dark eyes. "Very well.
You won't need to worry about any of the wedding preparations. Just wait for me to pick you up on our wedding day."
Katerina nodded with a faint smile. "I live at the Green family residence in Upper East side. I'll wait for you there."
His thin lips parted as if to say more, but just then, a phone call came through, and a Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of them.
"I apologize, but I have to leave for some business."
After receiving her understanding look, Joshua got into the car and departed.
His car gradually drove away, eventually shrinking to a black dot before disappearing entirely.
Immediately afterward, three luxury cars of distinctly different styles stopped in front of Katerina.
The car doors opened, and three brothers stepped out - different in personality but equally matched in looks.
The eldest, Ethan Green, was the first to exit his car. He strode over to Katerina on his long legs, casually adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses.
"Beth has a fever, and I've been busy taking care of her. That's why I couldn't make it to get our marriage certificate as planned."
The second brother, Tony Green, followed close behind, cutting an elegant figure in his black trench coat.
"Weren't you still undecided about which of us three to choose? Perhaps it's for the best that you missed today. We can discuss marriage again next year."
The third brother, Andrew Green, known for his unrestrained personality, chimed in, "Why wait till next year? Let's put it off for a few more years, give her proper time to think it through."
Katerina merely shook her head, pulled out the marriage certificate from her bag, and smiled slightly.
"I won't be choosing between you three anymore, because... I'm already married."
Upon hearing this, all three brothers froze, disbelief flashing across their eyes. Their first reaction was pure denial.
Ethan's cold eyes narrowed slightly, his brows furrowing. "Kate, are you trying to scare us because we broke our promise to you while taking care of Beth?"
Tony's warm expression instantly turned cold. "Beth saved our lives in that car accident before, that's why we've been taking extra care of her.
You know very well that you're the only one we care about. As the young lady of the house, couldn't you be a bit more understanding?"
Andrew loosened his tie, a fierce look crossing his typically defiant face. "Everyone in New York knows you're the woman we three brothers care about.
Who else would dare to marry you unless they have a death wish? Kate, since when did you learn to forge marriage certificates?"
With that, he snatched the marriage certificate from her hand. The sound of tearing paper filled the air as the red booklet was ripped to shreds.
With a casual toss, the pieces fluttered to the ground like confetti.
Katerina stared at him in disbelief, about to speak but forcing herself to hold back her emotions.
Today was her wedding day, after all. She shouldn't lose her temper. Besides, a marriage certificate could be reissued if lost.
So she merely gazed at them calmly and said, "Tearing up the certificate doesn't void the marriage. My wedding will be in two weeks. You're all welcome to attend."
The three brothers exchanged glances, each clearly seeing the disbelief in the others' eyes.
True to their brotherhood, they shared the same thought, convinced this was just her playing hard to get.
Tony stepped forward, his tone ice-cold. "This trick isn't amusing anymore."
"I'm not playing any tricks."
"Fine, fine, you're not playing tricks, happy now?" Andrew replied dismissively.
Chapter 2
"To think you'd even lie about getting married. I'm curious to see how you'll explain yourself in two weeks."
Ethan frowned and was about to speak when his phone rang urgently.
Upon answering, Bethany's weak, tearful voice reached everyone's ears.
"Ethan, Tony, Andrew, where did you all go? I feel terrible..."
Hearing this, the three brothers' expressions instantly changed, obvious panic crossing their faces.
Ethan's voice immediately softened: "Beth, I just stepped out to buy porridge from your favorite shop. I'll be back to take care of you right away."
"Beth, don't be afraid, I'm coming back now."
"Beth, wait for me."
As soon as the call ended, the three brothers got into their respective cars and drove off one after another.
Not one of them remembered to take Katerina home.
She was left standing there alone.
The cold wind lifted her hair, gradually blurring her vision.
Watching the three cars speed away, she curved her lips slightly, feeling inexplicably lost.
Even now, she couldn't understand how things between her and the three brothers had come to this.
At the age of seven, she lost both parents in an accident and was taken in by the Green family, who had a long-standing marriage arrangement with her family.
That day, dressed in a princess gown, she appeared at the Green family home for the first time - sweet, delicate, and innocent. All three Green brothers were instantly taken with her.
The brothers fought endlessly over her, each insisting from their very first meeting that she should be their future wife.
Mr. and Mrs. Green initially thought it was just childish behavior, but the brothers continued their competition for her affection well into adulthood.
They treated Katerina like a precious treasure, protecting her as if she were made of glass. Any boy who dared approach her or pass her a love letter would face their wrath.
As they grew older, the eldest brother became the family heir, the second brother a globally renowned actor, and the third brother a legendary esports champion.
Despite their different personalities, they remained united in their feelings for Katerina, with none willing to step aside.
The elders, having no other choice, made an agreement: Katerina would choose one of them to marry on her 22nd birthday.
Today was her 22nd birthday.
She had shown up, but the three brothers who once claimed they couldn't live without her had all failed to keep their promise.
All because of that girl named Bethany.
She was the daughter of the Green family's new housekeeper, and since moving in, she had revealed her true colors, constantly creating opportunities for "chance encounters" and trying to win the favor of all three Green brothers.
She would bake them cookies, remind them to eat on time, and even rush to bring them stomach medicine on rainy days.
However, the three brothers, having seen too many such ploys before, showed no appreciation. Just as they had rejected other girls in the past, they coldly called her a green tea bitch, despised her, and avoided her at all costs.
Until that sudden car accident, when Bethany unhesitatingly threw herself in front of all three of them. They emerged unscathed, while she was thrown by the impact, nearly losing her life.
After that, the brothers' attitude underwent a complete transformation.
Their hearts gradually turned toward Bethany, and they even began hurting Katerina for Bethany's sake.
When Bethany sprained her ankle, they rushed away in a hurry, abandoning Katerina alone on a mountain crawling with snakes and vermin.
When Bethany pouted about wanting to go to an amusement park, they heartlessly left Katerina behind with a 40-degree fever to fulfill her wish first.
When both Bethany and Katerina fell into water, all three chose to save Bethany.
Such incidents happened far too many times.
Chapter 3
Even today, on their promised day to get married, they all failed to show up.
The three men who once claimed they would die without her, who would marry no one else - not one of them came.
All these years, the Green brothers' passionate devotion to her had been known throughout their social circle.
Now that she had been abandoned by all three, if word got out, it would bring complete humiliation to Katerina’s family.
To save face, Katerina had hastily married someone.
Now that the engagement was broken, she would have nothing more to do with these three brothers!
Katerina picked up the torn pieces of her marriage certificate and took a taxi back to the Green residence.
Just as she walked through the main gate, she saw Ethan, Tony, and Andrew all gathered in Bethany's room.
The three tall men standing by the bed made the spacious room feel suddenly cramped.
Katerina watched them anxiously care for Bethany with worried expressions, and her lips twisted slightly.
This room had once been hers - the closest and best room to all three of them.
They had spared no effort in turning it into the ultimate princess room.
Whenever they found anything good to eat or play with, they would rush to bring it all to her room.
Back then, they had said with such loving expressions: "Kate is our most beloved princess, she naturally deserves the very best of everything."
She had believed them, but after Bethany took that car accident for them, they made her move to a guest room, claiming Bethany needed the room for recovery and care.
From that moment on, Katerina knew she was no longer the princess they cherished most in their hearts.
She forced a slight smile and returned to her guest room to rest.
Early the next morning, the sound of party poppers thundered from downstairs.
Woken by the noise, Katerina went downstairs to find the entire living room filled with beautifully wrapped gift boxes. Bethany, dressed in a princess gown, stood surrounded by the three men, her face beaming with joy.
Ethan, his eyes gentle, offered her a sports car key. "Beth, congratulations on recovering from your cold. This is the car you said was beautiful before - I bought it for you."
Tony presented a safety amulet. "I specifically went to a temple to get this. There were many people that day, and I even met some fans, but I still managed to get it. They say it's very effective."
Andrew brought out a trophy, grinning freely. "Look, as soon as I won the competition, I brought this to you.
Beth, if luck and safety could be transferred, I'd give all of mine to you. I wish you a lifetime of peace and joy."
The three of them stuffed all the gifts into Bethany's arms until she could barely hold them all. She was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes.
"How can you give me gifts for such a small thing? You really care too much about me. I don't know what to do."
The smile on her face was impossible to suppress. Suddenly seeing Katerina coming downstairs, she asked with feigned innocence:
"Young Miss, yesterday was your birthday. What gifts did Ethan and the others give you? I'm so curious, can you show them to me?"
Katerina unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes, remaining silent.
Only then did Ethan, Tony, and Andrew belatedly remember that yesterday was her 22nd birthday, and they hadn't prepared anything.
Ethan stepped forward, holding out a black card. "Yesterday Beth had a fever, that's why we forgot. We'll make it up to you next time - buy whatever you like."
The other two also offered their cards in succession.
But Katerina showed no intention of accepting them, merely refusing quietly: "No need. Missed gifts are no longer needed."
Hearing this, surprise flickered in all three men's eyes.
They had all prepared themselves to appease her, but her calm, indifferent demeanor left them oddly unsure of how to proceed.
But then they remembered her lie about getting married yesterday, and instantly understood this must be another of her sulking episodes.
