Chapter 3

The wedding was underway.

Things didn't go exactly as planned. There were a few unexpected changes to the original arrangement.

First, I removed Andrew's parents, relatives, and friends from the wedding guest list.

They were all kept out at the entrance.

All the groomsmen were swapped out for my own crew.

As Andrew walked in, my people confiscated his phone.

Seeing the empty seats on his side, he looked completely baffled.

I patiently comforted him, "It's fine. Maybe they're stuck in traffic. Let's just go ahead with the ceremony."

Next, I cut out a bunch of traditional wedding rituals. The father walking the bride down the aisle, the ring exchange, the kiss, the officiant reading the vows, and all that.

I walked up to the stage myself, and the officiant just started introducing us.

He finally realized something was off.

He leaned in and whispered, "Charlotte, are you hiding something from me?"

I just smiled at the guests and ignored him completely.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

He got annoyed. "Everything was fine just a minute ago. Why are you acting up again?"

He kept ranting. "If it weren't for your family's background, I wouldn't even be with you. You're always throwing your little princess tantrums, harder to please than anyone else.

"Vivian is way nicer and more innocent than you, and she actually saved me."

I glanced at him with icy indifference.

I said, "You seriously think Vivian pleading all night was enough to get you off the hook after you got arrested for that brawl?"

Andrew was visibly shaken, staring at me in disbelief. "Charlotte, what are you talking about?"

I scoffed, "The guy you beat up? He's a local rich guy. You broke three of his ribs. Did you really think he'd just let it slide? Even if Vivian had pleaded until her knees bled, he would never have let you off."

I scoffed and said, drawing out each word, "Let me spell it out for you. I dropped 300 thousand to get you out."

Andrew looked like he'd just been doused with ice water, completely stunned.

He stood there, slowly turning to stone.

The officiant had just finished introducing us and handed the mic over to me.

Seeing Andrew standing there like he was sleepwalking, I gave a cold, indifferent smile.

I took the mic and spoke slowly, deliberately.

I declared, "Thank you all for taking the time to come to my wedding. Well, actually, it's not a wedding anymore. It's a press conference now.

"Standing next to me is the CEO of Summers Group, my former fiancé, Andrew Preston.

"Last night, Mr. Preston went to a hotel with his ex-girlfriend. Guess what? I caught him red-handed. So, the wedding's off. Instead, it's a Summers family dinner, and you all get front-row seats to a real show."

With a wave of my hand, a slideshow lit up the big screen.

Photo after photo appeared, shots snapped through the hotel window of Andrew and Vivian kissing, the two of them sneaking out together looking all lovey-dovey, and even Andrew locking lips with Vivian in the car.

I let Andrew mess around last night just so I could nail down the evidence.

The photographers I hired were top-notch. They camped out all night and caught everything I needed.

Andrew finally snapped out of it and tried to snatch the mic from me, but the officiant stepped in and blocked him.

He roared, "Charlotte, what do you mean by this?"

I smiled at him, "Can't you see? I'm exposing you. We're done here."

"How can you be so unreasonable?" he shouted.

I replied coolly, "My resources let me do whatever I want."

After I told my parents everything that night, they were totally on my side.

"Our precious daughter, the one we'd never even dream of scolding. Why should she ever let some guy walk all over her? Charlotte, whatever you want to do, your mom and dad have your back," they said.

Andrew spun around, trying to rip down the curtain, but my groomsmen stepped in and pinned him in place.

He couldn't budge an inch.

I strode right up to him, raised my hand, and slapped him hard across the face.

I said coldly, "Andrew, you know exactly how I've treated you all these years. Even a dog would know to show some loyalty by now.

"But you? You eat my food, take my money, then turn around and fool around with someone else, and still have the nerve to badmouth me."

I sneered, demanding, "How many times have you and Vivian trashed me behind my back over the years?"

"You said I held her down so she couldn't get into college? That I tore apart you two tragic lovers?"

I gripped Andrew's chin, making him meet my gaze.

My voice echoed through the hall, every word firm and resolute.

"My family paid for Vivian's education, gave her every opportunity, but she never appreciated it. All she ever did was try to please me. If she chose to belittle herself, how is that my problem?

"Back in high school, I paid for your tutoring, and Vivian even got to join for free. But she was obsessed with romance and couldn't get into college. Is that my fault?

"When we started college, you were the one who came to me, confessed your feelings, and made it clear that things were over with her. Is that my fault?

"You got arrested for fighting, and I spent 300 thousand to get you out of trouble. This is how you repay me?"

As I kept questioning him, he just looked more and more ashamed, finally dropping his eyes to the floor.

His voice was barely audible, stammering, "It was Vivian. She fooled me."

I just raised an eyebrow. "So you just buy whatever she tells you? Can't you think for yourself?

"Figures. You never had any sense of right and wrong anyway. How else could you date me while messing around with her at the same time?

"Tell me, did you have fun sneaking off to the hotel with her the night before our wedding?"

I shoved the divorce papers hard against his chest, letting them flutter down to the floor in front of everyone.

I snapped, "From this moment on, you shameless pair, stay the hell out of my life."