Chapter 2

I changed into fresh clothes, slipped out of the house, and made a beeline for the Regency Grand Hotel.

On the way, I gave the hotel manager, Jack Walker, a call.

"Mr. Walker, it's me, Charlotte. I'm just checking on how things are shaping up for tomorrow's wedding reception."

Jack answered, "Ms. Grant, you can put your mind at ease. Everything's all set and ready to go."

I let out a soft sigh of relief, asking, "That's a load off my mind. Oh, and by the way, my fiancé Andrew is staying there tonight, right?"

"Yes, ma'am. He's in the presidential suite, Room 2802."

"I see. I might stop by later to surprise him. Could you get me a keycard to his room?"

"No problem at all, Ms. Grant."

Jack, an old family acquaintance, wouldn't dream of saying no to such a simple request.

At precisely midnight, I found myself outside Room 2802 at the Regency Grand Hotel.

Taking a steadying breath, I swiped the keycard and entered.

The living room was engulfed in a profound silence, yet the sounds seeping from the bedroom were like a jarring discord.

Those sickening noises made my stomach churn.

Without a second thought, I grabbed my phone and quietly eased open the bedroom door.

There, on the bed, two bodies were locked in a passionate embrace, utterly oblivious to my presence.

"Andrew, tomorrow Charlotte'll be your wife. Will we still be able to do this?" Emily's voice was a soft, plaintive whine, laced with a hint of sadness.

Andrew scoffed, replying, "Sure thing. She's a real airhead. She won't have a clue. And I'm not marrying her for love. It's all about the money from the Grant family."

"Then you really love me, right?" Emily asked, her voice filled with a touch of insecurity.

"Of course. My heart belongs to you, and only you," Andrew replied smoothly, not a trace of doubt in his eyes.

Hearing this, I felt my heart shatter, but I fought back the urge to break down and kept recording.

These pieces of evidence would be the key to exposing them to the world.

"Charlotte's been so good to you. Don't you feel even a little bad about lying to her?" Emily said, though there was a smug undertone in her voice, as if she were gloating.

Andrew sneered, "Bad? She deserves it. A dumb, rich girl. All she's got is money. Marrying me is the best thing that could happen to her."

"What about after we're married? I don't wanna be the side chick." Emily fretted.

"After? Once I'm solidly in the Grant family, I'll figure out a way to stage an accident for her. Then I'll inherit her fortune and we can tie the knot," Andrew said, his voice cold and calculating.

My hands started to shake.

So, from the very start, he'd been planning my demise.

Andrew asked, "By the way, did you go through with it? Slipping those sleeping pills into her milk like I asked."

"You bet! She's out like a light. There's no way I could've snuck out if she was still awake."

Sleeping pills in my milk?! The realization hit me like icy water, making my blood run cold.

No wonder in my past life I'd slept like a log and missed everything.

I continued recording until my phone was almost full, then quietly backed out of the room.

Stepping out of the hotel, I gazed up at the star-filled sky. For the first time, my mind was clear as a bell.

Andrew and Emily would pay, but not just yet. It wouldn't do me any good to have an all-out confrontation right now.

I'd let them revel in their false sense of security and then bring them crashing down.

I'd barely settled back home when Emily showed up. Without delay, I curled up and feigned a deep slumber.

The soft rustle of her getting into bed stirred me into action. I let out a sleepy groan, as if roused from a dream, and murmured, "Emily, did you head to the restroom?"

"Yeah, Charlotte. You're awake? Go back to sleep. You've got a big day tomorrow," Emily said, her voice seemingly sleepy.

"Okay," I murmured, closing my eyes again.

But inside, I was already hatching a plan. The wedding would go on as planned, and I'd expose Andrew in front of everyone.

The wedding was underway as scheduled.

Draped in a gorgeous white wedding dress, I sauntered down the aisle. Cheers and well-wishes from guests surrounded me like a warm embrace.

At the end of the aisle stood Andrew, beaming with joy, looking every bit the perfect groom.

"Charlotte, you look absolutely stunning today," he murmured, his voice soft and gentle.

"Thanks," I replied with a smile.

The venue was packed with friends, family, and some bigwigs from the business world.

In the front row sat my mother, Miranda Grant, her eyes glistening with happy tears.

She'd spent a year pulling this wedding together, oblivious to the fact that it was a sham from the start.

"Dear guests, today we're here to witness the beautiful union of Charlotte Grant and Andrew Carter..."

The emcee kicked off the ceremony, but my heart remained as still as a pond on a windless day.

In my previous life, on this very day, I was head-over-heels in newlywed bliss, blind to the storm brewing ahead.

This time, I owned the narrative. No more playing the fool.

"Groom, do you take Ms. Grant to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love, cherish, and protect her through all life's ups and downs, in sickness and in health?"

"I do," Andrew declared, his eyes fixed on me with what appeared to be love.

It was all a farce. Everything he just said was nothing but lies.

"Bride, do you take Mr. Carter to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honor, and be faithful to him, through all life's ups and downs, in sickness and in health?"

I hesitated for a heartbeat. All eyes in the hall locked onto me, hanging on my next word.

I..." Just then, my phone vibrated.

It was a pre-arranged message sent to all the guests.

"Excuse me for a second," I said, fishing out my phone and pretending to check it.

"What's going on, Charlotte?" Andrew asked, his voice a bit shaky.

"Not much. Just..." I raised my voice. "Hey, what's this video?"

A stir erupted among the guests as they started looking at their phones.

Miranda's face paled instantly. I knew she'd seen the disgusting video I'd recorded last night.

"Charlotte, what are you playing at?" Andrew realized something was amiss and tried to grab my phone.

But it was already too late. A wave of gasps rippled across the crowd, and several women covered their eyes, unable to bear the sight.