Chapter 3
The whole place erupted in an uproar.
The emcee stood there in shock, nearly dropping the mic. "M-Mr. Bingham?"
"Let's continue," Shawn said again.
This time, his voice was louder, and everyone in the room could hear him clearly.
Mateo's expression changed. "What's that supposed to mean, Shawn?"
"Just what it means." Shawn looked at him, unfazed. "The wedding's still on, but with a new groom. I'm it."
Everyone was stunned.
The air went dead silent for a full three seconds.
Then, the room exploded with even louder chatter than before.
"What the hell is going on?"
"The best man just stole the groom's spot?"
"This plot twist is nuts!"
"Hang on, did the bride agree?"
I was wondering the same too.
"Shawn," I whispered, tugging at his sleeve. "What are you doing?"
"I'm helping you," Shawn said. He looked down at me, dead serious. "Didn't you want them to regret it? This is the quickest way."
"But we barely know each other," I protested.
"We'll get there," Shawn said.
I was at a loss for words.
Was this guy nuts?
Sure, I wanted Mateo and Velma to be humiliated, but this is insane.
Swapping the groom in front of everyone?
Was this straight out of some over-the-top CEO romance novel?
"Susan," Mateo called out, jolting me back to reality
He marched over, his face thunderous with anger.
"Are you crazy? Are you going to embarrass me in front of everyone?" Mateo demanded.
I looked at him and couldn't help but laugh.
"Embarrass you?" I echoed. "Mateo, who was the one who called off the wedding?
"Who brought his mistress here and announced she was pregnant? Who made me look bad in front of over three hundred people?
"Who taught you to turn the tables around and play the victim?"
His face turned even darker.
"I had no other choice. Velma's pregnant. I have to take responsibility," Mateo shot back.
"Go take responsibility for her. What does that have to do with me?" I retorted. "Couldn't you just break up with me? Did you have to pull this stunt at our wedding?"
He was at a loss for words for a second.
Velma started wiping her tears again. "Susan, it's not like we wanted this, either. We only found out at the start of the month. Mateo said he had to explain it to you..."
"So this is your idea of an explanation?" I gestured at the whole crowd.
"Inviting over three hundred people and spending over 60 thousand dollars? Is that so you could give me an explanation?" I snapped.
Velma pressed her lips together and fell silent.
Mateo took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.
"Alright, I was in the wrong," he said. "But did you have to drag Shawn into this to mess with me? You actually think he'd marry you?"
Mateo scoffed. "Susan, you don't know who Shawn really is—"
"I know," Shawn cut him off.
He stepped forward and stood right between me and Mateo.
"You and I go way back, Mateo," Shawn said. "We grew up together. Trust me, there's nothing about you I don't know. Including the reason you got close to Susan three years ago."
Mateo's face fell instantly.
"What do you mean, Shawn?" Mateo demanded.
"Exactly what I said," Shawn replied, his tone still flat, like he was talking about the weather. "Susan is the only daughter of the Fritz family, and the sole heiress to the Britton Group.
"You didn't pursue her because you were smitten at first sight."
I was stunned.
Britton Group? What was Shawn talking about?
Sole heiress? What does that mean?
"Shawn!" Mateo's voice shot up, barely hiding his panic. "What nonsense are you spouting? Susan's just an ordinary designer.
"Her dad's been working overseas for years. He's got nothing to do with the Britton Group."
"Her father, Anton Fritz, used to be Anton Britton," Shawn interrupted. "He changed his name twenty-three years ago and kept a low profile while running the overseas business.
"Last year, after the chairman of Britton Group passed away, he got all the shares.
"Now, he's the one really running Britton Group.
"I'd say his net worth is..." Shawn paused, glancing at me. "About 10 billion dollars."
The whole room went dead silent.
I stared at Shawn. My brain had short-circuited.
My dad was the boss of Britton Group?
His net worth was ten billion dollars?
"No way," I whispered. "My dad's just a regular businessman. Every month when he sends me my allowance, he always reminds me to be frugal."
"That's how he's been protecting you," Shawn said, his voice suddenly softer. "He was worried someone might come after you, so he kept it a secret."
Shawn turned to Mateo. "Too bad someone with an agenda still managed to find out."
Mateo's face had gone ghostly pale.
"Shawn, what are you really after?" Mateo demanded.
"Like I said," Shawn said, speaking each word slowly and clearly. "The wedding goes on. I'm the groom now.
"What makes you think you deserve Susan?"