Chapter 1

On my wedding day, right at the banquet hall entrance, I saw my husband, Tom, kneeling down to tie the shoelaces of the girl I sponsored.

She shot me a smug, challenging look.

When we got home that night, I told the servants to fetch all my lace-up shoes and made Tom tie each pair for me, one after another.

Tom owed everything to my family. If he didn't toe the line, he could kiss his CEO title goodbye.

*****

Today was my wedding day.

I stood at the entrance of the banquet hall, watching my husband, Tom Baxter, kneel right in front of me to tie Erika Harris's shoelaces.

Erika was a college student I'd sponsored for three years. She was invited to my wedding, but showed up in a wine-red cocktail dress, as if she were the bride herself.

As I walked over, she deliberately rested her hand on Tom's shoulder, a sly smile playing on her lips.

"Leslie, you're here," she said softly, her voice sweet and innocent. "Mr. Baxter insisted on tying my shoelaces. I told him it wasn't necessary, but he said he was already down there, so he might as well."

Tom finally looked up, saw me, and paused for a moment, but didn't get up.

Erika blinked, her eyes wide and pitiful. "You don't mind, do you?"

I looked at her innocent face and smiled. "Why would I mind? If you can't even handle tying your own shoelaces, maybe my sponsorship money was just wasted on you."

Erika's face went pale, her eyes reddened with tears, looking like she'd just been hit with the biggest injustice. "Leslie, how could you say that? I..."

I cut her off. "Please don't call me by my first name. We're not that close."

Tom finally stood up, frowning at me. "Why are you always so mean?"

I sneered and said, "That's just how I am. Shouldn't you have known that back when you were trying to win me over?"

Tom started to say something, but thought better of it.

I knew he wouldn't dare.

Today was our wedding, the CEO of Baxter Group and the CEO of Vortex Group tying the knot. All the city's big shots were here.

If Tom dared to cross me at a time like this, he'd be out of a job as CEO of Baxter Group by tomorrow.

After all, Vortex Group was the biggest shareholder in Baxter Group.

I walked right past them and headed straight into the banquet hall.

Behind me, I heard Erika's soft, apologetic voice. "Mr. Baxter, I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have made her mad."

Tom said quietly, "It's not your fault. She's always like this, don't let it get to you."

I kept walking, treating it as just a minor hiccup. The ceremony went on without a hitch.

Wearing my custom wedding gown, holding Tom's arm, we exchanged rings under the officiant's lead.

The hall was packed with all the business elites. They were long-time clients of Vortex Group, plus a few small-time bosses trying to network or climb the social ladder.

Tom flashed a perfectly polite smile, and I kept my smile poised and graceful.

When it was time to toast, we made our rounds, table by table.

When we reached the main table, a few of Vortex Group's founding members stood up, raised their glasses, and didn't even glance at Tom. They looked straight at me and said, "Ms. Rodgers, congratulations on your wedding."

"Thank you, Mr. Cross," I said, clinking my glass with theirs.

Tom held his glass, his smile faltering for a second before he quickly recovered.

Michael Cross was one of the founding members of Vortex Group, the old guard who helped my dad build the business empire from scratch.

He shot Tom a look, speaking matter-of-factly. "Tom, Ms. Rodgers has really helped your business out. Make sure you treat her well."

"Of course, of course," Tom said, forcing a smile.

I took a sip of my wine and stayed silent.

After finishing our toasts, I headed to the restroom.

As I came out, I overheard a few people chatting around the corner.

"Did you see Erika's shoelace? Tom actually tied it for her himself."

"Yeah, that's right. Only the big shots got invited today. If Erika's here, Tom must really value her."

I stopped in my tracks.

Then I heard Erika's voice. "I know Mr. Baxter has always treated me well, and I really appreciate it. But Mrs. Baxter doesn't seem to like me. I honestly don't know what I did wrong."

Another person said, "Come on, doesn't matter how tough Mrs. Baxter acts, she's still a woman. After marriage, she has to listen to Mr. Baxter, right?"

Then the three of them burst out laughing.

I walked out, and the three of them immediately stopped talking.

I glanced at them, said nothing, and strode right past.

Mrs. Baxter? If it weren't for my family, Tom wouldn't even have the right to be a CEO.

But I didn't bother correcting them. I always let him save face in front of outsiders anyway.

Back in the hall, the toasting continued.

Tom didn't say another word to me the whole night. He kept smiling and mingling with the guests, but every now and then, he'd glance at me, his look hard to decipher.

I knew exactly what was going through his mind. He wanted to act like everything was fine, but deep down, he just couldn't let it go.

Back when he was trying to win me over, he was nothing like this.