Chapter 1

My name was Emelia Harper, heiress of the Harper Group in Prizatburg.

It was my wedding day. I was wearing a custom-made wedding dress worth one million dollars.

I sat in a wedding car adorned with thousands of imported roses, holding a lily bouquet that my father had specially flown in from Nethaland.

My fiancé was Steven Winston, heir to the Winston Group. We grew up together, and our families are perfectly matched. In everyone's eyes, we're the golden couple.

At this moment, the wedding car was parked at the end of the red carpet. I'd been waiting for thirty whole minutes, and Steven was nowhere to be seen.

"Ms. Harper," my bridesmaid, Della Dunn, said, her voice trembling, "I still can't reach Mr. Winston."

I lifted my veil, showing off my three-hour bridal makeup. "Keep trying."

Della said, "I've already tried over fifty times."

"Then try for the fifty-first time." My voice was so calm that it sent a chill down Della's spine.

She didn't know that I already had a hunch.

Last night, I got an anonymous text with just one photo: Steven at the airport, holding a woman in his arms.

That woman was the one he could never forget, Alyssa Bennett.

*****

Three years ago, Alyssa left the country to pursue her career, and Steven was totally wasted at the airport.

I was the one who dragged him home. A month later, he asked me to marry him, and I agreed.

I thought I'd finally won.

Looking back, I was nothing but a joke.

"Emelia," my father's voice came from outside the car, barely holding back his anger. "The Winston family said that Steven..."

"He left, didn't he?" I finished for him.

"Yes." My father's voice suddenly sounded ten years older. "Alyssa's back, and he... he went to the airport."

I let out a bitter laugh.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I laughed. "Great. Really great."

I lifted my wedding dress and got out of the car by myself.

The guests lining the red carpet gasped, camera flashes popping everywhere.

I tuned it all out, headed straight for the stage, and grabbed the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen," my voice rang out across the whole place, "the groom, Steven Winston, ditched me."

There was a stunned silence.

I added, "He ditched me, screwed over the Harper family, and made fools of everyone here, all for his ex, Alyssa."

I took off my veil and tossed it to the ground. "But the wedding is still happening."

The guests looked at each other, not knowing what I was planning.

"No groom, but I still have my wedding gifts." I pointed at the long line of trucks behind me. "Ten trucks, worth 70 million dollars.

"Since Steven doesn't want them, they're all heading back."

I turned decisively and headed straight for the wedding car. "Della, start the car."

Della asked, "Where to, Ms. Harper?"

I replied, "Home."

The convoy slowly pulled away and made a U-turn.

I slipped out of my wedding dress and into the regular clothes I'd had ready just in case.

I was not getting married after all.

But I would make sure this mess was a scar on Steven's life he'd never be able to erase.

The convoy made its imposing return to the Harper family, turning heads all the way.

Sitting in the lead car, I watched the scenery recede outside the window, my mind already racing with plans for what to do next.

The Harper family would not be anyone's laughingstock. I had to take action.

Just then, the convoy came to a sudden halt.

"What's going on?" I asked the driver.

The driver stammered, "Ms. Harper, there's... there's a kid up ahead."

I looked up and saw a little brat standing less than thirty feet away from my house.

Honestly, the only way to describe him was as a little brat.

He looked about seven or eight, wearing a faded T-shirt and shorts. His hair looked like a mess, and his face was smeared with mud.

But he stood there in the middle of the road, hands on his hips, like some little bandit ready to rob us blind.

"Stop the car!" he shouted.

The driver glanced at me, looking hesitant. "Ms. Harper, uh..."

"Stop the car," I ordered.

The convoy came to a halt.

The kid ran over and knocked on my window.

I rolled it down. "Hey, kiddo. Do you need something?"

He glanced at me and did something that shocked me.

He dropped to one knee, pulled out a wildflower no one knew where he had picked, and offered it to me.

"Miss," he looked up at me, his eyes sparkling, "will you marry me?"

I froze.

The driver was speechless.

All ten truck drivers behind us just stared, dumbfounded.

I asked, "What did you just say?"

"I said," he stood up straight, puffing out his tiny chest, "my name's Raymond Murray, I'm seven years old.

"I don't have any money right now, but someday, I'll be rich. If you marry me, I promise you'll eat well and live large."

I looked at his ridiculously serious little face and suddenly burst out laughing.

I wondered if this kid was my knight in shining armor.

"Do you know what getting married means?" I asked, half amused.

"Sure!" Raymond nodded with confidence. "It means I'll take care of you, and you'll give me kids!"