Chapter 1

On our wedding morning, my fiancé pulled me into a cramped dressing room. He wanted to trade my wedding venue for his childhood friend's.

I looked at him as if he were a joke.

"So you want to trade my lavish wedding venue for her little grass-field setup?" I asked.

Simon Carter awkwardly rubbed his nose.

"It's Chloe's first wedding, and she's invited all those high-profile families from Kingsborough. We can't let her lose face. Can't we let her have this?" he pleaded.

I glanced at Chloe Evans, who was standing at the door, all pitiful, and let out a cold laugh.

"In your dreams! If you don't want to marry me, then get the hell out of here," I snapped.

*****

Simon was taken aback for a moment by my attitude and said with a frown, "Rachel, how can you talk like that? That's so rude."

I shot Simon a look, my face full of contempt. I must have played the nice girl for so long that he really thought I was a doormat he could walk all over.

Chloe, standing off to the side with red eyes, grabbed Simon's hand. "Simon, don't blame Rachel. This is all on me. I was the one who made such a ridiculous request.

"But I really don't have any other options. My fiancé thinks the venue I booked is way too shabby, and he said if I don't change it, he's not marrying me today.

"Besides, I invited my boss. He's the head of the most powerful family in Kingsborough. If you can get in with him, he could totally help your company get listed in Kingsborough."

I crossed my arms, watching them hold hands all lovey-dovey. A cold glint flashed in my eyes as I said in a mocking tone, "Why should I care if you can't get married?

"Get listed in Kingsborough? Please stop daydreaming."

"Rachel!" Simon frowned and snapped at me. "Can't you have some empathy? It's Chloe's first wedding, and it's your second. Can't you compromise a little?

"Who doesn't want their first wedding to be perfect? She's only a dreamy little girl. Can't we do a good deed and let her have the venue?"

My heart twisted in pain, tears spilling from my eyes uncontrollably. I shouted, "Compromise? Do a good deed?

"Simon, you know how much this wedding means to me. I've been planning it for six months. I picked out the wedding dress, makeup, flowers, and food for the venue. I only want a perfect wedding.

"Now you want me to hand over my wedding venue to do a good deed? That's no different than giving away my own child."

Simon froze for a second at my breakdown. Then he pulled me into a hug, trying to soothe me.

"Rachel, I don't care how fancy the wedding is. All I want is for you to be my wife," he said softly.

He hesitated, pressing his lips together. "Since this is your second wedding, if we make it too extravagant, everyone will make fun of me."

His words froze me to the core. My eyes locked on him, unmoving.

"Simon, you said you didn't care that this was my second wedding. Now you aren't worried that I might embarrass you?" I asked.

Simon opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Chloe immediately grabbed my hand, pretending to be concerned for me.

"Rachel, let me have the venue, please? Simon's family never wanted him to marry someone who's been divorced, and now you're making such a fuss at the wedding. Aren't you making Simon look bad?" she pleaded.

I shoved her away in anger.

But with a light push, Chloe fell to the floor, clutching her stomach and whining, shooting me a resentful, pitiful look.

Simon pushed me aside and rushed to cradle Chloe protectively in his arms. His eyes were full of disappointment as he looked at me.

"Rachel, how could you be so vicious? Chloe's pregnant, and you still shoved her," he barked. "I never thought you'd turn out like this."

With that, he carried Chloe out, his voice dripping with warning. "I'm taking Chloe to the hospital. If you don't want the groom to be missing at tonight's wedding, then do as you're told. Get your makeup done and wait for me here."

I watched them walk away, then pulled out my phone and made a call.

"Got a minute? Let's get married," I said.

Soon, my assistant called me. "Ms. Linwood, your wedding dress is ruined," she said frantically.

After that call, I raced straight to the hotel I'd booked for the wedding.

I'd flown to Baborough multiple times to have that dress custom-made by a top designer. It was the most important part of my wedding.

When I pushed open the door, the place was way messier than I had expected.

My wedding dress was ripped to pieces and thrown on the floor. Random stuff that wasn't mine was scattered all over the couch. The safe was wide open. Every piece of jewelry I owned had vanished.

My face darkened as I turned to the staff.

"I paid you a fortune, and this is what you give me?" I snapped coldly.

My assistant, looking terrified, stepped forward.

"Ms. Linwood, it was your fiancé," she said. "He barged in with a woman and demanded we do her makeup. When we refused, he threw us out. By the time we got back, everything was trashed."

I clenched my fists, rage boiling over inside me. I grabbed my phone and dialed Simon. "Simon, you—"