Megan Vance’s sloppy mistake on the price quote cost the company a fortune, and now they were demanding huge compensation.

To win back the contract, I had to go to this awful dinner meeting to apologize, forced to drink until I was practically sick, a gut-wrenching, humiliating apology.

After smoothing things over, Megan cooed promises of a huge, lavish wedding.

But the day before we were supposed to get married, I saw her, already in a wedding dress, throwing herself into Kevin Sloan’s arms.

When I confronted her, she just shrugged it off.

“You’re just a small-town guy trying to play in the big leagues. What makes you think I’d actually marry you?”

“Besides, Kevin’s father is a Director. He’s in a totally different league than you.”

“But… if you’re still really into me, I guess I could let you stick around.”

Was Megan actually asking me to be her side piece?

That slap wasn't just loud; it shattered whatever was left between us. I turned my back on her and agreed to marry my childhood sweetheart, Evelyn Reed, heiress to the Reed fortune.

Unbelievably, our weddings ended up scheduled for the same day, at the very same hotel.

As I approached the hotel entrance, Megan, flanked by a crowd of our former colleagues, blocked my path.

“Liam Miller, are you seriously trying to crash my wedding? Let me tell you, I won’t let anyone ruin my perfect day with Kevin.”

“Since you’re so desperate for attention, why don’t you get on your knees right here and apologize to Kevin in front of everyone?”

The crowd around us started jeering and egging her on.

Megan kicked the back of my knee, forcing me down, and even started trying to rip my clothes off to humiliate me further.

It wasn't until Ms. Reed herself arrived that Megan stopped, plastering on a fake, fawning smile.

“Ms. Reed! My ex is having some kind of breakdown, claiming he’s your husband. Don’t worry, I’m handling it. So… about that Northgate contract, do you think we could sign off on it?”

...

A crane accident near the subway had shut down traffic, so Evelyn and I had to take separate routes to the venue.

When I finally got to the hotel, I was about to get out of the car.

Just as I opened the door, I saw Megan, beaming, arm-in-arm with Kevin Sloan, walking into the hotel.

My hand froze. I didn’t get out immediately.

I couldn’t believe we were getting married on the same day.

Ever since I’d cut ties with Megan, I’d wanted nothing more to do with her. Especially not today, on my own wedding day. I didn't need that kind of bad luck.

“Liam! Big brother! Over here!”

A cute little girl darted towards me from nearby, yanking open my car door.

“Brother, you’re here! Why aren’t you getting out?”

Annie’s voice was loud, instantly catching Megan’s attention. She’d opened the door so fast I had no time to react. Suddenly, I was making eye contact with Megan across the short distance.

Megan’s initially bright expression twisted into rage. She stormed over, pushed Annie aside, and yanked me out of the Lincoln sedan.

“Liam Miller, how long are you going to keep harassing me?”

Then her eyes landed on the groom's ribbon pinned to my suit. Her pupils dilated, then she let out a contemptuous laugh.

“Wow, you really are pathetic. It’s my wedding day, and you show up trying to crash it.”

I forcefully pushed Megan’s hand off me and pulled Annie up from the ground, shielding her. Before I could even explain, Megan glared at me, spitting venom.

“Liam, today is the most important day of Kevin’s and my life. If you dare cause trouble, don’t blame me for what happens!”

Guests nearby started whispering:

“How shameless can Liam be, trying to crash the wedding?”

“If it weren’t for his screw-up with that quote, we wouldn’t have lost our year-end bonuses!”

“Yeah, but you still have a job thanks to him, right? He’s the one who had to sleep with those execs from the client’s side to save the deal.”

“Men and women, I heard. Can his skinny frame even handle that?”

“Ugh, Liam’s so dirty. Just breathing the same air as him makes me sick. And he dares to crash her wedding.”

Listening to their degrading comments, I trembled with fury. Megan had pinned everything on me.

Just then, Kevin Sloan emerged from the crowd. His disdainful gaze shifted when he saw the bouquet in my hands, and his eyes lit up.

“Megan, honey, how about I give you this bouquet from him?”

2

The bouquet I held was custom-made, ordered specially by Evelyn from France. It was incredibly expensive, interwoven with delicate, pure gold filigree roses. The unique craftsmanship and costly flowers made it sparkle in the sunlight.

Megan had looked slightly guilty when she heard people blaming me for the quote error.

But the next second, seeing I even had a bouquet prepared, her expression turned back to scorn.

“Liam, there’s no way I’m marrying you. Just give me the bouquet; consider it your contribution to our wedding.”

“After all, you love me so much, you wouldn’t want to embarrass me, right?”

I stared at Megan, stunned. How could the girl I once knew, who was always kind and helpful, turn into this?

I sighed, about to speak, when Annie darted out from behind me and gave Kevin a shove.

“You big bully! Why are you trying to steal my sister’s bouquet?”

“My sister had this specially made by a master artist in France!”

Annie was small, so Kevin just stumbled slightly before regaining his balance. He looked down at her with disgust.

“Where did this grimy little kid come from? Careful you don’t dirty my custom-made suit. It cost thousands.”

Annie, Evelyn’s little sister, probably spent thousands on pocket money daily. She tilted her head, genuinely curious, and asked me,

“Brother, his suit is so cheap, is he really worried about getting it dirty?”

Kevin flushed crimson with rage, his finger practically poking Annie’s eye.

I immediately pulled Annie behind me, my voice sharp.

“Megan, I’m not here to crash your wedding.”

Megan’s eyes narrowed slightly, a cold smile playing on her lips. “Liam, still putting on an act even now?”

“If you’re not here to crash the wedding, why are you here, dressed like a groom?”

“Don’t tell me you’re also getting married here, at the Grand Excelsior Hotel?”

I nodded. A wave of laughter erupted from the crowd.

“Seriously? What a low-class move. He probably doesn’t even know how exclusive the Grand Excelsior is. How dare he try to associate himself with it?”

“If it weren’t for Kevin Sloan being the Director’s son, none of us would probably ever get to see the inside of this place.”

“Exactly. Thank God Kevin went and begged Ms. Reed. Otherwise, Liam probably thinks taking off his clothes a few times is enough to land a contract.”

Many of those talking were my former colleagues, people I had helped numerous times.

Now, they were twisting the truth, slinging mud at me without a second thought.

Megan watched me with a smirk, waiting until the ridicule died down before speaking.

“You come from nothing, dirtied yourself with God knows who, men and women… Who else would want you besides me?”

“Alright, stop pretending. Give the bouquet to Kevin, and I’ll allow you to stay for the reception.”

She reached out to snatch the bouquet.

Annie, who had been pampered her whole life and never treated this way, reacted instantly, rushing forward to protect me.

She pulled the half-finished juice box from her little backpack and splashed it all over Megan.

Caught off guard, Megan’s suit was soaked. Her face turned terrifyingly dark.

But Annie, oblivious to the danger, clapped her hands excitedly. “I got the bad guy! I got the bad guy!”

“Such a naughty little brat. Needs to be taught a lesson,” Megan hissed, her voice dripping ice.

She waved her hand, and several large, burly men suddenly surrounded us, grabbing Annie in seconds.

I tried to stop them but Megan slapped me hard, sending me stumbling to the ground.

Seeing Annie about to be dragged away, I forgot everything else and yelled,

“She’s Evelyn Reed’s sister!”

3

Everyone froze for a second.

Just when I thought Megan would let Annie go, she burst out laughing.

“Evelyn Reed’s sister? Don’t tell me you’re going to claim you’re dressed like this today to marry Evelyn Reed?”

I nodded grimly. “Now that you know, let Annie go… Ahh—”

Before I could finish, Megan slapped me again, hard, her teeth clenched.

“Still playing games at a time like this? Looks like you won’t learn your lesson until you’re taught one.”

She raised her hand again, ready to strike.

This time, Kevin stopped her. “Alright, Megan. It’s our wedding day. Let’s not waste time on this lowlife.”

Then his tone shifted. “Why don’t we take this opportunity to make Liam write a resignation letter? Saves me the trouble of seeing his face at the office later.”

Although Megan had publicly claimed she saved the Southbridge project contract, upper management knew perfectly well it was signed only after I met with the client.

The commission was rightfully mine. But if I resigned, it would all go to Megan and Kevin.

Megan’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. She immediately started forcing me to write the resignation letter.

When I refused, Megan pinched Annie’s chubby cheek hard, threatening,

“Such a young child. What if she got a little scar on her face, or maybe lost an arm or a leg? Who knows if she’d even survive after that…”

I couldn’t believe it. Megan was using a child to threaten me, just for some commission money.

Annie started crying, terrified, calling my name.

Megan snatched the bouquet from my hand and presented it to Kevin like a trophy.

Ignoring that, I looked straight at Megan, my voice flat.

“If I write the resignation letter, will you let Annie go?”

Megan nodded, a mocking smile on her face. “Believe it or not. It’s not like you have any other choice, do you?”

“I warned you, Annie is Evelyn Reed’s sister. And I am marrying Evelyn Reed today. You’re humiliating her fiancé and her sister like this. Aren’t you afraid of her retaliation?”

The crowd roared with laughter again.

“Has Liam lost his mind? He came to crash the wedding, realized Megan didn’t want him, saw Ms. Reed was also getting married here, and suddenly decided he’s marrying her?”

“I bet he doesn’t even know who Ms. Reed really is. She’s the Evelyn Reed, the most powerful heiress in the city. Ruthless. Nobody dares to cross her. Liam pretending to be her fiancé? He must have a death wish.”

“That Southbridge project was with her company’s subsidiary. That’s why the commission was so high.”

Understanding dawned on the onlookers, and their gazes turned even more contemptuous.

The pen trembled in my hand. Humiliation and fury washed over me.

The moment I finished the last word, Megan snatched the paper away, glanced at it with satisfaction, and handed it to Kevin.

“Now, can you let Annie go?”

But Megan’s lips curved into a cruel smile. “Let her go? She threw juice on my suit. Doesn’t she need to apologize?”

Annie and I were alone, cornered. I didn’t want to prolong this. I apologized immediately.

Megan snorted. “Just a quick ‘sorry’ is enough?”

I clenched my jaw, staring hard at her. “What else do you want?”

Megan sneered, kicked the back of my knee again, and laughed coldly. “An apology requires the right attitude. I want you kneeling when you apologize to me.”

I was forced onto one knee, but I refused to bow my head completely.

I was about to become Mr. Reed. My humiliation was Evelyn’s humiliation.

Megan clearly didn’t expect me to be so stubborn, refusing to fully kneel even after being kicked. She reached out again, trying to force my head down.

In the struggle, the sleeve of my jacket rode up, revealing a collection of expensive watches on my wrist.

Kevin’s eyes widened, instantly shouting:

“Well, well, Megan! So you spent money buying Liam all these fancy watches? I want you to take every single one of them off him right now!”

4

Megan froze.

She knew perfectly well she hadn’t bought me these watches.

Suddenly, she flew into a rage, kicking me hard in the chest.

Sharp pain exploded, nearly making me black out. All I could hear was Megan’s furious voice.

“So you didn’t just whore yourself out to other women, you took their gifts too?”

“Liam Miller, you are utterly shameless! You make me sick.”

Even as she spat the words, her eyes greedily scanned my arm. Impatiently, she ripped up my other sleeve.

Seeing more limited-edition watches there, her eyes practically glowed.

Kevin sneered. “Megan, those watches look exactly like the ones that were stolen from me.”

I looked up in disbelief. What was he talking about?

These were all limited-edition pieces Evelyn had tracked down for me through various channels after learning I collected watches. Most people couldn’t even get their hands on them.

But Megan instantly understood Kevin’s ploy. She yelled loudly:

“Liam Miller, I never thought you were this kind of person! You actually snuck into my place and stole the watches I bought for Kevin!”

She lunged, trying to rip the watches off my wrists.

I fought back desperately, but Annie was still her hostage, and I was no match for several large bodyguards.

Soon, I was pinned to the ground, my pristine suit stained and dirty, my entire appearance utterly wretched.

To prove her point to Kevin, Megan personally started yanking the watches off.

Most of them had been custom-fitted by Evelyn to my size. They fit perfectly, and their clasps were intricate. Megan had no idea how to remove them properly.

But she didn't care about hurting me. She just ripped them off with brute force.

My sharp cries of pain accompanied each watch she triumphantly handed to Kevin.

Annie screamed from the side, “I’m gonna tell my sister! She’ll make you pay!”

But no one paid any attention to a little girl’s threats.

Soon, both my wrists were raw and bleeding, scraped horribly by the forced removal.

I gasped in pain but refused to beg for mercy.

“Can you let Annie go now?”

I struggled to sit up, wanting only to get Annie away from them.

But Kevin suddenly blocked me, eyeing me maliciously. He drawled,

“Megan, you think maybe Liam stole the other things I’m missing too?”

“Why don’t we strip him down and see if he’s hiding anything else under his clothes? We wouldn’t want them turning up in his possession later, making things awkward, right?”

Megan nodded readily. Ignoring my struggles, she reached out and ripped my dress shirt open down the front. A cold draft hit my chest, exposing large patches of skin marked with intimate-looking bruises or hickeys.

Instinctively, I tried to cover myself, but my bleeding hands wouldn't cooperate, I couldn't lift them properly.

The crowd leered, making crude jokes. My former colleagues were the loudest.

“I always knew Liam was trash. He used to hit on me all the time back at the office.”

“He probably got those marks from all the men and women he’s been with, right?”

“...”

The vile comments rained down, filling me with shame and agony.

But apparently, this wasn't enough for Kevin. He wanted me to suffer more. He pulled out his phone, grinning wickedly.

“Liam, don’t say I never did anything for you. I’m about to make you famous. Going live right now!”

Kevin’s eyes glinted with malice, fixed on me.

I covered my face, trembling with helpless rage. If looks could kill, Kevin would be dead a hundred times over.

But I was alone, surrounded by people enjoying my humiliation.

Just as despair washed over me, a cool, commanding female voice cut through the air:

“Who dares cause trouble at my wedding?”