Chapter 3

By the time I could move again, the sun was already shining brightly outside. Underwear was scattered across the room, and the air reeked of a sickening stench.

Yet, I didn't have time to worry about the mess. I quickly found my phone and called the wedding planner.

"Cancel the wedding now!"

The wedding planner replied, "I'm sorry, Mr. Shaw, but Ms. Sterling specifically instructed us yesterday not to make any changes to the wedding arrangements."

I checked the time. I'd barely stepped away from the bed when the door burst open.

"Marvin, the groomsmen are already waiting at the hall. You're the groom, and you're the one who's late. What the hell are you doing?"

As Christopher spoke, he looked around the room in apparent shock. "Have you lost your mind? How could you do something like this the night before your wedding?"

He hurried over to the bed, looking every bit the disappointed friend. If I hadn't seen what happened the night before, I'd never have believed he could put on such a convincing act.

"Today's your big day, Marvin. I'd do anything for you. I've got your back.

Then, he helped me change into the suit he'd bought for the wedding.

"Damn! Things must've gone pretty wild last night. Look at all those scratches," Christopher said, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction.

I grabbed his wrist and looked him straight in the eye.

Suddenly, a chorus of screams rang out from the hallway. Christopher hadn't closed the door when he came in.

Annabelle and her bridesmaids filled the doorway. Meanwhile, four videographers held their cameras high, filming everything inside the room.

Without uttering a single word, Annabelle slapped me.

She grabbed the front of her wedding dress, trembling with rage. "Marvin Shaw! You jerk! How could you do something this disgusting on our wedding day? The wedding's off!"

The women behind her immediately started whispering and pointing.

"Seriously? Annabelle is the heiress of Sterling Group. He'd have to be out of his mind to pull something like this on their wedding day," one commented.

"Men are all the same. He was probably looking for one last thrill and couldn't keep it in his pants after his bachelor party."

Another added, "Oh my God! Is this wedding even going to happen now? This is going to be a huge scandal."

I turned to Annabelle and asked, "Don't you want to know how I ended up here?"

Christopher, on the other hand, tried to smooth things over. "Calm down, everyone. This is my room. Marvin only came to check on me because he was worried about me."

"Don't cover for him!" Annabelle raised her hand, only to let it fall. Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned to her father, James Sterling. "Dad! This is the man you chose for me!"

The CEO of Sterling Group stepped into the room, his expression grim. He immediately ordered his assistant to stop the camera crew from filming and keep the bridesmaids outside.

I got to my feet and kept my head down. "Mr. Sterling, I didn't do anything. Please believe me."

Annabelle clung to his arm, tears in her eyes.

"Dad, the evidence is right there! Marvin has never been able to keep it in his pants. How could you let someone like him marry me? How could you trust him with Sterling Group?"

Right then, James' gaze shifted to Christopher. "Tell me what happened."

Christopher looked away and let out a sigh. "Marvin, I can't pretend I didn't see it."

Then, he told James, "I did see a few women come into his room last night."

I sank onto the edge of the bed before looking up at James.

"Mr. Sterling, the invitations have already gone out, and all the guests are here. If you call off the wedding now, Sterling Group's stock will take a hit tomorrow. The company, your family, and even Annabelle's reputation will all suffer."

The Sterlings cared deeply about their image, and James was a businessman. He immediately understood what I was getting at.

"The wedding will go on as planned. And if anyone leaks this story, they'll answer to the Sterling family."

Annabelle tried to protest, but James cut her off. "I'll deal with this properly after the wedding is over."

"Dad…"

…

The wedding march drifted through the venue.

I stood at the altar, staring at Annabelle. Beneath her veil, her eyes were filled with resentment.

Christopher, however, sat among the guests, looking completely at ease.

Why was he so calm? Did he have something else planned?

My chest tightened.

Then, without warning, the doors were kicked open. More than a dozen shirtless men covered in tattoos stormed into the hall. They looked like they were ready for a fight.

Panic swept through the guests, and the sound of glass shattering echoed through the hall.

"Which one of you is Marvin Shaw? He owes me 30 million dollars, with interest!" one of the thugs yelled. "If I don't get my money today, this wedding will end in a bloodbath!"