Chapter 4

In the days that followed, the three of us were the most dedicated actors.

I tried on wedding gowns, finalized the menu, and checked the guest list as usual, a bride-to-be's happy smile fixed on my face the whole time.

But whenever Ken wanted to be intimate with me, I would always slip away without a trace, using the excuse that "there's so much to do before the wedding, and I'm exhausted."

At first he was understanding, but after it happened again and again, dissatisfaction crept into his face, and he began coming home late more and more often, blaming it on "business dinners."

As for me, I made no fuss, no scenes—sweet, obedient, sensible.

On my wedding day, I sat in the dressing room, staring blankly at my perfectly made-up reflection in the mirror.

Until Mr. and Mrs. Henson walked in wearing loving expressions.

Lucia took my hand, her tone affectionate:

"Cece, after today we'll all be family. There's something I'm not sure I should say..."

"You see, now that you've married Ken, with a husband to care for and children to raise, you'll have your hands too full for household matters. Why don't you hand your shares and management rights in the Cox company over to Ken to look after for now?"

"That way you can focus on giving the Henson family heirs. Your dad and I are so looking forward to a grandson!"

Hugh nodded along at her side:

"That's right. A woman should put her family first in the end. As for business, that's for the men to grind away at!"

Beneath their faces, all seemingly so concerned for my sake, I could see greed and calculation they couldn't begin to hide, and I sneered inwardly.

But a gentle, obedient smile bloomed on my face:

"Dad, Mom, you're absolutely right. I'll do whatever you say. After the wedding, I'll hand the company over to Ken!"

They exchanged a glance, wild joy they couldn't suppress on their faces. After a few more words of feigned concern, they left, thoroughly satisfied.

The wedding ceremony officially began, and the emcee, in the most heart-tugging tone, recounted my "deeply moving" love story with Ken.

"Now, let us all witness the happy moments this couple has shared!"

Thunderous applause and cheers broke out from the crowd.

The screen flickered, then lit up.

But the sweet wedding video montage that was supposed to appear never came.

Instead, there was a dim, luxurious themed suite.

Ken and Beth, tangled together—their faces, and the furious "Bull" tattoo at Beth's waist—

all of it displayed brazenly across a hundred-inch HD screen.

Beth's wanton voice and Ken's panting remarks surrounded the room in stereo through the hotel's speakers:

"My tricks... I've got plenty of them! A block of wood like Cecilia Cox could never learn any of it in her whole life!"

"She's sensible, very obedient—good to marry and bring home as a wife..."

...

After a deathly silence, the entire banquet hall exploded.

Screams, murmurs, and mocking laughter all blended together, loud enough to blow the roof off.

Ken's smile froze in an instant, the blood draining from his face as he stared at the screen in terror,

his eyes darting back and forth between me and Beth!

Hugh and Lucia, who had been sitting in the audience beaming, waiting for the ceremony to end so they could pocket a fortune in assets for free,

were frozen in place too now, faces livid, bodies trembling.

I stood there quietly, and the moment Ken's panicked, suspicious gaze locked onto me, I suddenly swayed violently,

crumpling toward the floor as if I might faint at any second.

I reached out, my hand trembling, and pointed at Beth down in the crowd, just as pale, trying to hide.

My voice broke into a sob, desperate and furious as I demanded:

"Beth... I treated you like my very best friend!"

"I know you hate my husband, but how could you—how could you use such a filthy scheme against Ken! And play a video like this at our wedding!"

"Do you hate him so much that you have to ruin his whole life?!"