“Maybe it’s because of the recent events at my wedding,” I guess because I don't even know why the reporters are here.
“At least, I am able to escape from them, that's good enough,” I let out a small sigh of relief and then make my way to Emelia's house, bursting through the door.“You guys won't believe…..” I pause when I notice the somber expressions on their faces.Sensing something amiss, I ask, only to have Katherine wordlessly hand me a laptop. My heart sinks as I stare at the screen, and I can't believe what I'm seeing right now. There, plastered across the internet, is a photo of me with a damning caption:"The Mayfair's Heir's Dirty Secret.""I understand now why the reporters are here, so he is a rich guy?" I share with them, but they continue to give me puzzled looks."Please, don't act strange. I'm already facing a new problem without resolving the old one," I explain to them, recounting how the reporters unexpectedly intruded on my privacy and then threatened to sue them although I know that will definitely be hard because I'm broke to even hire a lawyer for that."Do you remember nothing at all?" Emelia inquires, furrowing her brow."My mind's completely blank right now, and there’s nothing upstairs. Trust me, I really wish I remembered every single thing that happened right now, but it’s all blank," I reply, feeling hurt for not remembering what transpired between me and the Greek god because I'm darn sure we really had great sex with a lot of different styles and….“So how's it,” Caroline asks me again with a weird grin, and I can't believe she is already imagining things right now, just like I am.“Like seriously, I really remember nothing. How many times do you want me to say it?” I answer her, and they all laugh at me.Yeah, I know I've got crazy friends, but they’re still manageable. Katherine later proposes to address the current issue and locate the man involved first, while Emelia suggests visiting my family before taking any further steps. I agree to follow Emelia's suggestion because they must have seen the news also, and we all head to my house. On the way, I can't help but wonder what awaits me at home.But upon arriving home, I am met with a shocking scene."Please go. Ariel, please leave and never return," Mom says firmly."Mom," I whisper, attempting to approach her, but she takes a step back."Stay back. I want you to leave right now and never return to this house," Her voice quavers with emotion."We are still grappling with your sister's issues, and now you've brought even more shame upon this family. Ariel, you, of all people, should understand our struggles, yet you chose to betray us. Not only did you flee from the wedding, but you were also discovered with another man at the hotel that same night. Our family name is being dragged through the mud on social media, and we are enduring endless insults because of your actions. The disgrace you've brought upon us surpasses even what your sister inflicted. Please, for the sake of this family's dignity, take one last step and leave immediately," she implores, tears streaming down her face, and Dad moves closer to her, comforting and giving her support."About the wedding, it's..." Katherine begins, attempting to explain, but I cut her off with a stern look.Without saying anything, I simply go inside and return moments later with my luggage. I glare at the woman I refer to as a sister, and I'm seething with anger right now. Not even a trace of guilt or remorse is visible on her face; it's almost as if she is reveling in the chaos she has caused. Emelia steps in to assist me with my boxes."Thank you for everything, and I'm truly sorry for causing such hardship for the family,” I apologize before leaving with Emelia, and we head back to her house.Emelia offers me a place to stay for as long as I need, considering we both work at the same place. However, as they are comforting me, I receive a message from work."It's from the office. I've been fired," I announce, breaking into a strange, almost hysterical laughter, then burst into tears.I'm even scared of myself right now because I'm about to run mad. Trying to console me, they all gather around me, offering hugs and support, but that doesn't soothe anything because I’m totally ruined.THE MAYFAIR MANSIONALEXANDRA'S POV"What were you thinking? Even if you had to take those actions, couldn't you have done it discreetly without attracting public attention?" Grandfather reprimands in frustration as he throws a remote control at me, which of course I dodge."Why are you shouting at him? It's not his fault that the reporters revealed his location,” Mom defends. “But isn't it suspicious that reporters were able to pinpoint his whereabouts despite all the security measures?" I'm sure she is trying to insinuate that William may have leaked my location to the media."Marry her immediately," Grandfather suddenly declares, leaving me incredulous at his suggestion, knowing full well that I am not ready for such a commitment. I only break out into laughter as his command seems very funny and absurd.Marry who? That lowlife? He must be joking with me."Why would you propose that he marry someone of such a low class? She is not on our level and is not suitable for our family," Mom quickly defends."I have no intention of marrying anyone, and it will be best if you refrain from discussing this matter with me again," I assert firmly."Really? Then present a solution to rectify the mess you've caused. Surely, you must have a grand plan in place to address the situation you've found yourself in," Grandfather challenges.Crossing my leg, I suggest advancing the release date of our new product to resolve the issue at hand, but instead of accepting my suggestion, I can see his anger growing."Julius, assemble the legal team and sue every reporter, company, or individual who invaded my grandson's privacy by going to the hotel, distributing, or posting pictures of him. Release a statement claiming that the woman in the photo is his wife-to-be and announce that those who entered their hotel room will face consequences," Grandfather orders Julius, dismissing my suggestion, much to my dismay."I will not agree to this marriage," I retort angrily.“You will, and you have no other options,” he threatens, and I scoff then stand up, ready to take my leave."If you are not committed to it, then submit your resignation letter immediately," Grandmother's sudden voice interrupts from behind.I’m taken aback by her unexpected presence; we had not received any updates about her arrival. I hurry to greet her, embracing her tightly. I had missed her so bad; she had gone for medical treatment, and it seemed like she was doing much better."That girl is not suitable for our family, but we need to address the current issue promptly. Just marry her temporarily, and we can discuss your divorce later," Grandmother suggests as I wheel her away from the meeting table, and I let out a small sigh.Moving to her front and bending down, she cups my face into her hand, and I glance at her, feeling torn as I don't want to defy her authority."Please," she adds softly, and after some consideration, I reluctantly agree.“But I would like to add a clause to the agreement documents,” I add, and she agrees.**************ARIEL'S POV I'm engross in watching television when a news report suddenly claiming, "I am Alexander Mayfair's fiancée, and we are getting married soon." Startle, I exclaim, "What in the world is this? Who’s the monkey spreading such bizarre rumors? Are they crazy?"Emilia, hearing my outburst from the kitchen, hurries into the living room, inquiring about what happened, and I point at the television. As we listen, there's a knock on the door. Fearing it might be reporters, I quickly dash inside the room and lock the door. However, Emilia's voice calls out to me to come back, indicating it was someone else. I return downstairs to find an elderly man in a black suit standing there, introduced as Julius on behalf of the Mayfair family. Offering him a seat, he begins to narrate the history of the Mayfair family, which brings me nothing but boredom.It is quite well-known that they are the wealthiest family in the whole world, so I wonder why this introduction is necessary again. But I am taken aback when I hear him suggest, "Marry Alexander Mayfair for just a year." Without hesitation, I interrupt him.“Wait…what…what did you just say? Why do I have to do that? Do you even know what I’ve been through because of him? I lost everything because of him, and now you want me to marry him again?" I thunder in a loud voice, and I can even see the man flinching in fear."I’m very sorry for what happened to you, but I believe this is the best option for you to recover your damaged image. It's just a fake marriage; you don't have anything to lose and might gain something out of it. According to my findings, I heard your family has sent you away because of the issue at hand, and you've even lost your job. Please, think about it and make a wise decision because you can recover everything back with this marriage,” he says and drops a card on the table. I pick it up only to see the invite to my wedding.“The wedding is in two days," Julius adds, catching me off guard with the news that the wedding date has already been set without my knowledge.I glance at Emily, who whispers to me that the decision’s mine to make, and I should choose what feels right for me. After much contemplation, I realize that I’ve lost so much, and perhaps going along with this plan could help me reclaim what I have lost. It’s not as if I have any other options. So, I agree to the deal. Julius then produces a document for me to sign, which includes clauses about confidentiality and an agreement to divorce Alex immediately after one year. I sign it, despite noticing some small print at the end of the document. It is difficult to read, but I trust it won't be anything negative, so I scrub it off.After outlining the wedding plans, Julius eventually departs."I can't believe you're marrying that handsome guy! Congratulations, darling," Emilia exclaims, enveloping me in a tight hug.“Can you just stop this, that guy is definitely bad news. There’s nothing good about him,” I say, releasing a soft sigh, hoping that everything will turn out for the best.CELINE'S POVI slam the laptop shut as I see the news of Ariel getting married to Alexandra. I had thought her life would be ruined if I succeeded in stealing her man, but now she’s found something even better.I know she catches a glimpse of us together, but I'm taken aback when she still chooses to proceed with the wedding. However, my satisfaction soars immediately she slaps Aiden at the altar and runs away. My delight grows even more upon seeing a photo of her in a hotel with another man; it seems she has finally met her downfall. Little do I know that the man is Alexander Mayfair, the very man I have been trying to win over, only for her to steal him away from me once again.It later dawns on me that I have unknowingly orchestrated this twist of events by sending reporters there, trying to make a headline of a woman who abandons her husband at the altar and goes to the hotel with another man."Why does everything good thing belong to her?!" I yell in frustration, unable to contain
KILLIAN'S POVI'm in the middle of a phone call when I hear commotion outside. Hastily, I head outside to investigate and find a man throwing a fit. He claims to be the bride's boyfriend and insists on delivering a message and an item to her.“How about I help you give it to the bride instead,” I suggest and he hesitates for a minute before finally agreeing. He gives me a flash drive, and I inform him to wait for me while I deliver his message.I quickly rush to relay the situation to Alex, and we make our way outside to uncover the contents of the flash drive. The video depicts a woman surreptitiously spiking his drink before luring him to a bedroom, where she then undresses, climbs on top of him, and begins to simulate intimate sounds. Just as the scene unfolds, Ariel enters the room and sees them.“Destroy it and make sure you clear him away before we reach outside,” Alex orders, and I ask him why he didn't inform his wife before taking such a step."Do you think someone who ran awa
ARIEL'S POV"You're tricked me! How could you add such a clause and have it written in such tiny words that I can't even see with my bare eyes? It's absurd and I'm being scammed," I fire at him angrily, but he only keeps laughing, and in anger, I squeeze the contract and quickly rip it into pieces, throwing it to the floor and stomping my feet on it."Wow... Do you think I'm a fool to give you the original copy? That's a fake one, and honey, or should I say sweetheart, you are free to file for divorce, but you must be prepared to pay that money. Do you have any idea how many lawyers are dying to pick up my divorce case? I doubt you will actually get any because they will be scared out of their ass to even pick a fight against me," he says, grinning. "Oh, I heard you are a curator at some nameless gallery. Do they pay you much? How exactly are you going to get that amount of money?" he teases, stands up, and then proceeds into his room. "By the way, I want Korean cuisine for breakfast.
WILLIAM'S POV"I stand by my grandfather's side as he watches the news of a protest going on in front of our headquarters. I can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction that this troublemaker has finally found himself in hot water, which is potentially going to benefit me."Turn it off," my grandfather orders Julius, his secretary, who promptly switches off the television."I believe we need to devise a solution promptly as this situation is already tarnishing the reputation of our company, and our stock values are declining," I propose."How about we suggest that Alex takes a temporary leave from the company until things settle down? It might be the best course of action for now," I suggest, hoping my grandfather will accept this as the most viable option."What do you mean by that? Are you implying he should be removed from his position?" the witch interjects, ruining my opportunity."And who do you think would take his place if he were to step down? Certainly not you, that's for sur
After greeting grandma, the maid informs us that the food is ready. Alex's mother helps her into her wheelchair, and we all make our way to the dining table. I just can't shake off the feeling that grandma doesn't like me, and I can't understand why. I know I'm not Alex's real wife, but that shouldn't warrant such cold treatment I'm receiving from her. She doesn't even acknowledge my greetings and just keeps talking to Alex's mother…. oh, I forgot, she said I should call her mom, who keeps replying to her with a fake smile. Now I know where Alex got his bad attitude and temper.At the dining table, as everyone takes their seats, I finally count the total number of Alex's family members. Including the kids and in-laws, there are twenty-four of them, plus me, making a total of twenty-five. I sit beside Alex and notice Vivian sitting far away from me. I smile at her, but she avoids making eye contact. Is she upset because I left her alone? I thought she's fine.Different dishes are served
ALEX'S POVI watch Ariel falling down the stairs, and after she lands, I quickly rush to her. Concern is written all over my face, as I'm really scared of losing her right now. Well, I need to fake my emotions and pretend to be crying, but I already know she wouldn't die from the fall, just a small injury. I carry her up and quickly rush her to the hospital while everyone asks me what happened, but I have no time to explain anything to them; I need to save my wife.After taking her to the hospital, the doctor begins the treatment while we all wait outside.“Alex, what exactly happened?” Mom asks me, and I gently raise my head up and give a death stare at Vivian.“She did it,” I say, still fixing my gaze on her. “I saw the two of them arguing about something, so I was about to interfere when she pushed her off the stairs. I tried to save her, but I wasn't able to; she’s already rolling down the stairs before I reached her.” I say as all family turns to Vivian, who is already trembling i
ARIEL'S POV I pace around the room as I find it hard to believe I've ruined someone else's life. She doesn’t deserve this. What am I going to do now? I bury my head in between my knees, feeling lost and unsure of how to save Vivian without revealing the truth that I’m not actually pregnant. My mind is completely blank, and I can't think of anything. Then I suddenly think about my crazy friends; why didn't I think of that sooner?I quickly slip on my slippers and limp outside. I wanted to make use of the wheelchair, but since my leg is not that bad, I decide not to. However, as I open the door, I’m stopped by a giant man with a bald head.Fuck…."Ma'am, we've been instructed not to allow you to leave," he says.I'm shocked and can't believe Alex has placed a guard outside my room to prevent me from leaving. But I think he really underestimates me.“Ouch…Arrrghhh,” I grimace in pain."Is there a problem, ma'am?” the man inquires."I think I'm experiencing severe stomach pain. It's defin
ALEX’S POV I haven't slept a wink since last night because Ariel didn't come home. According to The Intelligence, she's with her friend Emilia, but I’m still worried. She might suddenly decide to confess and call Vivian to spill the truth. I'm darn sure she must be feeling guilty; she's always been so weak.Exhaling deeply, I slightly close my eyes, trying to calm myself. Just then, the doorbell rings, and I hurriedly answer it. There she is, seated in a wheelchair with her friends holding crutches."What's with the wheelchair?" I enquire."Honey, have you forgotten that I fell down the stairs and lost our baby?" she replied, tears welling up in her eyes…….. no, that's definitely a fake tear and I can't foolishly bring myself to believe her for a single second; I am certain she's up to something."We went back to the hospital this morning, and the doctor said her leg will take some time to heal. She shouldn't stress it, so I got her crutches for the stairs," her friend explained. I st