Chapter 1 Meeting and Marrying the Wrong Bride

While Matteo was getting an IV drip at the hospital, the TV in the room was tuned to a business channel that happened to be broadcasting the live launch of Wilde Group's new product line.

A reporter interviewed Natasha Wilde. "Ms. Wilde, we've heard you've always had a close male friend by your side, and that his support is the reason you keep achieving greater success in your career. Is that true?"

Natasha's lips curved slightly at the question. She nodded without hesitation and looked out over the crowd. Her gaze settled on one man—Cameron Graham.

She said, "It's all thanks to Cameron's support over the years that I've made it this far."

Watching this, Matteo clenched his hand, not even noticing that blood was starting to backflow through the IV line.

Natasha just openly admitted to the media that she and Cameron were an item. Yet she'd promised Matteo that this would be the day she announced their relationship to the world.

Three years ago, when Matteo was still working at a coffee shop, he and Natasha had fallen for each other at first sight. At the time, though, he had nothing to his name.

Eight years ago, after his father died, his mother, Melinda Wade, had remarried into the Graham family. Matteo and Cameron were about the same age, but Cameron hadn't wanted him in the house. He'd made Melinda kick him out.

From that day on, Matteo no longer had a home. Only after meeting Natasha did life start to feel bearable again. She kept promising him that she'd give him a home, that they'd get married, have kids, and live a happy, peaceful life.

But a year ago, Natasha and Cameron had met at a dinner event. They'd kept in contact since, but she'd never known about Cameron and Matteo's relationship.

Matteo had asked Natasha whether there was anything between her and Cameron more than once, and she'd always given him the same answer.

"Matteo, Cameron and I are just friends. Don't read too deeply into this."

Matteo had dropped it. But three days ago at a get-together with friends, he'd walked in and seen Natasha straddling Cameron's lap, kissing him while their friends whooped and cheered.

Matteo had just stood there, stunned, looking like the punchline to a cruel joke.

He'd told Natasha he wanted to break up. She'd brushed it off as him throwing a tantrum and hadn't taken it seriously at all.

Thinking back on everything now, Matteo clenched his fists so hard that the veins in his forearm stood out. He didn't even realize he was doing it until a child's voice rang out beside him.

"Mister, you're bleeding."

Matteo looked down and saw blood dripping from the IV line onto the floor. He called a nurse over to fix it.

Once everything had settled down, his phone lit up with a call from Melinda.

He answered. "Mom."

"Have you thought about what I said about marrying Ms. Pierce? You know your stepfather needs an investment from the Pierce family. If you agree to this, he'll finally start seeing you differently."

Her voice was eager, almost pleading. His fingers tightened around the phone, his eyes going cold.

He knew he didn't really have a choice. It wasn't just because Melinda was begging him. If he refused, the Grahams would simply find another way to ship him off to the Pierce family.

Matteo had done his homework. The Pierce heiress had allegedly "cursed" two husbands to their deaths. Rumor had it she was ruthless, spoiled, and impossible to handle. Cameron was supposed to marry her.

Matteo stayed silent for a long time. Melinda grew anxious on the other end of the line, and her tone turned impatient. "I don't care what you're thinking. You have to go to the county clerk's office to get married today. Don't let me down!"

Matteo sneered. He'd expected this outcome from the start, so he wasn't even surprised.

Since Natasha had gone public with her relationship with Cameron, Matteo had no reason to cling to her. As far as he was concerned, it didn't matter who he married now. It was just about having someone to share a roof with.

"Got it, Mom."

He hung up and closed his eyes, trying to rest. Once his IV drip finished, he headed straight for the county clerk's office with whatever ID he needed to register his marriage.

It was a slow day; only one woman waited in the lobby. She carried an air of aloofness that made people think twice about approaching her.

Matteo approached her at an unhurried pace and asked politely, "Excuse me, are you Ms. Pierce?"

Abigail Pearce was only at the county clerk's office to get a certificate issued for one of her employees. Hearing his question, she slowly lifted her gaze to look at him.

Their eyes met, and his heart skipped a beat. Her beauty caught him off guard.

"Ms. Pierce, I'm here to marry you. Is now… Is now a good time?" Matteo asked carefully, afraid of rubbing her the wrong way.

Abigail was intrigued by him. After giving him a deliberate once-over, she made up her mind. "Works for me."

She rose to her feet. As she walked past him, a light breeze stirred, and a few strands of her hair brushed across the tip of his nose. He caught a faint scent of gardenia.

While he was still dazed, she'd already finished filling out the paperwork. Getting hitched went surprisingly smoothly.

It was only when Matteo saw Abigail's full name that he muttered, "So this is how your surname is spelled…"

Suddenly, she tossed him a set of keys and a few black credit cards.

"These are for the properties under my name, and these are my cards. All the accounts are linked to my main one. Use them however you want. You can also move in whenever." Her voice was soft but carried a quiet authority that was hard to ignore.

Matteo nodded, his gaze drifting back to her face. How on earth had she "jinxed" two husbands into the grave with a face this stunning and a presence this elegant and refined?

"Uh… Ms. Pearce…" he started.

Abigail frowned slightly at the way he addressed her. "You don't have to be so formal. Just call me by my name."

"Alright. Abigail, you don't need to give me all this. I'm a grown man. I've already found a job, and I can support myself."

Matteo felt a little helpless. He was an able-bodied adult, after all. Why would he need his wife to bankroll him? Did she look down on him that much?

She shot him a cool look. "You're my man now. That gives me every right to take care of you."

Before he could get another word out, she raised a hand to cover his mouth and answered an incoming call. Her brows drew together, and she said in a low voice, "Alright, I'll head back to the office now. Keep them calm for me."

After hanging up, she glanced at Matteo again and said, "I've got something to deal with. I'll call you tomorrow."

With that, she slid into her car and drove off alone.

Matteo was left standing in place, absentmindedly touching his lips. His heart gave a strange little flutter. When her fingertips had brushed against his mouth, his first thought had been how soft they were. They'd even carried a faint scent.

But from what he'd heard, the Pierce heiress was notoriously overbearing and impossible to reason with. Yet in the short time he'd spent with Abigail, everything about her demeanor had felt effortlessly pleasant.

He couldn't help but think people were too quick to judge.

In the end, he texted Melinda. "Mom, I got married."

"Good job. I'll tell your stepfather. Come home for dinner tonight."

Matteo let out a bitter laugh at her reply and stepped outside for a cigarette. Smoke curled around him as his thoughts scattered.

He knew perfectly well that the only time the Grahams ever welcomed him "home" was when it suited them. That house had never truly been his.

…

Abigail had just returned to the Pearce residence when her father, Arthur Pearce, stopped her with a dramatic cough.

"Oh, these old bones of mine. I'd love to hold a grandchild before I die, but that might be too much to ask… I already have one foot in the grave…"

Abigail pressed a hand to her forehead and walked over to sit beside him. "Dad, if you're gonna pressure me about marriage, at least come up with a better excuse. You literally ran a marathon organized by your friends yesterday."

At that, even Arthur looked a little embarrassed. He snapped huffily, "Call me shameless, why don't you?"

Abigail pulled the copy of the marriage certificate from her bag and set it down in front of him. "I got married."

He was taken aback. His eyes darted back and forth as he processed that.

"You are?" He looked at her, his tone full of suspicion, as if he didn't quite believe her.

She tapped the official seal on the certificate. "I am. It's real, Dad."

Only then did Arthur pick it up and study it carefully. A wide grin slowly spread across his face, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening with delight.

He looked at the photo on Abigail's phone and said, "This young man looks sharp. Not bad. He's worthy of you. When are you bringing him home?"

"In a couple of days. I need to finish up the new-hire recruitment at the company first."

With that, Abigail took the copy back from him and headed upstairs.

…

Matteo stood in the Graham residence's living room like an outsider. No one talked to him. No one even bothered to offer him a glass of water.

It wasn't until Melinda came downstairs on the arm of his stepfather, Fred Graham, that anyone acknowledged him at all.

When Fred saw Matteo, he immediately turned to scold the housekeeper. "Why didn't you inform us when Matteo got here?"

Melinda smiled accommodatingly and said, "She must've forgotten because she was so busy. Matteo won't mind."

She walked over to Matteo's side and said, "Now that you and Ms. Pierce are married, you should move in with her and treat her well. It'll make things easier for your stepfather, too.

"Your brother has a girlfriend now as well. I hear she's from an old-money family. Watch what you say later and don't embarrass yourself or the rest of us."

Matteo didn't respond. The only sound he made was the sharp crack of his knuckles as his hands balled into fists.

Melinda always spoke like this—tearing him down just to make Cameron look better.

Fred told the housekeeper to serve dinner and deliberately seated Matteo in the least noticeable spot at the table.

Five minutes later, Cameron's exclusive sports car pulled into the driveway, the engine purring. A short while later, he strolled in, leading Natasha by the hand, clearly eager to introduce her.

"Mom, Dad, this is Tasha, my girlfriend."

"Mr. and Mrs. Graham, it's nice to meet you," Natasha said politely.

Fred and Melinda were all smiles as Cameron and Natasha came over to greet them.

"Sit, sit. Oh, you're such a sweet child."

Natasha took the main seat beside Cameron. Fred even served her soup himself. The four of them were the very picture of a happy family.

Matteo's chest seized with pain as he watched them. He fumbled his cutlery, sending them clattering to the floor with a crisp sound that finally drew everyone's attention.