CHAPTER 3

The wedding hall was decorated with flowers, buffet tables, and a combination of lavender and golden balloons. The air was a mix of different smells of perfumes. Ava stood in the changing room as the makeup artist applied makeup on her face. She didn't understand the use of all this for a two-year contract marriage. She didn't understand rich people's mentality. The amount of money lavished on this wedding was enough to pay for her brother's surgery and was even enough to move out of the country to start a new life.

She had told Erickson these exact words three days ago, and he told her all she had to do was play dress-up, and he was going to pay for her brother's surgery. So why the complaint? At least she was grateful for that. And to top it, he flew three of the best surgeons from LA to come for her brother's surgery.

---

In another room, Tony and a few groomsmen were in Erickson's dressing room.

"I can't believe Erickson is getting married," one said aloud, looking at Erickson.

Erickson gave him a lazy look and said, "You are going to die single."

Tony laughed loud. "Man, remember what I told you? I knew you had a thing for that chick."

"Soothsayer. I'm just marrying her because of my old man. To me, love is just a myth."

"That reminds me," Tony said. "You invited Richard to your wedding. He didn't even come to see you. Since he arrived, he has been on a phone call. That manipulative dick."

"Well, Grandfather's decision of handing over the company to me didn't really go down well with him, considering him being the sole heir to Blackwood Corporation. It's normal for him to be upset. Although Grandfather assigned him a portion of the West Side City project."

"That pig," Tony said. "Last night I saw him at a hotel with a chick two times his size. I wonder where he gets his appetite for women and zero brain for business."

"A pig is a suitable title for him."

Tony laughed.

Just then, Old Blackwood walked into the room, his aura intimidating as usual. The three men in the room greeted him. "Grandpa." He nodded at them while Erickson basically ignored him.

"This child is going to be the death of me. Get downstairs," he said, lifting his cane.

Erickson picked up his suit jacket and left the room, his groomsmen following behind him. Tony, the talkative one, couldn't help asking, "Why pretend you don't want the marriage when you are literally the one who proposed to the chick?"

Erickson cast him a cold look and opened his mouth slightly. "Your sister is the chick."

Tony laughed. "Fine, fine," he said, raising his hand in mock surrender.

As they walked towards the altar, Michael, one of his groomsmen, asked, "Are you sure Richard isn't going to cause trouble?"

"You guys just be on alert, okay."

As they walked down, Richard came out of his hiding place and sneered. "Bastard," he cursed.

---

Downstairs at the altar, Ava stood waiting anxiously. She knew the wedding was to impress Old Blackwood, but she really hoped her groom hadn't stood her up.

As Erickson walked towards the altar, she couldn't help finding him very striking—his tall imposing height, perfectly styled jet-black hair, deep grey eyes, and pink lips. No wonder he was called New York's Most Eligible Bachelor. His appearance was just so striking.

As Erickson reached where she stood, he leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Are you done staring?"

Ava rolled her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself."

"Let the wedding begin," Old Blackwood said, fearing Erickson would change his mind.

"Let's exchange vows. Do you, Erickson Blackwood, take Ava Bennett to be your law—" the priest was saying when a loud scream erupted.

One of the maids screamed, "Someone just committed suicide! Someone just committed suicide!"

Ava looked shocked. Was this a sign for her? This was a bad omen. While Erickson looked shocked, Old Blackwood slapped his back. "Why stand here like a fool? Go take a look at what's happening."

Erickson and his men went downstairs, and lo and behold, Kate White lay in a pool of blood, blood seeping from her brain.

Erickson felt so cold, like he was in a pool of ice. This scenario brought a flashback to his mother's death after she was shot dead by unknown gunmen.

"Why are you standing there staring like a moron?" his grandfather roared. "Someone call an ambulance! Richard, stop the press from coming downstairs!"

Ava came downstairs, and seeing the sight, she almost went into shock. Everywhere was in chaos as Kate White's body was lifted into the ambulance. Erickson really couldn't understand what could make Kate White commit suicide. Everything just felt surreal to him. He wanted to wake up from this nightmare.

For those who know the backstory, Kate White used to be his childhood friend. From when the Blackwood family was still in dust, he had dated Kate White. Her family and the Blackwoods were generational enemies, and according to story, this family led to the death of his mother, so they broke up, which made people often call Kate White his white moonlight.

When they arrived at the hospital, Kate White was confirmed dead by Dr. Anthony, who was the doctor at that hospital.

As they were trying to inform the White family about the death of their daughter, the press suddenly flooded in. Snaps and white flashes clicked on their faces, every reporter trying hard to get a piece of news that would make it to top search.

Richard rushed into the hospital. "Grandpa, I tried my best to stop the—"

Before he could finish his statement, a loud slap landed on his face. "What a waste! You can't even stop the press. So useless!"

Everywhere was in chaos, and then the White family was in chaos. Old Blackwood wondered the cause of all this mess.