Chapter 3 The One Who Missed Her Chance

News of my marriage to Aria didn't spread right away. The Liraine family, desperate to stabilize their stock prices, paid the media to suppress the story.

Right after the wedding, Aria and I hurried to register our marriage. Once the paperwork was done, she told me she had business overseas and needed to leave for a few days.

…

Meanwhile, completely unaware of any of this, Selene spent two carefree days in a villa with Chase before realizing something wasn't right. Normally, by this point, I would've made a scene—forcing her to come crawling back. Yet this time, there wasn't even a ripple.

Selene scrolled absently through her phone, so distracted that she didn't even react when Chase called her name.

'No… he must be playing hard to get.' The thought made her lips curve into a sly smile. 'He's gotten far too used to me.'

I hadn't expected to run into those two miserable souls at my father's business banquet.

Selene spotted me first. The moment she saw me speaking with another woman, her face darkened like a thundercloud. Chase noticed me too and leaned weakly against her shoulder, feigning illness. "Selene, I don't feel so good. My head's spinning."

Selene held him gently, though her eyes flicked toward me, pretending it was unintentional. She was probably waiting for me to approach her.

Unfortunately for her, I didn't spare her a single glance.

Finally, she couldn't hold back any longer. She strode straight to our table, slammed her glass down with a sharp clink, and said coldly, "Jace, are you still angry because I had someone stand in for me at the wedding?"

I didn't bother to look at her and stood up, ready to leave.

"The only reason I missed the ceremony was because Chase was sick," she continued quickly. "It was an emergency."

Chase staggered forward as if he might collapse, blocking my path. "Mr. Schreiber, please don't blame Selene. It was all my fault—my health failed me and ruined your wedding…"

Selene actually laughed, infuriated by my silence. "Jace, I never realized how petty you could be. It was just a wedding!" She reached out, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, to grab my arm.

My gaze turned cold as I shook her hand off. "Ms. Liraine, have some self-respect. Didn't your parents tell you about the wedding?"

She froze. "Tell me what?"

Chase's expression flickered with panic as he grabbed my wrist, trying to smooth things over. "Mr. Schreiber, please don't be like this. Selene only did it because she cares about you—"

His words sounded conciliatory, but his nails dug sharply into my skin. The sting made me hiss in pain. I yanked my arm free with a snap. "Get lost!"

"Ahh!" Chase crashed to the floor in a pathetic heap, and Selene's eyes went wide with fury. She rushed to help him up, shouting, "You lunatic! Apologize to Chase right now!"

I sneered and turned toward the nearby security guards who had rushed over at the commotion. "Throw them out."

"You think you can get my attention like this?!" Selene snapped, livid. "If you behave, I'll go get the marriage certificate with you in a few days."

Seeing that she truly believed that I would fall at her feet again the moment she turned back, I smiled faintly. "But I'm already married."