Chapter 1

The groomsmen were stunned. They were here to play pranks on the engaged couple as was custom, but the scene they witnessed made them pause.

"You really have some nerve, Carol, making Justin Leeds spend his wedding night with some halfwit!" said one.

"Today's your big day! Even jokes have their limits, surely?"

Carol Barnes arched a brow impassively. "What's it to you? As his fiancée, I don't mind. What's he got to feel bad for?"

She walked up to me as she spoke, her tone menacing. "You made Caleb look like a complete idiot in front of everyone, even docking his bonus for half a year. I'm getting even.

"Either spend a night with the halfwit, or this marriage is off!"

Rather than feeling angry, I was reeling from how absurd the situation was.

Last month, Caleb Smith, my assistant, accompanied me to an auction. However, he threw all my instructions out the window and started waving the paddle wildly.

This resulted in my company acquiring the collection at a price much higher than the intended budget.

After that, I acted according to company policy and pursued disciplinary action. Word of the incident spread like wildfire, which gave everyone ammunition to gossip about Caleb.

If Caleb hadn't ignored my instructions, I wouldn't have wasted hundreds of thousands for nothing.

According to company policy, Caleb should've been fired. I merely docked his bonus for half a year, which was already lenient enough, for Carol's sake.

However, Carol stubbornly insisted that I was nitpicking by using that incident as an excuse to embarrass Caleb.

I tried to explain, but she refused to listen, thinking I was cold and heartless.

She forced me to stand in the lobby all night. Only after I wrote a lengthy apology letter to Caleb did she reluctantly let it slide.

I thought the issue was long put to rest, but I never imagined this would happen today.

This made my heart freeze over completely.

Carol went as far as to orchestrate this farce on her wedding day just to get back at me on Caleb's behalf.

It was easy to imagine the rumors that would spread after tonight.

How many were going to ridicule me after this?

Based on her behavior, Carol clearly assumed I loved her deeply and would not defy her.

She was utterly convinced that even if there was a flaming pit before me, I'd have jumped into it willingly for her.

Yet, she did not realize that even the most ardent love could not withstand such reckless misdeeds.

I let out a muffled grunt, turning away from them.

Instead, I got down on one knee before the lady who was mindlessly munching on candy.

I took her hand and looked up at her, asking, "Layla Higgins, will you marry me?"

Carol's eyes widened in shock when I spoke. "Justin Leeds, have you gone insane? I asked you to spend a night with her in the wedding suite! Do you really want to marry this halfwit?" she exclaimed.

Caleb quickly grabbed her arm. "Calm down, Carol," he whispered urgently. "How could he marry someone like that? He's just trying to goad you into backing down.

"If you lose it now, you'll fall right into his trap."