Chapter 3

Madam Cooper noticed the unmistakable admiration in her daughter's eyes. Eager for grandchildren as soon as possible, she immediately started pushing us together.

"Felix, why don't you just sleep in Valerie's room tonight?"

Valerie rejected the idea coldly.

"No."

I quietly let out a sigh of relief. After all, we were not officially married yet.

Ever since Valerie returned home, Tristan had been coming around constantly. Every time he appeared, I could hear the venomous thoughts running through his head.

"A worthless poor b*stard like him actually thinks he can marry above his station. He really has no idea what's good for him.

"The only person who can marry Valerie is me!"

I had no idea what Tristan was planning, but the more I heard his thoughts, the more uneasy I became. All I could do was stay on guard.

That afternoon, the butler brought me a tailored suit and told me to accompany Valerie to a banquet that evening.

By nightfall, the ballroom was alive with clinking glasses and lively conversation. Valerie entered with her arm linked through mine, instantly becoming the center of attention.

People crowded around her to exchange greetings. I was never comfortable at events like this, so I used the excuse of going to the restroom and slipped away to a quieter corner, planning to sit down, grab something to eat, and rest for a bit.

The moment I picked up a glass of red wine, I saw Tristan standing across from me.

He was here too.

Then I heard his thoughts.

'Once he drinks this wine, he'll pass out. I already prepared ten women for him. Let's see how he explains that to Valerie.'

A chill shot down my spine.

Tristan really would stop at nothing.

But if he wanted a show so badly, then I might as well give him one.

I tilted my head back and drank the wine.

The moment Tristan saw the empty glass, a triumphant smile spread across his face.

Not long after, I pretended to grow dizzy and booked a room upstairs.

Tristan immediately rushed off to find Valerie, deliberately acting hesitant as he spoke.

"Valerie... I just saw Felix Whitmore sneaking into one of the upstairs rooms with a bunch of women..."

To make sure everyone heard, he intentionally raised his voice.

Whispers instantly spread through the crowd.

Valerie frowned and followed him upstairs to the room.

Furious, she kicked the door open.

The blanket on the bed was moving suspiciously beneath the covers. A flash of satisfaction crossed Tristan's eyes as he angrily declared:

"You've treated Felix so well. How could he do something this shameless to you?"

Valerie strode over and yanked the blanket away.

Then she froze.

The ten women on the bed all had their hands and feet tied up, with cloth stuffed into their mouths.

Tristan stared in disbelief.

"How is this possible? I clearly saw Felix enter this room. Where did he go?"

He tore through the entire suite searching for me, but I was nowhere to be found.

Valerie's face darkened. Without saying a word, she turned and walked back downstairs.

When she returned to the banquet hall, she found me lounging on a sofa, calmly eating desserts.

Tristan followed behind her. The moment he saw how relaxed I looked, his expression twisted violently.

"Felix!"

I smiled lazily.

I was not an idiot. There was no way I would actually swallow drugged wine. I had only held it in my mouth before turning away and spitting it out.

Tristan hurriedly tried to explain himself.

"Valerie, believe me, I really saw him with my own eyes–"

Valerie cut him off sharply.

"That's enough, Tristan. How much longer are you planning to keep this up?"

Seeing her genuinely angry, Tristan did not dare say another word. He could only glare at me viciously.

Then I heard the furious thoughts in his head.

'Why is Valerie defending Felix instead of believing me? Don't tell me she's actually fallen for him?'

Valerie liked me?

How come I had never noticed?

The next few days, Tristan stopped coming to the Cooper residence altogether.

Meanwhile, I was busier than ever preparing for the wedding. Every time I thought about the fact that I was actually going to marry Valerie, it felt surreal.

Was I really about to marry into a wealthy family?

On the wedding day, the entire city was buzzing.

The venue itself looked straight out of a dream, lavish and breathtaking in every detail.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored groom's suit, I looked at Valerie's beautiful face and felt my heartbeat quicken uncontrollably.

Soon, it was time to exchange rings.

I lifted Valerie's hand and was just about to slide the wedding ring onto her finger when Tristan suddenly burst into the venue.

"Valerie, I finally figured it out! The man who entered your room that night wasn't Felix at all. He lied to you!"