Chapter 3

David's POV

I didn't bother looking back.

Vivian would never know that another woman was putting on her own wedding dress and preparing to marry me.

After getting back to the other hall, I called my jeweler and said, "Bring a new pair of rings to the banquet hall next door. I only want today's date to be engraved inside."

As soon as I ended that call, I got another one from my property manager, Kevin Dossier.

He told me that dozens of the Turner family members had shown up at my villa. Apparently, Vivian told them the passcode. She even had our housekeeper remove all the festive decor and drape everything in black for the Turner family to proceed with their week-long vigil.

That villa was supposed to be our marital home and was a wedding gift from my parents. They had paid for the house, and it was still registered under their names. I'd never told Vivian about it because I wanted her to treat it as her own home.

I called my real estate agent and told him to put the villa up for sale. I also called Kevin back and told him to revoke Vivian and the Turners' access to the place and kick them out.

After that, I opened the three documents my assistant, Byron Wagner, handed to me.

The South City project that Carroll Group had secured last time was only possible because my family had quietly lent a hand and pulled some strings.

Besides that, Vivian's father, Matthew Carroll, only managed to get into the Chamber of Commerce on recommendation from us. Even the round of financing Carroll Group was about to receive was also something that I had helped to secure on her behalf.

Seven years ago, Vivian was nothing more than a penniless entrepreneur just starting out. I was the one who found her investors, brought in clients, and fended off every skeptic, helping her get where she was now.

However, she had risen too high and had long since forgotten who had hoisted her to such heights in the first place.

I signed the contract termination notice.

"Notify the project department to reevaluate Carroll Group's financial qualifications. Suspend all investments in their company effective immediately."

Byron was a little hesitant.

"Mr. Hartman, if we do proceed, I'm afraid Carroll Group may not have enough funds to last even a month."

"That's none of my concern," I replied.

The wedding march began to play just then, and the banquet hall doors opened.

Carla wore a stunning wedding dress studded with tiny diamonds. A bright spotlight shone on her as she stood all alone at the doors.

She wasn't wearing Vivian's wedding veil. She wasn't holding the bouquet I'd prepared for seven years. The walls and screens behind us were blank without a single photo showing our history together.

When she made her way up to me, she didn't hold out her hand at once. Instead, she said, "You still have time to back out now, and I won't hold it against you."

I reached for her hand instead.

"I'm not the one who should be having second thoughts now."

The County Clerk had already verified the necessary documents in the presence of both our parents. Carla and I signed the marriage registration papers before returning to the banquet hall.

As we exchanged rings on the stage, the sound of the Turners' sobs and wails drifted from next door.

Vivian and I were merely separated by a thin wall. On one side, she wore mourning attire for someone else's father. And on the other side, I was choosing a new bride for myself.

When the officiant asked me if I was willing to be Carla's husband, I didn't hesitate at all.

"I do."

Carla looked at me and gave the same answer.

The 90 thousand crystal lights in the chandelier above us lit up one by one. As applause erupted from the wedding guests, I thought I would think of Vivian.

But instead, all I could think about was Carla's sparkling bright eyes as she stood right in front of me.

After the wedding, I received a text message from Vivian.

"Aaron's family will be mourning and keeping vigil for seven days in our marital home. Tell the property manager to open the doors for us.

"Also, make sure you keep the wedding decorations intact. I will be reusing them for our wedding next time."

I didn't reply to her message and just turned my phone off.

Carla came up to me and handed me a plane ticket.

"Mr. Hartman, since I was roped in to be your bride at the last minute, you'll have to forgive me for not having time to plan our honeymoon. Is there still time for me to pick a destination?"

I handed the paperwork withdrawing the Hartman family's financial guarantee for Carroll Group back to Byron. Then, I took the plane ticket from Carla.

"Of course. Let's leave right now, Mrs. Hartman."