Chapter 3

My agreement to go through with the wedding had Waverly letting out a snort.

"At least you know what's good for you. If only you had been so obedient from the start, I wouldn't have scolded you."

Matt immediately took off his battered leather shoes and kicked them toward me. "There, James. You'll have to make do with my shoes. Though they might chafe a little, that's at least better than going onstage barefoot."

I gazed down at the shabby shoes by my feet, not saying a word. The leather was cracked and peeling in some places, and there was an incredibly obvious scratch marring one of them.

Still, for the sake of my plan, I would endure.

Stuffing my feet into the shoes that were a size too large for me, I forced my revulsion down and stood up. The soles of the shoes were incredibly hard, making my feet ache terribly.

Satisfied, Waverly fiddled with her veil once more, making sure it sat perfectly on her head.

"Let's go, my dear groom."

We exited the dressing room into a long corridor, where we would wait to be called in.

Waverly took the lead, walking at the front as she answered a call. Assuming that I had caved and thoroughly submitted to her, she didn't even bother hiding her true motives anymore.

"Have you arranged everything with the tax authorities?

"The moment it goes up on the big screen, send the whistleblower report over at the same time. Then, once the market opens tomorrow, short all of Lawson Corporation's shares."

From where I walked behind Waverly, I heard every word clearly.

The Lawsons were the wealthiest family in the city, with businesses spread all over the country. On the contrary, the Suthers had gone bankrupt a few years ago, so it was only with my connections that Waverly was able to work at Lawson Corporation.

All these years, Dad had treated her like his own daughter as he groomed her to take his place. He had even handed all the core business operations over to her to manage so she could solidify her standing with the board of directors.

Everything she ate, wore, and used had been bought with the Lawson family's money. Yet there she was, secretly colluding with outsiders to short the company's shares and plot against Dad's life!

After she finished with her call, she was led away by a staff member to confirm the event flow, leaving only me and Matt in the corridor.

Without Waverly around, Matt dropped all pretenses. Crossing his arms before his chest, he shot me a smug smile.

"James, so what if you now know everything? You still have no choice but to wear my worn-out shoes to get married. Waverly grew tired of you long ago, and right now, you're nothing more than a big-time sucker, albeit a rich one."

I had to fight back my rage at his smug, manipulative demeanor.

Glaring at him coldly, I said, "A big-time sucker is still better than you, who only picks up other people's trash. Do you really think Waverly loves you? She just hasn't drained the Lawson family's fortune yet."

That seemed to strike a nerve with Matt, whose face instantly darkened.

"Stop trying to act tough! After today, the Lawson family will be bankrupt! Let's see how you'll still act so arrogant then! Waverly already said she plans on keeping you in the basement like some sort of pet."

He took a step closer to me, deliberately lowering his voice as he added, "Your bone marrow just so happens to be a match for my younger sister too. Now that's what I call making use of trash. At that time, you'll have no choice but to beg me on your knees for some food to survive."

I was so enraged that I laughed at how he could make something so inhumane and cruel sound so justified.

"Alright. Let's see who gets the last laugh."

With that, I turned my back and ignored the fool.

My phone buzzed madly in my hand.

"Hear that? That's their true colors!

"Quick, log into the control room! You don't have much time left! Back then, Waverly released the fabricated evidence framing Dad, right here during the wedding, causing him to have a heart attack and die on the spot! Today, you have to get revenge for him!"