Chapter 1

The scene stunned the bridesmaids around us.

“Charlie Boyd, Kendall Light is your fiancée! Are you going to let her marry someone else?”

“Marriage is a major life event—how could you turn it into a prank?”

Charlie let out a snort through his nose.

“We have no objections. Why are outsiders whining here?”

He sauntered into the room with lazy steps, his face glowing with the satisfaction of petty revenge.

“Last week you sent Crystal to the hospital, and she’s still heartbroken. You don’t think you shouldn’t pay a price?”

“Be obedient and marry that madman, or don’t think about being my fiancée again!”

Hearing his deranged accusations, I let out a breathless laugh.

Last week, his secretary, Crystal Henderson, had volunteered to deliver something to me.

Then, she rummaged through my office without permission and spilled coffee onto important documents, putting me at a disadvantage during the negotiations that followed and costing me a large profit for nothing.

Enraged, I reprimanded her.

Crystal fled in tears, ran into the corner wall, and scraped her arm.

Who knew Charlie would rush over, make a spectacle of it, and escort her to the hospital, after which he forced me to spend the whole night trying to apologize to Crystal before he finally let it go.

I had been deeply shaken.

After five years of dating and six months of wedding preparations, I endured it.

But today was the final straw.

Just because Crystal felt wronged, he chose to humiliate me publicly at my own wedding.

In front of all our guests—if I submitted, how could I ever hold my head up again?

Charlie’s expression brimmed with arrogance.

He believed I was hopelessly devoted to him and would never dare refuse.

He trampled my dignity just to coax a smile out of Crystal, and expected me to cooperate without complaint.

The love I had offered him for five years had already been exhausted.

I smiled faintly, then extended my hand toward the tall, striking man before me.

I clasped his warm, broad palm and asked, “Conrad Parker, will you want to marry me?”

Charlie’s face twisted into a frown, and he shouted, “What’s this stunt you’re pulling?

“I only told you to hold a ceremony with him in the church—I didn’t tell you to actually marry him!”

Crystal leaned sweetly against Charlie and said in a coy voice, “Don’t fall for it. Kendall has always wanted to be Mrs. Boyd.

“She just wants the name.

“If you give in once, you’ll have to do it for the rest of your life.”

A look of sudden realization flashed in Charlie’s eyes, quickly turning into smug pride.

“After the ceremony, change into another dress. A wedding gown tainted by a madman is filthy!”

Before I could speak, he wrapped an arm around Crystal’s waist and squeezed her hip with a laugh.

“Kendall is going to the church with the madman. I’m not interested in the show. I’m heading to the office for a meeting!”

He strode out laughing, not sparing me a single glance.

I stayed seated on the wedding bed, a coldness blooming in my chest.

Suddenly, a warm presence enveloped me.

Conrad had leaned down as he gently embraced me.

Startled, I met his eyes.

He gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

“Yes, I do. I will marry you.”