The Groom Swap의 모든 챕터: 챕터 1 - 챕터 10

"Relax. She's just helping you with the marks. Come the actual wedding day, you'll be front and center."Derek said it to me, but his eyes—and half his body—were already aimed at the door. Riley was taking her sweet time, lingering by the exit, waiting for him to chase after her."Alright, I'm driving Riley home. Grab a cab for yourself today."I kept smiling. "Okay. Drive safe."Derek finally tossed me a look of approval, then shot a wink at his groomsmen. They gave him thumbs-ups."Man's got his girl trained."They left. The groomsmen gave me a dismissive glance and followed. Then the wedding crew packed up and cleared out.I stayed. Didn't move.Derek had forgotten—ever since Riley's car got a flat tire months ago, he'd never driven me anywhere again. He also never bothered to notice I'd learned to drive myself.Last month, Riley said her apartment had a leak. Derek moved her straight into our newly renovated house—the one we hadn't even spent a night in together—and put he

If this deal had gone through, the thirty million would've been locked in.I didn't have time to overthink it. I called Derek.He was at a party somewhere. Over the noise, his voice came through dripping with sarcasm, "Well? Change your mind already?"I gripped the phone, each word heavy."Derek. Why did you steal my studio's project?"His tone was smug, condescending."Because you wouldn't listen. I had to teach you a lesson."I took a breath."You know how much this project means to me. If I land it, I can—""Can what? Make your family finally take you seriously?"He cut me off with a laugh."You've never mattered to them. What's the point of all this struggling? Just do what I say, and maybe your parents will toss you a few shares out of respect for me."Someone in the background shouted something. One of his groomsmen."Hey, is the missus coming after you?"Derek muttered to the room, "Relax. She's just being dramatic."Then I heard Riley's voice, close to the phone.

Riley blinked, looking almost reluctant, but eventually went to change into the wedding dress.Derek gritted his teeth."Megan, you want to fake a marriage to mess with me? Fine. Then don't blame me for marrying another woman."At three in the afternoon, Derek and Riley held a lavish wedding ceremony.To one-up Megan, he went all out—obnoxiously so. They kissed on stage, fed each other cake mouth-to-mouth. When Riley mentioned she liked champagne roses, he dropped a fortune to have them flown in.Even after the ceremony was done, he wasn't satisfied. He kept everyone around for a dinner party.The whole time, there were more media photographers than at a press conference. Flashbulbs popping everywhere. He pushed them to get the stories out immediately—determined to make sure Megan saw every single shot.By the time the circus finally wound down, it was past ten at night.The relatives and elders had left. The crowd was thinning out.Derek sat in a corner, pulled out his phone,

"But yesterday, when you posted, you didn't show my face," Liam said."I just tapped the wrong photo. I'll repost it right now," I replied.Liam leaned in and watched as I reposted it—this time with his face clearly visible. Only then did he look satisfied.Who knew running into Derek would set him off again?I squeezed his hand back and nodded obediently."Fine. I'll cancel on the client and have lunch with you."Liam finally smiled. Then he looked back at Derek, who stood there frozen.The next second, Derek snapped out of it and pointed at our joined hands."Megan. Who said you could hold hands with another man? Let go."I raised our joined hands and gave them a little shake."I'm holding my husband's hand. That's none of your business, Derek."Derek's eyes went wide. He stormed toward us."Don't be ridiculous. I'm your husband.""Where's your proof?""Proof? We—we had an appointment. Next week. It was all set."I shrugged."I canceled it. Didn't you know?"Derek's

The Powell family had landed such a good son-in-law—of course, they'd suck up to me.Later, when Liam accompanied me to dinner at the Powell house, my father's attitude was a hundred times warmer than it had been over the phone. He not only heaped food onto my plate but also praised my intelligence and business acumen. My two older sisters, usually so overbearing, were meek and deferential, begging me to introduce them to men of a similar caliber.I exchanged a few cool pleasantries, then pulled Liam out the door.Two more months passed. The exhibition wrapped up.I successfully got my stake in Powell Group. I was splitting my time between running my studio and taking over parts of the family business.One day, Derek showed up.He looked completely wrecked, standing at the door of my studio with dark circles under his eyes."Megan. I need to talk to you.""I have nothing to say to you.""I broke things off with Riley!"I was about to turn away when he called out after me, h