All Chapters of The Rival I Accidentally Married: Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

CHLOE POVThe crystal chandelier above the grand ballroom of the St. Regis Hotel seemed a little too bright, or maybe it was just the champagne making my head pound.I smoothed out my emerald midi dress and took a deep breath. Six months. Six months of sleepless nights, endless arguments with vendors over floral arrangements, and surviving on iced coffee and anxiety. Now, everything was finally coming together. The Sterling-Vanguard Summer Gala was the biggest event of the year, and as the senior event coordinator, I was supposed to be celebrating more than just a successful event tonight. My name was meant to be announced as the firm's newest Junior Partner."You look stunning, Chloe," a familiar voice whispered near my ear.I turned, and the tension in my shoulders immediately eased when Ethan, my boyfriend of three years and senior colleague, slipped an arm around my waist. He gave me that crooked smile I had fallen for back in college, the same one that used to make my heart race

CHLOE POVSunlight came pouring through the thin blinds of my apartment window, and it felt like someone was using my skull as a punching bag. I groaned and pulled a pillow over my face, hoping to block out the brightness. Unfortunately, it did nothing to stop the pounding in my head.Memories from last night slowly came back in painful flashes. The emerald dress. Ethan's cold betrayal. The sticky floors of The Blue Velvet Lounge. And then... Liam Vance.My eyes flew open.I sat up so fast that the room started spinning. Big mistake. I threw off the duvet, stumbled out of bed, and practically crawled across the hardwood floor toward the oversized black hoodie I'd tossed aside the night before. I dug frantically into the front pocket.My fingers brushed against a crumpled piece of paper. I pulled it out.It was a damp, wrinkled cocktail napkin. Staring back at me was my messy, alcohol-fueled drawing of an exploding building beside a stick figure in a suit. At the bottom, written in sha

CHLOE POVThe heavy mahogany doors of the grand ballroom swung open, revealing a stunning setup filled with white orchids, cascading fairy lights, and minimalist geometric arches glowing under the warm amber light of the chandeliers.I stood near the edge of the reception hall, straightening the lapel of my navy blue blazer while checking every corner of the room. My eyes moved from one section to another, making sure the staff followed the timeline down to the last second. This wasn't just another wedding. It was the high-society wedding everyone had been talking about, hosted by the Vanderbilt-Hayes family. Sterling-Vanguard had spent three months trying to secure this account, only for Harper & Vance to swoop in and take it right out from under them.Across the room, Liam stood beside a minimalist structural pillar he'd specifically designed for the entrance. He wore a crisp black tuxedo, his jacket casually draped over one arm. His dark hair was slightly messy after hours of super