At the top-floor ballroom of Kailong Hotel in H City, the wedding of Charlotte Hughes, heiress of Hughes Real Estate, and Edward Haywood, the eldest son of the Haywood Department Store family, had drawn in half the city’s elites and a swarm of eager reporters.
But smack in the middle of the ballroom, the small stage was a mess. The awkward tension hanging in the air shredded whatever harmony the wedding was supposed to have.
There stood the glamorous bride, practically glowing in white, and across from her, a disheveled young woman who looked like she’d been dragged through hell. The groom looked flushed and fidgety, like he’d just been caught doing something he really shouldn’t have.
The sharp vibe between the three only stoked the guests’ curiosity. Reporters were buzzing like flies, cameras flashing nonstop as they zeroed in on the woman standing there amid all the chaos.
“Tara, thanks so much for coming,” Charlotte said, her tone extra smug as she tilted her chin up like a damn peacock. “You’ll wish us happiness, won’t you?”
Tara Bennett’s chest tightened at the words. The man she’d loved... was up there getting married. And the bride wasn’t her. Everyone else seemed to have seen this day coming — except her.
“Oh, for sure,” Tara said, pulling a folded slip of paper out of her coat. She slapped it right into Charlotte’s face, eyes glinting cold. “Congrats to you two lovebirds. May you spend your whole damn lives sharing a bed but not a dream. Here’s my gift—one hundred million. No need to give change.”
“You—” Charlotte’s body trembled with rage. But then she heard the number — one hundred million?! Her eyes lit up like Christmas morning. Since when did this girl have that kind of cash?
One look at the ‘check’ on the ground, though, and her expression twisted. It was ghost money — paper bills from the fake ‘Heavenly Bank.’ She nearly choked on her rage.
“No wonder Edward dumped you,” Charlotte shot back, voice dripping with venom. “You’re toxic as hell. No one in their right mind would want you — even if you came with a bribe. Just so you know, I’m three months pregnant. That’s right. I already won.”
Beside her, Edward hadn’t said a word since Tara showed up. His silence, his expression — it all screamed regret and guilt.
The crowd in the ballroom started murmuring. Pregnant, huh? That explained the whole 'rushed wedding' vibe. Got pregnant, locked down the guy. Clever move.
“Not like I’m the one who did it,” Tara muttered, tears burning in her eyes. She felt like the biggest idiot on Earth. So when he got down on one knee for her… Charlotte was already pregnant?
Charlotte, still clinging to what pride she had left, forced a smile. “Of course it’s Edward’s,” she snapped through gritted teeth, her overly made-up face twitching.
Suddenly, just as everyone was absorbing that bombshell, the ballroom’s massive screen flickered. The wedding photos faded away — replaced by a video that made jaws drop.A woman caked in heavy makeup showed up in a club, but anyone with eyes could tell—that wasn’t just some random woman. That was the bride. She’d drugged herself and threw herself into bed with a bunch of creepy old men, some of them old enough to be her dad…
The timestamp under the video froze on a bright red date—three months ago.
Charlotte Hughes felt like a lightning bolt crashed right over her head, shaking her all over. She had paid half a million to bury this video—how was it playing again?
She lunged at the screen, reaching out to block it. But how could she cover it up? That furious glare boring into her from the side made her go cold all over. She didn’t dare look at Edward Haywood. "Get that crap off the screen, now!" she shrieked.
Edward, who’d been standing there like he was just a bystander in this mess, finally showed some emotion—anger, betrayal, humiliation… it all twisted his face into something dark and tight. He looked like he was about to explode.
Tara Bennett was in shock watching the video, but deep down, she felt a hit of satisfaction. Karma at its finest.
“Wow…” Whispers broke out around them. People were snickering behind their hands. No way—was the baby she mentioned conceived that wild night? Poor Edward Haywood—his dignity just sprouted a full meadow of green.
Before Charlotte could say a word, another clip auto-played. This time, the groom himself, striding into that same club, arms around not one, but two men. The video that followed… let’s just say, it made everyone uncomfortable. The air in the hall changed instantly.
Edward’s face was unreadable. Who the hell did this to him? That ice-cold fury in his eyes locked straight onto Tara like blades.
Tara glanced at the screen, then quickly looked away. A mocking smirk played on her lips.
"Edward, you—" Charlotte stared at him, utterly stunned. She had no clue this side of him even existed.
With a cold snort, Edward shoved her aside. Charlotte hit the ground hard.
"We're not getting married," he announced.
The so-called perfect couple? What a joke. The guests and reporters were practically in tears from laughing.
A wedding that was supposed to be picture-perfect became pure chaos. Edward’s parents stormed out, faces dark with shame—they couldn’t take it anymore. The Hughes family wasn’t doing any better; Charlotte’s parents looked like they were about to pass out from rage. They bolted, too.
The guests? Gone in a flash, like birds fleeing a storm.
Tara stood there, a bit stunned. That was it? Wedding ruined just like that? Everything went so smoothly, it was almost… scary.
An unsettling feeling began to creep into her chest. It was like someone behind the scenes had carefully pulled every string.
And yeah, that sudden, nagging unease—where the hell did it come from?
