It was a sweltering day, and Catherine stood there in her bridal gown, watching her beloved kiss her stepsister, whose mother had already usurped her father. They were marching to pick up her future husband! So pathetically deceived, she found that CEO William was searching for a bride and applied with vengeance. She had no idea how her life would change as a result of this marriage.
Chapter 1 Mr. Stanford, Hold on a Second
Catherine Davies stood at the entryway of the wedding store in a beautiful white gown. As she saw the pair cuddling and kissing in a beautiful automobile parked beside the street, tears welled up in her eyes.
Catherine had arranged for her fiancé to meet her at the shop, and they intended to meet there. But what she saw in front of her was not what she had expected.
Her fiancé had his back to her and was completely engrossed in kissing the other woman. Through the automobile window, the woman smirked knowingly at Catherine, full of conspiracy and mockery.
Catherine's knees buckled beneath the weight of the wedding gown. She had no idea her fiancé was having an affair, especially with her sister!
Catherine clenched her teeth, annoyed and irritated. 'I still can't believe how stupid I was.'
Richard Parker had texted her five minutes earlier, stating he couldn't wait to see her in her wedding gown. Catherine hurried downstairs without a second thought to wait for him.
And here she was in a bridal gown, the punchline of a sad joke.
In her rage, Catherine had a clear understanding of what had occurred. Her sister, Nellie Young, had sent the message. She knew Catherine would go downstairs and see everything. Nellie was always a show-off.
Nellie and her mother had plotted to win over Catherine's father, and now they were attempting to win over her fiancé as well!
The betrayal by Richard further increased her sense of despondency.
Catherine didn't anticipate Richard would stab her in the back by standing with Nellie despite the fact that he knew she detested the woman.
Catherine hoped bitterly that it was all a dream because she felt as though she was in a nightmare. Her emotions welled up inside her, and she was afraid of causing a commotion and letting the entire world know what her sister and fiancé were up to. The only thing she could do was flee before Richard noticed her.
It wasn't long before Catherine's phone rang with a call from Nellie.
"Did you see that, my beloved sister?" Nellie posed a provocative question. " Richard has always loved me. I won't allow him to marry you, and he won't either. He's mine. You'd rather let him go right now."
Without saying anything, Catherine hung up. She was still wearing the bridal dress, and despite the tears running down her cheeks, she didn't care or even notice the onlookers' gaze.
After what felt like an eternity, Catherine finally saw a club up ahead after circling the block aimlessly. She entered and placed many drink orders, trying to dull her anxieties while she sobbed.
Catherine drank more that night and passed out on the couch until a call woke her the next morning.
She stared at her phone in a trance before fumbling to answer and holding it to her ear. Richard's voice cracked with annoyance before she could say anything.
"Catherine Davies, where have you been? I spent the whole afternoon waiting for you at the bridal shop! I guess we don't need to get married if you don't take this seriously, right?"
The irony in his remarks swept across Catherine's thoughts, making her feel icy.
She already made the decision that there would not be a wedding after witnessing what occurred in the car the day before.
She hung up and went to wash her face in the restroom. She then went outside so she could pay her bill.
She heard voices approaching as she walked into the corridor. A very tall man approached her while making no eye contact with anybody else. An assistant, anxious, trailed close behind at a reasonable distance...
"Sir, the old master has ordered that your first priority for today is to accompany Miss Jones to the registry office to formally register your marriage. You will then need to go with her to the celebratory dinner.
"I've got better things to do," the man said coolly.
"I understand, sir, but the old lord has ordered that you get married today. If you're not pleased with Miss Jones, he may introduce you to other ladies until you find one who is," the assistant said gently, sweat rolling down his face.
"Well, he doesn't appear to have given up. Bring me another qualified lady. Except for those he has previously sent, any of them will do. I'm going to make him give up," the man replied coldly.
Catherine believed that the man was a man of action.
The assistant hesitated for a while before regaining his composure. "Sir, you've got to be joking.
“Do I sound like joking?” The man had icy eyes, and his jaw was clenched. He was obviously serious. But marriage is perhaps the most significant occasion in a person's life. A marriage choice couldn't be made in a single day, could it?
The assistant persisted in urging the guy to pick a woman, but the man remained quiet, appearing unconcerned with the assistant's concern.
Catherine took a time to properly appreciate the tall man's looks before the two passed.
She'd never seen somebody so flawless. He was well-featured, his face seeming to have been made by God himself. He had thin lips and a prominent nose. His deep eyes were loaded with mystery, and a harsh coldness pulled his brows together. He was so well dressed in his custom-made suit that it nearly appeared to be his skin.
He had an indifferent and unattainable temperament, like a majestic and inviolable king. His aura was strong and menacing, and his entire body emanated an air of isolation and abstinence that made people avoid approaching him.
He was someone Catherine knew. The president of Royal Entertainment Group (REG), William Stanford, was a behemoth in the entertainment business. He rarely appeared in public and tended to be low key. When Catherine was a reporting intern, she once met him.
She didn't anticipate running into him again!
William passed her without giving her a second glance as she was lost in thoughts, which gave Catherine an idea.
She had recently broken up with her fiancé, and William needed a bride for his wedding. Although they had a deep emotional bond, perhaps they might get married together.
Making sure Nellie understood that even if Catherine broke up with Richard, she might find someone better was the most crucial aspect of the strategy. She also required Richard to feel bad about what he done.
She called to the man as the ideas evolved in her head before they gone.
"Mr. Stanford, hold on a second."
The two men were momentarily startled by her abrupt voice before turning to face her.