Chapter 1: A Substitute Groom

“You look so beautiful today, baby. You’re so sexy and alluring that I want to thrust into you right now.”

That was the compliment the groom gave his bride’s best friend before entering the aisle. Could you believe that? And then, lewd moans, gasps, and fucking noises were heard amidst the melodious wedding music.

So what do you think the bride would do if she found out that her groom and his best friend were cheating on her right on her wedding day?

Lysia imagined that she would rush into and beat this dirty couple. She wanted to expose their true colors in front of all the guests to put an end to the grand wedding she had prepared. And then with just one article she could write, they would no longer be able to show their faces in Reeds City with their disgusting reputation.

But that was just a fantasy!

“Baby, don’t worry. After Lysia gets married, the Kingsley family will transfer her a portion of their inheritance as a wedding gift. Once I persuade her to give me that massive sum, we will leave Reeds together and live in wealth for the rest of our lives.” Henry Reinhart, her groom, said from inside.

What about the reality?

Lysia Kingsley, twenty-six years old, the cherished daughter of the wealthy Kingsley family and a famous journalist, cursed in her heart, ‘What trash.’

She might have risked her life with them if she had discovered this betrayal on another day, but not at her wedding. She was mature and calm enough to consider her family’s honor in front of the wedding guests, so even though her body was shaking and nausea was rising within her, she decided to swallow this anger.

Just as she released her grip on the doorknob and was about to leave, the voice of her best friend, Camilla Baker, rang out, making her jump.

“What if Lysia finds out about our baby? By the fourth month, my belly will start to grow.” Camilla asked between her breathless moans as they made love, “Ahh~ Baby, fuck me harder.”

Baby? What the hell? Lysia clutched her chest and bent over in shock and pain. For a fleeting moment, her mind was buzzing with a thousand questions.

How well did Henry hide it? And when did he start having an affair when he spent almost all of his free time on her? Lysia didn’t want to believe it, nor did she dare to.

Henry and Lysia met at a press conference announcing his appointment as director of a new branch of the Reinhart Conference. She had been the only journalist chosen to get a one-to-one interview with him. They didn’t start dating until they met again at her grandfather’s birthday celebration.

Although both of them were busy with work, Henry always gave her surprises during their dates and actively avoided girls at social parties. Moreover, he always reported his daily schedule to her even though she had never asked him to. He even picked her up from work every day when his workplace was in the opposite direction. Henry was handsome, delicate, polite, and most of all, he was the nephew of the chairman of Reinhart Corporation. Everyone praised Henry and Lysia as a perfect couple. Of course, she had thought so too.

However, Henry's surprise gift on their wedding day was so great that she could not forget it until she died.

In their one-year relationship, Camilla was already nearly four months pregnant.

It was ridiculous. A cruel joke— for them, as well as for her.

It wasn’t that Henry had hidden it so well, but rather that Lysia had been blind—blind in her love for him and her trust in Camilla’s so-called kindness.

Six months ago, Camilla suddenly bought a small apartment in the city center. Lysia knew better than anyone that the Baker family's circumstances couldn't afford that much money, but of course, she was still happy for her best friend without any doubts. Perhaps Henry had bought the house for his mistress, and they had started to betray her since then.

"Stupid! Stupid! Lysia Kingsley! You stupid!" She scolded herself.

Lysia felt tears falling down her cheeks, but she immediately wiped them away. Just as she was about to lose control and storm inside, a wedding bell rang, signaling the start of the wedding.

Henry slowly left Camilla's body, tenderly kissing her lips one last time and panting in her ear. Through a door, Lysia could still clearly hear what he said, "That foolish woman doesn't care about money anyway, she will be happy to give that gift to our baby."

The corner of Lysia's lips curled into a sarcastic and bitter smile. She lifted her wedding gown and made her way towards the aisle. That's right, she didn't have to feel pain when she had just rid herself of one disgusting pile of trash. Two actually, including her fake, cheap best friend.

It would be interesting if she continued to play the role of this foolish woman. And the lesson from the fool would be far more painful than they could imagine, right?

Lysia quickly turned back to the main entrance of the wedding hall. Her eyes glanced at the wedding photo frame displayed on a wooden stand and decorated with flowers. She squinted her eyes for a moment before decisively taking it down and going to look for a trash can.

The King Reinhart Hotel had temporarily closed its doors for the day to accommodate Lysia’s wedding, so there was no one in the area right now. As Lysia rounded a corner, she accidentally bumped into a man’s back. His back was so solid that she had to rub her nose in pain.

‘Hm, such a handsome guy.’ That was Lysia’s first thought when he turned around.

It was difficult for her to smile in this mood even though she knew he could be one of the guests from the Kingsley or Reinhart families. The man’s frown gradually relaxed as soon as he made eye contact with her, but he remained on the phone.

“Sorry.” She said politely, bowing her head.

As Lysia passed him, a captivating scent emanating from him entered her nostrils and made her pause.

“Mister, excuse me?” Lysia called out, turning back toward him, ignoring the fact that he was still on the phone.

The man glanced at her and quickly ended the call with a few short words. After slipping the phone into his pocket, he curled the corners of his lips and replied, “Yes, lady?”

Lysia carefully examined his face before hesitantly asking, “Have we met before?”

“Pfft!” The man crossed his arms over his chest, “Lady, that's not a new way to start a conversation at all. I know I am attractive to women, but it's a bit inappropriate considering you're wearing a wedding dress."

Lysia’s eyebrows furrowed as she silently thought to herself, ‘What’s wrong with this man?’ But she had to admit that he was indeed attractive and incredibly handsome like a masterpiece gifted to this world by God. His outstanding figure and perfect face down to every angle must have captured the hearts of many women. So she somewhat understood his narcissism.

He was even more insanely handsome than Henry. Lysia suddenly compared.

An idea flashed through her mind in a flash. She put the wedding photo frame on the ground and gently rubbed her wrist.

The man noticed and quickly suggested, “Would you like me to hang that back up for you?”

“No need, its rightful place is in the trash can now,” Lysia replied.

After saying that, she walked closer to him and raised her head to look at the tall man. With a beautiful smile, she confidently said, “Mister, can I ask you a favor?”

Before he could answer, Lysia continued, “Ah no, I mean, how about we make a deal? I can help you pay off that $50,000 bank debt, and you help me complete this wedding as my groom.”

“Lady, it’s impolite to eavesdrop on someone else's conversations.” The man raised his eyebrows and chuckled.

His face was not surprised; on the contrary, he was teasing Lysia with his rare chestnut brown eyes.

“Just answer me—yes or no?” She maintained.

***

The doors of the wedding hall opened, and Lysia took a deep breath, knowing that what was about to happen would be crazy. Her heart raced as she felt the warmth of the man beside her. But this wedding ceremony stirred up that pain inside her, making her determined to carry out her plan at all costs.

Lysia and the man, whose name she still didn't know, entered the center position to the astonishment of many people, including her parents and her brother.

Rachael Kingsley, her mother, shot her a puzzled look and whispered, “Sweetheart, what’s going on?”

Lysia felt her eyes burn up. She didn’t know how to explain the terrible betrayal she had just endured. They would surely feel the same pain she was feeling now, as they loved her more than anyone else. And her brother, Ryan Kingsley, who had tried to oppose this marriage but had still arranged the most extravagant wedding for her.

Giving her parents a gentle smile, Lysia then bowed slightly to the priest presiding over the ceremony, “Father, please, let's begin.”

In an indescribably tense atmosphere, the priest started the wedding rituals. Lysia kept her gaze fixed on her delicate wedding gloves, then suddenly a warm hand enveloped hers.

This man’s eyes seemed to understand the weakness under Lysia’s heart. Right now, it should have been Henry—her beloved fiancé—standing before her. They should have been exchanging rings and sharing a passionate kiss under the blessings of many. But things didn’t go as Lysia had wished.

Lysia grew up in wealth and love, so was this a little test that God brought to her?

Just when she thought she might collapse at the most important moment — the exchange of vows — Henry and Camilla flung open the door and rushed in with a flustered look.

Bang! Both of them fell forward when they tripped over a rope across the door.

Camilla was the first to let out an angry growl, “Lysia Kingsley, what the hell are you doing?” She quickly stood up and brushed off her pure white bridesmaid dress.

Lysia pulled her hand away from the man beside her and puffed out her chest, looking straight ahead as she sneered, “You are so late, CAMI, HENRY!”