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Not Your Second Choice
Not Your Second Choice
Author: Scarlett Chase

Chapter 1

Author: Scarlett Chase
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-27 16:59:20
The brilliant lights in the hall dimmed, leaving a concentrated glow upon the stage. The bride and groom stood bathed in radiance—she in her flowing white gown, he in his impeccably tailored suit. They were the perfect picture of beauty and elegance.

The background music shifted, rising into a crescendo, infusing the air with a palpable sense of excitement. The wedding ceremony had reached its peak.

Deidre clasped her left hand over her right, her palms damp with sweat beneath the delicate white gloves. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, each beat echoing like a drum in her ears. She was so nervous it felt as though her heart might leap into her throat.

Her gaze settled on the man before her, a mix of elation and unease swirling within her.

Micah Landon—one of Salve City's most eligible bachelors, heir to one of its most powerful families—was about to marry her.

It felt surreal, like a fairy tale come to life. A Cinderella marrying her prince, with all the incredulity that entailed.

Micah stood tall in his sharply cut suit, his handsome face composed, his demeanor radiating charm and distinction. The unframed glasses perched on his high-bridged nose softened the sharpness of his features, lending his eyes a gentle warmth that seemed deeper than usual.

"And now, let's have the bride and groom exchange rings!" The emcee's voice was vibrant, his enthusiasm infectious.

A poised bridesmaid stepped forward, carrying a tray with a red velvet base upon which the wedding rings rested.

Micah's gaze lowered to the open ring box, and for a fleeting moment, his calm façade faltered. His gentle, smiling expression froze ever so slightly.

The warmth and softness in his eyes disappeared entirely, replaced by an unfamiliar coldness.

Deidre followed his gaze to the rings, her brow furrowing in confusion. These weren't the rings they had chosen together.

What was going on?

Micah's hand hovered over the ring box but didn't move to pick one up. An awkward pause settled over the ceremony. The emcee hesitated, his expression reflecting the growing tension in the room.

Then a shout broke through the silence. "What's that on the screen?"

Heads turned toward the massive display behind them. Deidre instinctively followed their gaze.

The screen, which had been playing a slideshow of their sweet, romantic pre-wedding photos, now displayed a completely different set of images.

The pictures still showed a man and a woman, but the man wasn't Micah.

The first photo revealed Deidre being intimately embraced by a stranger outside a hotel. The next showed her leaning into the same man in a hotel room, their bodies close on a bed.

The lively background music continued to play, a jarring contrast to the now stifling atmosphere. Whispers swept through the crowd, their eyes darting toward Deidre.

Daring to humiliate Micah, the powerful and revered heir, on his wedding day? And this bride, from her modest family background, had the audacity to wear such a scandalous stain on her character?

Deidre felt as if lightning had struck her. Panic surged through her as she snapped her gaze toward Micah.

His attention was fixed on the screen.

The light from the display reflected off his glasses, making it impossible for Deidre to discern his expression. But the tight line of his lips and the vein bulging at his temple revealed enough. A cold blade seemed to pierce her chest, twisting sharply.

The once cheerful wedding music now felt like a cruel mockery.

"Micah, I didn't—" Deidre started, her voice trembling.

Micah's gaze finally shifted to her, his eyes icy and unreadable behind his glasses. The storm brewing in them made her heart sink further.

"I…" She wanted to explain, but no words came. The images on the screen were a mystery to her. She had no memory of them, no explanation for their existence.

Who would do this to her? Who would want to ruin her like this?

Micah's expression grew colder, a mocking glint appearing in his eyes. He didn't say a word. Instead, he glanced at the bridesmaid holding the tray of rings.

He picked up one of the rings, turned sharply, and walked away.

"Micah, don't go!" Deidre cried, lifting the hem of her gown as she rushed after him. She grabbed his hand, desperate to stop him.

He halted briefly, turning to look at her. His lips curved in a faint, mocking smile, his voice low and biting. "This wedding…"

He trailed off, his gaze flicking back to the screen where yet another damning photo appeared—Deidre asleep in bed, her features serene. Beside her, the same stranger propped his head on one hand, gazing at her with a tenderness that seemed all too intimate.

Micah's faint smirk turned into a derisive laugh. "…is off."

Each word struck Deidre like an arrow, sinking deep into her heart and leaving a searing pain in their wake.

He shook off her hand with enough force to send her stumbling backward.

She staggered, unable to steady herself, and fell to the ground, her pristine white gown pooling around her like a defeated flag.
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  • Not Your Second Choice   Chapter 2

    The wedding host, visibly flustered as the groom turned and walked away, hastily gestured to the sound engineer to cut the music. As the cheerful background tunes abruptly ceased, the atmosphere shifted, the murmur of the crowd swelling into an unabashed roar of judgment and speculation."They've been engaged for over a year, and now this scene unfolds at the wedding? Utter humiliation," someone remarked loudly."She looks so pure, doesn't she? But clearly, she's got other, shall we say, talents that hooked Micah. Guess she practiced those talents with plenty of others. Walk along the river long enough, and you'll get your feet wet. Someone probably got fed up and exposed her. Tsk, tsk."That particular comment sliced through the air like a shard of glass, sharp and cutting."Nonsense! I didn't do any of that!" Deidre screamed, her voice raw with desperation.Her outburst only added fuel to the fire. None of the attendees spared her even a modicum of sympathy. They were there fo

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  • Not Your Second Choice   Chapter 3

    Deidre recognized the wedding ring—it was the same unfamiliar one that had appeared earlier at the ceremony.Micah's voice broke through the heavy air, low and dripping with disdain. "You're not worthy of this ring."Her heart shuddered at his words, and pain flared across her jaw as he harshly released her. Without so much as a glance back, he stepped into the car, slamming the door shut with finality. His expression remained cold as he instructed the driver, "Drive."Desperate, Deidre chased after the car, her bare feet burning against the scorching pavement. The southern Salve City was in the grip of a relentless summer heat, but she barely noticed. The pain in her feet seemed distant, insignificant compared to the ache in her chest.She ran with abandon, her cumbersome wedding gown tangling around her legs, until she tripped and fell hard onto the unforgiving ground. Her knees and elbows scraped against the rough asphalt, bleeding slightly. She looked utterly disheveled, a fa

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  • Not Your Second Choice   Chapter 4

    The reporters had trailed after Micah's car for a good while, hoping to intercept him, but when it became clear that their efforts were futile, they shifted their attention. Like a tidal wave, they surged toward Deidre instead.Vincent Winsley, who had also rushed out, caught sight of Deidre slumped on the ground, her hair disheveled, her expression blank. A surge of fury erupted within him."You've disgraced me completely!" he spat, his teeth clenched in rage. Without waiting for a response, he stormed over and yanked her up forcefully. Deidre stumbled as he dragged her toward the parking lot, his movements sharp and brimming with frustration.Like a discarded, soulless rag doll, Deidre let herself be shoved into the car. Her mind was elsewhere, caught in an unending loop of Micah's cold words and Casey's venomous taunts.A replacement.The phrase clung to her, refusing to loosen its grip.Deidre's lips curled into a silent, bitter smile.Of course. It all made sense now.No

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  • Not Your Second Choice   Chapter 5

    After a long string of coaxing and placating, Kiera finally managed to calm Vincent's seething anger to a simmer. She tugged at his arm, steering him towards their room to change out of the formal attire they'd worn for the wedding.As they reached the stairs, Kiera glanced back and saw Deidre sitting quietly on the living room sofa. Her gaze was fixed on the front door, unblinking, her expression unreadable but for the faint furrow in her brows. Kiera hesitated, then called out, "Deidre, go change into something else, won't you?"Deidre didn't move. It was as if her ears had turned deaf to the sound of her stepmother's voice."That girl's just like her mother—a cursed woman through and through!" Vincent spat as he ascended the stairs. "What bad luck it's been to have a daughter like that!"Deidre's eyes flickered for a moment, a ripple disturbing their stillness. Her hands clenched tightly, nails digging into her palms.It wasn't long before Valerie and Johnny returned. The atm

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  • Not Your Second Choice   Chapter 6

    Vincent had been spewing curses at Deidre just moments ago, but upon hearing Valerie's confession, his lips pressed into a rare, tight line. He said nothing.Deidre let out a derisive laugh, her gaze shifting from Valerie to settle on her father. "You heard her, didn't you? You know now who orchestrated today's wedding fiasco. Weren't you so eager to beat me to death earlier? Why aren't you laying a hand on Valerie now?"Vincent remained still, his brows furrowing deeper as he finally spoke. "She's your sister. Watch your tone.""And when she humiliated me in front of an entire banquet hall, did she ever stop to think that I was her sister?" Deidre's voice cracked as she shouted, her anger no longer contained. "She's your daughter. Am I not your daughter, too?""You're the older one. You should let her have her way," Vincent said, as if his words were carved in stone."Yes, that's always your answer. Whenever there's a conflict between me and Valerie, you tell me I'm the older one

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  • Not Your Second Choice   Chapter 7

    "I'd rather never get married in this lifetime than marry Micah. Never!"Deidre stopped laughing, her face freezing over, her voice sharp: "I think you've misunderstood something. When I said 'fine,' I meant I'll leave this house, and you can all go ahead and live your happy little lives."Since middle school, Deidre had been a boarding student, and the bond between her and her father, Vincent, had always been tenuous. The estrangement between them was as thin as the paper separating two worlds. In a blended family, when there are children from previous marriages, someone always ends up hurt. Vincent's fatherly love had been doled out almost entirely to his other children, Valerie and Johnny, leaving only the scraps for her. It was like charity, barely a gesture.Now, standing on the edge of her limits, she had had enough. Absolutely enough."Fine! Fine then!" Vincent, enraged, his face contorted, pointed toward the door and bellowed, "I'll cut ties with you today! Get out! Get o

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  • Not Your Second Choice   Chapter 8

    It seemed that the professor had sensed the unease in Deidre's voice. After a moment, the warm, familiar tone of her mentor returned over the phone."There could still be a chance. Let me make a call and try to secure it for you."Deidre had always been a top student. Even though she hadn't finished high school, she had been exempted from exams and directly enrolled in the prestigious university in Salve City, completing both her undergraduate and master's degrees in one continuous stretch.Her mentor, who had always kept a close eye on such promising talent, was not one to let someone like Deidre miss out on such an opportunity."Thank you. I'll wait for your call," Deidre said, her fingers tightening around the phone, turning pale as she bit down hard on her lower lip. Her heart pounded, the anxiety spreading like fire.She waited for an answer.It could be a chance at heaven or a fall into hell.Each second dragged on painfully, like she was being fried alive in a pan. She gr

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  • Not Your Second Choice   Chapter 9

    Her forehead had a faint beauty mark, a delicate peak, and long, distant mountain-shaped eyebrows. Her slender, bright eyes shimmered with a quiet glow, and her petite nose and full lips, while not strikingly beautiful, had an understated, classical charm, like a lady in an ancient classical painting.It was especially those eyes—gracefully lifted at the corners—where the soft glimmer of light seemed to dance with a warmth that stirred the heart.Her temperament was elegant and serene, perfectly harmonizing with her features. She resembled a polished jade, so captivating that it made one forget the world around them.Looking at her face, Micah felt something deep inside him stir, something his heart had been holding still for seven years. His smile deepened, and a quiet meaning flickered in his eyes.Seven years later, he never expected to encounter Deidre in a setting like this.Compared to the twenty-year-old version of her, Deidre now exuded a quiet maturity. Those eyes, though

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Latest chapter

  • Not Your Second Choice   Chapter 30

    Kiera watched as Valerie tried on several pieces of jewelry, her dissatisfaction growing with each one. She turned to the saleswoman, signaling to continue searching for another style. Meanwhile, Valerie seized the moment and glanced toward the gift-wrapping counter.But this time, all she saw was a saleswoman carefully wrapping a piece of jewelry, and the familiar, infuriating figure she had seen earlier was nowhere in sight.Where was she?Valerie's curiosity grew. Kiera, meanwhile, urged, "What's the matter with you? Your dad finally agreed to buy you an expensive piece of jewelry, and now you're acting so indifferent. Come on, pick something.""I know."Annoyed, Valerie looked around the store one more time, but the person she was looking for was still nowhere to be found. Sighing, she turned her attention back to the jewelry.In the tea room, Deidre sat with her phone, checking stocks. She hadn't drunk much of the tea in front of her, knowing that soon, someone would bring

  • Not Your Second Choice   Chapter 29

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  • Not Your Second Choice   Chapter 28

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  • Not Your Second Choice   Chapter 27

    The moment Deidre entered, she immediately noticed that the restaurant was much more spacious inside than it appeared from the outside. The place was busy, almost every table occupied. A friendly server approached her with a smile."Good evening, are you dining alone?" she asked."Yes, just me," Deidre replied with a nod.The server gestured for her to follow, guiding her to a table. Once seated, the server pointed to a QR code on the table."You can place your order online. If you need anything else, feel free to let us know," she added.Deidre nodded in understanding, then took out her phone and scanned the QR code. As she browsed the menu, she overheard a conversation from the next table, separated by an intricately carved partition."Did you hear? They're reopening bids for the Dobinsky project," one voice said."Really? I thought the bidding was already over. Why do they need a second round?" came the surprised reply."Well, if there's no second round, our company, Veiln

  • Not Your Second Choice   Chapter 26

    "Of course, I'll hold on to my big, strong friend, and never let go.""Tsk, tsk..."Sandy smiled, her eyes narrowing slightly. As they approached yet another red light, she slowed the car and shot a mock angry glare at Deidre. "You haven't changed a bit. Still sweet-talking your way through everything, huh?"They laughed, talking about everything and nothing, drifting between topics like two old friends. Before they knew it, they had arrived.Sandy had a vacant apartment nearby, close to where Deidre would be working. With her constant travels, she had prepared the place early, knowing that Deidre was returning to Rowanda to develop her career.The driver helped move their things into the apartment's living room."Alright. You can head back to the company," Sandy instructed the driver before turning to Deidre."Take a look around first. I've added some things, but if there's anything you're missing, just get it yourself."As soon as the door closed, Sandy collapsed lazily onto

  • Not Your Second Choice   Chapter 25

    Deidre looked up at the airport entrance and saw a tall, elegant woman in a business dress waving at her, walking briskly toward her.It wasn't until Sandy Mallark stood before her that Deidre's eyes showed surprise, as if she couldn't recognize the woman in front of her. The person, dressed as a professional, was none other than the 23-year-old girl she had parted with three years ago, fresh and full of youth."I know what you're going to say," Sandy said, taking Deidre's suitcase. With a casual tone, she added, "It's not like I wanted to dress more maturely, but it's the only way I can command respect from the board of directors at my agency. Otherwise, they'd just call me a young girl and wonder how I could possibly run the entire company."Not all rich young women like to flaunt their wealth.Yes, Sandy was a low-key, rich heiress. Unpretentious, willing to work hard, and down-to-earth, she proved through her actions that she didn't rely on her family."You're right. It's rare

  • Not Your Second Choice   Chapter 24

    Larry's foot paused over the accelerator. Through the rearview mirror, he saw his boss roll down the window."Get in."It was clear the words weren't meant for him.Larry frowned, looking toward the entrance of the Bealeys.Deidre was about to hail a cab when she heard Benedict's voice. She immediately turned her head.After a brief hesitation, she quickly stepped down the stairs and briskly walked toward the Maybach.It was the rule to listen to the new boss's words. A good subordinate followed orders.She smiled at Benedict, her expression respectful yet natural. "Thank you, Mr. O'Reily, for the ride."Of course, she wasn't going to sit in the back with him. She thanked him by the door and then moved quickly to the passenger seat, opening the door and settling inside.Larry hadn't really paid attention to Deidre before.Sure, she was over 1.6 meters tall, but his boss was over 1.8 meters, and just now, Deidre had been following Benedict, dressed in casual clothes. He hadn't

  • Not Your Second Choice   Chapter 23

    Bryan, seeing that Benedict was about to leave, quickly stood up and moved to block Benedict.Benedict glanced at him, his voice neither cold nor warm. "Did you forget? You called my assistant to come pick me up because I'd had too much to drink."Bryan was speechless.What a random excuse and absolutely fake excuse!He had used it earlier and now Benedict was throwing that back at him.Bryan stared at him, wanting to argue, but in front of Deidre, he couldn't bring himself to respond. That would be like admitting he had lied.Benedict swept his gaze over the room and saw Deidre rising to follow him. He said nothing, simply striding toward the door.As soon as Deidre stepped out of the room behind Benedict, Bryan's voice rang out behind them, "Deidre, next time I'm in Salve City, let's hang out. Teach me to drink!"She glanced up at Benedict. His lips were pressed together, and the corners of his eyes turned down, his face clearly impatient.Deidre opened her mouth to reply wi

  • Not Your Second Choice   Chapter 22

    Bryan went from being excited to watch the show to being utterly dumbfounded as he watched Deidre effortlessly down eleven Jägerbombs. If it weren't for the fact that he had seen the drinks being prepared earlier, he might have suspected that Deidre was drinking plain water instead.For a man with a decent tolerance, finishing a single Jägerbomb without faltering was already considered impressive. Drinking three in a row was a remarkable feat. But Deidre managed to down eleven without so much as a change in her expression. The last time Bryan had seen such composure was with Benedict. Among men, he was the only one capable of pulling it off. Among women, Deidre was the first.This extraordinary woman had something to do with Benedict, though—she was his first female assistant.Bryan's gaze turned complex as he looked at Benedict, his heart filled with sympathy. 'Bro, your grandfather really did give you a tough assistant,' he thought, despite her being a woman.Benedict picked up

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