The Wedding That Fell Apart

Selene's mother, Rebecca, was the first to react. She lost all composure as she rushed onto the stage. "What… what's going on here?! Who are you?!"

Her father, Daniel's face turned an ugly shade of blue. He raised his voice toward the panicked crowd and the reporters below the stage. "Everyone, calm down! There's been a small mishap with the wedding—it'll be resolved right away!"

How ironic. In my past life, I was the one standing on that stage in utter panic. Now, it was Selene's parents' turn.

My mother rose from her seat, stunned and worried. "Jace, what on earth is happening?"

I gave my parents a reassuring glance, then took Aria's hand before the astonished crowd, addressing, "Thank you all for coming to witness our wedding. There's been a minor mix-up with the posters and the rings."

I paused, my voice calm and steady. "But it's nothing serious. Let's continue."

At my side, Aria lifted her chin and faced the audience with composure, meeting their curious stares head-on.

Rebecca trembled with fury. "Jace Schreiber, have you lost your mind?! Do you even know what you're doing?!"

Daniel stormed up as well, lowering his voice in an attempt to contain the situation. "Jace, stop this nonsense! End the ceremony right now!"

I ignored them and handed the microphone to the woman beside me. "Aria, tell everyone why you're standing here today."

Aria and I exchanged a knowing glance. Then, she spoke clearly, her voice steady and unshaken. "I'm here because Selene Liraine paid me 100 thousand dollars to pretend to be her and attend the wedding in her place."

The entire hall erupted in chaos.

"What? She paid someone to marry on behalf of her?"

"Good God, has Selene lost her mind?"

As the truth came out, color drained completely from Daniel's and Rebecca's faces.

My father's temper finally snapped.

He jabbed a finger at Daniel, shouting, "You Liraines! How dare you—especially Selene—turn my son's marriage into a joke?! This is preposterous!"

My mother's eyes were red with anger. She stormed up the stage, shielding me behind her, her voice cold as ice. "This wedding is over. From this day on, the Schreiber family has nothing more to do with the Liraines."

The announcement hit like a thunderclap. Seeing their alliance about to crumble, Rebecca panicked. "Jace, Selene was just being childish! I'll make her come and apologize right now!"

I let out a cold laugh. "Sure. I'll give her one last chance. If you can reach her by phone, I'll act as if none of this ever happened."

Aria's grip on my hand tightened. I leaned close and whispered, "Don't worry. Selene's not coming back."

Rebecca clung to that sliver of hope, frantically dialing Selene's number again and again—once, twice, three times. Each time, the same mechanical voice echoed through the hall: "Sorry, the number you've dialed is unavailable."

I sighed with feigned disappointment. "It seems Ms. Liraine doesn't plan on returning. Security—please escort out the unrelated parties."

The guards dragged out Daniel and Rebecca as reporters surged forward, cameras flashing and questions flying.

My mother took my hand, her voice trembling but firm. "Jace, whatever you decide, your father and I will stand by you."

My father gave my shoulder a reassuring pat, and I was deeply touched.

In my previous life, I had insisted on marrying Selene, tearing my family apart. After my death, they both aged overnight. This time, I would never make the same mistake again. And as for Selene Liraine—the woman who caused it all—I wouldn't let her off so easily.

After the ceremony concluded, I called my assistant without hesitation. "Immediately terminate all cooperation with the Liraine family and withdraw all of our investment. Not a single penny stays."

The One Who Missed Her Chance

News of my marriage to Aria didn't spread right away. The Liraine family, desperate to stabilize their stock prices, paid the media to suppress the story.

Right after the wedding, Aria and I hurried to register our marriage. Once the paperwork was done, she told me she had business overseas and needed to leave for a few days.

…

Meanwhile, completely unaware of any of this, Selene spent two carefree days in a villa with Chase before realizing something wasn't right. Normally, by this point, I would've made a scene—forcing her to come crawling back. Yet this time, there wasn't even a ripple.

Selene scrolled absently through her phone, so distracted that she didn't even react when Chase called her name.

'No… he must be playing hard to get.' The thought made her lips curve into a sly smile. 'He's gotten far too used to me.'

I hadn't expected to run into those two miserable souls at my father's business banquet.

Selene spotted me first. The moment she saw me speaking with another woman, her face darkened like a thundercloud. Chase noticed me too and leaned weakly against her shoulder, feigning illness. "Selene, I don't feel so good. My head's spinning."

Selene held him gently, though her eyes flicked toward me, pretending it was unintentional. She was probably waiting for me to approach her.

Unfortunately for her, I didn't spare her a single glance.

Finally, she couldn't hold back any longer. She strode straight to our table, slammed her glass down with a sharp clink, and said coldly, "Jace, are you still angry because I had someone stand in for me at the wedding?"

I didn't bother to look at her and stood up, ready to leave.

"The only reason I missed the ceremony was because Chase was sick," she continued quickly. "It was an emergency."

Chase staggered forward as if he might collapse, blocking my path. "Mr. Schreiber, please don't blame Selene. It was all my fault—my health failed me and ruined your wedding…"

Selene actually laughed, infuriated by my silence. "Jace, I never realized how petty you could be. It was just a wedding!" She reached out, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, to grab my arm.

My gaze turned cold as I shook her hand off. "Ms. Liraine, have some self-respect. Didn't your parents tell you about the wedding?"

She froze. "Tell me what?"

Chase's expression flickered with panic as he grabbed my wrist, trying to smooth things over. "Mr. Schreiber, please don't be like this. Selene only did it because she cares about you—"

His words sounded conciliatory, but his nails dug sharply into my skin. The sting made me hiss in pain. I yanked my arm free with a snap. "Get lost!"

"Ahh!" Chase crashed to the floor in a pathetic heap, and Selene's eyes went wide with fury. She rushed to help him up, shouting, "You lunatic! Apologize to Chase right now!"

I sneered and turned toward the nearby security guards who had rushed over at the commotion. "Throw them out."

"You think you can get my attention like this?!" Selene snapped, livid. "If you behave, I'll go get the marriage certificate with you in a few days."

Seeing that she truly believed that I would fall at her feet again the moment she turned back, I smiled faintly. "But I'm already married."

The Wife She Never Saw Coming

Selene's smile froze, and she stared at me in disbelief, her brows knitting together tightly. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

She took a step forward, her tone dripping with arrogance. "You claim to be married, but where is your wife? Why isn't she here with you?"

A mocking smile tugged at my lips. "My wife's on a business trip. She's not like certain useless people who can't survive without leeching off a man."

Before she could explode, Chase's eyes reddened with anger. "Mr. Schreiber, how could you say that about Selene?"

He paused deliberately, just long enough for Selene's expression to twist with anger and disappointment. "Jace, look at yourself. So bitter, so spiteful—who would ever want you besides me? Stop playing these petty mind games. It only makes me look down on you more!"

I'd run out of patience. "Security! Did you not hear me? Throw these two out—now!"

The guards moved swiftly, grabbing them by the arms. Selene struggled wildly, her face contorted with fury as she screamed, "Jace Schreiber! How dare you do this to me?! You'll regret it!"

…

That night, a text came from an unknown number. 'You think you can steal Selene away from me? Guess what—she doesn't even care. She's happily on vacation abroad with me right now.'

I didn't need to wonder who sent it.

I blocked the number immediately.

Over the next few days, Daniel and Rebecca showed up at my door more than once, desperate to talk, but I refused to let them in.

…

A week later, I checked the flight schedule and drove to the airport to pick up Aria. Just as I stepped into the international arrivals hall, I ran straight into Selene and Chase, who both had gotten a little tanned, wearing sunglasses and looking every bit like a couple returning from a carefree vacation.

When Selene spotted me, her lips curved in smug triumph. "I knew you couldn't stay away. You even came to pick me up!"

I didn't bother responding, just looked at her as if she were an idiot.

"Come on, Mr. Schreiber, don't be mad," Chase said, his tone dripping with mock sympathy. "Selene didn't mean to leave you behind. As her fiance, you should be more understanding."

Selene looked pleased by his words. She reached out to take my arm, but I stepped aside, dodging her touch. Instead of getting angry, she seemed even more self-satisfied, assuming I was just sulking. "Alright, stop pouting. Once we get the marriage certificate, I'll make it up to you with a proper luxury honeymoon. How's that sound?"

I didn't answer her.

Instead, I walked right past both of them and wrapped Aria in my arms as she emerged from the gate. "Welcome home, sweetheart."

Aria smiled and hugged me back, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek.

Behind us, Selene's triumphant smile shattered in an instant.

For a moment, the world went silent—until she shrilled with rage. "Jace Schreiber, have you lost your mind?!"

She stormed toward us, jabbing a finger at Aria. "You hire an actress just to spite me?! Nice performance. How much did she charge you? Tell me the number—I'll pay ten times more to make her leave right now!"

Aria stepped forward, shielding me. The warmth in her eyes vanished, replaced by an icy calm that sent a chill through the air. But I caught her hand and stood beside her, watching Selene's twisted expression with amused detachment.

"Didn't you want to meet my wife, Selene?" I said evenly, slipping an arm around Aria's waist. "Well, here she is. Allow me to introduce her properly—this is my wife, Aria Grant."

Selene's face turned ghostly pale. "It's… you?!"