On our wedding night, my fiancé's best friend barged into our room for the third time, claiming a wedding prank.

Having had enough, I warned Sam Whitman that if we didn't consummate our marriage that night, it was as good as over.

He glanced at my half-unbuttoned dress and dismissed my words as a tantrum.

Then Candace Lombard stormed in for the ninth time, ripped off the covers, and livestreamed our intimate moments. Sam merely pushed me aside and told me to be understanding.

She climbed into our bed, smirking as she claimed the spot between us.

"Wedding night prank? I get it," I grinned, leaning into her livestream camera. "Alright, everyone, fire up those donations! I'm about to let my husband take a mistress live. Let's make it a show!"

...

My fiancé's best friend, Candace Lombard, held her phone high, the camera trained on my nearly bare body.

Her laughter was sharp and mocking. "Wow, Cathy, so eager already? The wedding night has barely started, and you're stripping?"

My cheeks burned with shame as I yanked the blanket around me, shooting a desperate glance at my new husband, Sam Whitman, standing by the bed.

He frowned but made no move to stop her. Instead, he gently nudged me. "Don't get upset. Candace is just having fun with the wedding night pranks. She doesn't mean any harm."

He turned to her, his tone softer. "Alright, bud, that's enough. Let's cool it."

She giggled and plopped onto the center of our marital bed, wedging herself between us. "Oh, come on, it's your big day! I'm just hyping things up. Look at the livestream. Everyone's loving it! They're begging for something juicier!"

I stared at her phone screen, where crude comments scrolled past in a blur. My hands shook with rage. This was already the ninth time she had barged in since we'd entered the room, using her key to invade our privacy again and again.

Reaching my breaking limit, I snatched her phone and flashed a cold smile at the camera. "You want spice? Alright, fire up those donations! I'm about to let my husband take a mistress live. Let's make it a show!"

The pair shrank at my words. Sam lunged for the phone to shut off the stream, hissing, "Have you lost it? Do you even realize what you're saying?"

I clutched the blanket, my heart icing over. "Lost it? Look at what she's done! Do you even care about this marriage?"

Before he could respond, his mother's call came through, her voice shrill with outrage. "Cathy, are you insane? Don't you know how close our family is to the Lombards? Candace and Sam are like siblings! What is wrong with you, humiliating her in front of thousands? You've disgraced us!"

I hung up, cutting her off mid-rant, an action that irritated Sam further.

"My mom is right. You're blowing this out of proportion!" he huffed, raking a hand through his hair. "Candace is just playful. Why make a big deal out of it? She's a young woman; her reputation matters. With what you said, how is she going to face anyone now?"

He stepped closer to me, demanding, "Apologize to her, and we'll let this go."

"Apologize to her? Are you serious?" I laughed sharply. "I was livestreamed and humiliated, and you want me to say sorry?"

Candace shrank behind him, her eyes brimming with tears. "It's my fault, Sam. I went too far. I'm sorry, Cathy. I was just scared that once you married him, he'd stop caring about me. I didn't mean it."

Sam stepped in front of her, protective. "See? She didn't mean it. Don't be so harsh."

When I didn't budge, Sam leaned in, his voice dropping to a threatening whisper. "Don't forget that our business deal hinges on this marriage. If you make a mess of things now, it screws us both. Your grandfather is watching from above. You don't want to let him down, do you?"

He knew my grandfather's dying wish was to secure this partnership and protect our family's legacy. That was why Sam was so smug, certain I'd swallow my pride no matter how far Candace pushed me.

I clenched my fists, meeting his gaze with icy resolve. "The partnership was my grandfather's dream, but my dignity isn't your plaything."

...

I shoved past him, grabbed my clothes, and stormed into the bathroom. When I emerged, fully dressed, he was lounging on the couch, stubbing out a cigarette.

"Feeling better?" he asked, as if nothing had happened. "Get some sleep. We've got to visit your family tomorrow."

"No need for that," I said, my mood too raw to engage. "This marriage is over. Pretend it never happened."

He shot to his feet, stunned. "What's this nonsense? You're making a mountain out of a molehill over nothing."

"Talk about overreacting," Candace chimed in, twirling my grandfather's seal in her hand as she poked her head out of the study. "Wedding night pranks are supposed to bring good luck. What kind of bride flips out like this?"

I rushed over and snatched the seal. "Who gave you permission to touch this?"

It was the only thing my grandfather left me, a symbol of my right to lead the Myers Group, but now a corner was chipped, exposing a jagged scar.

Candace flinched at my outburst and hid behind Sam with a pout. "I'm sorry. I just thought the stone was pretty and wanted to hold it. I didn't know it was so fragile."

"Why are you yelling?" Sam sulked, shielding her. "It's just a stone seal. Chipped, so what? I'll have someone carve you a new one."

"Just a stone?" I snarled, slapping him. "This is the only thing my grandfather left me! You let her ruin it, and you think a replacement fixes that? Should I replace your mother with a new one after I drive her to her grave?"

I pointed at the seal's damaged edge. "Look at this! It's clearly been smashed against the table on purpose! Are you blind, or do you just not care?"

His head snapped to the side from the force of my slap, anger flashing in his eyes. He glanced at the seal, then waved a hand dismissively.

"Fine, I understand that it's important to you," he said. "But she didn't mean it. Candace's been frail since she was a kid. Stress can trigger her condition. Can't you just let it go? We're family now. Why sour things over something so small? We'll all have to face each other eventually."

I swallowed my rage, snatching the seal back. "Family? I'd rather die than be part of yours. Agreeing to this marriage was the biggest mistake of my life!"

Candace let out a piercing scream, clutching her chest and collapsing to the floor, convulsing. "My heart... Sam, it hurts so much."

Sam went pale with panic. "Candace, what's wrong? Don't scare me!"

He scooped her up, glaring at me with raw fury. "Happy now? You had to push her to a breakdown, didn't you?"

With that, he rushed toward the door. I stood my ground, unyielding. "You're worried about her episode, but what about me? She humiliated me in front of thousands and ruined my grandfather's keepsake. Do you think I'm not in pain?"

He paused, looking back with a conflicted look. "Her condition could kill her. Can't you be reasonable? Let me get her settled, and I'll explain everything later."

Without waiting for my response, he disappeared through the door.

My grandfather's dying words echoed in my mind, his frail hand clutching mine. "The alliance is important, but you must live with dignity. Never let anyone trample you."

I'd failed to live up to his expectations. For the sake of this so-called alliance, I'd turned myself into a laughingstock.

Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself and dialed a number.

It rang once before a calm voice answered, "Hello?"

"Mr. Schneider, does your promise from years ago still stand?"

"Cathy? Always."

I took a deep breath, resolute. "Marry me. I want the Whitman family out of the picture in three days."

"Done," he said without hesitation. "Time and place?"

"Tomorrow, 10 a.m., City Hall," I replied, ending the call.

...

I gathered my things and headed to the guest room to crash for the night.

Sam returned, booting the door open. Furious, he grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward the exit. "You viper! Candace has severe heart-related anemia because of you! You're coming to the hospital to donate your blood!"

I stumbled, pain shooting through my wrist. "Are you insane? What has it got to do with me?"

He yanked harder, ignoring my protest. "I'm not asking. Don't make me force you. The doctor says her anemia is critical, and you're the only match with her rare blood type. You're doing this."

He shoved me into his car and sped toward the hospital.

In the room, Candace lay on the bed, an oxygen mask over her pale face, looking every bit the dying waif. But when she saw me, she reached weakly for Sam, a smug smirk curling her lips.

Sam pinned my wrist and forced me into a chair. "She's got the blood type. Take as much as you need."

The nurse hesitated, watching me struggle. "Sir, this lady doesn't seem willing."

Sam pulled a stack of cash from his wallet and slammed it on the table. "Do it. I'll handle any fallout."

I was held down as the needle pierced my skin. Blood flowed through the tube, bag after bag filling as the nurse swapped them out. My body grew colder, my head heavier, the world blurring around me.

In my daze, I heard Candace's frail voice. "Sam, is it okay to take so much? What if she can't handle it?"

He soothed her. "She'll be fine. You're the one who's suffered. When you're better, I'll take you abroad to relax."

"Really?" Her voice perked up. "You're the best, Sam."

She sent him off to get some fruit from downstairs, then sauntered over to me, dropping her frail act. "See? This is the difference between us. You thought a marriage contract could tie him to you? Pathetic."

She crossed her arms, smirking. "He's always loved me. I wanted you to suffer, so he played along with this little blood-draw show to keep me happy. Your blood and your pride? Worthless."

Her cruel laughter pierced my ears as I retched, my vision darkening. Sam had known all along. He knew she was faking it to torment me, yet he still played her game.

Rage and betrayal burned through me as I lost consciousness.

When I came to, I was slumped in a chair by Candace's hospital bed. She leaned into Sam's arms, tears streaming down her face.

"Don't be mad at Cathy," she murmured. "I don't want to ruin your marriage. I'm fine, as long as you're okay."

He wiped her tears, his voice tender. "Focus on getting better. That's what matters."

Then his eyes flicked to me, heavy with something unspoken.