She Chose Him, So I Chose Power

Phoebe Marsh had carelessly submitted the wrong quotation, causing the company to suffer a massive loss and leaving us facing enormous compensation claims.

To win the contract back, I attended what was basically a trap disguised as a dinner to apologize on the company's behalf. I was forced to drink until my stomach bled, enduring humiliation after humiliation just to smooth everything over.

After the matter was settled, Phoebe comforted me and promised that one day, she would give me a grand wedding. But the day before our wedding, she showed up in a wedding gown and threw herself into Julian Stratford's arms instead.

When I demanded an explanation, she brushed it off casually.

"You were just some nobody who clawed his way out of a backwater village. What made you think I'd actually choose you? Besides, Julian is the general manager's son. The difference between you two is night and day. But if you really can't let me go, I guess I wouldn't mind keeping you around."

Phoebe actually wanted me to be her lover.

That slap ended everything between us. I turned around and agreed to marry the Grey family's heiress—my childhood sweetheart.

What I never expected was that our weddings would be held on the same day, in the same hotel.

As I stepped through the hotel entrance, Phoebe arrived with a crowd of our former coworkers and blocked my path.

"Cassian Frost, you actually came to crash my wedding? Let me make this clear—I won't let anyone ruin my perfect wedding with Julian. Since you insist on embarrassing yourself, you'd better apologize to Julian and beg for his forgiveness."

The crowd immediately burst into jeers and cheers.

Phoebe kicked the back of my knees, forcing me to the ground. She even stripped off my clothes to humiliate me in public.

Only when Evelyne Grey arrived did Phoebe instantly switch to a flattering smile.

"Ms. Grey, my ex-boyfriend completely lost his mind. He actually claimed to be your husband. But don't worry, I already dealt with him. About that Upper Hollow contract… Do you think we can sign it now?"

Humiliation at the Hotel Entrance

Because a construction crane had swung into the subway line, traffic across the city had been completely locked down, so Evelyne and I had no choice but to head to the venue separately.

When I arrived at the hotel, I was just about to get out of the car and go inside when I looked up and saw Phoebe walking in arm in arm with Julian. Both of them looked radiant with happiness.

My hand froze on the car door.

For a moment, I did not step out.

I never would have imagined that Phoebe and I would end up getting married on the same day.

Ever since I decided to cut ties with her completely, I hadn't wanted to see her again. Especially not now, when I was about to get married myself.

I was about to get married myself, and the last thing I wanted was to ruin the day by running into someone as unlucky as her.

"Cassian! I'm over here!"

A cute girl came running over from a distance and yanked open my limo door before I could react. "Cassian, why won't you come out?"

Annie's voice rang out loudly enough to draw Phoebe's attention immediately.

The door had been opened too quickly. Before I could even process what was happening, my eyes met Phoebe's from not far away.

The warmth in her gaze vanished instantly, replaced by fury. She strode over in a few quick steps, shoved Annie aside, and grabbed me straight out of the limo. "Cassian, how long are you planning to keep harassing me?"

Then she noticed the groom's tag pinned to my boutonniere.

Her eyes widened before she let out a mocking laugh. "Wow. I didn't think you'd stoop this low. I'm already getting married, and you still came here to steal the wedding?"

I forcefully shook off Phoebe's hand, pulled Annie up from the ground, and wrapped an arm around her.

Before I could even explain, Phoebe glared at me resentfully. "Cassian, today is the most important day of Julian's and my life. If you dare cause trouble here, don't blame me for what happens next."

The surrounding guests immediately began whispering.

"The nerve of Cassian, crashing the wedding like this. If he hadn't messed up that quotation, we'd still have our year-end bonuses."

"Please. You should be thanking him for saving your job. He was the one who spent the whole night entertaining several executives from the client companies just to salvage the project."

"And those executives included both men and women. With a body like his, who knows how far he had to go?"

"Tsk! That playboy disgusts me. Just breathing the same air as him makes my skin crawl. How dare he come here to steal the wedding?"

My whole body trembled as I listened to the crowd tear me apart. Phoebe had pushed all the blame onto me.

Just then, Julian stepped out from the crowd.

The disdain in his eyes disappeared the moment he noticed the bouquet in my hands, replaced by sudden excitement. "Phoebe, how about I give you the bouquet in his hands?"