Chapter 3

Brandon, thinking I was genuinely praising him, beamed with delight, gesticulating wildly. "Thank you for the compliment, Ms. Valerie! I feel an instant connection with you, truly. My only regret is not meeting you sooner."

"It's never too late to meet. Any time is the best time," I said calmly. "I feel an instant connection with you too, Mr. Brandon."

I was speaking the truth, in my own way.

"Really? That's fantastic!" Brandon's eyes gleamed, thinking I was reciprocating his interest.

On stage, Amber called out to Brandon. "Brandon, come here for a second."

Brandon waved his hand dismissively, annoyed, but still walked over.

He then spoke to Amber with a serious expression. "Amber, I think we should postpone the wedding, maybe have it later."

Amber's face instantly changed. Slap! She slapped him across the face. "Brandon, you bastard, are you trying to delay it again?!"

Brandon was stunned for a moment. "What are you doing?!"

Amber panted, pointing at Brandon. "I'm telling you, Brandon, I've given you my final ultimatum. My patience is wearing thin."

Slap!

Suddenly, Brandon, enraged, slapped her back. "You bitch, who do you think you are, giving me ultimatums?!"

"I'll kill you!" Amber shrieked hysterically, lunging at Brandon, and they started fighting.

Clang! Bang! They went at it, fists and feet flying, a furious brawl.

"You bastard! I put up with you messing around with other women, I put up with you not spending money on me, but today, you still want to delay?! I won't take it anymore!"

"How much money have you blown of mine, and you say I don't spend money on you?!"

"Where did your money come from? Half of it was mine to begin with!"

"Go to hell!"

"No, you go to hell!"

They cursed and yelled at each other as they fought.

Everyone else was dumbfounded.

After a while, family and friends on both sides finally reacted, rushing onto the stage to pull them apart.

"You filthy woman, I swear I'll kill you today!" Brandon was still seething, cursing viciously.

His face was covered in scratches from Amber, and his shirt was torn.

"Go ahead and kill me, see if I don't expose your dirty secrets!" Amber screamed at the top of her lungs.

Brandon's face stiffened, a look of apprehension in his eyes. He pointed at Amber. "Fine, fine, you win this round!"

The two were dragged backstage by their relatives to fix their appearance.

Judging by their "experienced" manner, they clearly fought often.

They had reached a point where they despised each other, but as accomplices in my murder, they were two rotten peas in a pod.

Brandon emerged from backstage first, rushing eagerly towards me.

"Ah, I apologize for that, Ms. Valerie, you saw how Amber's temper is. I was just trying to discuss something with her…" Brandon said with an awkward smile.

He let out a long sigh, looking utterly helpless.

"You forced me to do it, and you still have the nerve to talk!" Amber also approached, yelling angrily.

She complained to me, looking wronged. "Valerie, I'm telling you, he's promised me at least ten times these past few years, and every time he goes back on his word. Look, the wedding is happening today, and he still wants to delay it!"

I smiled. "He's also been unable to let go of his ex-wife. Besides, he once vowed to mourn for her for three years…"

Amber rolled her eyes. "Please! That's all just a made-up lie to fool people. He and his ex-wife had a terrible relationship. Less than a month after they got married, he was already sleeping with me…"

Slap!