Chapter 4

The news of my marriage to Aria didn't spread quickly.

The Vance family, desperate to stabilize their plummeting stock, had someone suppress the news.

Right after the wedding, Aria and I rushed to get legally married. Afterward, she told me she had to go out of the country for a few days on urgent business.

Meanwhile, a completely oblivious Celeste had spent two blissful days living it up with Felix in their lavish villa. It wasn't until later that she finally, belatedly, realized something was off.

Usually, by now, I would have made a massive scene, practically dragging her back home. But there was nothing. Complete silence.

Celeste absently scrolled through her phone, not even registering Felix's voice calling her name.

No, this man must be playing hard to get.

A smug smile curled on Celeste's lips. I've spoiled him too much, clearly.

I hadn't expected to run into those two utterly infuriating individuals at my father's business gala.

Celeste noticed me first. But when she saw me chatting with another woman, her expression instantly clouded over, dark as a storm.

Felix, seeing me, subtly leaned against Celeste, feigning weakness. "Celeste, I'm not feeling so good. My head is spinning."

Celeste solicitously helped him, but her gaze, seemingly casual, kept flickering towards me.

She was probably waiting for me to approach her.

Too bad. I was happy to disappoint her.

From start to finish, I didn't spare her so much as a sidelong glance.

She finally couldn't take it anymore. She strode over to our table, slammed her wine glass down, and declared, "Liam, are you still mad because I hired a stand-in for our wedding?"

I didn't even bother to look at her, making to leave.

"I missed the last wedding because Felix was sick, it was an emergency, that's why I wasn't there!"

Felix, feigning instability, lurched forward and blocked my path.

"Mr. Sterling, please don't blame Celeste. It's all my fault, my weak body messed up your wedding…"

Celeste, listening to him, scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping her lips as she looked at me.

"Liam, I never realized how petty you were! It was just a wedding, for crying out loud!"

As she spoke, she reached out, a sense of entitlement in her gesture, to grab my arm.

My eyes turned to ice. I sharply yanked my arm away. "Miss Vance, show some self-respect."

"Didn't your parents tell you about the wedding?"

Celeste froze. "Tell me what?"

Felix, a panicked look on his face, grabbed my wrist. "Mr. Sterling, don't do this! Celeste was only looking out for you…"

He spouted conciliatory words, but his nails dug sharply into my skin, making me gasp in pain.

I violently flung his hand off. "Get lost!"

"Ah—!"

Felix stumbled backward, collapsing onto the floor in an undignified heap.

Celeste's eyes blazed with fury. She rushed to help Felix up, then rounded on me, screaming, "You lunatic! Apologize to Felix right now!"

I sneered, then gestured to the security guards rushing over. "Security, throw them out!"

Celeste's face was livid with rage. "Don't think this pathetic stunt will get my attention! If you just behave, I'll go get the marriage license with you in a few days."

She genuinely believed that if she just 'returned,' I'd immediately fall at her feet, overflowing with gratitude.

I smiled. "But I'm already married."