Chapter 3
Casandra froze for a second before her eyes fluttered shut and she gripped his coat. She kissed him back, telling herself it was for show.
Casandra slid her hand from her back to his chest and slowly pushed him when she felt the need for oxygen burn her lungs. Ian finally pulled away. Casandra reached up and pressed her thumb against the corners of his lips, making sure the little lipstick that had transferred wasn’t noticeable.
“It’s a good lipstick,” Ian said softly before they turned to the crowd.
Seated at the front, Leonard looked displeased. “She just kissed that man…” he whispered.
Anna smacked him playfully. “Yes, they got married.”
“But who is that? I have never seen him before.” He didn’t think his daughter would kiss someone just like that. Indeed, the man looked a little familiar, and he wondered if it was another actor that Casandra had picked up from the street. When he thought of that, he felt another surge of anger.
“It’s Ian Lane. The student who Casandra competed against when she was in school. Remember?”
He finally remembered. Still, he was displeased. This boy was an orphan with no prospects… why was his daughter being shortchanged? Still, he gritted his teeth and waited until the reception. When he could, he walked up to the newly wedded couple.
“I think introductions are in order,” he said gruffly. He stared at his daughter, urging her to be the mediator.
Dad, this is Ian Lane. I won’t lie to you; we married as a last resort.” She was transparent about her plan. “I figured as much,” he replied. “But don’t expect to be handed the company because of this. I do not know this man and I am not sure that he is right for you.”
Casandra lowered her head before chuckling. “I never did expect to inherit the company by relying on my husband. I will prove to you what I am worth, Dad.” She nodded. Someone called for her and she looked over her shoulder before nodding. “I will leave lan to you. Be nice,” she warned.
As she walked away, Ian’s eyes followed her closely.
“What did she offer you for completing the ceremony with her?”
Ian didn’t want to lie to the old man. A man of his age could easily see through lies. “She told me she would help me establish my company in the country.” He chuckled and shook his head.
“That is a good term,” Leonard said without a hint of judgment.
“Mr. Naese, it seems you have forgotten me. We have met before,” Ian informed.
Leonard looked at Ian again, trying to remember where that would be. He met a lot of young men who asked him for investments.
“We met at the Global Investment Forum where you were a speaker. We spoke about AI drone technology at length,” Ian prompted.
Leonard’s eyes lit up. He remembered! The project manager who had accompanied him had somehow found out that the President of ANI Group was in attendance. He had been particularly shocked when he was guided there and found a young man his daughter’s age.
“Casandra doesn’t know that you are-”
Ian shook his head. “I didn’t correct her. And I want to keep it that way.”
Leonard hummed before clinking his glass with Ian’s. He was very pleased with his son-in-law. He was a lot better than the actor. But he also felt complicated about the union. His son-in-law was more powerful than him. How was he supposed to protect his daughter and take her side if Ian Lane slighted her?
Seeing Casandra’s father speaking so amicably with the son-in-law, the people in attendance realized that Ian Lane was not someone to be trifled with. The people in the business circle had previously thought that the bride had been slighted and the actor groom had run away because she had some problem. But now that they thought about it.
What problem could a girl like Casandra have? She had started a company of her own, and had an excellent education and pedigree. What more could a man want? Micheal Spencer, no matter how
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popular he was, would be marrying up in that case.
But the groom was switched at the last minute. What did this mean? They got a better candidate for the groom. It was much better than marrying an actor who was prone to lechery and had to bed and seduce to get funds for their projects.
Of course, the people at the reception were all from the business circle and didn’t pay attention to gossip online. But a certain celebrity who had been in attendance was so shocked that they posted on the internet. Of course, it was worth noting that this celebrity and Micheal were not on good terms.
[Came to attend Micheal Spencer’s luxurious wedding. Instead saw the wife being stolen away by some random man. Micheal, did you pay for someone else to get the bride?]
There was no picture, but the keyboard army was beside themselves. How could a woman change the groom at the last minute? That too a good man like Micheal Spencer?
Micheal’s fans were stumped. They hadn’t known he was getting married, to begin with! But this was common. Rarely did celebrities announce their pending nuptials in fear that the paparazzi would ruin the event. So, they were not bothered that their bias hadn’t even divulged that he was in a long-term relationship.
On the other side of the city, Micheal finally awoke from his beauty sleep. He stretched his hands over his head and yawned. He turned to the warm body beside him and found Roxanne still asleep. He ran circles on her back before he turned to the clock.
His eyes widened and he violently jumped out of the bed. His alarms had failed him and he had somehow slept past the time of the wedding. His movements were so loud that Casandra awoke. She sat up and saw Micheal rush around. She looked at the time and sighed in relief.
If Casandra didn’t break up even after finding out Micheal cheated, him not showing up at the wedding would send the message across. It had been her contingency plan, and it looked to have worked. “What’s wrong?” she asked sweetly.
“Why didn’t you call me? I missed the wedding!” Micheal yelled.
Roxanne didn’t flinch. She innocently picked up her phone and gasped. “Oh my god. I am so sorry.”
As he struggled to put on his full suit, she scrolled through her social media as usual. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw the post from another celebrity.
‘Casandra got married to someone else? That woman is really impressive!’ Roxanne thought. If something like that had happened to her, she would have locked herself up and never shown her face in public.
She looked at Micheal and then slid out of the bed. She placed her hand on his shoulder. “It’s no use.”
Micheal shrugged her hand off. “What does that mean?” he asked gruffly.
Roxanne turned the screen to him. He looked confused for a moment before he reached to clutch the phone.
“This is not possible!” he exclaimed.
“You called him to the wedding. He shouldn’t be lying…” Roxanne assessed calmly.
Micheal pushed the phone back to Roxanne and searched for his own. He dialed her number over and over until he was fuming with anger. From the pictures of the venue, it was indeed a luxurious wedding. Actually, the venue and decorations were far above his expectations. And if he hadn’t paid for any of it… His head was filled with doubts but he had more pressing issues to deal with-that he wasn’t the groom.
“How can she marry someone? Just like that? Did she not love him in the least?’
His expression became better when the call went through. But it soon sank when he heard a man answer.
“Hello.”
“Who is this?” Micheal growled.
Ian smirked on the other end. “You are the one who called. Who are you looking for?” he questioned.
“Where is Casandra?” Micheal asked impatiently. For a moment, he imagined it was a random man who had picked up on her behalf.
“Casandra is in the shower.”
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