The Billionaire Heiress I Threw Away

In a haute couture boutique in Paris, the wedding dress I'd waited half a year for was now draped on the body of Vivian Snow, the hottest actress of the moment.

The store manager stood trembling before Marcus Caldwell, who sat on the sofa, sweat pouring down his face.

Marcus rose to his feet and personally adjusted the hem of Vivian's gown.

Then he looked up at me and said:

"She's short a suitable gown for next week's film festival. What's the problem with borrowing it? Just pick another one and stop making a scene."

Vivian smiled happily at her reflection in the mirror.

Suddenly, this wedding I'd spent a year preparing felt utterly ridiculous.

I didn't lose my temper.

I simply removed the engagement ring from my finger and placed it calmly on the table.

"You're right, Mr. Caldwell. I should change my dress. And while I'm at it, I should change my groom too."

The air in the boutique became suffocating in that instant.

Marcus's hand, which had been adjusting Vivian's hem, froze.

He turned slowly. Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes narrowed with cold scrutiny.

"Miriam Fuller, what did you just say?"

His voice carried an oppressive weight.

I looked at his handsome face and felt my stomach turn.

"I said I'm calling off this wedding."

My voice was perfectly calm.

"Pfft"

Vivian, standing before the mirror, suddenly covered her mouth and laughed.

She lifted the diamond-encrusted wedding dressthe one that should have been mineand walked toward me.

"Miriam, don't be so petty."

Vivian blinked, her voice syrupy sweet:

"This dress can only reach its maximum commercial value on me."

"You're usually so gentle. Why are you being so difficult at such a crucial moment?"

I looked at her coldly. "Take it off."

Vivian flinched back behind Marcus, her eyes reddening.

"Marcus, Miriam's scaring me."

Marcus immediately shielded Vivian behind him, his brow furrowing.

He strode up to me, impatience flickering in his eyes.

"Miriam, have you made enough of a scene?"

He used that particular tone of histhe one that made hurtful words sound reasonable.

"Vivian is the company's cash cow. Tilting resources toward her benefits our future together."

"You're a full-time housewife who doesn't even work. Who exactly are you wearing such an expensive wedding dress for?"

His matter-of-fact tone made me feel sick.

Five years of devotion, and in his eyes, it only earned me the question "who are you wearing it for?"

I took a deep breath, my hands clenched tight.

"Marcus, I waited half a year for this custom-made dress."

"Did you ask my opinion before deciding to lend it out?"

Marcus let out a cold laugh, completely dismissive.

"Ask your opinion?"

He moved closer, his presence overwhelming me.

"This dress cost three million dollars. I paid for it!"

"Everything you wear, everything you usewhich of it wasn't provided by me, Marcus?"

"And now you want to talk to me about opinions?"

He jabbed his finger at my shoulder, hard.

"Miriam, you need to learn gratitude."

"Don't think that just because I usually indulge you, you can do whatever you want around me."

I stared at this arrogant man and suddenly felt like I was looking at a stranger.

He didn't think there was anything wrong with taking his fiance's dress.

In his eyes, I was just an object that existed to serve him.

I had no interest in arguing further. I turned and headed for the door.

"Stop right there!"

Marcus shouted.

He lunged forward and grabbed my wrist in a vice grip.

"Marcus, let go!" I gasped in pain.

Not only did he not release me, he yanked me toward him even harder.

He lowered his head to my ear, his voice a threatening whisper.

"Miriam, don't push your luck."

"Be good and pick another wedding dress. Next week's ceremony will proceed as planned."

"As long as you behave, once Vivian walks the red carpet, I'll rent out an entire island and throw you an even bigger wedding."

"But if you dare walk out that door today..."

He paused, his eyes turning sinister.

"I guarantee that in all of New York, no bridal boutique will sell you anything, and no one will"

I endured the searing pain in my wrist and lifted my head, staring directly into his eyes.

"Marcus, you disgust me."

I used all my strength to wrench my hand free.

A ring of red marks had already formed on my wrist.

Without sparing him another glance, I turned and walked away.

Click.

The boutique's heavy glass door locked behind me.

I turned around.

Marcus stood inside, tossing the electronic key he'd taken from the store manager in his hand.

Through the glass, he looked at me with a cold smirk.

"Miriam, I told youwithout my permission, you're not going anywhere."

I pounded on the glass door. "Marcus! This is illegal detention! Open this door!"

"Detention?"

Marcus strolled back to the sofa and sat down casually, crossing his legs.

"I'm teaching my fiance what rules mean."

Vivian sidled up to him, leaning against his shoulder and shooting me a provocative smile.

"Miriam, stop making trouble. Marcus is doing this for your own good."

"It's about to pour outside. You won't even be able to get a car."

Marcus pulled out his phone and made a call right in front of me.

"Cancel all cards under Miriam's name."

"Freeze all her hotel VIP privileges."

"Notify every car service and rideshare platform in New Yorkanyone who accepts a ride from Miriam is making an enemy of Caldwell Corporation."

After hanging up, he tapped his knuckles against the glass.

"Miriam, your pride is worthless."

"Without me, you won't even find a place to sleep in this city."

"I'm giving you two hours to reflect."

"When you've come to your senses, get on your knees outside that door and beg me."

The sky darkened quickly.

The wind picked up, and soon heavy rain began to fall.

The rain soaked me to the bone, leaving me shivering with cold.

I stood beneath the awning outside the boutique, trembling all over.

I pulled out my phone. A dozen text messages flashed on the screen.

[Dear customer, your credit card has been frozen...]

[We apologize, Ms. Fuller. Your ride request has been forcibly cancelled by the system...]

Marcus hadn't been joking. He was using his power to completely cut me off.

He wanted to corner me, to make me understand that I was nothing but his accessory.

I clenched my jaw and scrolled through my contacts.

I couldn't give in.

I called my best friend, Harper Kingston.

"Harper, come pick me up. I'm outside the boutique on Madison Avenue."

On the other end of the line, Harper's voice was choked with tears.

"Miriam... I'm so sorry..."

"Marcus just called my dad and threatened him. He said if I come get you, the Kingston family's funding will dry up tomorrow."

"My dad locked me in my room... Miriam, just apologize to him. Marcus has lost his mind!"

My heart sank.

Marcus had cut off even my last escape route.

Through the rain-blurred glass, I could see Marcus leisurely swirling a glass of red wine.

He was enjoying watching me suffer in the rain.

Vivian knelt at his feet, massaging his legs.

The sight stabbed at my eyes and killed whatever feelings I had left for him.

I realized I shouldn't have been looking for a decent person in a trash heap. Filthy garbage should simply be thrown away.

I took a deep breath and shoved my frozen hands into my pockets.

Since no one was coming, I'd walk back myself.

I turned and plunged into the rain.

"Wham!"

I'd barely taken two steps when a black Maybach screeched to a halt in front of me, splashing muddy water high into the air.

The window rolled down. Marcus's assistant stepped out, holding a black umbrella.

He looked down at my drenched figure with contempt and threw a garment bag directly at my feet.

Through the half-open zipper, I could see a cheap white bridesmaid dress inside, loose threads still hanging from it.

The assistant looked at me coldly, his tone patronizing.

"Ms. Fuller, Vivian is walking the red carpet tonight and needs someone to carry her train."

"Mr. Caldwell said if you put on this dress and attend to Ms. Snow tonight..."

"Your credit cards will be unfrozen tomorrow, and you can still have a spot at the wedding."

They wanted me to carry the train for the woman who'd stolen my wedding dress?

While wearing this thing?

This was humiliation.

I stared at the garment bag on the ground, shaking violently from the cold, but my spine remained perfectly straight.

"Go back and tell Marcus to go to hell."

The assistant's expression changed. He pointed at my nose and started cursing.

"Miriam, don't push your luck! Without Mr. Caldwell, you couldn't even afford to eat!"

He waved his hand. The rear door of the Maybach swung open.

Two bodyguards rushed out and pinned my arms behind my back.

"Let me go! What are you doing?!"

I struggled desperately, but my rain-frozen body had no strength left.

The assistant picked up the mud-splattered dress from the ground and shoved it forcefully into my arms.

"Mr. Caldwell's ordersIt's best for you not to regret it later!"

I was roughly shoved into the car. The door slammed shut.

The Maybach sped through the downpour, heading straight for tonight's film festival red carpet venue.

The air conditioning in the car was blasting cold air.

Wearing my soaked clothes, I shivered violently, my lips turning purple, my teeth chattering.

The assistant sat in the passenger seat, sneering at me through the rearview mirror.

"Ms. Fuller, if you'd known it would come to this, why start the trouble?"

"Women should just lower their heads and submit. You'd have everything. But no, you had to oppose Mr. Caldwell. In the end, you're the only one who suffers."

I closed my eyes, refusing to listen to his garbage.

Half an hour later, the car stopped at the red carpet's backstage area.

The bodyguards forced me out of the car.

In the nearby dressing room, Vivian wore the dress that should have been minethe one covered in diamondssurrounded by reporters conducting interviews.

Marcus stood beside her in a tailored suit, his gaze indulgent.

Seeing me being escorted over, Marcus excused himself from the reporters and strode toward me.

He glanced at the mud-stained bridesmaid dress in my hands, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Why are you in such a state?"

He removed his suit jacket, attempting to drape it over my shoulders.

Still using that hypocritical tone.

"Miriam, you're just too stubborn. If you'd just behaved, how could I bear to let you suffer like this?"

Nausea churned in my stomach. I turned aside, dodging his touch.

The jacket fell to the ground.

Marcus's expression darkened, his eyes turning vicious.

"Miriam, my patience has limits."

He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up.

"Now. Go change into that dress immediately."

"When Vivian goes on stage, you'll carry her train from behind."

"If you dare mess this up..."

He let out a cold laugh and pulled a bracelet from his pocket.

That was the only keepsake my late grandmother had left me!

"Marcus! Give it back!" I lunged forward, trying to grab it.

He raised his right hand high, his eyes ruthless.

"Carry her train, and I'll return it to you."

"Otherwise, I'll smash it right now."

The bracelet was something my grandmother had placed on my wrist on her deathbed. It was my last connection to anyone in this world.

Marcus's fingers tightened slightly around the bracelet. If he released his grip, the jade would shatter on the floor.

"I'm counting to three."

Marcus looked down at me condescendingly.

"Three."

"Two."

I trembled all over, my nails digging into my palms until they drew blood.

"One."

"I'll do it!"

I forced those two words from my throat, my eyes stinging.

Marcus smiled with satisfaction.

He pocketed the bracelet and patted my cheek.

"That's better. Go on. Vivian's about to make her entrance."

I took the mud-stained bridesmaid dress and walked into the restroom.

Looking at my pathetic reflection in the mirror, my eyes turned cold.

For five years, I'd hidden my identity as a venture capital founder to protect his ego.

I'd willingly stayed home, supporting him from the shadows.

I thought I'd fallen in love with an ambitious man.

Turned out, I'd just been feeding a selfish beast.

Marcus, every ounce of humiliation you've heaped on me today

Tomorrow, you'll repay it with your entire company.

I didn't put on the bridesmaid dress.

I threw it directly into the trash.

Pushing open the restroom door, I walked toward the red carpet staging area.

Vivian was holding Marcus's arm, about to step onto the red carpet.

Seeing me emerge in my soaked street clothes, Marcus's expression turned stormy.

"Miriam! Are my words going in one ear and out the other?!"

He hissed under his breath.

Vivian also put on an aggrieved expression. "Miriam, how could you do this? Without you carrying my train, this gown won't have the same impact."

I looked at them coldly.

The flash photography ahead had already started. The host was calling Vivian's name in a loud voice.

Ignoring Marcus, I turned toward the exit.

"Grab her!"

Marcus couldn't care less about the occasion. He gave the order directly.

The two bodyguards lunged forward and kicked the back of my knees.

"Thud!"

Completely unprepared, I collapsed onto the hard floor.

Searing pain shot through my knees.

Surrounding staff members and reporters turned to look. Someone raised a camera.

Marcus strode up to me, his eyes cold and merciless.

In front of everyone, he pointed at my nose.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the press, my apologies."

But his words were cutting.

"This woman is a minor assistant at my company who's harbored unrealistic fantasies about me."

"Today she actually crashed the backstage area to cause trouble, attempting to sabotage Ms. Vivian's red carpet appearance."

"Someone get this woman out of here. Don't let her dirty everyone's eyes!"

The entire venue erupted in commotion.

Countless camera flashes captured my image kneeling on the floor.

He wanted to destroy my dignity this way.

The bodyguards roughly hauled me up by my arms and dragged me toward the door and the pouring rain beyond.

Marcus wrapped his arm around Vivian's waist, watching me.

"Miriam, this is what happens when you disobey me. Tonight, you can sleep on the streets and reflect properly."

I was thrown into the mud outside the backstage entrance.

Rain washed over the blood on my knees.

I lay in the muck, watching the two glamorous figures on the red carpet, a cold smile on my lips.

From my soaked pocket, I pulled out my encrypted black phone.

My fingers trembled as I pressed a string of numbers.

It was Damien Ashford's private line.

DamienNew York's untouchable devil, and the only partner who'd stood beside me when I built my venture capital empire on Wall Street years ago.

For five years, he'd willingly retreated into the shadows, managing hundreds of billions in overseas capital for me. He'd begged me countless times, eyes red with suppressed obsession, to leave Marcus. But I'd stubbornly refused, insisting I wanted "an ordinary person's stable love."

Only today did I finally understandsome garbage doesn't deserve genuine affection.

The call connected.

"It's me."

"The game's over. Pull all domestic investments from Caldwell Corporation. Cut off their funding."

"Also..."

I closed my eyes, letting the rain pound against my face. When I opened them again, only resolution remained.

"Damien, come get me. Tomorrow, I want Marcus and his Caldwell Corporation to disappear from New York."

The line was silent for a few seconds. Then came a man's low, raspy voicefilled with long-suppressed heartache and murderous intent:

"Ten minutes. Marcus will pay with his life."

After hanging up, laughter and flirtation still drifted from the nearby dressing room. Marcus and Vivian were still plotting to keep me under their feet.

They had no idea they were about to be finished.