Delayed Marriage Night

My wedding was in full swing when my bridesmaid and best friend, Autumn, seemed to have a problem with her eyes. She stepped on my gown, mumbled an apology, then tugged the torn dress and pulled us both down. The hall fell silent.

Leaning close, Autumn spoke as if offering kind advice: Selene, Harrison is busy with his companys IPO. Love will only hinder his ambition. I hope you and Harrison wont share a bed or even meet for the next ten years.

My makeup artist rushed to help me up. I looked calmly at Autumn. What right do you have to say that?

She replied, Im Harrisons business partner, and pulled a document from her bag. Sign this. After ten years, you can bear his children.

I turned to Harrison, who was coming off the stage. Do you agree with this?

Just then, Autumn took a call and left. Harrison jogged after her, brushing past me. Autumn joined the latest round of investment. Given her business sense, I believe shes doing this for my good.

A moment later he added, Well consummate our marriage in ten years.

1. Divorce Announcement

Hilarious. I scoffed. At this moment, a mix of humiliation and rage churned within me, but I fiercely suppressed it. Watching Harrison about to step out of the banquet hall doors, I grabbed the microphone from the emcee, facing everyone.

No need to consummate the marriage.

Because Im divorcing you!

Harrisons hand, reaching for the door, paused. He turned, asking dismissively, Are you sure?

No regrets?

From his tone, it wasnt hard to guess. He didnt love me at all; he probably thought I was just being childish. So, all this time, only I took this relationship seriously, right?

Dont worry. I wont cling to you anymore.

Now scram.

I hope you stick to your word. Harrison nodded, his reply utterly calm, then quickly chased after my best friend, his business partner. I was left speechless. I could only conclude that all my passion over the years had been utterly wasted.

To win Harrison over initially, I secretly used the allowance my parents gave me as his startup capital. I shamelessly begged all my relatives to buy his unbranded, unverified products. To protect his pride, I never mentioned it to him. Perhaps in Harrisons eyes, and in the eyes of his entire family, a young man from a humble background with no connections could build an empire by the age of thirty entirely through his own efforts.

But they had no idea. With just one word from me, this promising, celebrated young entrepreneur could be utterly ruined. Without a shred of doubt!

I walked to my dads table and threw my arms around his neck.

Dad, Ive realized. I dont want someone who doesnt love me.

I want to be your good girl.

My dad patted my arm, which was draped around his neck. My dear, Im so happy youve finally shown some sense.

Harrisons father walked over from his table and handed me a card.

Heres thirty thousand dollars. Consider it buying out your seven years of relationship with Harrison. Dont you dare cling to our Harrison ever again.

I was amused. My dad wanted to stand up in anger, but I held him down firmly.

You think thirty thousand dollars can buy out all my effort and dedication, from his startup to now, over seven years?

Harrisons fathers face darkened. Thirty thousand dollars is enough to live very well in a small town. Young lady, dont be too materialistic at your age.

Harrisons mother also walked over, disdainfully eyeing my dad and me. You, a gold-digger who loafs around all day, does nothing, and relies entirely on men, thirty thousand dollars probably isnt enough for you, huh?

What if we dont give it to you?

Ultimately, whether or not you have this thirty thousand dollars, I wont allow you to cling to our Harrison anymore.

Otherwise, Ill report you to the police and have you arrested every time I see you, and your dad too!

I took the bank card, fiddling with it for a moment.

Since youve said all that, if I dont take this money, Ill feel like Im losing out.

Thanks, nice lady.

Harrisons mother rolled her eyes so hard they almost disappeared into her head. But I continued unhurriedly.

However, thirty thousand dollars isnt quite enough. My ambitions are huge. I want all of your familys assets. Will you give them to me?

Oh, dont roll your eyes just yet. This time, you dont need to give them to me; when the time is right, Ill come and take them myself.

Harrisons father burst into loud laughter. The relatives on the grooms side all joined in, chuckling. Some were even more exaggerated, mimicking my tone and mannerisms, mocking me sarcastically.

Oh dear, anyone with a dream is amazing. Little lady, I support you.

When you take over the Smith family assets, why dont you start a live stream? Ill send you donations.

Harrisons father finished laughing, then scoffed arrogantly. Youve taken the money now, so save your big talk for outside. Today is our Smith family dinner; uninvited guests should kindly excuse themselves.

Then just wait. Dont come begging me to come back then.

I linked arms with my dad, and my relatives and I gradually left the banquet hall, reopening several tables at a more upscale hotel to celebrate my newfound single status. Luckily, Harrison and I hadnt registered our marriage; wed only held the wedding banquet. Otherwise, Id have to go through a divorce now, what a hassle.

2. The Smith Family Crisis

The day after the wedding was canceled, Harrisons company descended into chaos. Harrisons fathers office door, as one of the owners, was almost kicked down. It was packed with department managers and distributors. Smith Corps production lines, supply chain, sales channels, and customer base all experienced major fluctuations. Sales, especially overseas, were hit hard.

The shipping company, with whom they had long-standing agreements, sent a message first thing in the morning. They demanded a price hike. Otherwise, they would refuse to carry Smith Corps cargo. Harrisons father, too anxious to eat breakfast, personally rushed to the shipping company to negotiate the freight fees with the manager. He was fuming, but still had to plaster on a smile. The freight fees were agreed upon before, why are you pulling this stunt just before loading? If you do this, the cost of the goods will go up, how are we supposed to sell them?

The moment Harrisons father finished speaking, the shipping company manager replied, Thats your problem, what does it have to do with me? Our shipping company is huge, we employ thousands of staff, we need to eat too, you know.

With the current international situation so tough, increasing freight fees is just a matter of survival.

Besides, if you think its too expensive, you can always find another company.

Another Harrisons father choked. Finding another shipping company just before loading? Where would he even find one? Harrisons father wasnt stupid. They had always worked with this company, and it had always been stable. This sudden move could only mean someone was pulling strings behind the scenes.

Sure enough, as he was leaving, a carrier he had a good relationship with subtly warned him.

The Smith family must have offended someone big.

This morning, our boss got a call, and then the price for your ship went up.

Harrisons father fell into deep thought. Who did he offend? He was accustomed to smiling at everyone he met for business, how could he have offended anyone? The carrier saw he still hadnt figured it out. He could only sigh and remind him.

Lien!

Harrisons father was incredulous. Selene Lien?

The carrier said nothing, turning to leave. Harrisons fathers mind reeled. He suddenly remembered Selenes words at the wedding yesterday.

I want all of your familys assets. Will you give them to me?

When he first heard it, he hadnt paid it any mind. He thought it was just big talk from a young girl, abandoned by his son, trying to save face. He never imagined she actually had the power. He felt completely disoriented. To get the goods shipped out and salvage some losses, he turned back, gritted his teeth, and signed the increased freight agreement with the shipping company. Then he jumped in his car, floored the accelerator, and drove straight to his sons newly bought villa, pulling him out of bed.

At that moment, Harrison and Autumn, after a night of passionate intimacy, were sweetly asleep. The sudden yank of the blanket startled Autumn, who screamed as she rolled off the bed, using it to shield her body. Harrison quickly blocked Autumn, looking at his father with utter bewilderment.

Dad, why didnt you knock?

Do you know what privacy is?!

Harrisons father didnt even glance at his son, only staring at Autumns head, which was peeking out from behind him. You, youre still protecting her!

Why didnt you protect Selene like that?!

Autumn, hearing this, looked plaintively at Harrisons bare back. Harrison.

Harrison snatched the blanket from his father, covering both himself and Autumn. Dad, what are you talking about? You know I dont love Selene, why are you saying this?

Harrisons father anxiously slapped his thigh.

Son, weve lost a golden phoenix.

Dad, what on earth are you talking about?

Harrisons father recounted the series of events that morning, and the difficulties Smith Corp might face in the future. Autumn, listening, felt her pupils contract in shock. After a long moment, she murmured, Thats impossible. Ive known Selene for six years. Every time I saw her, she dressed so cheaply. In college, she even worked three part-time jobs.

With that kind of background, how could she possibly

Harrison nodded in agreement. He gently calmed his fathers exploding temper, then said he would call Selene to get to the bottom of it.

At this moment, I was still sound asleep. The phone rang. Seeing Harrisons name on the caller ID, I instantly perked up, quickly grabbed my phone, and sat up in bed.

Selene Lien, you really are something!

I leisurely admired my newly done manicure. If you want to talk about the trouble Smith Corp is having, I can tell you this: Im just engaging in healthy competition with you. Its your lack of strength, your inferiority, whos to blame?

As for that shipping company

My apologies, that happens to be my familys business.

Yours?

Mm-hmm.

Selene, have you been reading too many romance novels? Do you really think youre some rich heiress now? You can actually make up such nonsense?

If you dont believe me, fine, Im hanging up.

Harrison choked, but reacted quickly. No, wait, wait!

Where are you? Lets talk face to face.

3. The Truth Revealed

I sent him my location. Half an hour later, Harrison met me at the restaurant in the little villa. This villa in the suburbs was a coming-of-age gift my parents gave me when I was eighteen. I didnt usually live there; I stayed at my parents house. I didnt want him to meet me at my main residence, fearing hed cling to me in the future. As for why I let him meet me here? Because I wanted to see his expression when he realized I was living better than he was.

I sat at the dining table, elegantly sipping milk. Harrison was led in by the butler. He looked around the richly decorated room, then at me, who had once lived in a basement with him and packed cardboard boxes for a living, his eyes wide with shock. He would never in a million years have thought Id be living in the most valuable hillside villa in this city. This property was worth over two hundred million dollars. The property management fees alone amounted to over three hundred thousand dollars. Plus, there were the nannies, butler, gardener, chef, and so on. The key was that even with money, it wasnt guaranteed you could buy a place here.

Because this area was home to renowned entrepreneurs, celebrities, directors, politicians, and the like, every prospective buyer underwent a strict vetting process. Although the Smith family had developed quite well in this city over the years and gained some fame, they were still insignificant compared to these figures. In simple terms, it was like the difference between a commoner family and an established aristocratic one. The Smith family was the commoner.

Hearing footsteps approaching, I unhurriedly turned my head. How do you want to talk? Harrisons focus was still on the connection between this villa and me.

Are you working as a housekeeper here?

Or a taste-tester?

He stared at the breakfast in my hand, probably assuming a housekeeper wasnt allowed to eat the owners food. But he absolutely refused to believe I was the owner of this villa. I found it quite amusing.

Want me to show you my property deed? Or my bank balance, which is longer than your ID number?

I pulled out my phone, opened my mobile banking balance, and held it up for him to see. Harrison laughed until tears came to his eyes.

Selene, you doctored a few pictures, rented a villa, and got a fake deed, and now youre shamelessly claiming youre rich?

Hahahaha, youre quite an actress. Its a shame the film studios arent hiring you; its a waste of your talent.

I turned off my phone and continued eating breakfast. Let him think whatever he wanted.

So, youre doing all this photo-editing and whatever else to prove you really have the financial power to bring down our Smith family, is that it?

Selene, youre truly a drama queen.

Honestly, you should go to Hollywood. Thats where you belong.

I hadnt intended to say much more to him, but if he was going to talk like that, congratulations, he had successfully provoked my competitive spirit. I calmly picked up my phone and called the shipping company.

Have the manager come over.

Ill text you the address.

Harrison watched me operate my phone, then, whether from hunger or exhaustion, he pulled out a chair and began eating the elegantly plated breakfast on the table.

Excuse me, sir, thats not your breakfast! The high-class nanny, who was playing the violin for entertainment, suddenly interjected.

Its alright, let him eat. Itd be a waste otherwise. I still had that much generosity.

While waiting, Harrisons father, mother, and Autumn also arrived. Harrisons father had been quite confident letting Harrison come alone. But he suddenly remembered how yesterday, all those distributors, suppliers, and even the shipping company had warned him about offending a powerful figure.