Chapter 5

Harvey snatched the phone, his expression looking like he'd eaten shit.

I immediately understood—it was because of Shakira acquiring SSS Group shares.

Tillman also glanced at the phone, her eyes widening, but stubbornly said:

"It's just showing an upward trend. It's been falling for a whole month."

Watching the stock continue to climb, Marcus and Judy panicked, desperately giving her meaningful looks.

Tillman bit her lip, her expression changing repeatedly, then forced out a smile for me.

"Alright, Steve, I was just joking with you."

"Those photos were just me and Harvey fooling around. Don't be angry."

She playfully scolded me and reached out to grab my arm.

"You had a backup plan for SSS Group all along. Why didn't you say so earlier?"

I coldly avoided her. Tillman's smile froze.

Harvey's expression also changed. He put on an innocent smile.

"Don't misunderstand. I'm an elder—how could there be anything real between Tillman and me?"

Afraid I wouldn't believe him, he took off the watch and offered it to me like a treasure.

"If Steve likes this watch of mine, I'll give it to you."

I almost laughed at his shamelessness.

"Steal my watch and then give it back to me? Are you even speaking human language?"

Harvey's hand froze in mid-air. Tillman's anger flared up again.

"Enough!"

"I haven't even blamed you, and you're still calling Harvey a thief!"

Tillman's bridesmaids pointed and gossiped about me.

"Harvey is so magnanimous, unlike someone whose true colors show after going bankrupt!"

"The stock stopped moving anyway. Don't get cocky."

Hearing this, Harvey shot me a venomous look and viciously smashed the watch on the ground.

"Oops, my hand slipped."

"This was a gift Johnny gave me!"

My eyes blazed with fury. I instinctively moved to pick it up, but Tillman's stiletto heel stomped down on it.

She gritted her teeth, seeming very annoyed about the stock's brief rise, and announced the cancellation of our engagement on Twitter right then and there.

"Steve, unless you kneel and apologize, don't even think about marrying me!"

I stared at the shattered watch, stunned for a full two seconds. When I raised my head again, my eyes were ice cold.

"I already told you—I'm not planning to marry you. Also, you're all dead."

With that, I strode away, ignoring the mockery behind me.

"Hilarious, running away with his tail between his legs."

"Just wait and see. Tomorrow he'll be on his knees begging to marry Tillman."

The next day, at the wedding venue.

Johnny sent a message saying he'd prepared a surprise for me.

I didn't think much of it until Johnny's butler helped me push open the church doors.

In an instant, a row of brides looked at me with shining eyes.

The butler whispered in my ear,

"Mr. Johnny knows about you and Tillman breaking off the engagement. He spread the word that you're looking for a new bride."

"Rest assured, these young ladies all volunteered to marry you. You can choose one for a marriage alliance."

"A surprise? This is a shock!"

I steeled myself and searched for Shakira but couldn't find her.

"Also, Johnny didn't need to go to all this trouble. The one I want to marry is Shakira."

The butler opened his mouth somewhat awkwardly.

"So you already knew about the childhood engagement between you and Miss Shakira, but everyone knows Miss Shakira swore never to marry because of her lifesaver."

"Never to marry?"

Shakira had agreed so readily yesterday—was she playing me?

In my uncertainty, I accidentally answered Tillman's call that had been ringing non-stop.

I held the phone away from my ear. Angry shouting came from the other end.

"Steve, what are you trying to do by not coming to pick me up? My whole family is waiting for you!"

Harvey fanned the flames on the side.

"Tillman, if this bastard really doesn't want to marry, he should cancel the wedding. But I heard all the notable people in the city were invited."

Tillman sneered. "Steve, I'm waiting for you to beg me."

My gaze swept over the row of heiress daughters in haute couture wedding gowns, and I smirked.

"Tillman, who said you were my bride?"

I hung up the phone.

When Tillman arrived at the wedding venue with her entourage, ready to demand an explanation, she found rows upon rows of luxury cars with New Jersey license plates parked on the lawn.

The bride who stepped out of the last luxury car glanced at her disdainfully.

"Another one. What poor family's daughter is this? If you want to marry Harvey, get in line at the back!"