Chapter 1

For three years of our engagement, Scarlett had been kidnapped eight times.

The night before our wedding, it happened again.

I sold off everything I owned, drained my accounts to raise the ransom, and even followed the kidnappers' demands, diving into a freezing pool in the dead of winter to fish out Scarlett's high heels.

Soaked to the bone, I hauled myself ashore, only to see Scarlett, who was supposedly kidnapped, smugly showing off to her 'captors.'

"I told you guys, Liam would do anything for me. You just wouldn't believe it, would you? Now you do!"

"Forget diving into a freezing pool in the dead of winter to get my high heels. If I told him to drop dead right now, he wouldn't hesitate for a second."

Her friends, disguised as kidnappers, burst into laughter, their eyes filled with scorn and mockery, as if I were nothing more than a pathetic simp.

I calmly looked at Scarlett. "This is your ninth 'kidnapping.' And your ninety-ninth time making a fool out of me!"

"All the promises I made to you? They've all been fulfilled. I don't owe you anything anymore!"

"Scarlett, for the wedding three days from now, you'll have to find someone else to be the kept man in your family!"