Chapter 3 The Wedding

At the Miller estate, Landen Miller lounged on the sofa, newspaper in hand. His lips twitched with pride as he read about his daughter Kiera's poised and commanding performance at the latest diplomatic event.

A sharp gasp from Marissa, seated nearby, broke the silence.

Landen glanced over, eyebrows raised. "What's the matter?"

Marissa fumbled to hide her phone behind her back. "Oh, it's nothing... really!"

The flimsy excuse only deepened Landen's suspicion. He extended his hand, palm up. With obvious reluctance, Marissa handed over her phone.

Splashed across the screen was a glaring headline: "Kiera Miller Marries for Love-Diplomatic Prodigy Weds Penniless Oliver Harvey!"

The public mocked the Miller family, claiming Kiera had thrown away her future for a man with nothing.

Some even accused Landen of poor parenting, predicting that the Miller fortune would inevitably slip through their fingers.

As Landen scrolled through the biting remarks, his hands shook with fury.

Without missing a beat, Marissa grabbed his heart pills, guiding one to his lips and steadying him with a gentle hand.

"Darling, it's just how things are now. Young people care more about following their hearts than making strategic matches. Even if Oliver's family has lost their fortune, Kiera still chose him because she loves him."

Landen barely had time to steady his heartbeat before Marissa's words sent his blood pressure soaring again. He jabbed a finger at the phone, voice rising with outrage. "First she begged us to let Oliver stay under our roof, and now she's going to marry him behind my back. Does she have any respect left for her own father?"

Seizing the chance, Marissa guided him back to his seat and fanned the flames. "That's just it! Kiera's being completely reckless this time. She even called in the reporters to livestream the whole wedding. Is she trying to turn the Miller name into a joke for everyone to see?"

Landen slammed the newspaper down. "She's crossed the line! If she goes through with this marriage, she can forget about ever coming back home."

The newspaper fluttered to the floor while Marissa bowed her head, hiding the satisfied curl of her lips.

...

The wedding moved forward as planned.

Clad in her wedding dress, Kiera strode to the aisle without anyone by her side.

No father waiting to walk her down the aisle, no mother there with words of love and encouragement. The seats behind her remained mostly empty-only a handful of genuine friends had turned up to support her.

Relatives from Oliver's side filled the rest of the room, while outside, reporters crowded for the best view, cameras ready to capture every second.

Oliver's breath caught as he watched Kiera approach, her elegance momentarily stunning him.

But as soon as she met his eyes with a glacial stare, he snapped back to reality, awkwardly reaching out to take her hand.

Kiera's eyes flicked toward Oliver, her fingertips barely grazing his hand-a gesture that felt more ceremonial than affectionate.

From a distance, the image they presented was far from romantic. He looked less like a groom and more like a servant at her side, dutiful but powerless.

Oliver's expression soured as a wave of whispers swept through the crowd. He leaned in, voice tight with frustration. "Kiera, what's with the act?"

She offered a calm, practiced smile. "We're celebrating, aren't we? Try not to look so angry."

His jaw clenched, the muscles in his neck tense. "I've already said I'm sorry. I gave up everything I had with Danna to marry you. Is it really necessary to make a spectacle out of this?"

Kiera's laugh was soft, but unmistakably mocking. "You still don't know your place. Your best option right now is to play along with me. Otherwise, you'll know what I'm capable of."

Oliver's boldness fizzled, and he had no choice but to lead her toward the officiant, swallowing every ounce of wounded pride.

The sight of him-crestfallen and utterly defeated-only deepened Kiera's sense of indifference.

If he'd shown an ounce of backbone, she might have considered honoring Danna's wish and letting her have him.

Instead, all she saw was a man who clung to whatever scraps he could, unwilling to let go of anything or anyone.

With her mind made up, Kiera resolved to see her plan through, exactly as she'd intended from the start.

With measured gravity, the officiant addressed them both. "No matter riches or hardship, sickness or health, through every rise and fall in life, will you remain together for the rest of your days?"

A strained pause followed before Oliver answered, his voice thin and uncertain. "I will."

"I won't." Kiera's response was calm, clear, and absolute, slicing straight through the ceremony. The entire venue erupted at once.

A member of the Harvey family shot to his feet first, face flushed with rage. "What is she pulling now? Letting him trail after her like a servant wasn't enough, and now she refuses the vow in public? Does she think we're idiots?"

Humiliation and fury spread through the Harvey relatives as several of them lunged toward the stage, only to be blocked immediately by the security Kiera had arranged in advance.

Oliver stared at her in disbelief and hissed under his breath, barely containing himself. "Have you lost your mind? Do you even understand what you just said?"

The room was packed with Harvey family members, business partners, investors, and reporters streaming the scene live.

If this wedding collapsed at this very moment, Oliver wouldn't just lose face. He would lose everything.

Most of his recent investments had only materialized because of the expected alliance with the Miller family.

That realization hit hard. Swallowing his panic, Oliver forced a smile and stepped closer, reaching for Kiera's hand. "Sweetheart, this isn't funny. A wedding isn't the place for childish jokes."

Kiera yanked her hand away, her laugh cold and dismissive. "You honestly believe I'd marry a man who cheats without shame?"