chapter 1

On the day of the wedding, Ryan Carter’s childhood sweetheart, Chloe Bennett, put on a wedding dress to film a prank video.

I watched the entire ceremony unfold through the livestream.

Amid the cheers and teasing of friends and family, Chloe and Ryan linked arms and drank from crossed glasses.

The emcee was their mutual childhood friend, holding a microphone and working the crowd.

“When are we finally going to see the real bride make her entrance, Ryan? Keep stalling like this and she might start crying backstage.”

Ryan swirled the wine in his glass and laughed.

“Go ahead and have your fun. She can’t live without me. I’ll soothe her later.”

I turned off the surveillance feed and pushed a rolling display rack draped in red cloth into the banquet hall.

The entire room fell silent in an instant.

“Mr. Carter. Ms. Carter. Congratulations on your wedding. This is my gift—”

I pulled away the red cloth, revealing the design sketches beneath.

This had originally been prepared as my dowry—the spring haute couture collection intended for the Group family.

In front of every guest, I tore the sketches to pieces.

“I hereby announce that I am terminating my contract with the Group Corporation. All cooperation is canceled. From this moment on, I will have nothing more to do with the Group.”

Starting today, I will make them understand.

What they destroyed…

Was the last lifeline of the Group family.

……

“Groom, you may now kiss the bride!”

Daniel Harris, acting as the emcee, reacted quickly, his voice carrying a teasing edge that echoed through the hall.

Ryan smiled and placed a light kiss on the back of Chloe’s hand.

But the very next second, Chloe suddenly rose onto her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed a kiss directly onto his lips.

The room went still for a heartbeat.

Then cheers and whistles erupted all at once.

“Ryan, you’re really going all out!”

“Chloe’s fearless! Anything for the views!”

“Chloe, why don’t you just take the bride’s place tonight too?”

Chloe laughed openly, looking straight at Ryan.

“You’re no fun at all. You didn’t even look surprised. I’m not satisfied with that reaction.”

“Do it again! Do it again! Do it again!”

Someone shouted from the crowd.

Then another voice called out—

“Hey, quit messing with them. What if the real bride gets mad and runs off?”

Ryan cursed with a grin, clearly unconcerned.

“Mad about what? Chloe and I practically grew up in the same pair of pants. What’s wrong with a little joke?”

Chloe looped her arm through his and stuck out her tongue at the audience.

“Exactly. Ryan and I have been brothers for over twenty years. Who knows how many times we kissed when we were kids? When we were seven, Ryan promised he’d give me a wedding someday. This just counts as him keeping his word—otherwise I’d worry he’d turn into a little puppy.”

Another wave of laughter swept through the hall.

Daniel was the smoothest talker among their circle of childhood friends. He quickly grabbed the microphone to smooth things over.

“Looks like Chloe here is even more eager than the bride! But that’s alright—we all know Ryan and Chloe are rock-solid buddies. They can take a joke!”

He paused, then raised his voice.

“The bride definitely won’t be angry, right, everyone?”

“Right—!”

The crowd’s response nearly lifted the roof.

Daniel shot a look to the side, and immediately someone brought over two glasses of champagne.

He pressed them into Ryan and Chloe’s hands.

“Come on, come on—this toast is to your friendship of more than twenty years!”

“And after you get married, don’t forget your best buddy!”

Chloe’s eyes suddenly turned red, her voice catching with emotion.

“Ryan, from now on… you can’t forget about me just because you have a wife.”

In full view of everyone, Ryan reached out and ruffled her hair.

“Don’t be silly. You’ll always be my most important friend.”

Their arms intertwined as they tilted their heads back and drained their glasses.

Thunderous applause filled the hall, and many guests raised their phones to record the moment.

The wedding march shifted into the song You’re My Best Friend.