Fiancé Chose Bestie, I Chose His Rival

Chapter 3

The living room was so quiet I could hear Amber deliberately softening her breathing.

I looked at Charles, almost certain I had misheard.

"What did you say?"

"I said you have to attend the wedding the day after tomorrow." Charles repeated it, a note of impatience in his voice.

"Not just attend. You're giving a speech."

He walked up to me and looked down at me.

"You're going to explain to everyone that we had been incompatible and parted amicably, and that Amber is not the other woman. She simply stayed with me through the worst stretch of my life. Only if you say it yourself will people stop gossiping."

He paused, then went on.

"Leo Wallace has been savagely attacking my Eastgate project lately. If word gets out right now that I cheated and broke off the engagement, the board will pull their money for certain. Cecilia, you will publicly confirm that we parted on good terms. I'll compensate you—call it a favor I owe you."

I looked at his self-satisfied face.

A chill crawled up from the base of my spine. A thin layer of goosebumps rose along my back.

Amber came over and tugged lightly at Charles's sleeve.

"Charles, don't push her. At worst, I'll get called a homewrecker at the wedding... As long as I can be with you, I don't mind a little humiliation."

Charles turned his hand over and took hers, patting it gently.

"It's fine. She's sensible. She'll understand."

He looked at me again.

"I've notified all my relatives and friends. As for your side of the family, explain it to them yourself. Don't let them make a scene at the wedding."

Charles dug a card out of his pocket and held it out to me.

"There's 500,000 on this card. Consider it compensation. Take it. You're going to need money for a lot of things from now on."

I looked at the card and didn't take it.

"Save it."

I took out my phone and, in front of him, deleted the card information.

"I'll be at the wedding."

Charles let out a breath, and a satisfied smile spread across his face.

I picked up my suitcase and walked into the elevator without looking back.

I took out my phone and called Leo Wallace.

"The wedding is the day after tomorrow. Are you ready?"

"Everything is in place." A low voice came down the line.