Inside the hotel suite, Eric Ward blinked awake, his sharp eyes instantly finding Danna. That focus alone made the air grow tense.

"Mr. Ward..." Danna stiffened on instinct, her nerves jumping to attention.

Everyone knew Eric's power reached far beyond boardrooms. He could make people flinch with a single look, and she was no exception.

"Was it you last night?" His question was direct, every syllable laced with suspicion.

Eric's stare pinned Danna in place, so intense it sent a chill through her. Despite the fear, something deeper inside her pushed back, making her lift her chin and meet his gaze.

She forced herself to nod, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Yes. Last night... it was me."

Later that day, in the executive office of Ward Group, Eric sat behind his desk, tapping out a rhythm with his fingers. He didn't bother looking up as he spoke. "Did you get everything sorted out?"

Danny Harrison, his assistant, handed over a thick file. "Yes, sir, everything's here. The investigation shows it was a setup. Every other woman who tried to see you last night was turned away. Security footage confirms—the only person who got near your room was Danna Miller."

Eric's brow drew together, the smallest flicker of doubt crossing his face. "There's no mistake? It was only her?"

His memory tugged at a single detail—a faint hint of jasmine clinging to the air the night before, nothing like the heavy, artificial perfume Danna wore that morning.

Danny placed a small disk on the desk and gave a firm nod. "I reviewed the hotel's security feed this morning. Only Miss Miller appears in the footage."

Before Eric could respond, his phone buzzed to life. The word "Grandma" flashed across the screen, and he frowned slightly.

His grandmother said, "Eric, I heard what happened last night. Since the deed is done, you need to step up and take responsibility. You're not getting any younger; it's time for you to settle down. Bring her by to see me soon, will you?"

Eric pressed his fingers to his temples and let out a quiet sigh. "Alright, Grandma."

Then he hung up and sighed.

For years, his grandmother had fussed over his love life, determined to see him settled. However, he couldn't get that faint trace of jasmine out of his mind.

After a stretch of silence, he finally spoke. "Buy some gifts for Miss Miller and drive her home."

...

Back at the Miller estate, Danna stared at the mountain of elegant boxes piled high in the foyer, barely containing her excitement.

Gleaming jewelry and the newest dresses of the season were spread out before her, but the item that made her pulse race was a velvet box, placed in her palm by the Ward family butler.

"Miss Miller, this ring is from Mrs. Ward. She'd like you to visit her soon with her grandson," the butler remarked with a respectful bow.

Doing her best to mask her delight, Danna accepted the ring with a practiced smile. "Please give her my thanks."

No sooner had the Ward family's convoy disappeared down the drive than Danna rushed to call her mother, Marissa Miller, eager to spill every detail of her triumph.

"Mom, did you see all these gifts? They're straight from the Ward family!" Danna couldn't keep the excitement from bubbling into her voice.

On the video screen, Marissa's eyes sparkled with satisfaction. "Just look at the craftsmanship on that ring. It's definitely not ordinary. Clearly, Vickie Ward has accepted you as her future granddaughter-in-law!"

Even with so much joy lighting her face, a flicker of worry crept into Danna's expression. "But... what if Kiera finds out what we did to her?"

"What are you worried about?" Marissa's smile faded, her tone sharpening with old resentment. "At this point, what can Kiera do? If people know she's lost her virginity, she's the one who'll be thrown out by the Miller family."

She paused, her voice turning sly. "If we hadn't made Eric believe he took your virginity, the Wards never would've accepted you. This was exactly the break we needed."

"Mom, you always know what to do," Danna said, grinning ear to ear.

"But you need to keep Kiera calm until the wedding is over. Just play nice for now. There's still more at stake." Marissa's voice was crisp, issuing the next command.

Despite her reluctance, Danna nodded and made the call.

"Hello, Danna." Kiera's voice came through the phone, cold as ice.

Danna's pulse jumped at the icy edge in Kiera's voice. Masking her nerves, she softened her tone, slipping into the role of the concerned sister. "Kiera, where did you disappear to last night? I waited for you in the room for hours, but it turns out I sent you the wrong number. I only realized it this morning—I'm so sorry!"

She sounded every bit the caring sibling, her voice filled with false concern about Kiera's whereabouts the previous night.

Inside, Kiera could only scoff. Between the so-called mix-up and the name Oliver uttered while he was pleasuring himself, it was impossible to believe Danna was just the innocent girl she used to know.

Deciding to play along, Kiera kept her tone even. "The key card wouldn't work, so I just went home. No need to worry. The wedding will go on as scheduled."

"That's a relief! I'd hate to mess up my role as bridesmaid. I'll go get ready now," Danna quickly responded.

As soon as the call ended, Danna's pleasant mask fell away, replaced by a chilling, secretive smile.

"Kiera..." She twisted the ruby ring on her finger, eyes glittering with a cold, scheming light. "Just wait. I'll make sure this wedding is something you'll never recover from."

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?"

Color drained from Oliver's face as he felt the weight of every skeptical, mocking stare in the room. At that moment, he would have given anything to disappear.

Even so, he managed to grit out a protest, voice brimming with frustration. "Are you finished with this charade? We settled everything before today. Why are you turning the wedding into a circus?"

Murmurs of disapproval rippled through the Harvey family.

"Kiera calls herself a diplomat? She's acting like a spoiled child, not a professional!"

"Can't she solve her problem in private? Does she have to make it a public scandal?"

"Now it makes sense why her parents are nowhere to be seen. They probably knew she'd embarrass the entire family."

None of their words fazed Kiera. Instead, she sent Oliver a cool, knowing smile.

He felt his last bit of hope slip away.

A moment later, Kiera raised her hands and clapped.

All eyes turned as the screen behind them flickered to life.

Footage appeared—Oliver, playing with himself, repeatedly calling out for his fiancee's sister. "Danna... Danna..."

The entire room froze in disbelief.

All those Harvey relatives who had just moments before demanded Kiera be punished fell abruptly silent, their outrage evaporating in an instant.

A heavy, stunned hush settled over the venue as every pair of eyes turned to the screen.

Danna, who had been quietly watching from the sidelines, blanched at the sight. She was going to marry into the influential Ward family; the last thing she needed was to be caught in such a scandal.

She'd flirted with Oliver just to get under Kiera's skin, never once imagining he'd be foolish enough to leave behind damning proof.

Tears welled in Danna's eyes, glimmering on the brink of falling.

"Oliver, I always treated you with respect. I never realized you harbored such inappropriate feelings for me!" she cried out, her voice trembling. Turning to Kiera, she added, "I'm sorry, Kiera. Oliver approached me more than once, but I didn't want to ruin your relationship, so I tried to stay away..."

With that, Danna effortlessly cast herself as the innocent party—victimized, blameless, and entirely above reproach.

Oliver could only stare in shock, his hope fading as Danna's accusations landed squarely on his shoulders.

A cold wave of dread washed over him, the weight of the scandal and its consequences finally sinking in.

Danna, however, wasn't ready to accept defeat. Kiera's bold reveal had thrown her carefully laid plans into disarray, but she refused to let the chaos end here.

Quickly composing herself, Danna crafted a fresh strategy in the back of her mind.

Feigning devastation, she took unsteady steps toward Kiera, eyes glistening with manufactured sorrow.

Kiera's reflexes kicked in, and she reached out to steady Danna. In that brief moment, Danna artfully shifted her wedding dress, exposing a series of vivid red marks on her otherwise flawless skin.

Oliver's face went pale as he stared at the marks, his finger trembling as he pointed accusingly at Kiera. "Kiera! Are these love bites? You told me no intimacy before marriage, so how do you explain this?"

Every guest in the hall recognized the meaning behind those marks—no one needed an explanation.

No one had thought that a wedding already mismatched in status would end with both the bride and groom being unfaithful.

The crowd erupted in fresh shock, the sound of cameras clicking rising to a frantic pitch as everyone tried to capture the unfolding scandal.

With her head bowed just enough to hide her expression, Danna allowed herself a secret, victorious smile. Satisfaction coursed through her veins like never before.

She had spent a lifetime living in Kiera's shadow.

Kiera had always been the one everyone admired—the accomplished diplomat, the glowing pride of the Miller family, destined to inherit everything.

Meanwhile, Danna was continually outshone, never truly winning their father's approval.

How could two women share a family name but live such wildly different lives? Danna refused to accept the injustice.

Now, watching Kiera frozen under the relentless barrage of camera flashes, unable to retreat, Danna felt exhilaration bubbling inside her.

This was the moment she had carefully plotted, the day she would finally pull Kiera down and shatter the flawless reputation that had always overshadowed her own.

Confronted with the chaos, Kiera felt her stomach drop. She gathered herself swiftly, refusing to let panic take root.

If disaster had already struck, she needed to take control—whatever it took.

Oliver, eyes wild with rage, fixated on the marks Danna had exposed. He spat his accusations for all to hear. "Bitch! Always acting out of reach, keeping me at arm's length, and all along you were sneaking around behind my back!"

Before he could spew another insult, Kiera's patience snapped. She landed a sharp, well-placed kick that sent Oliver to the floor, clutching his side and cursing her through clenched teeth.

Kiera stared down at him, her voice like ice. "Maybe I should have torn your mouth apart yesterday."

A group of journalists surged closer, energized by scandal. Microphones and cameras jostled in her face as questions flew.

"Miss Miller, is it true both you and Mr. Harvey were unfaithful?"

"Will this affect your diplomatic reputation?"

"Sources say you've been disowned by your family and forced to seek protection from wealthy backers. Is there any truth to these rumors?"

Kiera faced the group of reporters, her eyes steady as microphones and cameras crowded in from every direction.

These were the same media outlets that once celebrated her every accomplishment. Now they were eager to tear her down.

Even as the scandal swirled and the pressure mounted, Kiera refused to flinch. Calm radiated from her.

Lifting her chin, she offered the crowd that signature poised smile, the same one that had once captivated the world and earned her a diplomat's respect.