In the hotel suite, a man's voice cut through the air. "Who the heck are you, and what in the world do you think you're doing?"

"I paid for your services, you think you're here just for show?" Eliana Griffith swiftly unbuttoned the man's shirt, straddling his bare chest before he could react. She felt the muscle beneath her palm, solid, vast, with a deep V line. Well, at least Uncle Colin didn't waste her money.

Chase Wilkinson was utterly furious. Back from an overseas business trip, he encountered an ambush last night. He finished those thugs and then anonymously checked into a random hotel for some rest. So, how on earth did he wake up to a woman in his bed, undressing him? As a owner of dozens of companies, a billionaire, when had he ever faced such humiliation?

Before he could figure it out, Eliana's fingers had already undone his belt buckle, the chain clinking as it fell apart, a few strands of pubic hair poking out. Chase's face flushed red as he pushed the woman off him, "Have you lost your mind?! Stripping a stranger in a hotel room. Are you a psychopath?"

Eliana was pushed down, nearly falling off the bed. She ran out of patience, and tossed the designer suit onto the bed, "Alright! Just change it yourself. The wedding is about to start."

Chase was perplexed. What wedding? He had been single for a while due to the crazy work schedule, not even dating lately, so where did this wedding come from?

Eliana didn't care what's on the man's mind. She just grabbed his shirt and warned, "Listen, act your part later, or I'll shut down your boxing gym."

Chase ignore her words and eyed around. His clothes were all thrown on the ground, and had imprints of the woman's high heels. He could only take the new suit and went to the bathroom to change first.

At this moment, the door was pushed open, and a man in his mid-thirties scurried in. He dressed in a stylish tuxedo with floral patterns, probably a little too florid for his age. Seeing Eliana, he burst out his complaining.

"Jeremy is such a jerk. He knew that you have to get married today to gain control of the company. HE KNEW IT! How could he run away? Right before the ceremony! I bet he planned the whole thing. First, he said yes for the wedding, and then he disappeared. Boom! You become the laughing stock in LA and lost you mom's shares for the company. "

Jeremy's name darkened Eliana's brown eyes. Jeremy Wilkinson, the man who'd grown up with her, been there for her during her toughest times, was her best friend and love of life. They had agreed to marry, but on the day of the wedding, he couldn't be reached!

How ironic that her childhood sweetheart disappeared on such an important day, forcing her to hire a total stranger to replace him.

Today was a make-it-or-break-it day. If she didn't walk down the aisle, she'd lose her mom's shares. Saying "I will" meant gaining control of Griffith Group. If not, her evil stepmom would snatch it all up.

She was ready to do whatever it takes to protect her family's business today!

Eliana squinted, teeth clenched. "You really think you can beat me? Ha! Just watch!" Then she turned to her Uncle, questioning, "You sure about the guy you hired, Uncle Colin?"

She recalled the man's weird reaction and felt some concern.

Colin nodded earnestly, "Absolutely. I found someone with a clean background as per your request, runs a boxing gym, tall, handsome, and in good shape."

At the bathroom door, Chase finished changing and overheard their conversation. So, this lady was in a hurry to find a fake groom for her big day.

He raised an eyebrow and glanced at his wristwatch, probably enough to buy this hotel. And she thought he was some broke boxing gym boss?

Did he really give off that vibe?

Ah, whatever. He decided to step out and set things straight. No way was he getting caught up in this lady's crazy 'reality show'.

Chase walked out and saw Eliana changing her wedding dress. Her slender frame was partly hidden in the shadows. Feeling his gaze, she cut in sharply, "What are you looking at? Come here and help me with the zipper."

The commanding tone made him irritated.

As he assessed her, Eliana was also sizing him up. If it weren't for his somewhat imposing demeanor and his good looks, she would have kicked this arrogant guy out. Never seen someone so unwilling despite a fat paycheck.

When Eliana was about to urge him again, Chase noticed her necklace and picked it up, mesmerized. "Is this pendant... the Crimson Star?"

Huh? This boxer seemed to be more than just tough; he actually recognized such a precious ruby.

"This pendant was left to me by my mother. You can have the money, but forget about this gem. It's more important to me than my life," Eliana huffed and went to touch up her makeup at the vanity.

Everyone outside was waiting to see her embarrassed, but she wasn't going to give them the satisfaction.

She applied lipstick, adding a touch of dangerous color to her soft features. Her raised eyebrows were pure disdain and arrogance. She had this whole icy beauty look down pat, like she could freeze you with just a glance.

Eliana lifted her dress and made her way to Chase, who was still lost in thought. "Little fighter, it's showtime. Give it your best shot, and trust me, the rewards will blow your mind."

Chase's eyes flickered, a smirk playing on his lips. "I'll give it my all, no doubt."

Weirdo. Where's the defiance in his eyes five minutes ago? How did he change his mind so quickly?

Eliana didn't dwell on it too much, taking his hand and leading him outside.

Walking into the wedding hall in front of all their friends and family, they exchanged vows and rings. "You may now kiss your bride." said the priest.

Chase hesitated for a moment, furrowing his brow, "Can we stage kiss?"

Eliana was choked by his question. She hadn't even complained about him yet, what was with his unwillingness?

She practically gritted her teeth, "You took the money, now do your job."

"As you wish, my boss." The next second, Chase kissed Eliana, running her fingers through her hair and tilting her head up to meet his. His lips carried a faint scent of mint mixed with the orange blossom fragrance from Eliana's lips, a very pleasant smell.

The ceremony was done. Seeing the romantic scene, the guests applauded and praised. Eliana handled it with ease.

Chase followed beside her, almost instinctively shielding her from the wine when someone offered a toast. "Women shouldn't drink too much, it's bad for health."

"Wow, so pro! An extra $200 bonus for this," Eliana whispered to him with a grin, like she was sharing a secret with her new hubby.

As soon as Eliana finished speaking, the doors of the hall were pushed open, and Camille entered with her daughter Vanessa and Jeremy. He cut a frosty glare in Eliana and Chase's direction.

"Don't be fooled, everyone. This fake groom was paid for by Eliana. I got their transaction records." shouted Camille.

Camille Wheeler was Randall Griffith's second wife. But ever since Randall mentioned giving the company reins to Eliana, Camille had been secretly opposing her.

When Eliana saw Jeremy standing with her enemies, she could almost feel the sadness bleeding from her broken heart.

But this was not a good time for a mental breakdown. She was more worried about Chase's identity being exposed. If that happened, she would have embarrassed herself twice today, which would be a huge joke in LA!

Seeing her freaking out, Vanessa sneered and took out documents from her briefcase. There were copies of chats of Colin and another man as well as some transfer records.

But... the photo sent in the conversation wasn't of Chase.

Not only did Vanessa widen her eyes, but Eliana was also dumbfounded.

Then who was this guy beside her?

Before Eliana could retorted, she heard Chase beside her sneer.

"If you want to slander someone, at least come ready. Using a random photo is just ridiculous."

Camille's face darkened. The photo didn't match the groom and her plan failed. She then quickly exchanged looks with Jeremy beside her.

Jeremy stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Eliana. "Lena, even if I didn't want to marry you, you shouldn't just marry to a stranger. You are literally humiliating both of us."

How dare he! He's the one ran away right before their wedding, and he had the nerve to blame her, the one cleaning up the mess?

Eliana felt a rush of anger, but before she could say anything, Chase jumped in. “Honestly, sticking with the wrong person is the real humiliation. Ditching them lets you find someone who genuinely cares. So, everyone, steer clear of snakes like this guy, or you’ll get caught in their mess when karma comes knocking!”

"Eliana," Jeremy ignored Chase and sneered, his face contorted in disgust, "If you're trying to tick me off by seeing someone else, at least pick someone halfway decent, someone who can measure up to me. I’ll just be honest. If it weren't for your pestering in the past, I wouldn't have even given you a chance. Being with you was just a painful reminder of my mistake. You're stubborn, arrogant, and cold. You’re a dead fish!"

Today's wedding guests were all part of their social circle, familiar with Jeremy and Eliana's long history as childhood sweethearts. So, when they noticed the groom wasn't Jeremy but a complete stranger, confusion swept through the crowd.

But, it all made sense now. Jeremy had dumped Eliana!

The hushed whispers, the gossip swirling around, and those sympathetic glances made Eliana feel utterly exposed, as if her dignity was being torn away in front of everyone.

He had promised to protect her forever, to shield her from the storms, to call her the love of his life, and vowed to marry her, make her the happiest person in the world...

Now, those beautiful promises became the most disgusting lies. She felt sick whenever she thought of it.

Eliana’s limbs went frozen at Jeremy’s word, when a warm hand gently grasped her trembling, icy fingers. It was Chase, again.

"Just because you can't see her worth doesn't mean others can't appreciate it. From this moment on, her kindness, her thoughtfulness, every wonderful aspect of her belongs to me. We'll walk into a brighter tomorrow. As for you, don’t bother her ever." Chase's words were firm, his presence unquestionably strong.

"Are you really going to register with this man?" Jeremy asked Eliana, sounded like his ultimatum.

Chase chuckled, his dark eyes full of disdain. "We've already had the ceremony; of course, we'll register. If you're not here to give your blessings, then please leave. You’re not invited."

"Jimmy, since Lena doesn't welcome us, let's go," Vanessa said, taking Jeremy's hand, her voice coquettish.

Wait, why was Vanessa holding Jeremy's hand?

Could it be...

Vanessa noticed Eliana's gaze and grinned, "Sis, Jimmy and I are together now. He says he feels happier with me, and I'm pregnant. Jimmy is going to be a father."

Vanessa was pregnant! Eliana's face turned stiff. That meant hey had been cheating on her for a long time. The person she trusted the most and the one she despised were together. Sadness washed over her. This realization made her broken heart feel even heavier than before.

Chase was as calm as ever. "Everyone likes free stuff, but not all of them will take it home."

Vanessa's face drained of color as she shot Chase a glare. His sheer presence shut her up with just a glance.

"Alright, we're off to City Hall to tie the knot. You guys do your thing," Chase announced, grabbing Eliana's hand as they made their exit. He just handled this drama on his own to spare Eliana any humiliation.

Eliana followed him out and got into her car. On their way to the City Hall, she couldn't help but ask, "You're not the person my uncle hired. Who are you?"

This man exuded a natural air of superiority, making him seem anything but ordinary.

Chase slouched against the car window, saying, "I'm filling in for him. He couldn't make it, so I'm here. Job's done. Pay the rest, and then drop me somewhere. We'll never see each other again."

Eliana slammed on the brakes, frustration evident in her eyes. "Everyone saw your face just now, leaving isn't an option!"

At first, she planned to pretend to be married for three months and then find a way out with a divorce. But now that Chase has appeared in front of her stepmother, she couldn't change to another groom! Leaving suddenly would also look fishy and expose her fake marriage.

"So, what do you suggest?" Chase asked warily.

Eliana rubbed her temples with both hands. "What else can we do? You keep pretending to be my husband. I'll increase your pay by fifty percent, and after three months, we'll divorce."

Eliana took a breather and realized things were still on track, just with a different player in the game now. That's not a big problem.

Chase just rolled his eyes and gave her this smug glance. "And what if I'm not on board with that?"

Eliana's eyes widened; she didn't see that answer coming!

He wasn't exactly the type one could push around, which Eliana had anticipated. She was already stressing about the whole marrying him idea, and now he's the one being all cautious right from the beginning?

She could only respond, "Well, what do you want then?"

Chase's gaze was cold and inscrutable, the silence around them almost tangible.

As Eliana thought he might seize the opportunity to make outrageous demands, she heard his deep voice, "Besides the pay, you'll accompany me home to meet my family. During our marriage, you are not allowed to touch me. We'll live together but in separate rooms, and you won't interfere with my life. If that's acceptable, let's go to the city hall now."

"Wait, aren't those all lines I'm supposed to say?!" thought Eliana.

She couldn't be bothered to argue with him. Through gritted teeth, she said, "Deal." With that, she floored the accelerator and headed to the city hall.

After getting out of the car, Chase went to a corner, claiming his 'family' was coming to give him his passport. Eliana didn't pay much attention and went inside to wait for him.

"Mr. Wilkinson, are you really getting married?" Chase's assistant, Stephan, asked, puzzled.

"My grandfather sent me to LA to find a woman. I'm marrying her so he'll trust me with the company shares," Chase replied, surprised himself by the unexpected turn of events.

Since the woman had agreed to divorce after three months anyway, he decided to make the most of the situation.

"We'll stick around and investigate who's behind that ambush," said Chase.

His eyes turned cold as he recalled the night of his arrival when he narrowly escaped an explosion targeting him as he left the airport lounge.

He decided to temporarily conceal his identity, investigate the matter, and assess the situation of the subsidiary companies. This way, he could meet his grandfather's demands while achieving his own objectives.

When Chase entered, he noticed a bunch of folks dragging Eliana towards the exit. Without hesitating, he kicked one of them off.

Fixing his messed-up tie, he said coldly, "Who the hell do you think you are, messing with my girl?"