Chapter 2

Ten seconds after Miranda sent the text message, her phone buzzed with an incoming call. She answered, and a man's voice came through the other end of the line. He drawled in a cold tone, "You're asking me to crash your own wedding? Aren't you worried that I'd beat the shit out of your almond-eyed darling?" Miranda responded calmly, "You can just say no. I'll find someone else to do it." The man got so mad that he just laughed and said in a cold, steely voice, "I dare you." Miranda pressed her lips into a thin line. "Just tell me if you're coming or not." There was a long silence. Miranda thought that she wasn't going to get an answer from him. She was about to hang up when the man finally spoke. "Miranda, I already kept my promise and let you go last time. How dare you associate with me again? This time, you won't have the liberty of calling it quits with me anymore," he said, his voice turning slightly hoarse. Miranda nodded. Suddenly realizing that he couldn't see her, she said, "I understand." The man scoffed and asked curiously, "I thought you were head over heels for him. You rejected me, blocked my number, and even made a bet to force me out of Seafare City because of him. So what happened now? You're finally admitting defeat?" Miranda came clean with him. "Yeah. Couldn't differentiate him from a monster." Somewhere in the city, the man stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows in his mansion, staring at the night view outside the glass. A hint of a mysterious smile appeared on his face. "Unblock all of my contacts from your phone and send me your address." "Okay." "Remember, Miranda. I will not agree to any business terms that don't favor myself." "Understood." After hanging up, Miranda continued walking along the streets. The man she'd just called was Ivan Astor, the most famous person in Seafare City. He'd suddenly arrived in the city five years ago, and he always had government officials accompanying him wherever he went. He invested 300 billion dollars and bought over a number of medium and large companies and enterprises in Seafare City. Ivan single-handedly caused massive waves in the city's business circle, overturning huge corporations and reshuffling the elites in the upper crust. He was also known for his ruthlessness. He was still a feared legend amongst the other businessmen in Seafare City, but none of them could do a thing against him. Even his bodyguards' cars were all expensive models with license plates worth millions of dollars each. Nobody knew why someone like Ivan had suddenly set his eyes on a place as tiny and insignificant as Seafare City. Moreover, nobody knew what happened to him or why he disappeared two years ago after buying over half the company and corporations there. He was ruthless and unscrupulous. Even Miranda still felt afraid of him after asking him for his help. … Miranda wandered through the city for the rest of the day. She only got back sometime in the evening. When she entered the house, Carson immediately brought over her indoor slippers for her and put them on her feet personally. People always said that younger men made for better lovers, and that did really seem like the case. Carson would always help her put on her indoor slippers after she came back, and he would also make sure she had hangover pills and water by her bed if she had too much to drink. Even if she threw up all over the floor and fainted in the mess, he would still clean everything up and not say a word about it. In fact, Miranda would never have believed that it wasn't Carson sleeping with her and leaving all sorts of marks on her body, but other men, if she hadn't heard it from his own mouth. After Carson was done putting on the slippers for Miranda, he looked at her and asked cautiously, "Mimi, I saw your hymenoplasty hospital report on the floor at the entrance this afternoon. Did you drop by?" Miranda answered, "Yeah, but I had to leave for a last-minute schedule." Carson's eyes twinkled. He asked again, "Did you see my friends when you came earlier? They wanted to meet you." Miranda shook her head. "I left without going in. I didn't know that we had guests." Carson sighed in relief. He then smiled genuinely at her and said, "Then I'll let you know next time they come over again." Miranda looked at him and said pointedly, "I can also meet them at our wedding." Carson didn't respond. He came closer for a hug as usual, but Miranda sidestepped him. "I just came back. I haven't showered yet," she said. "So what? It's not like I'd find you dirty or disgusting," Carson replied, slinging his arm over his shoulder and leading her into the dining room. Someone else was already sitting there, and it was a woman. She looked sweet and pure, and about the same age as Carson. Carson introduced them to each other. "Mimi, this is my friend, Gianna Wineberg. The company is looking to get listed soon, and I'm only going to be even busier after this. "You keep skipping your meals, so I thought of asking my friend here, who's a huge foodie, to stay with us. She can keep you company during meals." Miranda lowered her gaze. Gianna Wineberg? She had to be the "Gigi" Carson had been referring to earlier today. Carson was a master manipulator. He knew exactly how to make Miranda give in to his wishes, taking advantage of the fact that she was in love with him. However, she didn't think that he would be brazen and shameless enough to bring his mistress home, even with her around. Miranda said nothing. Gianna came up to her and pulled out a chair for her, playfully sticking her tongue out. "You don't have to worry about a thing, Miranda," she said. "Carson and I are just really good friends. If you're worried that I'll become the third wheel in your relationship, I can leave anytime you want."