Chapter 3 - The Wedding of the DecadeThe ballroom fell silent when Alivia entered.
Hundreds of faces turned toward her.
Cameras flashed.
Preston waited beneath the enormous floral arch, pretending nothing had happened.
His swollen anger was hidden behind a practiced smile.
The priest began the ceremony.
Alivia heard almost none of it.
Her attention was fixed on the marriage documents waiting beside the altar.
For weeks, she had worked quietly with Leo Hayes, her childhood friend and one of the sharpest corporate attorneys in New York.
Together, they had discovered something hidden inside Preston's legal paperwork.
A clause his own lawyers had considered harmless.
It was anything but harmless.
If either spouse were convicted of felony corporate fraud against the other family within twenty-four hours of the ceremony, the marriage would become legally void while certain jointly secured corporate assets would remain with the innocent party.
Preston had never noticed it.
His arrogance had blinded him.
He believed Alivia was signing away her freedom.
She knew she was setting a trap.
“Do you take Preston Sterling?”
Alivia looked at him.
“I do.”
The room erupted in applause.
Preston smiled triumphantly.
May you like
He thought he had won.
He had no idea the clock had already started.
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