Betrayed at the Altar, Saved by the Heiress

1: 1

At the party before the wedding, everyone was playing that game the one where you name something you've done that no one else has.

Ruby Henson's male best friend spoke up first.

I've held on to a pair of Ruby's stockings.

Every face in the room froze, and folded a finger down, embarrassed.

I looked at Ruby, waiting for her to explain.

She didn't even glance my way. Grinning, she reached over and pinched Cole Fox's cheek.

"Oh please. That time I came drinking at your place, I lost the pair I was wearing."

"Did you even wash them? And you kept them?"

"Come on, you're getting married soon, I probably won't get the chance to crash at your place anymore. Call it a keepsake."

Cole slid an arm around her waist, all smiles.

Then he turned and raised an eyebrow at me.

"It was the night of your fifth anniversary as a couple, actually. Ruby drank too much keeping me company, and I figured she couldn't get her own clothes off, so I gave her a hand."

"It's just one piece of clothing. Surely you're not that petty."

...

Ruby acted as if there was nothing the least bit wrong with any of it.

She tightened her arms around Cole's neck in mock anger and dug her fingers into his ticklish side.

"Don't lie, my tolerance isn't that bad. If anything, it was you who couldn't undo your own belt, and I had to do it for you."

Cole squirmed against her, laughing as he shot back.

"Quit showing off. And who was it that got so drunk she couldn't even find the toilet, and Daddy here had to carry you over, huh?"

The whole room burst out laughing.

Someone noticed the look on my face and jumped in to smooth it over.

"Don't be upset. Cole's been running around with girls since he was a kid, we all treat him like one of them. There's really nothing going on between him and Ruby, or you wouldn't be the groom, right?"

"Exactly. Friends keeping a little keepsake is no big deal. It's not worth getting all sour over something this small."

Best friends again.

The day of my fifth anniversary with Ruby.

I'd booked the hotel and the candlelit dinner half a month in advance. I waited from seven at night until the restaurant closed at midnight.

She never showed. She wouldn't pick up her phone either.

She came home the next day reeking of alcohol, and only then said Cole had gotten dumped and asked her out for drinks.

When I confronted her about it, she knit her brows, offended.

"Terry Harding, you're my fianc, sure, but I can't just drop my best friend for you, can I?"

"There's an anniversary every year. Cole was in a bad place what if he'd had too much and done something stupid? Could you have lived with that? Stop being so unreasonable!"

But since Cole had come back from studying abroad, we'd gone three years straight without a single anniversary.

He always found some excuse to call Ruby away.

As if the label of male best friend was all it took.

Whatever they did, it could be forgiven.

A waiter came in to change the trash bag the one holding what Ruby had just thrown up after drinking too fast.

I let out a small laugh, grabbed Cole by the hair, and shoved his head straight into the trash can.

By the time everyone caught on, Cole's face was a sight no one could stand to look at, giving off that sickening smell.

He shrieked and bolted for the restroom outside. Ruby shoved me hard.

"Terry, are you out of your damn mind?!"

I looked at her with contempt.

"What? Doesn't he love your scent so much? Underwear's nothing. This is the real thing."

Ruby glared at me.

"We'll settle this later!"

She ignored the scratch her ring had torn across my collarbone, bleeding, and rushed off to look after Cole.

It was probably the first time they'd seen me lose my temper, so no one else dared say a word.

I couldn't be bothered to stay. I stood up and walked out.

I'd barely made it to the street when Ruby called.

"Terry, where did you run off to now? You made Cole cry. Get back here right now and apologize to him!"

"He brought it on himself. Why the hell would I apologize?"

Ruby must have had it on speaker.

Before she could get another word out, the others all piled on.

"You're going too far here. Cole's known Ruby a lot longer than you have. We've all been friends for years. You hit him, but you're slapping Ruby in the face."

"Right, jealous over every little thing. Ruby, the wedding's in six days. If you don't get your husband in line now, who's going to want to go out with you after this?"

Ruby's voice came, displeased too.

"Terry, I've told you a thousand times, Cole and I are just close friends. Otherwise, would you be the one marrying me? Do you have to humiliate me in front of everyone? Cole would never kill the mood like this..."

"Ruby, this is the ninety-ninth time you've fought with me over him."

I cut her off, calm.

"Last April Fools' Day, he slipped a venomous snake into my bag and I nearly lost half my life. You said he was only joking, told me not to be a poor sport."

"And on our engagement day, he pranked my parents with a trick cup, sprayed chili water and cream all over them. My mother had an allergic reaction and had to be rushed to the hospital. You said he was only trying to warm up the crowd, told me not to be so petty."

"But don't forget when your family hit a financial crisis and was on the verge of bankruptcy, it was my family, the Hardings, who stepped up and got you through it. For two years straight we handed over most of our own most reliable projects to you. Where was your precious best friend then?"

"Since your male best friend matters that much, let's break up."

2: 2

Then I hung up.

A second later, my phone lit up with a string of messages.

I opened the chat and my eyes went wide.

Ruby had posted my private photos to her little group.

Those so-called girlfriends of hers piled on right away, filthy and gleeful:

Wow, your man's got quite the build, Ruby. You lucky girl~~

Dying. He acted so cold and untouchable earlier, turns out he has moments this embarrassing too.

Cole sent a laughing-crying face and tagged Ruby:

You've got my back, I'll give you that. Seeing your man this pathetic, Daddy's not mad anymore.

Only then did Ruby leisurely delete the photos and send back a blown kiss.

I was shaking with anger and called her to demand an answer.

Ruby didn't sound bothered at all.

"You humiliated Cole so badly earlier and wouldn't even apologize. This was the only way I had to cheer him up."

"Did you ever stop to think how I'm supposed to face people after this?"

She paused, an edge of irritation creeping in.

"I'm your fiance and even I don't mind. You're a grown man. So a couple of people got a look, so what?"

"Besides, I already deleted them, didn't I? I even blurred your face. Relax, they're all my girlfriends, nobody's going to spread it around."

"All right, I'm dropping Cole home. I'll be back in a bit."

I set the phone down and let out a laugh at myself.

Laughing that a moment ago I'd been stupid enough to think those messages meant he'd finally seen how wrong he was.

That he was writing to win me back.

I didn't call a car. I walked home instead, told myself it would clear my head.

By the time I reached the gate of the complex it was two in the morning, and only the guard booth still had a light on.

I was about to walk in when the guard on duty stopped me.

He looked me up and down and gave a sleazy smile.

"You're the owner in Unit 1702, Building A3, right? Better looking in person than in the pictures. So that's the line of work you're in."

"Lucky me, been lonely a long while. How about you keep me company? Don't worry, I'll pay."

I studied his face. A new one, someone recently hired, didn't know me.

I frowned.

"Watch your mouth. Move, or I'm calling the police."

Instead of backing off, he grabbed my wrist and waved his phone screen at me, leering.

"Quit the act. If you're not in that line of work, why'd you have someone post pictures like these in the local dating group? Address and all."

"Bet you bought that apartment selling yourself too. You're not bad-looking, so I'll throw in another hundred. Deal?"

Only then did I see it. Cole had actually forwarded that photo to a local dating group of nearly a thousand people.

His greasy mouth came at my face, and in a panic I drove my knee hard into his crotch.

The instant he flinched and let go, I turned and ran for the road. He came after me, cursing.

The first thing I did was call Ruby.

The phone rang for a dozen seconds before it connected.

"Hello. Now what?"

I ignored the irritation in her voice and rushed the words out.

"Ruby, where are you? The new guard's trying to assault me"

Before I could finish, Cole's smug, mocking voice came down the line.

"Your little leech is checking up on you again? He'll even make up a story like that. These clingy boys really do have every trick in the book."

"Forget it, forget it, you head home. Worst case I'll cook my own hangover soup, save someone from getting jealous again. I can't afford that. Ah, my girl's all grown up, got herself a husband and forgot her daddy~"

"Don't push it. You can't even make instant ramen. You'll scald your hand and come crying to me."

When Ruby finally remembered I was on the line, her voice was thick with annoyance.

"Terry, are you ever going to stop? You upset Cole so much he drank himself sick. If I don't make him some hangover soup his stomach's going to hurt."

"All day long with the suspicion, seeing things, like you've lost your mind. I've told you, Cole and I are just close friends. Otherwise what business would any of it be of yours?"

"Enough. I don't have time for your little act. Go to sleep!"

She hung up without a moment's hesitation.

The guard caught up and slapped me hard across the face.

"You slut, you actually dare hit me? Playing all pure and innocent?"

"Trash like you, who knows how many men have had you, and I'm willing to give you business? That's me doing you a favor!"

My head hit the wall, heat gushing from my forehead, my vision going black in waves.

He was already dragging me toward the alley beside us.

Then, from down the street, came the pounding of running feet and a furious roar.

"Let him go!!!!"

The people who saved me weren't Ruby. They were a few college students just back from the karaoke bar.

The guard was handed over to the police, and I went to the hospital alone to get the wound dressed.

The whole night, Ruby never called again.

And never came home.

It wasn't until the next morning that she heard from the property office about what had happened the night before.

When she walked in, there was, for once, a trace of guilt in her eyes.

"Terry, thank god you're okay."

"Cole's account got hacked last night. By the time he changed the password and logged back in, your photos had already leaked, but he took them down right away."

"I know you're angry. I'll apologize on his behalf. But it was a pure accident, you can't blame him"

3: 3

I let out a mocking little laugh.

"An accident? A hacker who somehow knew which complex I live in, which building, which floor? What a coincidence."

"Ruby, I made myself perfectly clear last night. You can cover for him with no bottom line, but I'm under no obligation to. Call off the wedding. We're through."

Ruby froze for a moment, then flushed with anger.

"I already told you, Cole had no idea. Nothing even happened to you. Do you really have to blow it up like this?"

"Instead of blaming an innocent person, maybe you should take a hard look at yourself. Maybe you're just so difficult to deal with that you've made an enemy somewhere. Otherwise why would they only forward your photos and not his?"

"The wedding's in five days. The invitations are already out. Cancel now, and even if you have no shame, the Hensons still do!"

Something seemed to occur to her, and she gave a scornful snort.

"Terry, we're both operating in Metro City, and in this circle reputation is everything. Break off the engagement for no reason right before the wedding, and aren't you afraid you'll drag your parents' name through the mud, that no one will ever dare do business with the Hardings again? Take my advice. Quit while you're ahead."

Before I could say a word, Cole called her on video.

"Ruby, babe, we're here, why aren't you down yet? You promised you'd come pick out a suit with me today. Ditch me and Daddy here won't be showing up to your wedding."

Ruby panicked at once. "No, if you're not at the wedding I might as well not have one. Wait right there, I'm coming down."

I watched her head for the door and asked, "Weren't we going to pick out the guest favors together today?"

Ruby paused, then frowned.

"A little thing like that, you can handle it on your own."

"Oh, right. Everyone else's doesn't matter, but Cole is my best guy friend. His favor has to be expensive enough. It has to hit him right in the heart."

"I sent you a picture of that diamond watch he likes. Go buy it today. On the wedding day it'll be a surprise for him. You pay for it. Consider it your apology to him."

She'd been gone only a few minutes.

Then Cole updated his social feed. Look at the face my best girl gives me!

There, in front of the passenger seat that used to be mine and mine alone, was a new decal in fancy script.

Reserved for my man Cole. No losers allowed.

At the same time, Ruby sent over the photo of the watch Cole liked.

I took one look and laughed.

I'd never heard of a bride wanting her groom to prepare a surprise for her best guy friend at their own wedding.

A limited-edition diamond watch worth nearly ten million, and she'd actually said it to my face.

Fine. If she was so set on having this wedding, I'd give her one.

I wanted to see exactly who ended up humiliated.

I opened that familiar profile and sent over the wedding venue and time.

Didn't you say you wanted to marry me?

I'm giving you the chance.

...

That night, my childhood friend Owen Mason called.

He'd booked a private room and rounded up a few of the guys to throw me a bachelor party.

Partway through, one of them came back from the restroom and sat down next to me with a strange look on his face, and said quietly, "Terry, I think I just saw your fiancee Ruby next door."

"Don't know if she's had too much to drink or mistook Cole for you. The two of them looked pretty close. You'd better go take a look."

Owen was sitting close and caught it.

We traded a glance, told the others to keep drinking, and slipped out with an excuse.

We got to the door of the room next door and found it slightly ajar.

And what was going on inside was a lot more than close.

The guy had just been softening it to spare my feelings.

Ruby was sitting on Cole's lap, half undressed, the two of them locked in a kiss neither one wanted to break.

They didn't come apart for a full five minutes, both of them flushed and breathless when they did.

Those girlfriends of theirs shrieked and egged them on.

"Wow, that was a real one. If that killjoy Terry were here, no telling how mad he'd get, hahaha..."

"Please. It was only for Ruby's sake that we bothered being civil to him yesterday. Doesn't he know Cole always comes first with Ruby? Who does he think he is, going after Cole."

"Right? Ever since he showed up we've had to talk in a separate little chat every time. So annoying."

I laughed at myself. So it turned out they'd never accepted me at all.

One of them looked at Ruby. "Ruby, you're really going to give the real wedding ring to Cole and put a fake one on Terry? Aren't you scared he'll be furious if he finds out?"

Cole toyed with the diamond ring on his ring finger and gave a sneering laugh.

"Scared of what? It's been like this every time. That idiot always gets sweet-talked right back into line, doesn't he?"

"My Ruby says all her money is going to Daddy here. Certain morons only deserve a ten-dollar knockoff~"

4: 4

Looking at that wedding ring I'd chosen so carefully, my chest went tight and heavy.

Back then, every time Ruby and I fought over Cole, she'd bring me a gift the next day as a peace offering.

I never imagined even those so-called apologies were fake.

The others were laughing, teasing:

"Ruby, honestly, the two of you are so in love, why not just dump Terry and marry Cole instead?"

Ruby shook her head. "No. The Hardings helped me once, and Terry's been good to me too. I can't have people calling me ungrateful."

Then, as if something had just come to her, she pinched Cole's cheek fondly.

"Besides, this precious thing of mine is a little money pit. I'm the only one who can put up with him. But I'm afraid the Henson money alone won't be enough to keep him well, so of course I need to bring in more."

"Doing it on my own is a bit slow. The Hardings only have one son, and Terry cares about family. Once we're married, I'll ask him for a baby right away, and he won't have time for the company anymore."

"His father trusts me completely, and his heart's been bad these last few years. I'll think of a way to give the old man a good shock down the line. Once he kicks it, who else would he leave the family fortune to but me, his daughter-in-law?"

"By then, whatever Cole wants, I'll be able to give him."

My fist snapped shut.

One of the reasons I'd chosen Ruby in the first place was that she seemed devoted to family.

When my mother hurt her leg, Ruby carried her to physical therapy every day, tracked down specialists, bought supplements.

My father had a cough, and she brewed honey-lemon cough syrup and delivered it to him herself, every single day.

So it had all been to win my father's trust and swallow my family's fortune?

Owen was so furious he wanted to storm in and wreck the place. I grabbed him and held him back.

Inside, the teasing kept going.

"Fine, fine, you're the great romantic, Miss Henson, sacrificing so much."

"So the wedding won't be real, but you can at least give Cole a wedding night early, right? Don't think we don't know he's crazy about you. Even back when you played house as kids, he'd only have you as his bride."

"Yeah, do it right in the honeymoon suite you're supposed to share with Terry. On that wedding quilt he embroidered himself. After the way he humiliated Cole yesterday, call it payback for Cole!"

Ruby hesitated. "But Terry hasn't even slept in the honeymoon suite yet. And that quilt, he only learned to embroider it because I said I liked it. He spent a whole year on it, all ten fingers pricked raw and bleeding..."

Before she could finish, Cole draped his arms around her neck, all pitiful and wounded.

"Ruby, I really do love you."

"If I hadn't been afraid you'd turn me down, I never would have gone abroad. And once I came back and saw how much you cared about me, I only hated myself for not confessing sooner... I won't force you to be an unfaithful woman. I just want to be your groom for real, once. Please?"

His fingertips brushed lightly across her face as he coaxed her:

"And don't you think it's exciting? Us, in the honeymoon suite you're supposed to share with Terry, on that wedding quilt of his?"

Ruby's eyes darkened, and she kissed him hard.

"All right. Then let's go a little crazy, no regrets."

When I saw the group start herding them out, I quickly yanked Owen around the corner with me.

Only after they were gone did Owen shove my hand off, snapping in irritation:

"Terry, since when did you turn into such a coward? Why wouldn't you let me go in there and tear those two shameless dogs apart?"

After what I'd just witnessed, whatever I'd felt for Ruby was dead.

"They'll get torn apart. Just not yet."

I called my assistant. "I need you to take care of something for me. Right now."

Then I turned to Owen. "You got all of that recorded, didn't you?"

He seemed to catch on, and waved his phone with a smug grin. "Of course. Your boy's sharp."

If Ruby wanted to swallow my family's fortune, then I'd make sure it choked her.

Over the next few days, Ruby spent all her time with Cole and never came home at night.

I didn't argue, didn't make a scene. I let her do as she pleased.

On the wedding day, I stood on the platform holding the bouquet.

According to the plan, once the music started, Ruby was supposed to wait while I walked over to her, step by step.

Instead she came charging at me, Cole trailing behind her with his wounded look.

"Terry, do you really have to keep going after Cole like this?"

"I told you his gift was supposed to be that diamond watch. Why isn't it here?"

Down below, my father's face turned dark at once.

"Ruby, this is your wedding, yours and Terry's. Don't let an outsider hold things up. The little stuff can wait."

But she shot back, sharp and cold:

"Cole is not an outsider! Anything that upsets him is a big deal!"

"Terry, either you go buy that watch right now, or you get down on your knees and apologize to Cole!"

The moment she finished, the doors of the hall were pushed open.

Natalie Gilbert walked in at the front, in an exquisite, dazzling wedding gown.

Behind her came a line of bodyguards, and in the gift box one of them carried sat that pigeon-egg diamond worth tens of millions.

I curved my lips. "What's the rush? It's here, isn't it?"

Only then did Ruby's face soften. "Good, you know your place."

She thought the newcomers were from the jewelry store, and complained:

"Does your store even know how to do a surprise? Showing up dressed like that, are you trying to upstage the client? Careful, or I'll file a complaint!"

She reached out for the necklace, but Natalie caught her wrist in an instant and wrenched it hard behind her.

Ruby crumpled to her knees in pain.

Natalie was smiling, but her eyes were pure ice.

"Miss."

"This is the wedding gift I'm giving my own husband. You reach out and try to snatch it? That's not really appropriate, is it?"