For a Sweet and Sour Fish, Fiance Abandons Billions

At the pre-wedding singles' party, Michael Henson announced in front of everyone,

After we're married, I won't take a position at the Vaughn Group. I won't be anyone's money-making tool.

Michael's cronies immediately clapped and cheered.

Michael's a big man. Somebody's sweet little dream just fell through.

"Exactly. How could Michael bow his head for a paycheck? He'd only bow his head for Myrtle."

I stared at Michael in astonishment. Just because his little sweetheart didn't get her sweet and sour fish yesterday, he was threatening me like this?

Seeing me stay silent, Michael assumed I was scared again, and he said shamelessly,

"Renata, if you want me to come help at the Vaughn Group, fineyou have to give me twenty percent of the shares, and make Myrtle the CFO."

Michael's friends beside him roared with laughter.

"Renata, hurry up and agree, or your Michael here will get angry and won't even show up to the wedding tomorrow."

"Right. And by the time you come crying and apologizing, it won't be twenty percent anymore."

Through all the noise, Michael lifted his chin and looked at me with contempt.

"Renata, if you want me to marry a good-for-nothing like you, then go into the kitchen yourself and cook Myrtle a fish to apologize. Otherwise you can go marry yourself tomorrow."

Under the sneering, mocking eyes of the crowd, I walked out of the private room and made a phone call.

"Scott Gilbert, if you dare come to the wedding tomorrow, I'll marry you."

Section 1

Another burst of laughter erupted from the private room behind me.

"Michael, you're the man! You tell Renata to go east and she wouldn't dare go west. Now she's off to cook a fish for our little Myrtle like a good girl."

"Of course. Do they even know who Michael is? Graduated from an elite university, won first prize in a national competition at eighteen, the number one expert at the research institute. He's the dream man of countless young heiresses in Rivercrest."

"Renata's just desperate to get married. She's waited sixteen years for Michael, after all. If he didn't marry her, she'd cry herself to death."

The driver watched me get into the car and spoke up, indignant.

"Ms. Vaughn, the young master is going too far. He's getting married tomorrow, and he's still taking Miss Donaldson's side at every turn?"

"Before the master left to recuperate, he asked him to support you, and this is how he treats you."

I let out a scoff.

"Russ, someone's grown his wings and decided the Vaughn family isn't worthy of his outstanding talent."

Then, without hesitation, I made another call.

"Dennis, I'm planning to replace the person heading the special research funding project."

Dennis's startled voice came from the other end at once.

"Ms. Vaughn, haven't you always thrown your full support behind Dr. Henson's research? And he really has produced results these past three yearswhy the sudden change?"

I narrowed my eyes and looked into the pitch-black night ahead.

"Dr. Henson is exceptionally talented and gifted. He's above the Vaughn family's grubby money now."

"Hand the research over to Scott Gilbert's team, and I'll add another hundred million to the funding."

A delighted exclamation came from the other end.

"Understood, Ms. Vaughn. I'll assemble a professional team for Scott Gilbert right now."

"Don't worry. The research patents will follow the old arrangementthe Vaughn Group takes seventy percent, the research institute thirty."

Early the next morning, I got a call from Michael Henson.

"Renata, Myrtle and I both drank too much last night and can't get up. Go to the hotel yourself and greet the guests first."

"Oh, and get the equity transfer agreement ready today, along with Myrtle's employment letter, or don't blame me if I call off the wedding."

I stared at the message coldly for a good fifteen minutes, then suddenly laughed.

Michael Hensonan orphan my Vaughn family had sponsored, the boy who once held out pastries and swore he'd protect me for lifenow took it for granted that he could demand Vaughn family shares and humiliate the Vaughn family's only heir.

Who gave him the nerve?

The flattery of those hangers-on, or Myrtle Donaldson's cheap worship and compliments.

Or maybe the billion I'd poured in to back the two patents he was working on.

I checked the time. Eight thirty.

Calmly, I stood and went downstairs.

The world's top makeup artist, stylist, and emcee were already lined up in the hall, waiting.

Four makeup artists came forward at once and helped me sit downcleansing, skincare, foundation

An hour later, I stood resplendent in the living room, wearing a wedding gown covered in diamonds.

Everyone stared at me, dazzled.

"Ms. Vaughn, you're so beautifulit's like a fairy come down from heaven."

"Deputy Director Henson is going to freeze on the spot when he sees you. He's a lucky man."

As everyone was offering their praise and congratulations, my phone chimeda voice message from Michael Henson.

"Renata, how can you be so vain? Who told you to wear a gown that extravagant?"

"I've already sent over a new gown. Change into it right away."

Hearing the frantic anger in Michael's voice, everyone exchanged awkward glances.

The door swung open, and Butler James walked in dragging a drab, gray wedding dress, and said furiously,

"Ms. Vaughn, this is the dress Mr. Henson sent over. He made a point of saying you absolutely must wear this one."

Smiling, I walked over and shook the dress out.

Everyone immediately covered their noses and started coughing.

The tattered gown was caked with dust, with several holes torn in it.

Everyone started talking at once.

"What does Deputy Director Henson mean by this? A dress torn up like thishow is anyone supposed to wear it?"

"Michael Henson goes too far. He's always ordering Ms. Vaughn around, and now, on the wedding day, he actually makes her wear a dress like this."

Candice was the first to want to storm out and have it out with Michael.

I caught Candice by the arm and gave a serene smile.

"Bring it along. I'll probably need it at the wedding later."

Candice looked at me, stunned.

"Ms. Vaughn, it's one thing that you usually give in to Mr. Henson, but today he's plainly bullying you. Are you just going to let him humiliate you like this?"

I lifted the hem of my skirt and strode outside.

"Candice, he's just an outsider, nothing to us. It's a joyful daydon't let him spoil the mood."

I drove the wedding car myself, floored it to the hotel, and without hesitation had the venue redo the decorations and change the groom's name.

At ten, Myrtle Donaldson posted on social media. She was leaning on Michael Henson's shoulder, her eyes wet, her lips red and swollen.

The caption read, "Let me be selfish one last time. At noon, you'll be someone else's groom."

Michael Henson was the first to like it and comment,

"There is no noonI will always be your guardian angel."

Below, Michael's hangers-on chimed in one after another.

"Michael and our sweet Myrtle are a match made in heaven. Some old woman throwing her weight around to bully peopleotherwise, why would Michael ever want her?"

"If Michael weren't so loyal and devoted, he'd have dumped her ages ago. If she had any sense, she wouldn't have become a mistress muscling in and wrecking a golden couple."

I sneered again and again. So my Vaughn family's support had turned me into someone tearing lovers apart.

Ever since Michael got famous, all these orphanage hangers-on of his had crawled out of nowhere and become his good buddies.

And their darling Myrtle Donaldson had somehow become Michael's childhood sweetheart.

Supposedly she'd once given Michael a dinner roll as a child, saving his life.

I commented right away,

"A golden couple out of a garbage heap? If you all can't stand the sight of me, then just let Michael marry Myrtle."

The comment had been up for one second when Michael called.

"Renata, what nonsense are you spouting? Apologize to Myrtle right now."

"Myrtle and I have a perfectly innocent brother-sister relationship. She's just a little upset about my wedding today, so I was comforting her."

I was done coddling him, and hit back straight.

"Michael, how did you comfort herwith your mouth? No wonder it's all swollen from the effort."

"It's fine, keep it up if you like. You don't need to come to the wedding today."

Michael suddenly snorted a laugh.

"Renata, jealous and sulking?"

"I'm telling you, threaten me like this and I really won't come."

"No one controls Michael Henson's freedom, and Myrtle is a friend from my poorest daysthere's no way I'd be so heartless as to abandon her."

"At the wedding, you apologize to Myrtle properly. You don't want to be standing up on that stage all alone, do you, with everyone laughing at you?"

I couldn't help laughing at his shamelessness.

"Fine. When you get to the wedding, I'll apologize to her."

I had just hung up when one luxury car after another came speeding up and stopped in front of the hotel.

Behind the luxury cars stretched a line of bride gifts that ran all the way to the end of the road.

A car door opened, and Scott Gilbertin a bespoke suit, a groom's boutonniere pinned to his chestwalked over, smiling.

"My beautiful bride, I've come to snatch you away."

I stared at Scott Gilbert in shock, stammering,

"Scott Gilbert, where did you get all these luxury cars and bride gifts?"

At that moment, a man who looked like a butler strode forward and announced in a ringing voice,

"The Gilbert heir of the Capital offers his bride gift: a pair of blood-jade corals, a chest of luminous pearls, three rows of townhouses in the Capital, ten chests of rare jade curios..."

As the butler read out the bride gifts one by one, everyone stared in shock at the sprawling array of treasures.

Someone finally came to their senses and cried out,

"The Gilbert family of the Capitalyou mean the Gilbert family, the richest clan in the Capital?"

"Isn't Scott Gilbert just a researcher at the research institute? How did he become the Gilbert heir of the Capital?"

Scott Gilbert walked up to me and looked at me with a smile.

"My beautiful bride has an eye for a real hero, so naturally I can't let you down."

Just as he was speaking, Michael Henson pulled up in front of the hotel with a grand wedding convoy.

A Maybach led the line, followed by an unbroken fleet of Ferraris and Mercedes-Benzes...

Michael Henson stepped out of the car arm in arm with Myrtle Donaldson, and only then did I realize that Myrtle was wearing the exact same diamond-encrusted wedding dress as me.

I sneered. No wonder he called me vainhe was afraid I'd steal the spotlight from his sweetheart.

I just wondered whether, once I made him pay the bill himself later, Michael could cover all these luxury cars and wedding dresses even if he pawned the pants off his own legs.

Michael Henson walked up to me, a flash of amazement crossing his eyes, then he frowned and spoke impatiently.

"Renata, why are you still wearing this dress? Didn't I have a new one picked out for you? Go change it right now."

Myrtle looked at how stunning I appeared, then glanced at the costly bride gifts at the hotel entrance, shot me a vicious, envious glare, and yet said in an aggrieved little voice,

"Sister, I'm sorry, I didn't know I'd be wearing the same dress as you today. Michael said this one suits me best, so he had me wear it."

I looked at Myrtle coldly.

"Didn't know?"

"Myrtle, on the day of my wedding, you're wearing a dress identical to mine and hanging on my fianc's arm. You've been meaning to take my place as the bride all along, haven't you?"

Myrtle's eyes instantly reddened with hurt.

"Sister, it's just a dress. How can you say that about me? Everyone knows how deeply you love Michael. How could I ever try to take him from you?"

The words were barely out when Michael immediately stepped forward and wrapped his arm around her, tenderly stroking her face.

"Renata, why are you being so nasty? Who I, Michael Henson, choose to love is my own business. Why would Myrtle need to take anything from you?"

As he spoke, he pulled Myrtle over to stand shoulder to shoulder with him in front of me.

"By the way, Myrtle says she's never been a bride before, never seen a joyous occasion like this. I'll hold this wedding with Myrtle first, to grant her wish."

"And by the way, give all your dowry to Myrtle. After all, she's the one having a wedding with meit'd look shabby if she had no dowry."

I was stunned on the spot by how absurd Michael was. Even though I'd already given up hope, I couldn't help but press him one more time.

"And what about me?"

"You just stand off to the side and wait. Once Myrtle and I finish our wedding, then I'll go through the ceremony with you."

"Don't worry, I said I'd marry you, so of course I will. And of course, you'd better take care of those conditions I laid outfrom now on you'll get along with Myrtle like sisters."

Looking at how Michael acted as if all of this were perfectly reasonable, I actually laughed out of sheer anger.

He wanted me to call an orphan my sister, to install a middle-schooler as CFO of my own Vaughn Group, and on top of that to walk off with the astronomical bride gift Scott Gilbert had given me.

Is his head packed with garbage?

In that moment, strangely, I wasn't angry anymoreinstead, I felt nothing but gratitude toward Myrtle.

If it weren't for her, I really never would have known that the fianc I'd grown up with was this shameless and low.

If I'd actually waited until we married, had children, and he'd climbed into the CEO's chair, I truly wouldn't have had any tears left to cry.

In that moment, I broke into a sweet smile.

"Fine, Michael, go ahead and have your wedding. I wish you both a happy marriage. I'll go to the back and change my dress."

After all, wearing the same dress as some slutI couldn't stand the bad luck of it.

The moment he turned around, Michael's cronies burst out laughing.

"Michael, you're something elsemarrying two brides in one day."

"From now on Myrtle's the boss's wife, and the good-for-nothing Miss Vaughn can only be a concubine."

Michael's smug voice rang out.

"Renata wouldn't dare not do as I say. Whether it's Vaughn Group or the research at the institute, without me she's finished."

I smiled to myself. I'd only given him the vice president title to make it easier to bring the patent to marketand here he was, actually thinking he mattered.

By the time I came out in my wedding dress, Michael was already up on the stage with his arm around Myrtle.

The two of them gazed deeply into each other's eyes and were solemnly exchanging rings.

The instant the ceremony was done, Michael grabbed Myrtle and kissed her hard.

Myrtle's already swollen lips turned even redder and more swollen.

Her eyes went glassy and her cheeks flushed as she collapsed right into his arms.

She clutched at his chest with both hands, and I nearly laughed out loud. Low-class people really can't carry themselves in public.

A wedding in a grand five-star ballroom, and they'd turned it into a scene straight out of some hotel-affair movie.

But Michael's buddies didn't mind in the least. They clapped and cheered along.

"Michael, keep kissing her, Myrtle's waiting!"

"Michael, give the guys something intensethe truer the love, the deeper the kiss."

Michael looked up and grinned at them, then quickly pulled Myrtle back into his arms and gave her a long, deep French kiss.

Smacking sounds echoed through the luxurious ballroom.

The Vaughn family's friends, business partners, and relatives began to murmur among themselves.

"What's going on? Isn't today Ms. Vaughn and Mr. Henson's wedding? Why is there a different bride?"

"Right, and what's the young lady doing standing off to the side in a wedding dress?"

Before Michael could speak, his cronies started shouting.

"Today is Michael's wedding to our Myrtle. Ms. Vaughn comes secondshe can only be a concubine to our Mr. Henson."

"Renata, you'd better learn your place. Bow and pay your respects when you see us, or Michael won't even let you into his bed."

Michael finally stopped chewing on her mouth, lifted his head, wiped his lips, and looked at me, full of himself.

"Renata, now it's time to hold our wedding."

"Oh, and go ahead and make the share transfer agreement and Myrtle's engagement letter public first, or I won't go through with this wedding today."

Just as he stepped over and reached out to pull me along, I broke into a wide smile and backhanded him across the face, hard.

"Michael, there's no wedding todayonly slaps."

Before he could react, I turned, took the microphone, and solemnly announced to all the guests,

"Since Mr. Michael Henson is now married and has a family of his own, the Vaughn family's adoption is complete, and he has no further connection to the Vaughn family from this day on."

As I spoke, I threw the disownment letter, written in my father's own hand, in his face.

The whole room erupted. Michael's face turned livid on the spot, and he roared,

"Renata, there's a time and place for your jealous fits. Keep making a scene like this and you can forget about ever marrying me."

"You'll spend the rest of your life a spinster. Let's see who'd dare take you."

At that moment, Scott stepped slowly out from behind me, holding a huge bouquet of brilliant roses, and knelt on one knee.

"Renata, will you marry me and be my bride for all my life?"

Looking into Scott's earnest eyes, I raised my hand and waved. The staff moved in at once, and in an instant the decorations in the hall were transformed.

I slowly held out my ring finger and let Scott slide on the ring he was holding up.

"I willfor all my life, never to part."