Mia Kane had just put down her phone when Adrian Preston unexpectedly leaned in to look at it.

She subconsciously turned off the screen and looked at him warily.

This was crucial to her plan to humiliate Vivian, and besides Owen Sinclair, who had figured it out on his own, she hadn’t told a soul.

"Up to no good?"

He leaned closer, his voice low enough for only the two of them to hear.

Mia Kane felt a little guilty. "No, what ’no good’ could I possibly be up to?"

"You’re deceiving Vivian Lynch. You’re that international designer."

"How did you know?"

Mia Kane stared at him, utterly astonished.

Adrian Preston’s gaze was deep, holding a unique, indescribable light.

"Did you run a background check on me?"

She asked, puzzled. ’But I guess it makes sense,’ she thought. ’After all, if you’re going to marry someone, you naturally want to vet them thoroughly. What if they had a bad record?’

Still, she felt a little annoyed.

"You’re not planning to sabotage this, are you?"

Her guard went up.

Things were about to come to a head, and she couldn’t have anyone ruining her plan.

"If I wanted to sabotage you, I would have done it long ago. I’ve had countless opportunities. Mia Kane, humiliating Vivian Lynch today also means humiliating Chase Lockwood. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"It’s not that I wanted to do it today, but Vivian Lynch has pushed things too far. She’s the one who chose this day. She asked for it, and I’m more than happy to oblige."

It wasn’t that Mia Kane was being wicked; it was that Vivian Lynch was just too malicious.

That being the case, she didn’t see the need to play by any moral high ground.

"Alright. Then all I have to do is protect you."

Adrian Preston spoke calmly, but his simple words carried immense weight.

"What if I decide to tear the sky down today?"

"I’ll handle it."

The three short words were majestic, domineering, and fiercely protective.

Mia Kane’s anxious heart slowly settled back into her chest.

With his words, she now felt grounded and confident.

At that moment, in the dressing room, Vivian Lynch emerged, having changed into her toasting gown.

"How do I look?"

She was wearing a wine-red cheongsam—graceful, elegant, and absolutely beautiful.

"Beautiful."

Vivian Lynch walked over with a smile, crouched down, and pressed herself against his thigh.

"Chase, there’s something I want to discuss with you. I’m thinking of announcing Designer Nona’s joining us during the wedding reception. What do you think? She’s a top international designer. She gave up such lucrative offers from major global brands to come to me. I want to give her the highest possible treatment to show her how much I value and respect her."

"Announce it today? But what about Mia Kane...?"

Chase Lockwood frowned deeply, thinking of the consequences.

The fallout for Mia Kane would be disastrous. It wasn’t just prominent families in attendance today; there were also numerous media outlets. The wedding was being livestreamed nationally, with hundreds of millions of netizens watching online.

Everyone would find out that Mia Kane had lied and made empty boasts. She might even have to leave the industry.

The punishment was too severe.

Vivian Lynch looked up, her eyes moist as she gazed at him, appearing like a pitiful, innocent rabbit.

"I get angry just thinking about it. I even offered to call off the bet today. I had already planned to make the announcement, but she was completely unrepentant, refusing to believe I could actually get Nona to come. She verbally humiliated me and even tried to slap me..."

"I’m a person too, you know? I have my pride. She’s bullied me several times, and I’ve tolerated it. But today is our wedding day! For her to be so outrageous to me, how could I possibly endure it?"

"It’s not like I didn’t try to reason with her, but she’s so arrogant and conceited, she wouldn’t listen... *sob*..."

As Vivian Lynch spoke, several streams of tears rolled down her cheeks.

Chase Lockwood’s expression darkened as he wiped her tears away.

"Did she really do that?"

"Mhm, why would I lie to you? After leaving you, Mia Kane has changed so much. I don’t even recognize her anymore."

Her words struck a chord with Chase Lockwood.

It wasn’t just Vivian Lynch who felt she was unrecognizable; Chase Lockwood also found her to be a stranger, feeling as if he had never truly known her at all.

The gentle, virtuous Mia Kane he had seen during their three years together was merely the image she wanted him to see.

He had always thought that during those three years, he had her wrapped around his little finger.

But looking at it now, it was clear that Mia Kane had been the one playing him for a fool.

At this thought, he silently clenched his fists.

"Fine. Go ahead and make the announcement today. Since she’s digging her own grave, she can’t blame us for being ruthless."

"I feel so much better hearing you say that. Chase, I don’t want you to think I’m a malicious woman. I was forced into this..."

She started crying again.

"Alright, we’ve been together for so many years. Don’t I know what kind of person you are? Stop crying. Touch up your makeup, we need to go out."

Vivian Lynch nodded and turned to touch up her makeup.

She looked at her beautiful, captivating reflection in the mirror, the corners of her mouth lifting into a smirk she couldn’t suppress.

’Mia Kane, just you wait. You’re finished!’

Soon, Vivian Lynch came out, pushing Chase Lockwood’s wheelchair. Instead of announcing the start of the main course, she picked up a microphone and walked to the lectern alone.

"Besides getting married today, I have another very important announcement to make. As you all know, I’ve started a fashion design company. I’m committed to originality and aim to create our own national brand, sweeping away the unhealthy trends of plagiarism and fawning over foreign things."

Hearing this, the audience broke into applause.

Vivian Lynch felt their approval and her eyes darted toward Mia Kane.

Mia Kane played along perfectly, avoiding her gaze and letting her eyes flicker nervously.

This made Vivian Lynch feel even more certain of her victory.

’Designer Nona is right at the door, waiting for my announcement to take her seat. When that happens, Mia Kane will be utterly humiliated.’

"I have sincerely invited the internationally renowned Designer Nona, who just won the Best Female Designer award, to join me. Together, we will build a unique domestic brand, championing originality and high-end couture, and create a new future that is all our own."

"BRAVO—"

Someone in the crowd clapped along.

Vivian Lynch didn’t continue, but waited...

Sure enough, someone in the audience remembered the bet she had made with Mia Kane.

She was a clever woman. If she brought it up herself, it would inevitably raise suspicion. It was better to let someone else bring it up, which would make her appear innocent.

"Didn’t Vivian Lynch make a bet with Mia Kane? Whoever successfully recruited Designer Nona, the other person would have to leave the industry in shame, publicly apologize, and admit they were wrong?"

"I think that’s right. Where’s the other party involved?" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Mia Kane was just about to slip out through a side door to make a grand entrance through the main one, when a spotlight suddenly fell on her.

She froze, turning to meet the gazes of countless people.

"Gotta say... she’s gorgeous. Damn it! I’m already starting to feel bad for her."

Someone in the crowd slapped their thigh.

Bathed in the spotlight, Mia Kane seemed to glow.

Not only that, but the fleeting look of confusion in her eyes made her seem even more innocent.

Paired with her stunning face, perfect figure, and that exceptional gown...

She was like a natural-born femme fatale, yet with the air of a newborn fox cub.

Innocence and seductive charm coexisted on the same person without the slightest contradiction.

"Where is Miss Kane going? Don’t tell me she’s trying to sneak out with a bathroom excuse?"