Victoria Young never expected it.
In the morning, Benjamin Sheppard was still her sister's man, and in the afternoon, he became her hubby.
Following the man out of the City Hall, Victoria looked down at the freshly issued marriage certificate in her hand, still a bit spaced out.
Suddenly, a bouquet of drop - dead gorgeous red roses was shoved in front of her.
Victoria was gobsmacked for a sec. Slowly lifting her head, she met the man's laid - back and flirty eyes. He gave a slight eyebrow quirk, a devil - may - care grin in his eyes.
"Congrats on tying the knot… "
The man pushed the roses a smidge closer to her and drawled, "Mrs. Sheppard~"
Four hours ago.
Victoria got a call from Finley Garcia and got to the billiards hall downtown.
This club was a ritzy club. Finley was a VIP member with his own private box. He was always hanging out here with his crew.
Victoria showed up at the box and reached for the door. She'd barely cracked it open when she heard the smack of billiard balls and the raucous laughter of the gang inside.
"Fin, you usually dump chicks in a week flat. But this time, you've been with that Miss Young from the Young clan for three weeks. What gives?"
"You ain't got a clue, do ya? Our Bro Fin ran after Victoria Young for three months to land her. Of course, he's gonna milk it for a while longer to make it worth his while!"
"Damn, going all out in the pursuit and breaking his own rules to date. Fin must've got it bad for Victoria Young this time!"
Finley, who was surrounded by a group of people fawning over him, sneered while holding a billiards cue.
"Cut the crap. Victoria Young's just the long - lost daughter the Youngs dug up. She ain't got the same shine as the fake one. I'm just messing around with her cause she's easy on the eyes."
Victoria's grip on the doorknob tightened a notch.
Just messing around.
Sure, she knew Finley was a notorious player, a wild card, swapping girlfriends like they were going out of style.
She didn't have the hots for Finley Garcia.
Nor did she want any part of this so - called relationship.
It was her own flesh and blood, her parents and brothers, who strong - armed her into accepting Finley Garcia's advances, all for some business deal between the families!
Victoria remembered last night. Through a closed door, she heard her mama say to Charlotte Young:
"Lottie, even though you ain't the Youngs' bio kid, you grew up by my side. In my heart, you're my number one girl!"
Her two bros also chimed in: "Yeah, Lottie. You're the apple of our eyes, our precious princess. What's Victoria Young got on you? We'd never let our princess Lottie take any flak."
Never let Charlotte Young take any flak.
But they were cool with pushing their own sister into the arms of a sleaze like Finley Garcia!
Victoria's heart twinged, like a knife twisting in her chest. She shut her eyes for a moment and felt dog - tired all of a sudden.
The laughter and chatter in the box kept on truckin'.
"Pfft, Mr. Garcia ain't smitten, but I think Victoria Young's head over heels. Loads of dudes chased her before, and she didn't give 'em the time of day. This time, she's gone all goo - goo - eyed for Mr. Garcia!"
"Hahaha, our Bro Fin's got that magic touch!"
Finley had his arm around a long - haired hottie and was grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"That's right. One phone call, and she comes running like a lost puppy."
"I asked her to make a ring for me by hand, and she'll do it without a peep. This is the first time I've been with a woman... " without getting cozy or making out, and dated this long.
Before Finley could finish his spiel, he saw Victoria push the door open and step into the box, and he clammed up real quick.
The others also spotted Victoria.
The noisy club went dead silent in a heartbeat.
Victoria tuned out all the gawking and marched straight up to Finley. Her skin was like porcelain, and her bright peepers were icing over.
Finley's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively shoved the chick in his arms away. Then he realized he might've overreacted and tried to play it cool with a smirk: "Vicky, this here's my female friend. Just teaching her the ropes of billiards."
"You're a smart cookie. You ain't gonna fly off the handle for no reason, right?"
Victoria didn't even spare the woman a glance and said in a flat voice: "Nope."
Finley grinned from ear to ear. He dug chicks who played by the rules.
Seeing the ring box in Victoria's hand, Finley's smile got even saucier.
Truth be told, to score with Victoria, he'd pulled out all the stops in the past three months, playing the doting boyfriend and running errands left and right.
So he asked Victoria Young to make him a ring to mark their three - week anniversary.
Sure, the ring was basic and didn't cost a fortune. He usually sported rings worth a mint, but for some reason, he was itching to wear this one on.
Finley jutted his chin and stuck out his hand all high and mighty: "It's a bit on the cheap side. Well, it'll do in a pinch. C'mon, slip it on for your man."
Victoria gave him a frosty look, her eyes colder than an ice cube. Then, she threw the ring box forcefully.
With a loud crack!
The ring box broke suddenly!
The ring rolled out of the box and disappeared into some unknown corner.
Finley was taken aback. His brows furrowed tightly, and a strange sense of panic flashed through his mind.
For a split second, he actually felt that Victoria breaking this ring box meant she was cutting all ties with him and there would be no more connection between them.
Finley's frown deepened as he stared at Victoria's expressionless face. "What's the deal? Did you hear what I said in the box just now?"
Victoria's delicate and bright face was as cold as ice.
Not a trace of emotion left.
"Yes, I heard. So…"
"Finley Garcia, we're breaking up from now on."
After she said that, she turned around and left. Her back was proud and cold, without a single moment's hesitation.
Everyone in the box stared blankly at this scene.
Until Victoria's figure disappeared from sight.
A man surnamed Lopez was dumbfounded and couldn't believe it. "Mr. Garcia, you... you got dumped?"
"Damn it, that woman Victoria Young..."
"Fin, Victoria heard what you said just now! She must be heartbroken. Hurry up and go after her!"
Someone beside him didn't take it seriously. "Are you out of your freaking mind? What kind of status does Victoria Young have? She's not worthy of our Mr. Garcia going after her!"
"Exactly! In my opinion, women are all like this. They deliberately throw tantrums and play hard to get, just waiting for you to coax them!"
Finley Garcia clenched his fists and stared fixedly at the shattered ring box on the floor.
What did Victoria Young just say?
Breaking up?
Hah, it seemed that he had been too nice to her and spoiled her.
Had she forgotten who she was?
She was just a down - and - out rich girl that her father didn't care about, her mother didn't love, and her brothers despised. Besides him, Finley Garcia, who else would want her?
"Fin, go after her quickly!" Someone beside him couldn't help but urge.
Finley snapped angrily, "Go after her? Hell no! Get lost!"
Victoria Young never paid attention to others and only accepted his pursuit. Obviously, she was into him and head over heels in love.
What she said about breaking up just now was just angry words, deliberately throwing a fit.
Just wait. Within three days, Victoria Young would come back to him on her own initiative!
Victoria left the box and walked along the corridor.
Breaking up with Finley Garcia made her feel a lot lighter. A faint smile appeared on her face.
Finally got rid of a burden.
She wouldn't have to deal with him anymore.
As for the Young family...
Victoria slowly and firmly pressed her lips together, finally making up her mind.
She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice her feet. Suddenly, she tripped over something and her body lurched forward.
"Watch out."
At the critical moment, a strong and firm arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her into his arms.
All of a sudden, the unique and refreshing woody fragrance of the man rushed into her nose, enveloping her without asking.
The man was tall. When Victoria bumped into his chest, the first thing she saw was his black shirt with two buttons casually undone…
The chiseled chest muscles were faintly visible, the collarbone lines were sharp and sexy, his sexy protruding Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed.
So charming that it seemed to bewitch people.
Victoria was stunned. She hurriedly looked up and met the man's extremely handsome and impactful face.
His bone structure was beautiful, and his features were peerless.
Especially those unique mysterious eyes, lazy and indifferent.
Victoria was slightly startled. Of course, she recognized this face that could charm the whole world.
Benjamin Sheppard, the head of the most powerful family in the capital's elite circles, the Sheppard family.
He came from a distinguished and influential family, held great power, was ruthless in his actions, and no one dared to cross him. He was notoriously unattainable in the circle.
However, Victoria knew Benjamin Sheppard not only because of his prominent status.
More importantly, Benjamin Sheppard was her sister Charlotte Young's husband.