"Only twenty? Give her to Ryan Ashford. She's just his cup of tea." Riven Ashford sneered and spoke without thinking.
"B*stard!" Old Master Ashford put down the teacup with a bang. "This is your future wife. How can you give her to your nephew!" If he had no business here, Old Master Ashford would not have wanted to see Riven Ashford. His second son was extremely rebellious. He was always defying him. Dealing with him was a headache.
Riven Ashford said, "If you don't give her to Ryan Ashford, then whoever decided she should join our family should marry her. Don't worry, I don't mind having a stepmother who's younger than me."
"Riven Ashford!" Old Master Ashford was so angry that he saw red. "This time, it's not up to you. The betrothal gifts have been given, and the wedding date has been set. I'm warning you, you have to get married this time!"
Riven Ashford's gaze was sharp, and he said coldly, "Impossible!"
Old Master Ashford's chest heaved up and down. As he looked at Riven Ashford, who was so resistant to the wedding, he threw out his final trump card. "You get married, and I'll tell you everything about that person."
Riven Ashford did not say anything. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Old Master Ashford. "You found out?"
Old Master Ashford did not answer. He leaned on his cane and stood up to remind him again. "The wedding date is the 16th of July. Make the appropriate preparations."
---
Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the wedding.
It was said that Rhea Vale's wedding dress was designed by a famous designer that the Ashford family had spent a lot of money to hire. A wedding dress worth tens of millions was clearly a gesture of respect to the Vale family. However, Rhea Vale was not particularly happy to wear such an expensive wedding dress. She looked at herself in the mirror. She looked young and tender, with baby fat still in her cheeks. Her fair face was supple and soft. When she wore the wedding dress, she looked even more beautiful and charming.
Mrs. Vale entered the house and dismissed the makeup artist. Soon, only the mother and daughter were left in the house. Mrs. Vale helped straighten up the hem of her dress. Looking at her slim and graceful daughter, she sighed. "Rhea, you shouldn't have agreed to this marriage. No matter how powerful the Ashford family is, we don't have to accept. We can just find another place to live."
Rhea Vale smiled and held onto Mrs. Vale's arm. "I don't want to. We didn't do anything wrong. Why would we leave the capital? Moreover… Mother, do you think I'm suffering? If the Ashfords proposed marriage, I dare to accept. If they want to bully me, the dissent in their family will be their own doing." Rhea Vale was known to be fierce and bold. No one dared to provoke her.
Even though she said that, Mrs. Vale was still worried. "Rhea, what exactly did Old Master Ashford say to you that day?" She understood her daughter well. If she had not been forced into a corner, she would never have given in.
...
Rhea Vale looked at her mother's worried face and pretended to smile mysteriously. "I won't tell you." If there was some pressure, she could bear it alone. There was no need for her mother to worry.
---
Meanwhile, in the study of the Ashford family's old residence, Old Master Ashford took out a USB flash drive and a stack of documents. "Here is all the information you want."
Riven Ashford was about to reach out to take it, but Old Master Ashford stopped him. "Come and get it from me after the wedding."
Riven Ashford's Adam's apple bobbed, and he snorted coldly as he got up to leave.
---
At the wedding, the guests were all gathered, and the media and paparazzi were excluded. The attendees were all prominent figures in the capital city. Riven Ashford was the most popular bachelor in the capital. The news of his wedding had shattered the hearts of many socialites. The Vale family, which was not considered famous in the capital, had become wealthy overnight due to the marriage.
During the ceremony, Rhea Vale held up her wedding dress and wore high heels she was unaccustomed to. She walked toward Mr. Vale slowly, step by step. When she saw Mr. Vale's slightly red eyes, Rhea forcefully suppressed the bitterness in her heart. As she walked closer, all the lights in the room fell on her and Mr. Vale.
Rhea Vale held onto her father's arm and made her way to the path paved with petals. Not too far away, a tall, slender man waited silently for her.
This was Rhea Vale's first meeting with her soon-to-be husband, Riven Ashford.
Rhea Vale was not unfamiliar with the name Riven Ashford. He was twenty-eight, with a successful career and striking looks. He was the CEO of Ashford Corporation, the uncrowned king of the capital. He controlled the city and several of the nation's economic cornerstones a man countless people feared, yet now he was her groom.
As the distance between them narrowed, Rhea Vale could clearly make out Riven Ashford's features. He was indeed as handsome as rumored, but… his thin lips were tightly pursed, and his deep eyes concealed undetectable resistance.