Chapter 1

Charlotte's POV

"I want this venue!"

A sharp female voice cut through the air behind me. I turned around to see a woman in an expensive designer suit staring at me with pure arrogance.

"Sorry, this place is already booked." I held up the contract in my hand.

She glanced at it dismissively. "Booked? Looking like THAT, you think you can afford a place like this?"

I had come to Floaton's premier oceanview wedding venue to confirm details for next month's ceremony with my fiancé. I hadn't expected to run into someone this unreasonable.

"Ma'am, I booked this venue first. I have a legal contract."

"Legal contract?" She looked me up and down with a cold smirk. "Dressed in that thrift store garbage, you probably can't even afford a meal here."

I took a deep breath. As a sculptor, I was used to simple clothing. But that didn't mean I couldn't afford a wedding here.

"What I wear is none of your business."

"Of course it's my business! Having someone like YOU here brings down the whole class of this place!" Her voice turned shrill. "Do you know who I am? I'm Vivian Lockwood!"

Lockwood? One of Floaton's three most powerful families.

A crowd started gathering, and the venue staff backed away when they saw Vivian, too intimidated to intervene.

"Even if you're from a wealthy family, you still have to follow the rules."

"Rules?" Vivian snorted. "In Floaton, the Lockwood family ARE the rules!"

"That still doesn't give you the right to steal someone else's venue."

"Steal?" She laughed coldly. "My fiancé is the most powerful man in this city! One word from him and you'll never work in Floaton again!"

I frowned. "Who's your fiancé?"

"Jason Clark!" she announced proudly. "CEO of Clark Tech! The man who controls 80% of Floaton's tech industry!"

Jason Clark...

Everything went quiet. That name hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest.

"The Jason Clark who graduated from Floaton University?" I asked without thinking.

Vivian raised an eyebrow. "Seems my Jason is quite famous. That's right, the successful tech genius himself!"

Oh my God. It really was him. The man who abandoned me five years ago.

"What's wrong? Scared now?" Vivian gloated, seeing my shocked expression. "A nobody like you? My Jason could crush you with one finger!"

"Kneel down and apologize now, and maybe I'll consider letting you off easy!"

I was so angry I had to laugh. "I won't kneel, and I won't apologize. I'm not giving up this venue."

"What?" Vivian stared at me in disbelief. "You DARE refuse me?"

"Why shouldn't I?" I replied coldly. "I have a booking contract and I've paid. This venue is mine."

"You ungrateful BITCH!" Vivian's face turned white with rage. "I'm warning you - leave now while you still can! Otherwise I'll have Jason drive your whole family out of Floaton!"

"Be my guest," I shrugged. "But I'm not giving up this venue."

Vivian completely lost it. "FINE! Very good! Since you want to play hardball, don't blame me for what happens next!"

She suddenly lunged for my neck. I stepped back, but she still managed to grab my necklace.

Crack!

The necklace broke.

Diamonds scattered across the floor.

"Oh my God! That's a limited edition Cartier!"

"At least five hundred thousand dollars!"

Gasps echoed through the crowd.

Vivian looked at the diamonds on the ground and laughed contemptuously. "Nowadays the knockoffs look so real - good enough to fool amateurs!"

Then she lifted her expensive heel and viciously stepped on the largest heart-shaped diamond.

"Trash will always be trash - can't even fake it properly!"

Damn it, that was a birthday gift from Bradley!

Rage completely consumed me.

"You're DEAD!" I rushed forward and shoved her hard.

Vivian stumbled backward, staring at me in shock. "You BITCH, you dare push me?"

"So what if I did?"

"I'll make Jason DESTROY you!" She charged at me like a madwoman. "Slut! I'll claw your face off!"

But she clearly overestimated herself. A life of privilege had left her weak. I easily dodged her claws and grabbed her wrist.

"AH! Let go of me!" Vivian screamed, trying to break free.

I mercilessly twisted harder, making her double over in pain.

"Oh my God! They're fighting!"

"Quick, film this! The Lockwood heiress is getting her ass kicked!"

The spectators excitedly raised their phones.

Vivian was humiliated and furious. She clawed at my face with her other hand. I dodged and used a shoulder throw to slam her hard onto the ground.

"AAHHH!" Vivian screamed in pain.

But she wasn't done yet. She scrambled up from the floor and charged at me again. We grappled together - I grabbed her arm while she desperately tried to pull my hair.

"She's screwed! You don't mess with the Lockwoods!"

"She's dead meat!"

The crowd's chatter filled the air, but I didn't care.

Just as we were locked in fierce combat, urgent footsteps echoed from outside the venue.

A familiar voice rang out from the entrance: "STOP!"