Chapter 3: Please, Don't Hit the Face!

Under the sunlight stood Asher, elegant and graceful, with a faint smile on his face. He slightly raised his eyes, glanced at the two hands hanging in mid-air that were hesitating to approach, and nodded politely to Daniel, appearing well-educated and charming. Daniel quickly recovered from his astonishment. The Parries were no match for business giants like Carn's Capital, their family only a little-known small business, nearly invisible in the financial metropolis of Hampshire City, filled with thousands of major corporations. Daniel, a very honest person, never dreamed that the Parries would be noticed by Carn's Capital and become business partners through a corporate marriage. But he distinctly remembered that the marriage certificate sent by the Carns' housekeeper had Samuel Carn's name on it, so why was the person standing before him such a strikingly handsome and graceful young man? "Uncle, my brother had urgent matters to attend to and asked me to marry your daughter-in-law on his behalf. I apologize for not informing you in advance and making this decision on my own," said the handsome face with a polite and elegant smile, as gentle and soft as a spring breeze. Mia felt a stir in her heart; this smile was so different from the cold and indifferent Asher in the makeup room. While inwardly cursing him for his hypocrisy, she couldn't help but admire his striking handsomeness. Daniel, as if awakening from a dream, quickly replied courteously, "No problem, I understand!" Asher, the epitome of gentlemanly elegance, extended his hand to Mia, looking at her tenderly and patiently waiting for her response. It was as if he was not marrying her on his brother's behalf, but inviting her to dance. Damn, who could refuse this! Mia cursed inwardly, yet her hand, acting faster than her brain, made an honest choice and rested on his gloved hand. "Can you walk?" Mia muttered softly. "Don't worry, I'm just not very well, not crippled!" he replied with a voice that was particularly melodious and magnetic, gentle as if it could wring water. The two walked slowly on the red carpet to the rhythm of "The Marriage of Figaro," surrounded by beautiful floral columns that turned the garden into a fairy-tale world, dreamlike and unrealistically beautiful. Mia felt like she was dreaming. Even through the white gloves, she could feel the warmth of his fingertips, constantly reminding her that all this was real. She glanced at the man beside her, the sunlight outlining his noble and handsome profile in a golden halo, even through the translucent veil, dazzlingly bright. It made Mia feel dazed, as if she really was getting married, about to spend her life with the tall, handsome man beside her! "Stop right there, let go of that girl!" A sudden voice, like thunder, burst into the garden, overpowering the elegant music and immediately waking Mia from her entranced state. Mia shuddered violently, cursing herself for being hypnotized and losing her composure. Mia, get a grip, you can't be love-struck anymore, you mustn't be deceived by the perfect but false facades of the Carns! She gratefully looked at the man who had suddenly burst in. He was tall and slender, wearing a silver suit that shone with a laser-like halo in the sunlight, looking particularly flashy. Most distinctive was his pale, delicate baby-faced look, with chubby cheeks on a serious face, creating an indescribable charm. "Let go, she's my girlfriend, you can't marry her!" the man said dominantly, reaching out to pull Mia. Mia frowned and instinctively stepped back, avoiding his hand. She recognized him; Liam Ades, who would become a leading actor in the future, but at this time, he was just an unknown small-time actor. He was here to disrupt the wedding, but Mia hadn't known him before. In her past life, she thought he was Aria's fervent admirer, hence his desperate intrusion. But after his disruption was stopped by Finn, he never appeared again, suggesting that he might have been hired to create a scene. In her past life, Mia had hidden behind Finn, never looking directly at him. Now, she finally had the opportunity to appreciate the acting of this future movie star. Liam stepped forward, standing protectively in front of Mia like a mother hen, glaring fiercely at everyone. "I'm taking her with me! Anyone who dares stop me, I'll fight to the end!" Asher dropped his previously gentle demeanor, returning to his cold indifference. He seemed unsurprised by Liam's intrusion, calmly summoning nearby bodyguards, "Please escort him out!" "Hey, don't come near, I really will fight back... don't... don't come... ah..." His resistance didn't last long; he was quickly subdued and pinned to the ground. Liam, gasping for breath, looked up and cursed, "Shameless, stealing someone's girlfriend in broad daylight! So, you think you're great because you're rich?" Asher glanced at him and scoffed, "Yes, I am great!" "You..." Even the quick-witted Liam was at a loss for words, muttering resentfully, "Shameless!" As he was about to be thrown out by the bodyguards, Liam cried out desperately, "Aria, do you really want to marry this shameless jerk? Didn't we promise to be with each other till the end of the line? How can you betray our vows for such a jerk?" What is this all about? Mia's mouth twitched. She was intensely curious; with such poor and exaggerated acting, how did he become a movie star later on? Liam struggled fiercely, eloquently recounting their childhood promises, as if he had memorized a script. "Shut up, behave!" The bodyguard, unable to bear it any longer, kicked him in the back. Liam groaned in pain, biting the bodyguard's ankle fiercely. "You bastard!" The bodyguard, enraged, twisted Liam off the ground and aimed a punch at his face. Liam instinctively raised his hand to protect himself. At the last moment, the bodyguard's fist stopped inches from Liam's face. Turning around, it was Mia who had grabbed his suit sleeve from behind. "Stop, please don't hit his face, I beg you!" Mia had already lifted her veil, her large, black, grape-like eyes looking at him, brimming with tears. Not just the bodyguard, but everyone paused in surprise, Asher's face showing a flicker of confusion, and even Liam looked astonished.