She Made Her Lover the Groom. I Made His Messi Dream Mine

Chapter 2 "Ethan, what kind of nonsense is that?" Serena finally looked up. In seven years, I had never spoken to her in such a barbed tone, and the cold profile I turned toward her seemed to catch her off guard. I unclenched my fist, turned, and shoved the photo of the underwear on my phone right in her face. "Then what's this?! What kind of 'brother' leaves his worn underwear in his female friend's living room?" Serena's expression faltered for a beat. She immediately sent the renovation crew away. When she met my eyes again, her face had gone back to normal. "Why is your mind so dirty? Chase has always been scatterbrained. What does one pair of underwear prove?" I gave a soundless laugh. There was no point in saying more. Slowly, I took an agreement out of my briefcase. "Serena, let's call off the engagement." Without a second thought, Serena walked over and tore the agreement to shreds. "Stop making a scene. Grandpa's about to retire, and half the Whitmore family is circling his job like vultures." "Whatever you're upset about, I'll make it up to you after the wedding, okay?" She took my hand, her voice much softer now. But she didn't want to call off the engagement because of love. A stable marriage was simply a tool for winning her grandfather's approval and keeping her place as his chosen successor. I was about to tell her I was serious when Chase's voice rang out, thick with guilt. "I'm sorry, Ethan. A few days ago my place had a leak, so I crashed here for one night. There's really nothing going on between Serena and me." "Serena, I'll leave right now! I'll never show my face around you two again, so Ethan doesn't get the wrong idea!" He turned and ran for the door, and Serena's face changed. She let go of my hand without the slightest hesitation. "We'll talk later. Chase is at a critical point in his career. He can't be upset right now." Then she spun around and chased after him in the direction he had disappeared. I couldn't stay in that suffocating space. Sitting on the stairs, I called my best friend, Jake Warren. "Hey, man. Can you come grab a couple of drinks with me?" I had just sat down in a corner of the bar and poured myself a drink when a commotion broke out at a booth across the room. Serena, her face dark, shooed away two girls who had been hitting on Chase. She sat down beside him and coaxed him gently. "Don't be mad anymore. I have a present for you." Then, right in front of Chase’s whole group of friends, she pulled out a marriage certificate and a certified copy. They had already married in a civil ceremony. In an instant, something seized my throat. Chase's eyes went wide with delighted surprise. Serena slid onto his lap and pinched his nose. "My jealous baby. Will proof that we’re legally married finally stop you sulking?" The group burst into envious, teasing laughter. Only one person couldn't stomach it and asked her. "What about Ethan? He's waited for you for seven whole years. You two are about to have your wedding, and you go and legally marry someone else now?" Serena was silent for a long time. Finally, she spoke in a low voice. "Chase loves me. He gave up an annual salary of ten million pounds overseas for me. This is the only way I can repay him." "As for Ethan, I'm giving him the wedding and the next few decades of my life to make it up to him. Isn't that good enough for him?" "Aren’t you afraid he’ll leave if he finds out?" This time, Serena didn't hesitate. "Where would he go without me? He has no parents, and even the soccer skills he used to be so proud of have gone rusty." "Besides, after seven years together, we're way past the point where we can just cut ties. Even if he finds out, I'll soften up and sweet-talk him a little, and he'll come right back like a good boy." "Anyway, once the wedding's done, I'll just get a fake certificate made for him." My hand went slack. The glass rolled onto the floor. So seven years of sincere love could be trampled this far. Jake couldn't stand it. He rolled up his sleeves, ready to charge over and start a fight, but I held him back. I shook my head slightly. "Forget it. I don't want to keep going with this anyway." "You’re married now! Come on, link arms and drink a toast!" Someone shouted it, and the crowd, egged on, started cheering, "Do it! Do it!" Chase gazed at Serena, his face flushed. She said nothing. Instead, she poured a glass of champagne and fed it to him mouth to mouth. Then they kissed, deep and open-mouthed, for ten minutes. The blaring music needled my heart until it went numb. I recorded everything happening in front of me, then dialed a familiar number. "Grandpa, I've decided to call off my engagement to Serena."

Chapter 3 "Thank you for looking after me all these years." Mr. Whitmore was stunned and quickly asked why I had suddenly made this decision. I gave him a brief account of what had happened. Then I heard him grinding his teeth. "Son, the Whitmore family has wronged you! Don't worry. I've seen everything you've done. Without your help, that little brat would never have gotten where she is today." "Do whatever you need to do. Whatever the consequences, I'll make her bear them herself." "Thank you, Grandpa. Then please keep this from her for now." His promise put my mind at ease. After hanging up, I got up, left the bar, and checked into a nearby hotel. I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. At three-thirty in the morning, Serena sent me a voice message. "Chase is really down. Apologize to him tomorrow." Her tone was flat, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The shameless demand made me want to throw up. I deleted it without a second thought. The screen lit up again, and a private post popped up, one Serena had forgotten to hide from me. It came with two pictures: One showed the Whitmore family’s heirloom sapphire cufflinks. In the other, she lay on a king-size bed in lingerie, giving the camera a sultry look. "Wedding gift. Pick one." She had tagged Chase. Chase replied almost at once: "Babe, why choose? I want both." My heart felt like it was being pounded over and over with a blunt object, aching until it bled. Serena had once sworn that she would give me the heirloom at our wedding, as proof of our seven years together. Lies. All of it. I was the only one who had given my whole heart, believing it would last forever. I forwarded the screenshots and the earlier video to my lawyer, then texted my personal assistant. "Go to the office first thing tomorrow. Compile every resource I've put into the Whitmore Group and into Serena without compensation, and schedule all the original files to be wiped in six days." I really wanted to know how far Serena could get on her own once I was no longer working myself to the bone for her. When all that was done, I managed a little sleep, numbed by the alcohol. Early the next morning I hurried home and changed into clean clothes, ready to head out. "Ethan, have some coffee to wake yourself up." Serena appeared in the living room. "Aren't you playing today? Chase says this match is really important. Look out for him today, and we'll call that your apology." I stared blankly at the espresso she held out to me and didn't take it. After a few seconds, she ran out of patience and frowned. "Why aren't you drinking it? This is Yirgacheffe that Chase brought back from Ethiopia especially." I slowly raised my head. "Serena, I can't drink coffee. My old injury will flare up." For a moment, she seemed torn. Back then, the stab wound had gone too deep and left me with lingering nerve pain. Even a little caffeine could make the wound burn like fire. The first time, I had rolled on the floor in pain. She had loudly ordered the butler to throw out every coffee product in the house, not even leaving a single mug. Now she had forgotten that too. Maybe she hadn't forgotten. Maybe she had simply stopped caring long ago. "Chase meant well," she said, coughing awkwardly. Seeing my eyes redden, she sighed. "Forget it. If you don't want it, you don't have to force yourself. I'll drive you there." I was already running late, so I didn't turn down her offer. But when I walked to the car and reached for the passenger door the way I always had, Serena stopped me. "Wait! You sit in the back." "I'm picking up Chase. He's about to go play in a professional league, so he has to protect his legs. The passenger seat is more comfortable. Let him have it."

Chapter 4 There was a time when the passenger seat was mine alone... Forget it. It didn't matter anymore. I climbed into the back. After we picked up Chase, the car soon pulled into the Elite Football League club. It was a private association of wealthy people and big names from the professional leagues, and Chase and I were both members of this amateur club. Soon, though, we would be opponents on the professional stage. In the locker room, Serena took a jersey out of a bag and handed it to Chase. "Wear this one. I hope it brings you luck." When Chase saw it was a jersey signed by Messi, his eyes gleamed, but he pushed it back with feigned hesitation. "Isn't this jersey part of Ethan's private collection? Never mind. I don't want to take something he treasures." "Put it on." Serena shoved it into his arms. Her words were stern, but her voice was openly flirtatious. "Getting bold, are we? Are you really going to argue with me?" Only then did I realize it was the jersey I had treasured for seven years. I stared at her in disbelief. "Why did you touch it without telling me? You know how much it means to me." Serena only frowned, without a trace of apology. "To you, it's just an old shirt sitting in a closet. For Chase, it's a crucial boost for his future." Why did I always have to give in just because she favored him? I was about to step forward and take the jersey back when a staff member hurried in to announce that the match was about to start. The staff and the other players kept glancing at us with curiosity, so I had no choice but to swallow my feelings. "Coming." Maybe Serena sensed she had wronged me, because she patted my hand and said soothingly, "I'll buy you a better one later." Chase changed into my jersey and brushed past me, smug. "Thanks, Ethan. All my luck comes from you." Serena walked out side by side with him, and people started whispering. "Isn’t that Serena Whitmore, the heiress who’s supposed to take over the Whitmore Group? Are she and Chase... together?" "Uh, but I thought she and Ethan Lawson were about to get married..." A wave of gasps went around the room. "Looks like there’s a new groom." I said it with a blank face and walked out. The two of them stuck together this closely everywhere they went, so everyone assumed they were the couple. Serena had told me not to care what other people thought. "You're the one I love. You should know that better than anyone." I had foolishly believed her for three years. Now, hearing this kind of gossip again, I felt almost numb. Midway through the match, Serena took a work call. When she looked up again, she saw another player go in for a slide tackle and accidentally trip Chase. The next second, Serena ran onto the field like a madwoman. "Chase! How's your leg?!" She pulled Chase into her arms, then turned and shouted at me. "Ethan, why didn't you look out for him?" "Chase isn't like you. You only play soccer to entertain clients. You know perfectly well his legs are the foundation of his career, and you just let him get hurt?!" It was clearly someone else's mistake, yet she pinned the blame on me without even asking what had happened. The unfair accusation burned through my insides. Fortunately, the team doctor examined him and confirmed it was only a minor surface injury. Only then did Serena breathe a sigh of relief and realize she had lost her composure. She let go of Chase's waist and reached for my hand instead, apologizing awkwardly. "Sorry, babe. I was just too worried." I shot her a cold glance and walked back onto the field. Her fingertips closed on empty air, and she froze for a moment. But once the whistle blew and play resumed, that flutter of unease quickly faded. Her eyes locked onto Chase again, and she started cheering for him. In the end, my decisive goal won the match. Chase didn't score once that day, while I scored three goals in a row. "Come on, let's go celebrate! Ms. Whitmore spent a fortune on a party. She says it's for Chase heading off to play professionally abroad, so it's a celebration for him too." In the locker room, two teammates I got along with crowded around me, grinning. Once I heard what kind of party it was, I didn't want to go. But it was my last chance to hang out with them before I left for the pros, so after a moment's hesitation, I nodded. "You guys go ahead. I’ve got something to take care of." Once the locker room was empty, I called the club manager, explained the situation, told him I was leaving the team, and asked him to keep it quiet for now. Then I checked in with my assistant on how things were going. "Mr. Lawson, the files will be sorted out soon. I'll send them to your email discreetly in a bit." I nodded, then video called the manager of my new team to confirm the check-in process. While I was at it, I sent over footage of my three goals from today. "No wonder Messi recommended you so strongly. Those goals were outstanding! Oh, and we'll officially announce your signing in six days." The manager turned the camera, and to my surprise, Leo appeared on the screen, beaming. "Back then, I watched you play for ten minutes on a street in that run-down London neighborhood, and you blew me away. I'm glad you didn't give up on soccer all these years. Ethan, your place to stay is all set up. Can't wait to see you!" A rush of warmth swept away the gloom of the past few days, and I laughed out loud. "I can't wait to get out on the field with everyone either." "Oh, and next month we have a friendly against River Plate. Could you put me on the roster?" Chase's biggest dream was also to play alongside Messi. When he found out I had taken the very thing he wanted and couldn't get, what would his face look like? And then, I would crush his dream of playing professionally abroad myself.

Chapter 5 After the manager said yes, I walked out of the locker room. The parking lot was empty. Chase hadn't scored a single goal, so Serena must have been set on taking him to the party to cheer him up. She hadn't waited for me at all. I stood in the cold wind for ages before I finally got a cab. The moment I arrived at the party, I saw Serena step out of the banquet hall to take a call. No one noticed me. I slipped over to the most secluded floor-to-ceiling window and took the plain silver promise ring out of my pocket. Rubbing it between my fingers, I thought about how I'd soon be taking on the international soccer world alongside Leo, and a smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it. Suddenly my hand was empty. Chase had snatched the ring, open malice and resentment written across his face. "Ha, don't tell me you actually want to wear this garbage at the wedding? Aren't you embarrassed?" The players who hung around with Chase all laughed mockingly. My voice went cold. "Chase, give it back!" "Treating a piece of junk like treasure. You'll never be anything but a clown." Chase pulled my old jersey out of his bag, then, with a sweep of his arm, threw both the ring and the jersey into the pool outside the window. Rage tore through me. "I'll kill you!" I swung my fists, and two punches knocked him flat. Screams broke out all around. Serena rushed over and shoved me hard to the ground. She helped Chase up, her face full of worry. Chase covered his bloody nose, looking wronged. "I just accidentally dropped Ethan's silver ring in the pool. I told him I'd fish it out right away, but he started hitting me without a word." The moment he finished, Serena slapped me hard across the face. Serena stared at me with disappointment. "Look at yourself. How are you any different from a madman?" The burning sting made everything I'd held back for so long finally explode. I looked up and shouted at her. "He threw my jersey and my ring into the water on purpose! I'm the victim here. What right do you have to blame me?!" Serena looked down at me. "They're just two worthless things. I'll pay you back for him." "A hundred pounds. Is that enough?" She pulled out two fifty-pound notes and flung them in my face. Then she immediately shielded Chase as they left, taking him to get checked out. My eyes stung. I climbed to my feet and jumped into the pool despite the cold. It took me a long time to find the ring, and the jersey was completely soaked, the signature so smeared it was impossible to make out. Back when I was at my lowest, Leo had given me this jersey, and it had carried me through so many hard days. And after I turned down his invitation, he still gave me the silver ring as a promise that I would always be welcome. Now the jersey was ruined, and it hurt more than I could say. That night, I came down with a high fever. I lay in the hospital for four full days. In that time, Serena didn't call once or visit even once. And on my second account, I kept seeing her sweet Instagram posts with Chase. On the day my fever was at its worst, I saw that Serena had worn the custom wedding dress I'd ordered for her to take wedding photos with Chase. Coldly, I told the wedding planner that the wedding was canceled and that all the flowers, the banquet, and the setup were to be torn down. I had always handled everything for the wedding myself, and Serena had been busy keeping Chase company these past few days, so she had no idea. Four days later, I was discharged. Serena suddenly showed up holding a bouquet of red roses. "Baby, I've been so busy these last few days. I heard you were getting out today, so I came to pick you up." She handed me the flowers and gently took my bag. When she saw me standing there frozen, she pulled me into the car and leaned down to buckle my seatbelt. "Didn't you always want to go to the Arctic to see the northern lights? Once the wedding's over, I'll take you there for our honeymoon." For a moment I was dazed. She still remembered something I had wanted since I was young. But then she started the car, and the very next thing she said was. "You've built up a lot of connections playing soccer with big clients these past few years. You must know agents and people at overseas clubs, right? Could you pull a few strings for Chase so he gets through his tryout?" "After all, he was a bit off his game today..." In an instant, I felt as sick as if I'd swallowed a fly. A flicker of nervousness crossed Serena's eyes. But to her surprise, I nodded without much hesitation. "Okay. I'll make some calls when I get back." Her eyes widened. She could hardly believe it. Still, my sincere smile made her breathe a sigh of relief. "Thank you. Is there anything you want for a wedding gift? I'll get it for you." I took the documents I'd prepared out of my bag and calmly handed them over. "Actually, there's a new wedding suit I've had my eye on, but it's a bit expensive. I need your signature to pay for it." Serena pulled over and was about to flip through the pages when, luckily, Chase called. "Serena, I suddenly feel really anxious. My whole body feels awful. Can you come stay with me?" Chase's helpless voice made her sign her name without a second thought. Then she tossed the documents back to me and opened the car door. "Get a cab home yourself." "Lots of VIPs are coming to the wedding the day after tomorrow. Make sure you're on time." The car shot off, nearly rolling over my foot. I stood there and opened the document she had just signed. It was the agreement ending our engagement and authorizing the separation of our joint assets. Three years ago, our engagement party had not only sealed our relationship but also tied us to the same ship. Mr. Whitmore thought very highly of me and had even given us an island estate, hotel assets, and more, worth a billion pounds. Now all of it was going to end. Half an hour later, sitting in my lawyer's car, I handed him the contract. "I’m authorizing you to handle the financial settlement and division of property from here on. I've already told Mr. Whitmore, so you don't need to worry about the Whitmore family." After that, I contacted Serena's business rival. "I’ll give you all my resources for that international stadium development project you’ve always wanted." "The condition is this. Your brother is the youth academy director at River Plate. Someone is about to go there for a tryout, and I need him evaluated by the strictest possible standards." The reply came quickly: "Deal." The sun was bright outside the car window. I narrowed my eyes slightly. Goodbye, Serena. You and Chase are going to love the gift I've prepared for you. The day of the wedding. In the hazy light of dawn, my plane touched down in Miami, thousands of miles away. I put in a new SIM card, and the first message was good news from my lawyer. "The 11% stake has been sold to Serena's biggest rival, her cousin Vanessa Whitmore." Serena At that same moment, Serena was up early doing her makeup. She had booked flights to Denmark and made plans for them to try for a baby on their honeymoon. It was to be her wedding surprise for Ethan. Ethan wanted a baby so badly. Surely he would cry with happiness? At the thought, the corners of her lips curled up on their own. But when Serena arrived at the hotel, what she saw wasn't a beautiful, lavish wedding venue. It was a mess of torn-down decorations all over the floor. Her head buzzed. She grabbed a worker who was clearing away a sign and shouted at him. "What are you doing? That's the sign for my wedding with my husband! Our wedding is about to start!" The worker looked baffled. "But Mr. Lawson told us earlier the wedding was off and asked us to clear everything out." "No, that's impossible. Ethan spent half a year planning this day himself. You have no idea how much he wants to marry me!" Serena pulled out her phone. A wild unease pounded against her chest as she dialed that familiar number again and again. All she heard was the cold recording: "The number you have dialed is switched off." "Ethan, pick up the phone! You're just playing a joke on me, aren't you?" Just then, a major headline popped up on her phone. Inter Miami CF, the club Chase had dreamed of joining, had announced the signing of a gifted new player. She saw his name and the face she had known for seven years. Her eyes widened, and the phone slipped from her fingers.