1 Chapter 1

In a tranquil and exclusive chapel by the Mediterranean Sea, a bride walks down the aisle, escorted by her father, toward the altar, where the groom eagerly awaits, filled with emotion.

Specially commissioned music by a renowned composer for the couple accompanies the serene scene. 

All eyes are fixed on the beautiful bride with a veil that drapes like a goddess's. As she reaches the altar, the groom turns, deeply moved to tears at seeing his stunning bride.

The spectacle touches everyone present except for Leopold. He's simply biding his time, trying repeatedly to conceal his drowsiness with a catering menu he's managed to swipe.

He despises wedding ceremonies. 

'Hmph, they're quite skilled at acting, appearing to love each other,' Leopold comments silently. There's a reason behind it; he knows the scandal between the two magnate spouses well.

Just as the priest inquires if anyone objects to their holy union, Leopold rises from his seat and loudly declares.

"I object!"

Instantly, all eyes are on him as he stands proudly in the aisle for everyone to see, including the shocked gaze of the bride.

The bride hastily instructs security to detain Leopold, but the groom intervenes, seeking an explanation for the commotion. 

"Do you know him, Lilian?" the groom asks, but the bride shakes her head panicky.

"Oh, don't be like that, Liliana, you're breaking my heart..." Leopold feigns sadness. "Have you forgotten our passionate affair just two days ago?" he continues, acting innocently, tilting his head with puppy eyes.

Leopold's words create turmoil among the guests. 

"Two days ago? She dares to cheat on Randall?"

"How embarrassing!"

"Who would've thought that?!"

"Oh, I always knew Liliana was a cheap whore," comments a relative of the groom.

"He's lying!" accuses Liliana, pointing at Leopold, who moves closer to embrace Liliana, his beloved.

"Stop! Security! Take this man away!" Liliana orders, panicking and gesturing toward Leopold.

"Liliana, is what this man saying is true? Have you betrayed me?" Randall asks, his face expressing hurt and betrayal.

"No, Randall, baby! I could never do that!" Liliana protests, attempting to persuade Randall.

"Liliana... then what do you have to say about this?" coaxes Leopold, pointing at a large screen that previously displayed Randall and Liliana's pre-wedding photos but now shows their intimate photos in a Ritz Carlton hotel room from two days ago.

Gasps are heard from the onlookers seeing Leopold and Liliana's intimate photos. Randall's face turns red, containing his anger. "Get that man out of here!" He commands firmly, and the security personnel step forward to remove Leopold forcefully.

"Oh, Liliana! My love! How could you do this to me?" Leopold asks loudly while Liliana looks away in shame. 

Outside, the security tosses Leopold into the hallway and leaves him there. He stands up and walks away, whistling; his job is done. Whatever happens to the couple next is no longer his concern.

***

In the evening, at a secluded lounge owned by a resident, Leopold waits for someone while sipping on sangria—a mixed alcoholic drink consisting of red and white wine and fruit, typical of Spanish beverages.

From his seat, he sees the person he's been waiting for enter. Leopold asks the server to bring the same drink for the man. Randall flops onto the sofa in front of Leopold, his face gleaming, unlike someone who has just been betrayed on his wedding day.

"Thank you, man! Finally, I got hold of 50% of Liliana's family shares. All thanks to you," Randall claps Leopold on the arm.

Leopold frowned. "So... the wedding still went on?" he asked.

"Of course, that was my plan from the start. That old man was quite stubborn, but when you embarrassed his daughter, he was willing to exchange anything to make me marry her," Randall explains with a smirk.

Leopold nods knowingly. As per his principles, what happens afterwards is not his concern. His services could be used for any requests involving playing with women's emotions.

Randall sips the freshly delivered sangria, looking content, a smile never leaving his lips. "Well, my payment?" Leopold cuts to the chase, eager to leave and return to LA.

Randall hands over a thick envelope containing Leopold's payment of $100 bills. With a squint, Leopold confirms if the amount matches their initial agreement.

He catches Randall's flirty glance at the server refilling his sangria. Randall lifts the server's skirt slowly, teasingly looking at her. The woman smiles back at Randall and signals to meet him after her shift.

'Cheap,' Leopold judges the woman.

*Ding*

A message pops up on Leopold's phone. It's from Liliana.

"Darling, would you forget about this morning's issue and meet me now? I miss you!" Liliana's message is accompanied by a seductive photo showing her cleavage and buttocks, only covered by a string.

Leopold sighs. Just this morning, the man and woman exchanged sacred vows before the priest, yet not even 24 hours later, they were betraying each other. It further solidifies Leopold's decision to live a solitary life, unattached to anyone. For him, genuine love doesn't exist—experience has taught him that.

He stands abruptly, leaving Randall without a goodbye. He tosses his disposable phone number into the trash bin outside the lounge, hails a taxi, and heads straight to the airport.

*Riing...*

The phone rings from a number known to one person: Aster, his assistant.

"Yes, Aster," he answers, ready for the next mission.

"New mission, right away. Details are in the email," Aster closed without waiting for his response.

A notification pops up on his phone. He opens it, his eyebrows lifting at the client's request.

'Alimony breaker?'

It's a new type of mission for him. When he sees who the requester is, Leopold smiles. He's landed a major client, an old-money tycoon.

Impatient as always, he immediately dials Aster. "What's the deal here, Aster? Give me the lowdown," he asks his assistant.

He hears Aster take a deep breath, gearing up for a lengthy explanation. "So, he wants you to seduce his divorcee, marry her, so he can stop paying alimony every month to her," Aster finishes.

"Until marriage?" Leopold confirms, trying to convince himself.

"Yes, and you can't refuse it. He's threatening to shut down our agency if you decline or fail because we know his malicious intent," Aster adds.

"Aster! What have you been doing all day? Can't you screen clients who won't threaten us?" Leopold protests.

"I guess this field isn't for you, boss. It would be best if you switched businesses," Aster comments coldly, expressionless.

Leopold curses under his breath. Aster is the only woman he can trust. Despite being money-minded, she operates on hard work rather than appeal. She's a woman of dignity. But maybe it's because she's in her 50s.

Leopold looked at the photo of the woman who would be his target, sitting so solemnly under the rain at a bus stop, gazing at the sky with sad eyes. 

Somehow, by looking at the woman in that photo, Leopold's heart started to ache.