His Secret Backer

The day before we were scheduled to fly to Meridianna for our wedding, Harrison Tucker, my fiancé of five years, swapped my and my parents' first-class tickets for Mandy and her parents without saying a word. He said casually, "Mandy hasn't been to Meridianna and wanted to take her parents out for vacation, but there weren't that many seats left in first class on our flight... You guys take a ship over. I've already bought you the tickets." I looked toward my fiancé's family, and surprisingly, not a single person opposed Harrison's decision. It was then that I finally gave up all hope. After they boarded the plane and departed, I canceled the wedding venue, as well as the luxury hotel and high-end services I had booked. I want to see exactly how Harrison, a customs declaration clerk making only a few thousand dollars a month, was going to accompany his "dear friend's" family to go around Meridianna without my help. Chapter 1 Just before heading out, I had just dragged my luggage over and was preparing to get in the car when I was blocked by Harrison Tucker. "Lola, get a cab. I need to take Mandy to pick up her parents." "Mandy has never been abroad, and it's her parents' first time going to Meridianna. We can't just let them try to figure it out on their own." Harrison's expression was completely natural, as if he were speaking of a matter that couldn't be more ordinary. Yet, I felt it was absolutely absurd. Mandy Shaw was a customs clerk working in the same office as Harrison. For the past month, I had frequently heard her name from Harrison's mouth. But because I was busy every day arranging the wedding matters, I knew nothing about their relationship. With things having reached this point, I forced myself to stay patient and said, "Our flight is almost due. There isn't time to pick others up..." Harrison's eyes flickered, and he suddenly said to me, "There's something I forgot to tell you. I've refunded your and your parents' first-class flight tickets and swapped them over to Mandy's family." "What did you say?" I couldn't believe my own ears. "There were only three seats left in first class," Harrison explained patiently. "Mandy's parents are old, and it's their first time taking an international flight, so I wanted them to sit a bit more comfortably. As for you guys..." He fished three ship tickets out of his pocket and handed them to me. "I've already booked a ship. Although it's a bit slower, you can appreciate the ocean view all along the way. Haven't you always said that the most beautiful thing about Meridianna is the sea? This way you can experience it up close." I lowered my head to look at the ship tickets, my heart sinking. Taking a ship from domestic waters to Meridianna took several days with multiple transfers, and our wedding was the day after tomorrow. I lifted my head to look at him. "Harrison, my parents are also old. You have the heart to let them suffer through the rough seas? Furthermore, all the wedding guests are arriving tomorrow. The hotel, venue, and schedule are all set. If we take a ship over, what happens to the wedding?" The smile on Harrison's face faded. "What I booked is the most luxurious cruise ship. So how could it be bumping around? It's just a bit later. What's wrong with changing the wedding time? "Besides, it's rare for Mandy's family to go out on a trip. Can't you be considerate?" Mandy, who had been by the side the entire time, had eyes rimmed with red and opened her mouth with extreme caution. "Lola, I'm sorry... "Mr. Tucker insisted that we deserve to enjoy ourselves, since I haven't been abroad and need to see the world, and that my mom and dad have worked hard their whole lives... If it affects you guys, I won't go." Harrison furrowed his brows and protected her behind his back. "Mandy, what are you apologizing for? This was my decision in the first place." My mind went blank. I was the one who had to choose the island, book hotels, contact the photography team, and invite guests. Even arranging private yachts, wedding planning, and scheduling for both sets of parents was arranged entirely by me. From beginning to end, he had only said a single sentence. "It's fine as long as you decide." His salary wasn't high, being a customs declaration clerk making only a few thousand dollars a month. In order to look after his pride, I had never brought up money. Meanwhile, I was a capo of the Narshe mafia family, independently responsible for a pier, with a monthly income of over one hundred thousand dollars. I frequently used my connections to help introduce him to import-export enterprises, making his work much smoother. Gradually, he convinced himself that his professional competence led to the validation of so many companies. However, to look after his pitiful pride, I had never told him the truth. I thought that with his elevated status, our relationship would be better, but looking at it now, it had only fueled thoughts he shouldn't have. Heidi, Harrison's mom, walked over and scolded me with a face full of displeasure. "Lola, isn't it just swapping a seat? Is it worth being this calculating?" Harrison's father, Daniel, also kept a stern face. "Exactly. Mandy's parents haven't seen the world. What's wrong with letting them sit in first class to experience it? "Besides, Harrison's work is so good now, he will certainly have boundless prospects in the future. As his fiancée, you should support his decisions even more." A trace of pride flashed across Daniel's face. In their minds, Harrison was highly capable, but they didn't know that his achievements were entirely because of me. Harrison looked at the time and said impatiently to me, "Lola, the ship tickets have already been bought. Let's not waste them. If you truly care about our wedding, don't throw a temper over this bit of small matter." He took over Mandy's suitcase and personally opened the car door for her. The family talked and laughed as they got into the car. It was only right before driving off that his face softened. "Honey, stop making a scene. When we arrive at Meridianna, I will arrange for people to go to the port to pick you guys up." Finishing his words, he stepped on the gas pedal, and the car disappeared from my line of sight. The last shred of expectation in my heart was extinguished thoroughly as well. I silently pulled out my phone and dialed the wedding planning team's number. "The wedding is canceled. I'm not getting married." Chapter 2 After handling the wedding matters, I dialed the hotel manager's number once again. "The wedding is off. Cancel the presidential suite, ocean-view villas, private butler, private chef, yacht, private cars, and all services for the wedding day." The manager paused for a moment. "Ms. Olsen, are you certain? According to the contract, a portion of the deposit cannot be refunded." "I'm sure." Immediately following, I also canceled the photography team, makeup team, and floral services. In less than half an hour, the wedding I had personally prepared for half a year was completely canceled. I sat quietly on my suitcase, only now realizing that my hands and feet were getting numb. Just as I was preparing to return to the villa, Harrison called. "Lola, have you guys arrived at the pier?" His voice was still gentle, as if he wasn't the one who had just driven me and my parents away. "Almost." I responded calmly, and Harrison let out a sigh of relief. "That's good. Let the private butler know first that Mandy is allergic to seafood, so don't have them prepare lobster or crab. She has trouble sleeping in unfamiliar beds, so have the room scented with lavender aromatherapy ahead of time. Also, don't prepare milk for breakfast. She prefers oat milk." He said a great deal in a single breath, terrified of missing any detail. I listened quietly. Once he finished speaking, I asked a single sentence in a light voice. "Is that all?" The other end fell silent for a brief moment, then his voice turned cheerful. "That's all for now. It's Mandy's first time going abroad. I'm afraid she won't be used to it, so look after her a bit more." I suddenly felt it was ironic. Turns out, he was capable of remembering everything, but nothing concerning me. After five years together, he didn't know that milk gave me a stomachache and that I was allergic to mangoes. He knew even less that I had to draw the curtains tightly to sleep and couldn't stand heavy perfume scents. In the past, I always made excuses for him, feeling that he was merely busy with work and lacked the mind to remember these things. Yet Mandy had only been acquainted with him for a month, and he remembered clear as day what she liked, what she avoided eating, and her sleep habits. Only now did I understand that if a person truly keeps you in their heart, there is no need for reminders. The phone rang again, another call from Harrison. "Also, Mandy is a bit shy around strangers. Mention it to the private butler ahead of time so they're aware. In addition, arrange her parents' room in the position with the best view. It's their first time coming to Meridianna, so the experience must be excellent." I gave a light response. "Okay." Hearing my response, he let out a satisfied laugh. "You're still the sensible one. Once the wedding is over, I'll make it up to you." The call hung up, and I remembered back to five years ago when I had just taken over the family pier. During an outing, several drunkards pestered me. Though my bodyguards were nearby and could have arrived very quickly, Harrison didn't know that. He rushed up without a single shred of hesitation to shield me, getting beaten until his face was black and blue. That was the first time someone disregarded their own safety for mine. From that day on, I proactively pursued him. To be with him, I concealed my identity as a capo of a mafia family, only saying that I managed a pier business. His salary wasn't high, so I bore the vast majority of our dating expenses. He wanted to achieve results in his work, so I used my network to introduce regular import-export enterprises. I thought that to love a person meant maintaining his pride. Only now did I realize that my constant compromises never bought his affection. In fact, it had only made him find everything more and more a matter of course. Another message popped up, still from Harrison. [Don't forget to have the hotel prepare welcome bouquets. Mandy likes white roses, not lilies.] The sentence was short, yet felt like a needle, piercing through my last illusion. I wiped my eyes and put away all my vulnerability. From now on, I only had one identity—capo of Narshe's Olsen mafia family. I dialed the hotel manager's phone once more. "Don't reinstate any of the services canceled just now. "In addition, for the rooms and all matching services freed up after the cancellation, do not allow anyone to check in under my name." Since Harrison wanted to take care of Mandy so badly, for this trip to Meridianna, let him use his own salary of a few thousand dollars a month to take good care of her. Chapter 3 When I returned home, the sky had already turned dark. We lived in a two-story, old-fashioned townhouse nestled in a residential area near the pier. The house wasn’t large, only about one hundred square meters. Harrison’s second-hand sedan, which he had driven for several years, was parked in the yard. This place was very close to the customs office, chosen solely for Harrison’s convenience in commuting to and from work. To look after his pride, I hadn't told him I possessed a manor of several thousand square meters in Narshe, complete with a full staff and bodyguards. I left the manor uninhabited to squeeze into this tiny house with him, living with his parents day in and day out. Originally, I had planned to reveal my identity to him after the wedding. Looking at it now, though, there was no need. With a single phone call, several black business vans pulled up outside the door in less than twenty minutes. My assistant, James, brought my men inside, and they methodically organized my belongings. Clothes, jewelry, documents… each item was packed into boxes. Watching the traces of my life vanish bit by bit, I stood in the living room, my heart devoid of any emotion. Right at this moment, the phone rang once again. "Lola, transfer fifty thousand dollars to me. Mandy's eyeing a bag, and I promised to buy it for her." His tone was a matter of course, without even a single sentence of preamble. I fell silent for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed. "Harrison, are you certain you want to borrow money from me just to buy a gift for another woman?" The other end of the line went quiet for an instant, and very quickly, his tone turned heavy. "Lola, when did you become so petty? It's Mandy's first time going abroad, so what's wrong with me giving her a gift? Can you stop letting your mind wander?" I questioned back in a light voice. "So, you feel this is very normal?" His voice carried impatience as he said, "Lola, don't always assume the worst of people. "Forget it, there's no reasoning with you. You'd simply make trouble out of nothing." He hung up the phone. Looking at the darkened phone screen, my heart throbbed with a faint ache. Over five years, the most expensive gift he had ever given me was merely a necklace worth a few hundred dollars. Now, he was actually willing to borrow money from me to buy luxury goods for another woman. As if driven by some bizarre impulse, I clicked open Mandy's Instagram. Her latest update had been posted half an hour ago. The first photo was of the airport's VIP lounge. Mandy sat before the floor-to-ceiling window, the table piled high with exquisite pastries and drinks. The caption read: [First time in an airport VIP lounge. Turns out it can be this comfortable before boarding. Thank you to Mr. Tucker for looking after me all along the way. Knowing I have a seafood allergy, he even specially accompanied me to pick out food all over again.] In the comments section, quite a few colleagues left messages one after another. [Mr. Tucker is way too considerate.] [With this kind of treatment, if I didn't know better, I'd think he was her boyfriend.] [So envious. It's true happiness to have someone look after you.] Mandy offered no explanation, only replying with a shy face-covering emoji. The second photo showed the spacious and comfortable seats of the first-class cabin. She leaned against the leather seat with slippers at her feet. Champagne, caviar, and exquisite pastries set before her, while an endless sea of clouds stretched outside the window. The caption read: [First time flying first class. A long-haul flight doesn't have to be tiring at all. Thank you to Mr. Tucker for leaving the best seats for me, Mom, and Dad. Today truly feels like a dream.] I stared at the photo, not shifting away for a long time. Those three seats originally belonged to me and my parents. The third photo was in a luxury boutique in the airport duty-free shop. Mandy held a limited-edition handbag of the latest design, her smile exceptionally brilliant. Harrison stood before the checkout counter, lowering his head to input his credit card password. The caption read: [Thank you to Mr. Tucker for the gift. Since it's my first time going abroad, he said a girl always needs to buy something she likes as a keepsake, and that it's worth it no matter how expensive. So happy today.] I slowly zoomed in on the photo. The bank card beside the checkout counter was something I couldn't be more familiar with—Harrison's credit card. I guess he wasn't without money. He was merely reluctant to spend money on me. At this time, James walked over. "Miss, everything is packed." As the last suitcase was lifted onto the van, the house I had lived in for five years no longer contained anything belonging to me. My phone rang once again, but this time I didn't answer. A message very quickly popped up. [Lola, did you book that seven-star hotel in Meridianna? Why can't the front desk find our check-in information?] I ignored it. An hour later, my phone began to ring frantically. By this time, I had already returned to the manor and intended to have nothing to do with Harrison. So, I blocked him. However, less than a minute later, an unfamiliar number called in. Looking at the constantly flashing screen, I still answered. Harrison didn't know whose phone he had borrowed, but his voice no longer carried his previous composure, even bearing a trace of trembling that couldn't be concealed. "Lola, I just went to the wedding venue. Why did they tell me... "The wedding has been canceled?"