After betrayed, I married the man in the Forbes

Leonard Peters stood rock solid, his broad frame wrapping Haven Peters in a protective shield. His deep voice rolled through the quiet dressing room, thick with warmth and steady reassurance. "Mom, this isn't Haven's fault. It was my mistake. I care about her deeply, and I respect her completely."

"That's why I wanted to prove myself in the business before I came to meet you. All of this was my call, so don't blame Haven for any of it."

Haven's heart skipped a beat.

How did Leonard stay this calm? His earnest gaze and honest words made his love for her feel so real. She found herself wondering if Leonard's grandfather would ever be half this attentive to her.

Sophia Porter's gaze drifted down to where Leonard and Haven's hands were laced tightly together. Leonard's sincere face, paired with her husband's glowing recommendation of him and that warm, familiar way he'd called her "Mom" softened her reluctance just a little, even if she wasn't ready to fully accept him yet.

Leonard was the kind of man her husband respected, and his willingness to step up and apologize proved how genuine he was.

Glancing at Haven, who stood stiff beside Leonard, worry etched all over her face, Sophia couldn't help but heave a deep sigh.

Her expression softened, though her tone stayed sharp and serious. "Fine. If you two truly care for each other, I won't stand in your way. But Leonard—my daughter is my whole world. She's my princess. I will not let anyone hurt her. If she gets wronged, I don't care who you are, I will make things right for her, no matter what."

Leonard answered politely, his voice warm and steady: "Mom, please, call me Leonard. I'm Haven's husband. I get it if you don't trust me yet, but I don't just say I love you—I show it."

His words struck a chord with Sophia.

As a mother, all she ever wanted was for her daughter to be happy.

Leonard's looks, his charm, his skill, his manners—everything about him was perfect. And side by side, he and Haven looked like they were made for each other.

The lingering irritation Sophia had felt finally melted away, and her face softened noticeably.

Haven could feel the heat of Leonard's hand tangled with hers—unfamiliar, but weirdly comforting. She tried to subtly pull her hand back, but his grip only tightened. Even with her thoughts spinning a million miles a minute, her smile came out genuine and sweet.

Seriously? He was holding on way tighter than he needed to, for a fake couple. Any other girl would be blushing, heart racing right now. But Haven? She'd already had her heart broken once. She wasn't that easy to fluster.

Nelson Carlson caught the subtle shift in his mom's mood. He knew even if she wouldn't say it out loud, she was starting to like Leonard.

He'd pushed Leonard towards Haven because he trusted the guy's character… and also…

Nelson glanced at his watch, a thoughtful look crossing his face, then smiled. "Mom, it's time. Let's head down to the ballroom."

Sophia nodded.

The group walked into the ballroom, where crystal chandeliers poured brilliant golden light over the entire room. Every corner was stuffed with fragrant blooms and elegant, tasteful decorations.

Socialites and big-name industry figures filed in one after another, each bearing gifts, and the whole room hummed with lively, bustling energy.

Haven wore a soft lavender evening gown that clung elegantly to her lithe, graceful figure. Intricate embroidery and glinting crystals shimmered across the fabric like stars scattered across a night sky. Her long hair was swept up into a polished updo, a few loose strands curling softly against her fair neck, adding an extra touch of soft sweetness.

Leonard cut just as striking a figure in a tailored black suit and deep charcoal tie, dashing and effortlessly sophisticated. His tall, commanding presence at Haven's side grabbed everyone's attention the second they walked in, and soft whispers of admiration rippled through the crowd.

"Look, that's the Rivera heiress and the Peters heir, aren't they? Total couple goals, right?" a woman in a silk gown murmured under her breath.

The man standing next to her nodded in full agreement. "You got that right. Ms. Rivera is gorgeous and talented, Mr. Peters is handsome and killing it in business. This match is pure power couple goals."

Haven and Leonard both smiled gracefully, nodding at the guests, oozing old-money elegance.

They stepped up to Sophia, and Haven held out the carefully wrapped gift with a warm smile. "Mom, happy birthday! I hope you stay healthy and happy for years to come."

Every eye locked on the box in Haven's hand. A man in a black suit squinted at it, and his eyes went wide with disbelief.

"If I'm not wrong, that watch Haven's holding is the exclusive meteorite dial piece from world-famous designer Claire—one of only five ever made."

Most of the guests were familiar with high-end collectible watches, and they caught the implication immediately.

"Rumor was Claire kept this one for his own personal collection, he never puts it up for sale. I've always wondered who ended up with it… turns out it's Ms. Rivera."

Sophia was a lifelong watch collector, and it was obvious how thrilled she was with the gift.

Leonard stood beside Haven, his dark eyes full of quiet appreciation.

Sophia gently squeezed Haven's hand and smiled. "Thank you, Haven. I absolutely love it. Leonard, you're staying with us a while this time, right?"

Haven caught it immediately—her mom was already acknowledging Leonard as her son-in-law.

Leonard paused for half a second, then answered politely: "Aunt Sophia, don't you worry. This time, Haven and I are staying a few extra days before we head back to New York. Haven came home mainly just to spend time with you."

Sophia's face broke into a wide, genuine grin. "That's wonderful! In a couple days your father and brothers will be back. It's going to be a proper family reunion."

The atmosphere grew warmer and more comfortable by the minute.

With every eye on them, Leonard led Haven out to the dance floor just as the first notes of the waltz started playing. They moved across the floor gracefully, their steps falling into perfect sync.

Haven tipped her head up slightly, her gaze meeting Leonard's, and whispered, "We're signing the marriage license tomorrow. Am I really going back to New York with you after that?"

Her steps flowed smooth and easy, and Leonard matched her rhythm perfectly, like they'd danced together a hundred times. They moved as one across the floor, and one by one the guests stopped their conversations to watch. By the end, soft applause broke out around the room.

Leonard's dark eyes locked onto hers, and with a quick spin he pulled her tighter, their chests pressing flush together.

He leaned down, his breath warm and tickling against the shell of her ear as he whispered, "That's right. And you're going to meet my grandfather."

Haven's heart tripped over itself. She could feel his heat seeping through the thin fabric of her gown, spreading warm all the way down to her toes. Her cheeks flushed pink, and a tingling tingle ran all the way down her shoulder.

When the dance ended, the evening hit its peak. Haven and Leonard circulated through the guests, exchanging polite small talk.

Haven, with her natural poise and sharp, thoughtful takes, had everyone she talked to hanging on her every word.

Leonard swapped business insights and war stories with industry leaders, and won over every single one of them.

As the night wound down, Haven, Leonard, Sophia, and Nelson headed back to the Rivera family home.

Later, after Haven spent a while catching up with Sophia, she noticed how tired her mom looked and gently urged her to turn in. "Mom, you should get some rest. I won't keep you up any longer."

Outside Sophia's room, Bo Mitchell stepped forward. "Ms. Rivera, Mr. Peters' room is all ready. He's already settled in there for the night."

Haven stopped short, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face as she froze mid-step.