The Tycoon Proposed At My Wedding

Edward Ryan's stubborn persistence left Ana Spencer with no room to refuse.

When she finally nodded, Edward's face broke into a delighted grin. "Don't you worry about what anyone else thinks. I know exactly what's on your mind. Once the wedding's over, you'll have your own space, and if anything comes up, you just come talk to me. For now, I've set you up at a hotel where no one will bother you. Just kick back and look forward to being a bride!"

Ana was tucked away in the hotel, enjoying a few days of quiet.

On the wedding day, she woke up early, swarmed by a flurry of people fussing over her every little detail. She felt like a puppet being styled into something almost too perfect. Staring into the mirror, she saw a breathtaking princess looking back at her—regal and stunning. She'd always dreamed of this day, but now, her feelings were a tangled mess she couldn't name.

In the grand ballroom, guests packed into every seat. Everyone in the city knew about this wedding, and the crowd was full of big shots and socialites.

Ana had agreed to the marriage mostly out of gratitude for Edward's kindness.

As the clock ticked closer to the main event, Ana stood ready, waiting… but Jalen was nowhere to be found.

"Did something go wrong?" she wondered, catching Edward outside through the mirror, his face creased with panic as he whispered orders to the makeup artist. Something definitely felt off.

The makeup artist gave a reassuring smile. "Don't stress, Ana. Today, you're the bride. Just focus on looking gorgeous." Despite the soothing words, a knot of anxiety tightened in Ana's chest.

As it neared noon, Jalen still hadn't shown. Ana smiled faintly at her own reflection, fully grasping what was unfolding. She stood, ready to walk out, only to be blocked by the makeup artist. "Miss Spencer, the ceremony's about to start—you can't leave."

"There's no point pretending anymore—Jalen didn't come. How exactly is a wedding supposed to happen with just me up there?" If he'd planned to be here, he would have shown by now.

It was her own soft heart that had let this painful truth sink in. The night he walked out on her, she should've known she meant nothing to him.

"Let me go!"

"Miss Spencer, you really can't just walk out."

As they argued, the door swung open and Edward strode in. "Ana, it's time. The ceremony is starting. The makeup artist will take you to the hall—you'll see Jalen in just a second."

"Mr. Ryan, I…"

"Still calling me Mr. Ryan? Pretty soon you'll be calling me something else. It's tradition you two don't see each other before the ceremony, so don't overthink it." Edward shot her a reassuring look before turning away, his expression hardening.

"Did you find him?"

The people trailing behind him shook their heads, and Edward's face darkened with frustration. "Useless idiots! Can't even track down one person. I'll go drag that stubborn boy here myself! Keep an eye on things—don't screw this up."

"Go on! I've got everything handled here, don't worry." Ruth smiled sweetly, watching Edward's car drive off with a cold, calculating glint in her eye.

"Ana Spencer, I will never let a fallen woman like you ruin my son's life." She muttered under her breath, dialing a number. "Everything ready? Good, start now."

Backstage, Ana waited with the makeup artist, her stomach churning.

When the music started, Ana's nerves spiked. Had Jalen finally arrived?

The melody played, and a clear voice rang out from the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome today's star, the most beautiful bride, Ana Spencer!"

Every girl dreams of being walked down the aisle by her father. Today, Ana walked alone, but she still managed a smile, imagining her dad watching from above. She wanted him to see that she would be happy.

Standing on the stage, she was the center of everyone's attention.

"The bride is stunning, so our groom must be quite the catch too. Give a big round of applause as the groom makes his debut!"

As the seconds ticked by, Ana stood alone on the stage, waiting for Jalen, who never appeared. The guests started murmuring—a groom vanishing at his own wedding was serious gossip.

"I heard Jalen doesn't even care about Ana, he's just being forced into this."

"How pathetic can you get? If it were me, I would've never agreed to a marriage like this. Totally shameless."

Ana felt the weight of all those curious, judgmental stares, stuck there with nowhere to hide.

Then, images flashed onto the giant screen behind her. The crowd gasped. Ana spun around, her heart dropping as blown-up photos of her disheveled state from that night on the street filled the screen.

"Oh my god! So she's a total tramp, dressed like that at night—probably out hooking up, and with multiple guys even!"

"What a disgrace to her family. No wonder the groom didn't bother showing up."

"Look, she's getting into a car. Who knows what went down in there? Then coming out of a hotel in different clothes—shameless!"

The whispers grew into a roar, everyone pointing and gossiping, while Ana stood frozen. She had no idea where those photos came from. Scanning the crowd, she spotted Ruth smirking wickedly in the corner, and it all clicked.

Ruth had orchestrated the whole thing. She was out to destroy Ana's reputation.

Someone from the crowd shouted, "Why go through with this joke of a wedding? Get off the stage already! If I were the groom, I wouldn't have shown either."

Standing there, Ana clenched her fists tight. What had she ever done to deserve this? Why did Jalen's family treat her like garbage? Her quiet endurance had only made them bolder.

In that moment, rage boiled up inside her—toward everyone who had shoved her into this spotlight. She suddenly snatched the microphone from the emcee, facing the crowd. "The wedding is happening."

If they wanted a spectacle, she'd give them one.

She was about to go on when the doors burst open. A tall, commanding figure strode up the aisle, microphone in hand, making his way toward her.

"Sorry I'm late." Dazed, she watched him approach, the lights revealing his face. In that instant, Ana was stunned speechless.

How could it be him?

As he stopped right beside her, the crowd erupted in shock.

Because the man on that stage was none other than Desmond Spencer—the one person whose influence no one in this city could match.