My mouth remained open in awe as we arrived in Hawaii. From what I heard, we were on Maui Island, a popular destination for tourists because of its stunning landscapes and golden sandy beaches.

I tried to keep a straight face and not smile, but to be honest, I wanted to kneel down and roll in the sand while taking pictures. However, I didn't want to embarrass myself, especially since such behavior didn't seem fitting with Alex. He was dressed casually, but the attention from other women never seemed to fade. I felt like I was just his maid, even though I was dressed quite elegantly today.

"I tried to wear something that would match Alex's style, even though it wasn't really my taste. Shena had told me that sleeveless outfits suited me well because of my toned shoulders, and I ended up looking like a rich man's daughter, so that's what I'm wearing today.

When we arrived at the resort, we went straight to the reservation area to drop off our things in the room that Alex had booked. We had arrived in the morning since our flight took several hours to get here.

Rest first, Isabella. You didn't get much sleep earlier. The wedding will start at 5. You have several hours to rest. I'll come visit you later," he said, and I just nodded.

After I closed the door to the room, I jumped onto the bed. It felt so good to lie down, but I also thought about going out and exploring. However, I hesitated, fearing that something might happen again or that I might get lost.

I lay there and looked around the room. I wanted to pinch myself because it all felt like a dream. You can truly get what you want when you have money, and that's what I lacked. So, I'm grateful that he's showing me this life.

I stood in front of the door to my cabin, a mix of nervousness and excitement coursing through me. Today was the day of the wedding, a grand celebration I had been looking forward to. Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Honestly, I was quite surprised when I woke up earlier and someone knocked on the door. I thought it was Alex, but it turned out to be two unfamiliar women who said they were here to get me ready.

Before I could say anything, they ushered me out, saying they needed to make preparations. I shrugged it off and headed to the dining area for lunch. I was also looking for Alex, but he wasn't around, so I ended up eating alone.

As the door swung open, my senses were immediately greeted by the soft hum of music and the faint scent of floral arrangements. The cabin had been transformed into a makeshift beauty salon, with a vanity table covered in an array of makeup products and hairstyling tools.

Two women, both dressed professionally, approached me with warm smiles. "Good day, Miss Isabella," one of them greeted cheerfully. "We're here to make you look stunning for the wedding.

I couldn't help but grin in return. "Thank you so much. I'm in your capable hands."

The two women wasted no time. They guided me to the vanity table and motioned for me to take a seat. I settled onto the comfortable chair, my heart fluttering with anticipation. One of the women began to work on my hair, carefully weaving intricate braids and curls, while the other focused on enhancing my features with skillful makeup application.

As they worked their magic, I stole glances at myself in the mirror. The transformation was gradual but remarkable. My hair was being transformed into an elegant updo adorned with delicate flowers that matched my dress. The makeup expert deftly applied subtle yet striking makeup, enhancing my natural beauty without overpowering it.

"Wow," I couldn't help but exclaim after seeing the result.

The hairstylist met my gaze through the mirror and smiled. "You look beautiful, Miss Isabella. Just wait until you see the finished look."

As the minutes passed, I felt myself being pampered and attended to with meticulous care. The hairstylist added finishing touches, and the makeup artist stepped back to admire her work.

"We're all done," she said with satisfaction.

I turned to face the mirror, my eyes widening in amazement. My long, dark hair was elegantly arranged on top of my head, with curls cascading in front. Flowers adorned my hair, complementing the dress I was wearing.

My green eyes looked more intense, and I was glad they didn't make me wear contact lenses to hide their natural color. I pursed my lips, which were painted in a shade of red lipstick, and smiled later on.

"Your eyes are beautiful... Are you perhaps Irish?" I smiled at them when I noticed they were just staring at me through the large mirror.

"I'm not pure Irish. My father was half Irish and half Filipino."

"What a great combination. I bet your father is handsome!" I didn't respond and stood up.

"Thank you both so much," I said, my gratitude evident in my voice. "I can't believe how incredible this turned out."

"It was our pleasure," the hairstylist replied. "We're here to make you feel confident and gorgeous."

With a final approving glance in the mirror, I stood up from the chair and slowly walked out of the cabin to join the wedding. I couldn't help but appreciate the magic that the hairstylist and makeup artist had worked on. Today was a day to celebrate love, and I felt radiantly ready to do just that.

I hadn't even stepped out of the door when I unexpectedly crossed paths with Alex, who was about to knock. As our eyes met for a moment, I noticed he withdrew his hand from the door and smiled warmly.

"You look stunning," I couldn't help blushing at his compliment. Who wouldn't be nervous and thrilled when a handsome man praised you?

"T-thank you," I tucked my hair behind my ear and sweetly smiled at him, but quickly dropped it when I realized what I was doing. Was I just trying to appear beautiful in front of him?

He certainly caught my attention with his clean, white linen cotton shirt. The top two buttons were open, revealing his well-built chest.

The contrast between the pristine white shirt and his sun-kissed, tanned skin was nothing short of mesmerizing, and it was nearly impossible for me not to look at him.

He approached me and extended his arm. "Let's go?"

I took hold of it, and we began to walk toward the venue.

We walked until we reached the wedding venue. It was an exclusive guest list, but the attendees were quite prominent in the world of industry and wealthy families. We walked to our respective seats, as men and women were seated separately.

The wedding venue in Hawaii was a breathtaking seaside paradise. As the sun descended, the sand turned golden. Rows of white chairs were set up along the shore, and the gentle sound of the waves added to the ambiance. It was a scene of natural beauty and romance that left us in awe.

The wedding ceremony began, and I couldn't help but wonder if my own wedding someday would be like this. I didn't care if it was simple as long as I was marrying the right man. After the ceremony, I sat and watched the events unfold. I also scanned the area to find Alex, but I found something else.

In the distance, I saw a woman approaching the venue, dressed in all white, her outfit hugging her shapely body. I also noticed the people around her seemed delighted to see her, with some approaching her with enthusiasm.

"Is that Lavinia? She is still gorgeous!" one woman whispered to another, casting an admiring glance at the stunning woman who had just entered the room.

"I heard her ex-husband is finding another poor woman to feed," another voice chimed in, dripping with a mix of pity and disdain.

"My heart sank as I realized they were talking about Alex.

"Oh, that matchmaking thing? I thought they went back together?"

"I don't know, but his new woman isn't attractive at all. You can clearly tell she's not well-off by the way she carries herself. Alex doesn't always have a specific taste in women," another woman commented, her tone filled with judgment.

This was one of the things I disliked about mingling with the wealthy. They often showed their worst side in order to gain praise from others.

"Lavinia is incredibly beautiful, but I'm sure they'll reconcile. Alexander was once deeply in love with her in the past," a gentler voice added, tinged with nostalgia. I felt a strange mix of emotions as I heard this comment.

Perhaps it was because I had become too comfortable around him that I reacted this way? That was it. I couldn't blame people who knew them because they were a married couple. But why did my chest ache? Why did it feel like I was hurt? Was it because they were comparing me to his wife?

I was used to hearing hurtful words, but it was different when they came from strangers. They easily judged, even without knowing the person.

"Look, he's going to her!" I followed the woman's gaze beside me and saw Alex approaching her, but I couldn't discern any emotion on his face.

I lowered my gaze to the woman's hand because she was caressing Alex as if she were conveying something. I couldn't approach them because I had no place in their relationship. I was here to accompany him, and I had no part in his personal life.

Even in the reception area, Alex only talked to me briefly while he was with his group, including his ex-wife. I couldn't help but feel irritated because it seemed like he had forgotten about me so quickly. If he still loved his wife, they should just get back together! It was frustrating! If this was all I was going to experience, I should have spent my time at work.

"You've murdered that cake. I think I need to arrest you, attorney," a voice suddenly interrupted my cake-cutting endeavor. I froze, the fork poised mid-air, and turned to the source of the voice. My eyes widened in disbelief as I recognized the person speaking.

"Michael? Is that really you?" I couldn't believe my eyes. He was the guy I met at the bar, a friend of Shena's cousin. I never expected to see him again.

"The only one," he said with a smile.

"But, how? I mean, what a small world!" I exclaimed in surprise and happiness.

"It's my sister's wedding, that's why I came here. I never thought that you're the woman Mr. Montgomery is accompanying," he explained.

I sighed and took a small piece of cake to taste. "I don't know how to explain it, but I got involved in this event without knowing its purpose."

"It's just three months anyway. I bet Shane was behind this," he said knowingly.

I raised an eyebrow. "How did you know it was her?"

"Well," he scratched his neck again before answering, "She asked me about the event. My uncle is one of the regular customers there, so she told me about it. She wanted you to explore something new, so she had you join. Unfortunately, she doesn't know the real purpose of the event since it's forbidden to discuss it publicly."

I didn't respond immediately and savored the taste of the cake. "I had no choice, and I didn't want to pay because I had no money. Alex has been good to me, so I'll just finish this."

"You shouldn't get too attached to him, Isabella," he warned, and I turned to look at him.

"Why? Because of his wife? Is she going to confront me?"

"I don't know about his wife, but I feel it's important to share this with you so that you won't be too quick to trust him. You know that he's had many sugar babies before, right? I heard that he was the one who never finished the three months contract because he gets bored quickly."

"Huh? So, no one has really completed it? What happens if he backs out himself?" Wait, what I heard at the mall might not have been about Alex after all. The girl said she finished the contract.

I sighed out of relief. That's good to know. So, it's not Lavinia they were talking about as the crazy ex-wife. I wonder who that could be?

"Let's see, I also learned this from Uncle, but once the man backs out, the woman won't get paid. The man will pay for their match. Honestly, no one lasts long with him, Isabella. The rumors I heard before were that his longest match was only a week, and then the girl would be surprised because she received a check and a contract. He's the only one allowed to do this because he has a big share in the event company compared to other investors."

"So, are you saying I shouldn't trust him because there might come a day when he gets tired of being with me?"

"That is also one of the reasons. I'll tell you early, Isabella. You'll regret it in the end if it happens to you again. Protect the most important part of yourself, Isabella. Don't fall for that kind of man."

I fell silent. I haven't reached the point of falling for him yet. It's just admiration. After hearing this, I don't think I'll allow myself to fall for him. It's kind of complicated, especially if the day comes when he does get tired of me. Michael was right. I shouldn't fall for him. I don't want to get hurt again.