spanng="EN"Roger’s POV

    spanng="EN"I put my tuxedo on and headed downstairs. I was going to the venue alone. Despite what Sasha said, she had already signed all the documents. She couldn’t stop the divorce from happening, and it waspleted yesterday. I was a free man, and I was going to im Elizabeth. I got my hair cut earlier today, and I felt like a million bucks. She always thought I was handsome, and with a fresh shave, I looked better than I normally did. I felt a little anxiety when I got downstairs, and my family was also dressed to go to the wedding.

    spanng="EN"“What are you doing? Things would go better without any of you there,” I suggested.

    spanng="EN"“How can my son get married without me?” my mother asked.

    spanng="EN"“Do you swear on your life that you will not cause a disturbance? Are you going there to support me, or cause trouble for Elizabeth? Because I am fine with just Dad going with me if you’re nning on causing trouble,” I replied.

    spanng="EN"“Why would you have me swear on my life, Roger? Are you wishing death on me?” my mother gasped out.

    spanng="EN"“I just want the truth. I’m under a great deal of pressure here, Mom. I need you to promise me that you’re not going there for any other reason than to support me marrying Elizabeth,” I stated calmly.

    spanng="EN"I know her. She has shown me just how deceitful she really is, and she doesn’t care about what problems arise from her actions. She isn’ting to bless the union. I need her to know that if she causes any problems, I’m cutting her off. I won’t continue to y along with her anymore.

    spanng="EN"“How dare you say that, Roger. I’m your mother. No one wants better for you than I do,” she cried out.

    spanng="EN"“Stay home, Mom. Dad wille with me. He can help smooth over your recent actions. I need to win her back, or mypany is done for. Do you understand that? I’ll be backter. You can help Sasha pack and get out. I don’t want her here when I return,” I replied.

    spanng="EN"“I won’t be left behind. The maids can watch Sasha. I want to be there for you. I won’t let Elizabeth bully you son. She has a horrible, condescending attitude. I want to be there so I can protect you. We’re all ready to go with you. We’re your family. We want what’s best for you,” my mother said.

    spanng="EN"I looked at them, and I could see that Regina was ready to help Mom with whatever she had nned for the day. My father and brother looked like they were here to support me, but I remembered what my brother had said. He would take my spot with Elizabeth in a heartbeat. Looking at his smirk, I knew he was still willing to make a move on her. I was alreadypeting with the bodyguard. I didn’t need morepetition for Elizabeth’s attention, “Dad, pleasee with me. Everyone else, stay here,” I replied.

    spanng="EN"My mother’s cries followed us out to the car. My father drove to the venue and kept drilling into me what was at stake. I already knew what would happen if I couldn’t make this right. The price was too high, and this was do–or–die time. Either I got this done, or mypany was dead in the water.

    spanng="EN"“I got it, Dad. Just do me a favor and don’t let Morn or Regina near Elizabeth. I need her to marry me. If they get near her, my chances of that happening are zero,” I replied.

    spanng="EN"“I warned your mother that she had better note to the wedding to cause trouble. If she does, I might look into divorce, too. I can’t even recognize her anymore. She wants to rise up in society, but isn’t happy with where we are in life. I worked hard to get where I am, and it’s clearly not enough for her anymore. If this goes badly, your mother will have cost me a great deal of money because of her actions. She was the one who pushed you into marrying Sasha. Although she didn’t have to work hard to get you to do it,” my father pointed out.

    spanng="EN"“I had a thing for her. But after I found out she cheated on me on our honeymoon, anything I felt for her is gone. She lied to me from the very start. Mom swore she had Sasha investigated. I thought Sasha was the better choice between them. Sasha was a designer, and I wanted to be with her. I never wanted to be with Elizabeth like that until I saw that she had lost weight. She’s the perfect wife now. I will get on my knees and beg if I have to, to get her back,” I replied.

    spanng="EN"“Good, because you might just have to do just that. I remember you have wanted Sasha since high school. I never saw why she held your interest. Sure, she’s an attractive woman, but she has nothing else going for her.

    spanng="EN"You need someone who will challenge you, and Elizabeth actually did that. She pointed you to the right path.

    spanng="EN"You had a jewel in your hand and traded it for trash. I’m sorry to be so harsh, son, but you need to hear the truth. Stop listening to your mother; she doesn’t have your best interest at heart. She’s jealous of Elizabeth because I was so impressed by her business acumen, and she has never let it go. I’ve exined why you need to get Elizabeth back several times, but she refuses to listen. I’m very concerned that she will show up and cause problems. That is why I gave her that strict warning. I’m serious about what I said. If she causes you to lose any chance with Elizabeth today, I’m done. I can’t be with someone who refuses to listen to reason,” my father stated.

    spanng="EN"He was absolutely serious, but I am too. This was a serious situation. I really hope Mom listens, but I’m not counting on it. I’ll be cutting her off as well, along with anyone else who shows up to cause problems. This is my livelihood that they are messing with now. I have to charm her and win her back. Anything else will be met with severe consequences.

    spanng="EN"As we pulled in to park, I mentioned, “Dad, Elizabeth has reced me as the groom. I’m not sure if I can reach her in time to fix this. Her fiancé told me not toe here, that the invitations have been changed, but I don’t know if he was telling me the truth or lying to me.”

    spanng="EN"My father turned off the car before turning to look at me. He was quiet for a minute before asking, “And you waited until now to tell me that? Son, I don’t think you understand the gravity of the situation you’re in. You could be fired from your ownpany. Your ownpany, Roger. You could lose everything you’ve worked for over the years if you aren’t sessful. Why didn’t you mention this to me sooner? I voted to give you a chance to rectify this. I now think we’re on a fool’s errand. You made me think that since the wedding was still being held, you had a chance to right the cart. Why didn’t you try to win her back sooner?”

    spanng="EN"“I didn’t know where she was, Dad, I tried to find her, but it was as if she had vanished after Mom had her arrested. I only went to Fashion Forward because Regina saw that she was working there, I took a chance, and lucked out, but she’s changed. She refused to listen to anything I told her. I don’t know how she even got hired on there, I’m desperate, and know the trouble I’m in. My only hope is that even if she refuses to marry me, I’m praying I could talk her intoing back to work for me. But now that she’s working for Fashion Forward. Why would shee back to me? I’m sure she’s making more there than I could pay her,” I admitted.

    spanng="EN"My heart was racing because this was it, myst chance. I suddenly realized that I had no hope to hold on to I remember how she looked at me. No love, no care, just an annoyance standing in front of her. I had to lower myself to the ground today if I had any hope of rectifying this. But I’m willing to do it. I can’t lose everything for one stupid mistake. I’ve been having nightmares about what I did to her for weeks. I know how badly I treated her. Humiliating her for no reason, other than I was mad at her for forcing me to marry her.

    spanng="EN"“The answer will always be no unless you ask. Don’t think about anything else but getting her back. I am telling you that she has a gift. She understands how to run apany. She has done so much for you over the years, Roger. She was the only one who truly backed you this whole time. I wanted you to seed, just like I did. To work hard and create something from nothing. You managed to find Elizabeth, and she helped you carve years off a normal timeline. For that alone, you own her everything. It doesn’t matter if others see you beg her. You’ve imed all the glory this whole time. It’s time to show your appreciation for everything she did to make your visione to life,” my father told me.

    spanng="EN"“Got it. I’m willing to do what it takes to get her back. Whether it’s as my wife, or just getting her to return to thepany. I’ll do it,” I replied.

    spanng="EN"We approached the venue, and several people were heading there with us. The grey stones outside the cathedral were massive. It was arge ce, and I never understood why she needed such a venue to hold our wedding. Mom had refused to allow Elizabeth to invite our side of the family. She imed that no one wanted to see me having to marry her. Yet, she still insisted oning here to get married.

    spanng="EN"I recognized a lot of the people here. I noticed as we approached that there were three men checking invitations. My heart started beating harder. I thought that guy had been joking, but I see that he wasn’t. There were two men, evenrger than the ones checking invitations, standing up at the top of the steps. It was clear that they were serious about not letting anyone in who didn’t have the proper invitation.

    spanng="EN"As we got closer to the checkpoint, my father looked at me. “Did you bring an invitation?” he asked.

    spanng="EN"“The guy said that the invitation had been changed out. The old one stopped working. Elizabeth even told me that she sent a letter advising that the Cook family was no longer wee at the venue. Mom signed for it, but she still refused to admit that she received it,” I replied quietly.

    spanng="EN"“Elizabeth is even smarter than I thought she was. We may not be able to get in son. You need to be prepared for it. This might be aplete waste of our time,” my father quietly answered.

    spanng="EN"“Invitation?” the bodyguard asked.

    spanng="EN"“I left it at home,” I replied nervously.

    spanng="EN"“Name?” he asked.

    spanng="EN"“Roger, I have our invitation,” my mother’s voice called from behind me.