Not A Cinderella Tale

"Hey baby, I'm sorry I kept you waiting so long. Was there no trouble out there?" asked Charles, half-running over to Cassandra, who was now sitting on the front sofa.

"There was a little problem earlier, but don't worry, your people arrived just in time and brought me here," Cassandra said while glancing at the officer who delivered her.

"What happened? Did someone hurt you?" asked Charles, looking worried. 

Cassandra began to tell him what had happened when she had just met her family. Charles listened intently, and he could see the sadness his wife harbored.

Charles gently held Cassandra's shoulders. "You don't have to worry. As long as I am around, no one will be able to insult you."

Cassandra nodded.

"Wait a minute!" Charles yelled as he gently patted Cassandra's arm and began to contact someone.

"What are you going to do?"

"You'll see!" exclaimed Charles, again, concentrating on his cell phone.

"I need you to cancel the invitations for the Miller family and also someone by the name of Jordan." Charles then glanced at Cassandra, who was gaping at his request: "What is your ex-fiancé's full name?"

"Uh," Cassandra gasped, then she took a long breath and started to say, "Jordan Wright."

"Ok," Charles said and gave another order, this time with a hint of threat. The person Charles had contacted might object to his request. "As you wish, if their invitation cannot be canceled, I choose to cancel this event!"

Charles sat back down on the sofa after ending his call. This time, his eyes watched the cell phone he placed on the coffee table, and he smiled as his fingers counted. Cassandra, who was next to him, seemed to be ignored.

'What is this husband of mine doing. Why is he smiling while counting down with his fingers?' Cassandra asked while furrowing her brows, not understanding what her husband was doing.

"As I expected, they'll be back before the ten count," Charles muttered, then returned to answer the call from the Gathering in White event organizer.

"Good, then I won't leave. Do as I say!" Charles exclaimed.

Charles was the main sponsor of the white gathering and the guest of honor. Without his presence, this event would not run, and it was possible that the organizers would be blacklisted if they disagreed with him.

Being blacklisted by Mr. Parker would be a nightmare for any business person. For them, offending Charles Parker was tantamount to suicide.

Charles turned to Cassandra and smiled. "It's settled, that bully won't show up again. Now, you can enjoy this event in peace. Didn't you really want to attend the gathering in white?"

Cassandra still gasped, not knowing what to say to her husband. 

"Charles, you really canceled the invitation to my family? And they really want to grant your request?" Cassandra asked a minor stuttering.

Charles nodded, "As you heard."

"Isn't that too much? Didn't they just get regular tickets and couldn't possibly get into the VIP area?" asked Cassandra.

Cassandra still showed some compassion for her family but was still reluctant to get close to them.

Charles chuckled, "Aren't they always looking for a fight with you? I certainly can't let them bother you. I want you to enjoy this event happily. It's your first experience; no one should try to ruin it."

Charles rubbed Cassandra's knee gently, again taking her by surprise. "Sorry, I didn't mean to."

Cassandra looked down, blushing, and thought, 'Why is he so good to me. He doesn't talk much but always shows his concern through his actions. What does he really think of me?'

"Charles, thank you," Cassandra said earnestly.

"There is no need to be so formal with me. It is my duty as a husband."

Cassandra paused, looked down, and blushed. She secretly stole a glance at Charles, and that's when she realized that the man she married looked very attractive.

Charles' hair was dark brown with well-defined facial lines. His cheeks were covered with thin sideburns, giving him a mature and charismatic look. 'He's so handsome,' Cassandra thought.

Charles turned to her, furrowing his thick eyebrows, "What's wrong?"

"Oh no... no. It's nothing," Cassandra replied as she waved her hands, and her face turned red.

Meanwhile, outside the ballroom...

Geoffrey Miller was seen showing the invitation to the attendant for an immediate scan before entering. The attendant furrowed his brow, turned to his colleague, and whispered. 

"Daddy, is there a problem?" Vivian asked softly.

Geoffrey Miller shrugged, "I don't know, but there should be no problem with our invitation. After all, we're regular guests who get an invitation yearly."

"Right, there can't be a problem," Megan said, smiling. "Oh, maybe they want to upgrade our regular invitations to VIP as a token of appreciation for our loyalty."

Geoffrey turned to his wife. "That's exactly what it sounds like. They're probably waiting for confirmation from their leader right now."

At that moment, Vivian grasped Jordan's hand with a smile. She considered herself so lucky to be able to enter such an important event as a VIP guest. She firmly believed that VIP guests were classier than regular guests.

"Mr. Geoffrey Miller?" the attendant asked for confirmation.

"That's me. I'm here with my wife, Megan Miller, Vivian Hartley, and Jordan Wright. You'll often find our names on the guest list, as the four of us haven't missed this opportunity in five years," said Geoffrey confidently.

The clerk nodded and handed the invitation back to Geoffrey Miller. "Sorry, sir. Your invitation to the four of you has been canceled, and your refund has been made. Please leave the area."

"What? Are our invitations canceled? That can't be. We paid a lot of money to get this invitation!" Geoffrey exclaimed unhappily.

"You don't have to worry; we've already refunded you. Please check your account!" the officer said in a stern tone.

Geoffrey clenched his fists and glared at the clerk. "What's the reason my invitation was canceled?"

"This is an order from the organizer," the officer replied.

"I can't. I don't accept this cancellation! Call your boss and make it up to me!" threatened Geoffrey, but the officer did not flinch.

Jordan saw this scene and immediately approached the officer. With his volatile temper, he grabbed the officer by the collar and brought his face closer to his. "Tell me that this cancellation is a joke!"