CHAPTER ONE - HE'S MARRYING ME INSTEAD
Every bride dreams of hearing the words, "I do."
I never imagined the first sound I'd hear on my wedding day would be my fiancé kissing another woman.
Just minutes earlier, I had been so happy my heart felt ready to burst.
Today was the day.
The day I had dreamed about for three years.
The day I would finally become Mrs. Ethan Hart.I was dressed in a beautiful white wedding gown, I stared at my reflection one last time. My hands trembled—not with fear, but with excitement.
A soft smile curved my lips.
"Just a few more minutes, Luna," I whispered to myself.
"Then you'll be his wife."
My wedding planner frowned.
"Have you seen the groom? It's almost time."
I blinked.
"No. I thought he was with his best man."
"He left a while ago."
"I'll go find him."
I Lifted my gown, I hurried down the luxurious hallway of the five-star hotel.
The closer I got to Ethan's private suite, the faster my heart raced.
Maybe...
Maybe he had prepared another surprise for me.
Ethan loved surprises.
I smiled to myself.
When I reached the door, I knocked gently.
"Ethan?"
No answer.
I knocked again still nothing.
I was laughing softly, I turned the handle.
The door wasn't locked.
I pushed it open.
The smile on my face vanished. My bouquet slipped from my fingers, and white roses scattered across the floor.
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
Ethan wasn't alone.
He was kissing a woman with a passion that made my stomach twist.
His hands rested possessively on her waist.
The woman giggled against his lips then she turned.
It was Vanessa.
My blood sister.
My little sister.
"N-No..."I shouted.
Ethan slowly pulled away from Vanessa and looked at me.
There was no panic or guilt in her eyes.
Only annoyance.
"You weren't supposed to see this."
"W-What's going on?" I whispered.
Vanessa slipped her arm around Ethan's waist and smiled sweetly.
"Well... I guess the secret is out."
I looked at Ethan, desperately hoping he would deny it.
Tell me this is a mistake.
Tell me it means nothing.
Instead, he looked at me the way someone looks at a contract they're finished with.
"The mistake wasn't choosing Vanessa."
He didn't look away.
"With you, I always felt like I was paying off a debt I never signed up for. With her, I don't."
"It was wasting three years making you believe you ever mattered."
"So... every 'I love you'..."
"A lie."
"Our engagement?"
"A lie."
"Our future?"
"A lie."
Each answer shattered another piece of my heart.
I turned to Vanessa.
"You were my sister..."She laughed.
"I was never your sister."
She stepped closer to Ethan and kissed his cheek right in front of me.
"I just wanted what belonged to you."
Her smile turned cold.
"Mom and Dad always chose you. You were always their perfect daughter."
She looked me straight in the eyes.
"Ethan was supposed to be mine. But Dad insisted he marry you."
She laughed bitterly.
"Did you really think I'd keep watching you take everything that should have been mine?"
Her eyes burned with hatred.
"Not anymore, Luna."
"I hate you."
I stumbled backward. Everything I had, everything I believed, everything I loved — it had all been stolen.
Vanessa intertwined her fingers with Ethan's and smiled triumphantly.
"Thank you for planning the perfect wedding, Luna."
Her smile widened.
"Everything that was yours is about to become mine."
I stared at her, unable to understand the full meaning of her words.
"You should leave now."
I looked at her in disbelief.
"This wedding.....doesn't belong to you anymore."
I turned to Ethan one last time, silently begging him to say something.
Anything.
He simply adjusted his tie and walked toward the door.
As he passed me, he leaned close enough for only me to hear.
"You were never the bride I wanted."
My world crumbled.
Then Vanessa smiled brightly and delivered the final blow.
"He's not marrying you today, Luna."
She paused just long enough to enjoy the tears streaming down my face.
"He's marrying me instead."
My knees buckled.
Somewhere outside, the church bells began to ring.
Guests applauded, believing a beautiful wedding was about to begin.
They had no idea the bride they were waiting for had just lost everything.
As tears blurred my vision, I made myself one silent promise.
They would regret this.
