A Wife's Revenge

"What are you both doing?" The words left my mouth before I could stop them. I stood in the doorway of my bridal room, my wedding dress heavy around me. Ethan was pressed against the wall, his shirt half unbuttoned and Mia was in front of him, her hands on his chest, her lipstick smeared across his collar. They sprang apart like children caught stealing candy. Ethan's face went pale while Mia's eyes widened with terror. "Lily," Ethan started, his voice shaking. "This isn't—" "Don't." I held up my hand, silencing him. "Don't you dare lie to me right now." I stepped into the room, my heels clicking against the floor. The door swung shut behind me with a soft thud that sounded like a gunshot. I looked at Mia, really looked at her. My best friend. The woman who had helped me choose this dress. "How long?" I asked. Neither of them answered. Mia couldn't meet my eyes. She stared at the floor like it held answers she was searching for. "I said how long?" My voice rose. Mia finally lifted her gaze. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Three months." Three months. The words echoed in my head like a cruel joke. ~~ ~TWO HOURS EARLIER ~~~ Mia had been humming softly as she adjusted my veil in the bridal suite mirror. The room smelled like roses and hairspray, while my mother was crying in the corner. My father was pacing by the window, checking his watch every few minutes. "Perfect," Mia whispered, stepping back to admire her work. "You look like a dream, Lily." I smiled at my reflection. The dress was everything I had ever wanted—ivory silk, delicate lace, a train that cascaded behind her like water. I had tried on thirty dresses before finding this one. Mia had been there for every single one, offering honest opinions, holding my hand when I felt overwhelmed. "I couldn't have done this without you," I said softly. Mia squeezed her shoulder. "That's what best friends are for." My mother approached, dabbing at her eyes. "My beautiful girl. Your grandmother would have cried to see you like this." "Mom, don't start again," I laughed. "You'll make me cry too, and then my makeup will be ruined." "Let her cry," Mia teased. "That's what waterproof mascara is for." I turned to the mirror again. In exactly two hours, I would walk down the aisle toward Ethan. I could already picture his face, the way his eyes would soften, the way his smile would spread across his face when he saw me. I had imagined this moment a thousand times. "What time is it?" I asked. Mia glanced at her phone. "Almost eleven. You have about an hour before we need to line up." "Has anyone seen Ethan?" "I think he's getting ready in the east corridor." Mia's voice was casual. "The groom's suite is over there." I nodded. I wanted to see him just for a moment, but tradition said otherwise. So I would have to wait until the altar. "Can you check on him?" I asked. "Make sure he's not too nervous?" Mia paused. Just for a second. Then she smiled. "Of course. I'll go tell him you're thinking of him." I hugged her. "You're the best, Mia. I don't know what I would do without you." "Probably be a mess," Mia laughed, but there was something strange in her voice. A tightness Lily didn't notice. Mia left the room. Her heels clicked against the marble floor, growing fainter and fainter until I couldn't hear them anymore. --- The next thirty minutes passed in a blur of nervous energy. My mother fixed her lipstick twice, my father practiced his speech in the corner, while a wedding coordinator came in to discuss the flower arrangements. Then my phone buzzed. I picked it up and glanced at it. Ethan: Are you ready, beautiful? I smiled and typed back: I was born ready. See you soon. I wanted to call him, wanted to hear his voice, but I resisted. The first moment I would see him today would be when she walked down the aisle. That was how it should be, so I thought. I looked around the room, everything felt perfect but something felt wrong. I frowned at myself in the mirror. I was nervous, that was all. Every bride was nervous on their wedding day. But why had Mia been gone so long? "I'll be right back," I said to my mother, my voice too calm. "I just need some air." "Lily, the ceremony is about to start—" "I know. I'll be back in five minutes." I walked out of the room. The suite's corridor grew very quite as I walked farther. My heels clicked against the marble floor, echoing in the empty hallway, but before I could take another step forward, I could hear familiar voices from inside a room. Ethan's voice was low and soothing, then Mia's voice followed. It was soft and they were laughing. My hand stopped on the door handle. I should have turned around, gone back to my room and pretend I hadn't heard anything. Instead, I pushed the door open. ~~~ PRESENTLY ~~~ "What are you both doing?" I stepped back, my hand found the doorframe for support. The dress I had once loved now felt like a costume. A costume for a wedding that would never happen. "I trusted you both," she whispered. "I trusted you with everything and you betrayed me." Ethan reached for her. "Lily, please. We can fix this. I love you." "No, Ethan." She pulled away. "You don't love me. You don't do this to someone you love." I removed my engagement ring and threw it on the floor. The diamond sparkled in the light as it fell. "Lily, don't—" "I'm ending this." I turned toward the door and walked out of the room. Mia was crying harder while Ethan kept calling my name, but I didn't stop. I wiped the tear from my eyes as I walked, straightened my spine and lifted my chin. They had chosen the wrong woman to mess with and I wasn't the type to type to give in immediately. I just didn't know yet that the man who would help me take my revenge was not far from me. Lucian De Matteo.