The Wedding Was a Trap

Chapter 4

I ripped my hand from his grasp, my voice hoarse.

"Not necessary? Why not? Because I'm the one being wronged instead of Vanessa, you won't even give me a chance to explain?"

Megan stood there, brimming with self-righteous certainty.

"Claire, Vanessa and Nathan were a couple. You were the other woman."

"Then tell me exactly how I became the other woman and broke them up."

Megan froze before exploding.

"Do you have no shame at all, Claire?"

Vanessa tugged at her sleeve.

"Meg, stop."

Everyone's attention fell on me, and Nathan's frown deepened. I gave a bitter laugh as the truth finally settled in. None of them would believe me, no matter how I explained.

Unable to remain there another moment, I turned and left.

That evening, Nathan stopped me outside my office building. He carried a wilted bouquet.

"This is to make it up to you."

I refused to take it.

"Isn't this what you wanted? I've given it to you. What else are you unhappy about?"

I looked at him and smiled.

"Nathan Foster, you're the only thing I'm unhappy about now."

"Claire, can't you just listen to me for once? Stop threatening to cancel the wedding. You've said the same thing during arguments before, and we always made up. This time will be no different."

He shoved the flowers into my arms and turned away.

"Vanessa is starting her job search today, and I need to help her with it. I don't have time to waste on you. Take 2 days to calm down. I'll pick you up for the wedding in 3 days."

I looked at the bouquet, then threw it into the trash without hesitation. The petals scattered in every direction.

On Sunday afternoon, I took time off and went to pack my things. The dried flowers Nathan had made sat on the coffee table beside a pink mug.

I opened the closet and began packing. A drawer that was normally locked had been left open. Inside, I found Nathan and Vanessa's photo album and love letters, all carefully preserved.

I picked up the property deed. Two names were written inside:

Nathan Foster and Vanessa Collins.

They were joint owners.

I had planned every detail of the renovation and paid for it, yet my name wasn't on the deed.

"You saw it?"

Vanessa stood in the bedroom doorway, smiling at me.

"Nathan bought this house for me. You're only staying here temporarily. You live in my house and use my things. Even the man was mine before I passed him on to you."

I gently set down the property deed and quietly started recording on my phone.

"Say that again."

She tilted her head.

"Nathan has always been mine. He only got together with you because I told him to. He loves me so deeply that he always keeps his promises to me. Even if he developed a shred of real feeling for you, it was nothing more than pity. Claire, as long as I want it this way, you'll always be the woman who interfered in our relationship."

I calmly raised my hand and slapped her.

Vanessa covered her cheek and stepped back. She didn't cry. She smiled.

"You're finished."

The door flew open. Megan rushed in carrying a takeout bag and shoved me hard.

"Claire, have you lost your mind? You actually hit her?"

She pulled out her phone and pointed the camera at me.

"I recorded it. I'm calling the police right now."

Vanessa lowered her head and began to sob with one hand pressed to her cheek.

'What an impressive performance.'

Nathan arrived 5 minutes later. He looked at Vanessa first, then fixed me with a razor-sharp glare.

"Claire! How dare you hit her?"

Disappointment filled his eyes. One of the friends who had come with him flew into a rage and raised a hand to strike me.

A sharp slap rang out. My ears buzzed, and the metallic taste of blood flooded my mouth.

Vanessa spoke in a frail voice.

"Don't blame her. This was my fault."

Megan pointed at me.

"If Vanessa hadn't told me you were secretly contacting Nathan behind her back all the time, I would've kept believing the two of you were truly in love."

I slowly rose, blood dripping from the corner of my mouth.

Nathan's voice was hard.

"Apologize to Vanessa."

"Never!"

He pointed at me, his finger trembling as he nodded repeatedly.

"Fine. Very well. Let's see how you deal with this tomorrow."

My voice was quiet.

"Do you really think there will be a tomorrow for us? We can settle every debt today."