Didn't say I do,now she wants revenge

The air inside the wedding hall was suffocatingly sweet, thick with the scent of crushed white roses and fresh lilies. Gold-tinted chandeliers cast a warm glow over two hundred guests who turned in unison as the doors swung open. Soft string music wafted through the high arched ceiling, playing a gentle melody meant to welcome a bride into her forever. Mel Parker gripped her father’s forearm, her fingers sinking into the tailored sleeve of his suit. Underneath layers of hand-stitched silk and lace, her legs felt like lead. She held a flower bouquet so tightly that her knuckles turned pale, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. Every eye in the grand auditorium was on her, but Mel only cared about the end of the long white aisle, where the man of her dreams stood waiting. Maxwell Firenza looked breathtaking in his custom black suit. His shoulders were broad, his tall frame dominating the altar, his short dark hair styled to perfection. But as Mel took her first slow steps toward him, a faint shadow of hesitation crept into her mind. Something was wrong. Maxwell was staring at her, but he looked indifferent. He looked like this day was not the day he had been waiting for. *You’re just overreacting,* Mel stopped herself from having those thoughts. She forced her lips to widen into a brilliant smile, keeping her eyes trained on his face, silently begging him to look at her the way he always did. Beside her, Luciano Parker walked with his chest puffed out, his jaw tight. His hand rested over hers, but his posture was rigid. Mel kept smiling, ignoring her father’s expression. She knew he did not like Maxwell. Her parents did not. According to them, Maxwell was not a guy who deserved her. He did not fit her status, and he would never fit it. Mel remembered how her parents had tried to stop the wedding, from freezing her account to planning an arranged marriage. Mel did not budge. She loved only Maxwell and was ready to sacrifice anything to marry him. When they reached the altar, her father kissed her on the cheek. “You look beautiful, my darling,” he whispered to her. “I know, Dad,” Mel whispered back. Her father handed her to Maxwell, his lips dropping into a scowl as he did. Maxwell held Mel’s hands and locked eyes with her. He raised his lips slowly, but when he did, Mel’s smile fell a little. She could identify a fake smile when she saw one. “Is everything okay?” Mel whispered Maxwell ignored her question and faced the priest. The hall fell into complete silence as the priest smiled warmly at the couple. He turned to Mel. “Mel Parker, do you take Maxwell Firenza as your lawfully wedded husband, to love and cherish, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?” Mel’s hands trembled slightly as tears filled her eyes. She looked at Maxwell, her heart racing with emotion. “I do,” she said softly, her voice shaking. Everyone in the hall shouted an enthusiastic *“Aww,”* and a small smile appeared on the priest’s face. The priest turned to Maxwell. “And do you, Maxwell Firenza, take Mel Parker to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and cherish, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?” Maxwell let his gaze drop. He stared at the diamond ring he had bought her a few months ago. The priest cleared his throat, reminding Maxwell that he had to answer. Maxwell returned his gaze to Mel and looked straight into her eyes. The smile on her face was already fading, and sweat appeared on her forehead. Maxwell looked at the priest, then back at her. “No. I do not take Mel Parker as my wife.” The words echoed through the hall, piercing Mel’s heart like a knife. Every guest in the auditorium murmured among themselves, wondering what was going on. “No, no, no,” Mel shook her head, staring at Maxwell, the man who was meant to say I do. Mel held his hands tightly. “Are you joking? Is this some kinda prank?” Mel chuckled a little, but her heart pounded as if it would plummet any second from now. “It’s not a joke.” Maxwell stepped back, and the tears dropped from Mel’s eyes. “You can’t do this to me. Not today… please.” Maxwell’s gaze swept around the crowd that had come to celebrate their wedding. He returned his gaze to Mel and slowly pulled his hands away from hers. “I do not take you as my wife.” His voice was cold, dark, and unfamiliar. The way he acted made Mel believe that this was not the Maxwell she had known for four years. A devilish grin swept across his face as he spoke. He inched closer to Mel and leaned his face closer to her ear. “I never loved you, I only wanted the will,” his lips curved and formed a cold smile. “And this morning you gave it to me.” Mel’s legs trembled as she moved back. Her heart stopped for a second, and she could not breathe well. “What do you mean? What the hell is this nonsense!” That was her dad’s voice. He was angry, shouting. Mel heard heavy footsteps as he headed straight for the altar. “Maxwell, explain yourself!” “What’s going on? You are disgracing us!” Everyone was talking, shouting, trying to get their anger out. Mel could not stand it. She looked around trying to identify who was talking, but her eyes failed her as everything blurred. She felt someone’s hands on her shoulders, the person’s lips moving, but with the deafening noise around the room, Mel could not understand a single thing. Her head felt heavy, like someone was hitting her hard. “I can’t… I can’t take it!” Mel screamed. She lifted her long, white silk gown and ran out of the hall. She ignored everyone who called her name and kept on running. She did not look back. She could not. She could not face her parents who had warned her that Maxwell was not a good man. She could not face her friends who came to celebrate her, and most importantly, she could not face Maxwell. He was meant to love her. He was meant to say I do. Mel kept running as fast as her legs could carry her into the quiet streets behind the venue. She needed the escape. She needed to forget this nightmare. Memories of her and Maxwell flashed rapidly in her head. She remembered how they first met. It was in college, on her graduation day. He was so intrigued by her speech that he waited for her just to ask for her number. Mel clearly remembered the first words he had ever said to her. “I waited through your entire speech just to say one thing. You are amazing. Now can I have your number?” Mel remembered how her heart had raced when she handed her number to him. She remembered how her cheeks went red anytime he held her hands. She remembered all the dates. The soft kisses. Was it all a lie? Was their four years together entirely fake? Maxwell wanted her money. He did it all for money. Mel shook her head frantically as tears blinded her. She would not believe it. Maxwell would never hurt her like this. “It’s a dream, he will never leave me. He wouldn’t, he wouldn’t…” Her words cut off as she felt a sharp sting pierce deep inside her neck. Her hands reached around to grab whoever was standing behind her, but her body instantly felt too weak. “Who are…” Her eyes shut tight, and the next thing she saw was complete darkness.