AFTER I WAS LEFT ON THE ALTAR

CHAPTER ONE: WHISPERS BEHIND THE VEIL

(THALIA'S POV)

"Okay you can open your eyes, it's all done”

I heard a voice whisper into my ear. I slowly opened my eyes and saw a being I couldn't recognize. I stared at my reflection afraid to blink in case the goddess staring back at me would disappear.

The soft white fabric wrapped around my body perfectly, flowing down like something out of a dream. Tiny crystals sewn into the dress caught the light even with the slightest movement, making me look almost unreal.

I kept staring at the mirror as a small smile graced my lips, I totally couldn't express how I felt. I saw Alanni come up to my side, she placed her hands on my shoulders “You look absolutely breathtaking, I'm so proud to be your best friend”.

Tears welled up in my eyes when she immediately grabbed a fan on the table nearby waving it near the side of my face “Don't cry baby, you're gonna ruin all my hard work”.

I looked at her filled with gratitude and replied “I am so happy you are here with me”, She rolled her eyes like I said the dumbest thing ever, “b***h please, cut that crap cause if I'm not here who the hell will be, Besides even though I utterly despise that man you want make ur husband, if you're happy then I'm happy”.

My lips stretched into a toothy grin, and I turned to face the mirror once more. I closed my eyes, and my fingers tightened nervously around the bouquet in my hands, and I let out a shaky breath, muttering words of encouragement more like silently hyping my entire look to calm my nerves. Opening my eyes, I took a trip down memory lane to the first time we met in the small café where I once worked.

The way he kept returning every evening just so I would attend to him, the way his calm eyes always stared at me so softly that I would blush under his gaze,

And the night he asked me to be his girlfriend…

I still vividly remember hugging my pillow and giggling into it, finding it so hard to believe it was real. The icing on the cake was when he proposed, goose bumps filled my skin like a cozy blanket just remembering it.

“Five minutes left, Is the bride ready?”

The voice outside the room snapped me back to reality.

But the uneasy feeling that sat at the pit of my stomach that I felt since morning just wouldn't leave me.

I tried texting Roman several times earlier this morning, yet he never replied, so I tried to deceive myself into believing that I'm just nervous and overthinking everything, so it's perfectly normal for him to be busy.

Alanni walked up to me and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze that I didn't know I needed. I mustered a nervous smile causing her to let out a chuckle.

I was led to the venue filled with guests, Roman said he liked a small wedding and I immediately agreed though I always admired grand celebrations because it comes with a whole new level of excitement.

The huge church doors opened, and music playing from inside welcomed us. The bridesmaids started walking down the aisle one after another and I followed carefully behind them, halfway through they parted into both sides with only Alanni and me left in the middle but the moment my eyes lifted towards the altar—My steps faltered.

Roman wasn't there waiting, My eyes swept through the church and I couldn't find a blonde-haired man in a tuxedo. I swallowed hard and continued walking slowly. My hands tightened around the flower bouquet desperately trying to stop them from shaking.

Maybe he was running late, or something happened, Maybe—

I reached the altar and stood alone beneath the bright church lights, Everyone turned toward the entrance once again, seconds passed, but the doors never opened

Eyes slowly turned back to me, some filled with excitement like they were ready to be entertained while others looked at me with pity. My breathing became uneven as reality slowly settled over me. He wasn’t actually going to walk through those doors. Liquid blurred my vision instantly

I squeezed my eyes shut, struggling to steady myself before the sound of vibrating phones suddenly echoed throughout the church. I watched closely as guests reached out to their phones. I saw the expressions around me change quickly: some shock, some disgust.

Whispers erupted louder. Some guests openly stared at me while others avoided eye contact completely. My stomach twisted so painfully that I felt like I was going to throw up.

Then I turned and noticed Alanni frozen a few steps away from me, squeezing her phone while muttering a string of curses.

“Alanni?” I whispered shakily.

Before Alanni could react, I quickly snatched the phone from her trembling hands and froze.

The color drained completely from my face, as a blurry video played across the screen.

My hands began shaking, Is this why he left? Why didn’t he call or text me about it first? Didn't he trust me anymore?.

The bouquet slipped from my fingers and scattered across the church floor. I felt as though every ounce of life was sucked out of me. I watched as guests slowly began leaving their seats and walking out of the venue, eyeing me with disgust and demeaning looks.

Not sure how many hours had passed as I sat curled up on the floor of my bedroom, hugging my knees tightly against my chest desperately looking for warmth but still felt cold and dry, my makeup smeared and my veil was lying somewhere across the room.

The wedding dress that once made me feel loved now felt utterly suffocating.

My eyes were definitely swollen from crying, and my nose was red. I kept sniffling from time to time but despite everything my phone remained clutched tightly in my hands. My eyes glance at it repeatedly.

Then suddenly—

My screen lit up with a text from Roman, saying, " Let's meet up at our spot”.

Hope instantly flooded my chest,he still wanted to hear me out, I knew he would believe me, and I knew he still loved me.

—

The cold night air brushed against my skin as I was finally face-to-face with him,he still looked calm and perfect. I felt myself finally relax, and I reached out to hold his hand as tears filled my eyes.

“That wasn’t me,” I said hurriedly, grabbing his hands tightly.

“Roman, please believe me. I would never do that to you. I would never hurt you like that.”

My voice cracked with every word I said

“You know me,” I whispered

desperately, “You know how much I love you.”

Roman stared at me quietly before gently touching my face, I closed my eyes instantly, leaning into his touch and sighing in relief.

Then he smiled softly and looked at me.

“Of course I believe you, Thalia,” he murmured.

“There’s no way you would do something like that.” Warmth filled my chest as I gazed into his eyes, Then Roman spoke again.

“I know because I made the video myself.”

My eyes snapped open as I blinked repeatedly, forcing myself to believe I had misheard something.

“…What?” I asked softly.

“I sent it to every guest at the wedding.”

My body froze and for a moment, my head felt hazy trying to process the words I

had just heard.

“Why?” I whispered weakly.

I kept searching his eyes, those eyes that always looked so bright and filled with love, now looked dead.

Roman sighed in what I felt was annoyance before sliding his hands into his pockets.

“I’m engaged,” he said simply. “My fiancée and I were bored. We thought it would be entertaining to meet other people for a while.”

I stepped backward immediately because the air around him felt suffocating.

“You were sweet,” he admitted calmly and continued, "I didn't have to do much to impress or fool you.”

Each word felt like a knife slowly sinking into my chest.

“But…” My voice broke violently. “I gave you everything.”

“Calm down baby” he said with a laugh, “I did love how gullible and foolish you were, but your innocence completely disgusts me”

Roman turned around to leave, and I suddenly felt dizzy as I watched him walk away from me like I was a stranger he had just decided to lend a helping hand to. With tears rolling down my cheeks, I decided to say one last thing,

“Then what about our baby, I'm pregnant with our baby, you touched me remember?”

Roman turned to look at me with so much intensity and disgust that I couldn't picture that kindhearted face anymore. He walked back to where I stood and grabbed my chin roughly while I winced in response

“Get rid of whatever evidence I was ever with you, including that thing, I never want to see you ever again”.