His Regrets, Her Revenge

The first message arrived at 8:17 a.m. Serena Brooks almost ignored it. She was standing in front of the mirror in the bridal suite of the Sterling Grand Hotel in downtown Phoenix while two makeup artists fussed over the final touches to her wedding look. White roses filled every corner of the room, and sunlight poured through the windows, making her ivory gown shimmer. Today was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Her phone vibrated again. Unknown Number > Don't marry Ryan Mercer. Suite 1804. Right now. Serena frowned. "What is it?" Olivia Carter asked, fastening the delicate pearl bracelet around Serena's wrist. "Probably someone playing a prank." Olivia reached for the phone. "Delete it." Serena was about to do exactly that when another message appeared. This time, there was a photograph. Her smile disappeared. The phone slipped in her trembling hands. Olivia caught it before it hit the floor. "What happened?" Serena couldn't answer. Olivia looked at the screen. The color drained from her face. The photograph showed Ryan. Half-dressed. Kissing another woman. The timestamp read 8:11 a.m. The woman wasn't a stranger. It was Bianca Brooks. Serena's cousin. --- "No..." The word escaped Serena's lips as a whisper. Olivia zoomed in on the photograph. "This could be fake." "It has to be fake." But Serena recognized the room. She had chosen that hotel herself. She recognized Ryan's watch. The tie she had bought him for his birthday. The tattoo on Bianca's wrist. Nothing about the picture looked edited. Her heart pounded painfully. "I have to know." Olivia grabbed her arm. "Not dressed like that." But Serena was already lifting the skirt of her wedding gown and running out of the bridal suite. --- The hotel corridor blurred before her eyes. Guests smiled as she passed, assuming the bride was simply excited. No one realized she was running toward the moment that would shatter her life. Suite 1804. The door wasn't fully closed. Laughter floated into the hallway. Ryan's voice. Then Bianca's. Serena pushed the door open. The room fell silent. Ryan stood near the bed, fastening the buttons of his shirt. Bianca wore one of the white silk robes provided by the hotel. For several seconds... Nobody moved. Nobody spoke. Ryan recovered first. "This isn't what it looks like." Serena laughed. It wasn't a joyful laugh. It was the sound of a heart breaking. "You've always been terrible at lying." Bianca hurried forward. "Serena, please let us explain." "Explain?" Serena's voice rose. "Explain what?" "How long you've been sleeping with my fiancé?" Bianca lowered her eyes. Ryan sighed impatiently. "Enough." Serena turned toward him. His expression no longer showed guilt. Only irritation. "I was going to tell you." "When?" "After we got married?" Ryan shook his head. "There wasn't going to be a real marriage." The words hit harder than a slap. "What?" "Our engagement served its purpose." Serena stared at him. "I don't understand." Ryan walked calmly toward the minibar and poured himself a glass of water. "My father's company needed stability." "Your grandfather trusted me more because I was engaged to you." "It made negotiations easier." Serena felt sick. "So..." "You never loved me?" Ryan looked directly into her eyes. "I cared about you." "But love?" He shrugged. "I've never believed in it." Five years. Reduced to a business arrangement. --- Bianca stepped closer. "I didn't mean for this to happen." Serena looked at her cousin. "You wore the necklace I gave you on your birthday." "You cried at my mother's grave." "You called me your sister." "Were those lies too?" Tears filled Bianca's eyes. "I fell in love with him." Serena smiled bitterly. "No." "You fell in love with what belonged to me." --- Ryan checked his expensive watch. "We're wasting time." "The guests are already arriving." Serena stared at him in disbelief. "You still expect me to marry you?" "Of course." His answer was so calm that it frightened her. "The ceremony goes ahead." "The reception goes ahead." "After the honeymoon, we'll announce we've decided to separate." "It'll protect everyone's reputation." Olivia, who had just reached the doorway, gasped. "You're insane." Ryan barely glanced at her. "I'm practical." Serena suddenly understood. This wasn't a mistake. It wasn't a moment of weakness. It was a carefully planned betrayal. --- Slowly, she removed the diamond engagement ring from her finger. Ryan watched silently. She placed it on the table between them. "I almost feel sorry for you." He frowned. "What do you mean?" "You've become successful." "You've become wealthy." "But you'll never know what it means to truly love someone." "And that's the poorest a person can ever be." Ryan's jaw tightened. For the first time, his confidence cracked. Without another word, Serena turned and walked away. Bianca called after her. "Serena!" She didn't stop. She refused to let them see her cry. --- Ten minutes later, the wedding coordinator burst into the bridal suite. "Miss Brooks!" "The ceremony starts in five minutes." Serena slowly removed her veil. Then she looked at Olivia. "I'm not walking down that aisle." Olivia nodded. "Good." "They don't deserve you." Serena took one last look at the wedding dress. Just an hour ago, it had represented her future. Now it felt like a costume worn by someone who no longer existed. She carefully unzipped the gown. Folded it across the sofa. And walked out wearing only a simple blue dress she had packed for the honeymoon. She left behind the flowers. The music. The guests. The promises. Everything. As the elevator doors closed, her phone rang. The caller ID read: Mercer Financial Group – Executive Office. Serena frowned. "What now?" She answered. A cold voice spoke on the other end. "Miss Brooks..." "You need to come to the office immediately." "There has been... a very serious problem." Serena had no idea that losing her fiancé was only the beginning. Within the next two hours... She would lose everything else.