The Billionaire's Ugly bride

The Rossi villa smelled like roses gone bad. It wasn't like walking through a sweet garden. It was more like that heavy smell you get when secrets have been whispered behind walls forever. The fancy lights hanging from the ceiling looked like they were laughing at her, all shiny and fake. Elena pushed open the heavy oak doors. They felt like they didn't want her to come in. Her heart sped up. She felt tight in the chest under her favorite white shirt that she’d ironed like crazy this morning. She held a little velvet box in her hand Daniel’s grandma's ring in her hand. He told her he'd ask her to marry him for real with it. He’d said to meet him at her dad’s house because he needed to talk about something “important.” She’d practiced her “I’m ready to get married!” smile like 100 times. But the air in the villa just felt off, you know? Way too quiet. Way too perfect. It was the kind of quiet that isn’t peaceful… it’s hiding something. Her heels clicked on the cold stone floor, echoing like a clock ticking in a quiet dead place. Pictures of her family on the wall seemed to see her dad’s serious face, her stepmom's fake smile. Like they already knew what was about to go down. She squeezed the ring box tight. Don't freak out, she told herself. Daniel isn't like them. He promised me. She walked up the big stairs, holding onto the cold metal rail. Up ahead, she could hear someone laughing. It was soft and girly, like they were sharing a secret. Sounded like her step sister. Elena’s heart skipped. Everything just felt wrong. The laughing got louder as she walked to her dad’s bedroom. The door was opened just a bit, like it wanted her to look inside. And she did. At first, she just saw messy sheets. Then she saw Daniel’s back, pale in the light, and her step sister running her hand across his back. The ring box fell from Elena’s hand. Hit the floor quietly, and opened. Daniel turned to look at her, eyes wide, like he got caught doing something bad, which he did. “Elena?” It was quiet and sad. “Oh God Elena, that’s not what you think.” “Oh, relax,” Isabella said, sounding bored, stretching like a cat. “You knew I would get him. That voice. That mean tone. Elena couldn’t breathe. “You… what is this?” Daniel tried to grab the sheets, looking for his shirt. But Isabella was already smiling, enjoying the craziness she had made. “You can't be shocked,” she said, laughing a little. “I was just getting him ready for the main attraction. You never really belonged here. Elena’s eyes started to water. “Belong? I wasn’t trying to belong. I was trying to be loved.” She couldn't stop the words from coming out. And then her father’s voice broke through, calm and mean. “Elena.” Her dad stood in the doorway. His voice, cold and hard. “Don’t cause a scene. Daniel is doing what’s right for our family. *Our family*. He said it like it was a dirty word. Her stepmom’s voice followed from behind him, sweet but poisonous: “It was going to happen anyway, sweetie. Isabella is the better choice.” Elena turned to look at them. “You knew?” Her stepmom smiled, the fake smile she always wore. “Of course we did. Daniel and Isabella have been together for weeks. You were just… there.” The words hung there, heavy and embarrassing. Daniel didn’t even look at her. His eyes dropped to the floor, to the little velvet box. He kicked it away like trash. Something inside her broke then quietly, not like in the movies but silently, like glass breaking. She stood up straight, wiped her face, and looked at them all of them one last time. “You got what you wanted,” she whispered. “Have fun. Her dad started to say something, but she didn’t hear it. She turned and left that room left that house — leaving behind the ring, the love, and the part of herself that thought people were good. Outside, it started to storm. Rain came down hard, soaking her clothes as she walked down the steps. She almost slipped, but she kept going. The wind messed up her hair. She was breathing hard, filled with anger and confusion. He chose her. He actually chose her. All those times they talked about the future and all those sweet nothings he said were just nothing. She got to the garden gates and stopped. The roses were blooming, bright red and pretty, shining in the rain. They were her grandma’s favorite. Elena touched one. A thorn poked her finger, sharp and fast. A drop of blood came out and mixed with the rain. “Figures,” she said quietly, feeling bad. She walked down the driveway, her footsteps echoing in the storm. Her phone buzzed in her bag — probably messages from Isabella because she just loves to rub it in. She ignored them. Her world was falling apart, and they were texting. Of course. The rain got heavier. Lightning flashed behind the hills, showing the gates to the Rossi place. Beyond them, the world was open and for the first time, she didn't have to listen to anyone. But feeling free didn’t feel good. It felt like she was crashing. She got to the gate, opened it, and the wind howled, smelling like wet dirt and something else — cologne? Fancy kind. She froze. There, at the edge of the drive, stood someone. He was far away, she couldn't see his face clearly just tall, broad, a dark shape in the rain. Lightning flashed again, showing a dark coat and shiny shoes. He didn’t move or say anything. Just watched her. Elena’s heart sped up. “Who’s there?” No reply. The wind got louder, tangling her wet hair. She took a step forward. “I said who are you?” Still quiet. Just someone watching her. A car started nearby smooth and quiet. Elena was scared. “Are you following me?” The person moved a step closer and she thought she saw his face. Sharp. Then the rain got harder, blurring everything. She wanted to run, but something in her made her stay. The man turned, opened the door of a black car, and then he got in and drove away. The lights disappeared. Elena stood there in the rain, looking after him, taking deep breaths. She didn’t know his name. She didn’t know why he’d been there. But for the first time, she felt like it wasn’t over. It was just starting. She put her hand on her chest, feeling her heart beat. Behind her, the villa was shining in the distance. Ahead of her, the road went into the dark. She took a deep breath, and moved forward. Each step took her from the breaking point and closer to the stranger. The rain kept falling. But Elena didn’t stop, either. Between the heartbreak and the unknown, she felt like she found strength. And under that storm, she was ready to get even.