BETRAYAL

THE ENGAGEMENT THAT WASN'T MINE

Episode 1

The hall glittered with golden chandeliers, laughter spilling through the air as the wealthy elite gathered for the most expected engagement of the year.

This was supposed to be her moment.

Nora’s hands trembled as she smoothed the hem of her gown, her heart pounding with nervous excitement. For years, they had groomed her for this,taught how to walk, speak, and smile as the future bride of Frank, heir to one of the most powerful families in the city.

But as she stepped forward, ready to claim her place, the world seemed to tilt beneath her feet.

The applause wasn’t for her.

The name on everyone’s lips wasn’t hers.

“Congratulations, Miss Roxeth!” the host announced proudly.

Nora froze. Her sister, dressed in a gown nearly identical to hers, stood gracefully beside Frank, her hand already resting possessively on his arm. Roxeth smiled, her eyes glinting with triumph as though this had always belonged to her.

Whispers rushed through the crowd. “I thought it was Nora… Why Roxeth?”

The betrayal hit harder than any knife.

Her parents didn’t meet her gaze. They stood proudly, smiling at Roxeth as though Nora had never existed.

Nora’s lips trembled. How could my family strip me of everything in a single moment?

And Frank,he didn’t even look her way.

Nora’s chest tightened as she forced her feet to move forward, but every step felt heavier than the last. She had to say something, to claim what was rightfully hers.

But before she could open her mouth, Roxeth leaned into Frank, her voice soft yet deliberately loud enough for Nora to hear.

“Thank you for choosing me, Frank. I promise I will never let you down.”

Her words rang like a death sentence.

The crowd erupted in approval, clapping and cheering, while Nora stood frozen, her pulse racing wildly.

“Mother… Father,” Nora whispered hoarsely, her voice barely audible, “what is happening? This was supposed to be my engagement.”

Her mother’s eyes flicked toward her, cold and sharp. “Lower your voice, Nora. Do not embarrass us in front of the Franks.”

Her father added without hesitation, “Roxeth is more suitable for this marriage. Accept it gracefully.”

The finality in his tone crushed her. This wasn’t a mistake. It wasn’t a last-minute change. It was betrayal, carefully planned and executed by the very people she trusted most.

Nora staggered back, her vision blurring. The music, the laughter, the clinking of glasses,it all felt like a cruel joke echoing in her ears.

Her eyes locked on Frank. The man she had once dreamed of marrying. The man she raised to love. His expression was unreadable, but his silence cut deeper than any rejection.

Did he know?

Did he agree to this?

Or was he just another piece in her family’s cruel game?

Nora’s throat tightened, words choking her as her sister turned and met her gaze. Roxeth’s smile widened, victorious, almost mocking.

It was then Nora understood. Roxeth hadn’t simply taken her place,she had stolen her life.

The celebration continued around her, but Nora couldn’t stay another second. With her heart shattering into pieces, she turned and fled the glittering hall, her heels clicking against the marble floor until she burst into the cold night air.

Her breaths came in sharp, broken gasps, the cool wind stinging her tear-streaked cheeks.

“This was supposed to be mine,” she whispered to herself, clutching at her chest as though she could hold the fragments of her broken heart together.

The sound of approaching footsteps made her pause. She turned, expecting perhaps Frank, hoping foolishly,that he had come after her.

But it was Roxeth.

Her sister’s gown shimmered under the moonlight as she approached, her expression serene yet her eyes brimming with triumph.

“You should have seen your face in there,” Roxeth said softly, almost pitying. “Nora, I did not mean for you to stand beside Frank. You’ve always been too weak.”

Nora’s fists clenched. “How could you do this to me? You are my sister!”

“Exactly,” Roxeth replied coldly. “Which is why I know you better than anyone. You could never handle the pressure of being his wife. But me? I was born for it.”

Nora shook her head in disbelief, tears spilling freely. “You took everything from me.”

“No,” Roxeth corrected, her lips curving into a cruel smile. “I took what you could never keep.”

With that, she turned back toward the glowing hall, leaving Nora standing alone in the darkness.

Nora fell to her knees, her sobs breaking the silence of the night. But amidst the pain, a new fire sparked in her chest.

If her family thought she would bow down quietly… they were wrong.

This wasn’t the end.

It was only the beginning.

If her family thought she would bow down quietly… they were wrong.

This wasn’t the end.

It was only the beginning