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Behind the White Dress

Behind the White Dress

Short Story · Emotional Realism
By:  Elena CreekCompleted
Language: English
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9Chapters
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Synopsis

Mistress

Marriage

Biological Family

Winning Back the Wife

Scumbag

Melodramatic

Independence

In the fifth year of my spiritual practice, my phone suddenly exploded with messages. [Aria, why aren't you replying? Are you really that petty?] Puzzled, I opened Messenger, and froze. My cousin, who never seemed to measure up to me and always went out of her way to oppose me, was getting married, and she expected me to attend. "Sorry, I've been busy lately. I won't be able to make it," I replied politely. However, my courteous response only fueled their ridicule. "Stop pretending! You haven't kept in touch with your family for years. Are you too embarrassed because your life is such a mess?" "She won't even come to her own cousin's wedding? How heartless!" "Let me guess, the real reason she can't come is she can't afford a wedding gift." One cutting remark after another appeared, until Betty Stewart stepped in, feigning concern. "Come on, don't be so harsh on Aria. We're family, after all." "If she's really struggling, I could ask my husband to help her get a cleaning job." Then she sent me the digital invitation, the gold lettering gleaming. When I saw the groom's name, my pupils constricted in shock. Joseph Clark? Wasn't he the short-lived husband who had spent three years sucking up to me just to extend his life?

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Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I was just about to set my phone aside when a message from Joseph Clark buzzed in.

[Hey there, wifey. Missing me yet?]

[Don't push yourself too hard with your spiritual practices, okay? That lucky charm you gave me? I've been keeping it close all the time.]

His message, dripping with sweetness, made my heart sink.

Up until that day, I had been convinced that my husband was the world's most hopeless romantic. He was always so full of love for me, constantly checking in, sharing every little detail of his day.

However, in a mere moment, it all turned into a cruel joke.

I packed my bags in a daze and headed to the wedding hotel.

As I stepped into the banquet hall, my eyes immediately found Betty Stewart, radiant in her white wedding gown.

She was the center of attention, encircled by relatives.

The relatives were fawning over her, their faces plastered with ingratiating grins.

"Betty, you've always been more mature than Aria, and now, you've made such a splendid match. You've really made us proud!"

"Absolutely! The Clarks is one of the most prestigious families around, and Joseph's a real go-getter. You'll have to look out for us now!"

"Betty's always been bright and quick-witted. I knew she was destined for big things."

"Please, you're making me blush," Betty purred, her head dipped in feigned modesty, but her lips betrayed a triumphant smile.

"Joseph has been wonderful, indeed. The wedding venue alone set us back over a hundred and fifty thousand dollars."

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, eyes wide with surprise and envy.

"A hundred and fifty thousand dollars?! Wow, talk about a lavish affair..."

"Joseph promised me the best," Betty said with a smug smile, caressing the diamonds adorning her wedding gown.

"This dress is a one-of-a-kind Itania creation, the handcrafting alone cost thirty thousand dollars. I never meant to flaunt, but what can I do when I'm married to the wealthiest man around?"

She feigned a look of concern, yet her eyes sparkled with triumph.

The relatives gasped in awe, while a few young girls, green with envy, reached out to touch the gown, only to be deftly sidestepped by Betty.

From the doorway, I let out a soft laugh.

Three years ago, when I first laid eyes on Joseph, he was a man battered by life and plagued by illness.

He once caught me performing a mystical ritual and became convinced I possessed magic. He begged me to heal him.

Eventually, I relented and gave him a lucky charm. His health began to mend, and his luck took a turn for the better.

Little did I know that his newfound fortune would become Betty's favorite showpiece.

Then, Betty's eyes met mine.

She paused before letting out a theatrical gasp and a laugh loud enough for all to hear.

"Well, if it isn't Aria? What brings you here in that getup to my wedding?"
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9 Chapters
Chapter 1
I was just about to set my phone aside when a message from Joseph Clark buzzed in.[Hey there, wifey. Missing me yet?][Don't push yourself too hard with your spiritual practices, okay? That lucky charm you gave me? I've been keeping it close all the time.]His message, dripping with sweetness, made my heart sink.Up until that day, I had been convinced that my husband was the world's most hopeless romantic. He was always so full of love for me, constantly checking in, sharing every little detail of his day.However, in a mere moment, it all turned into a cruel joke.I packed my bags in a daze and headed to the wedding hotel.As I stepped into the banquet hall, my eyes immediately found Betty Stewart, radiant in her white wedding gown.She was the center of attention, encircled by relatives.The relatives were fawning over her, their faces plastered with ingratiating grins."Betty, you've always been more mature than Aria, and now, you've made such a splendid match. You've re
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Chapter 2
Glancing down at my robe, I noticed the patches at the cuffs and hem, the wear and tear from my time spent in mountain solitude."This is what I wear for my spiritual practices," I said, undisturbed by her mockery.Betty laughed, sharp and mocking. "Aria, surely you haven't given up on love just to live as a hermit?"Laughter erupted from the relatives as they caught sight of me."Seriously, who dresses like that anymore? You look like you're begging in the streets.""I know, right? You're practically radiating poverty. Did you escape from some rundown place?""Aria, it's your cousin's big day. Can't you put on something nice? You've been to college, for heaven's sake. Why do you seem to be moving backwards in life?"Betty sauntered over, oozing fake concern. "Let's not be too hard on Aria. Maybe she's just strapped for cash?"She paused dramatically and continued, "I'll tell you what. I'll have the makeup artist whip up a bridesmaid dress for you, how about that?"I glanced a
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Chapter 3
The room erupted into chaos. Relatives gossiped and pointed, their murmurs a relentless tide."Unbelievable. Aria's luring her own brother-in-law!""She's been away for years, and this is the dirty secret?!""This is a dark day for the family!" Betty's grip was knocked loose by a surge of my spiritual energy, sending her stumbling back in shock.She shrieked, "What the hell?! As if stealing and being the other woman wasn't low enough. You're getting violent now?!"I fixed her with an icy stare, my voice a calm storm of certainty."Betty, you've got nothing on me. How dare you label me the other woman? You're the one who wasn't here first."That set her off like a rocket.Her face flamed red, her eyes spitting fire. "You dare to play the victim?"She hoisted my lucky charm, poised to hurl it down."I'll put an end to your smugness! I'll stop your little game with my husband! This trinket goes down, and we'll see who's left standing!"A chill ran through me.I locked eyes w
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Chapter 4
"Was I ever!" Betty pouted, shooting covert glances at the relatives, cueing them to keep up their act."Joseph!"I yelled with everything I had, but my plea was muffled and cut short, and all I could do was watch as Joseph was whisked away by Betty.He did not even spare a glance for that messy corner.In the bedlam, I was shoved hard and hit the ground with a thud, my knees screaming in pain.Laughter, sharp and mocking, rang out around me. My fingers clenched into my palms, fury simmering just below the surface.Those so-called relatives, paragons of virtue on any other day, circled me like a pack of hyenas who were ready to rip me apart."That's it!"I could not take it anymore. With a burst of energy, I sent them reeling.They stumbled back, their faces etched with fear.As they scattered, Betty, heels clicking with determination, stormed back to me, ready for battle.She caught sight of my ragged state and a glint of satisfaction danced in her eyes."Aria, what on ear
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Chapter 5
Joseph hit the floor. He was clutching his chest, and his face turned ghostly with sweat beading on his eyebrow.He yanked out his own charm. What was once shimmering became dull and lifeless."What's going on?" he asked.Frantic, he fumbled for his phone to call me, but as he looked up, our eyes locked.He froze, as if hit by a bolt from the blue. "Aria? You… How are you here?!" His face, once so kind to me, became a look of agony and astonishment. "Honey! What's wrong?"Betty dashed over, frantic, but Joseph shoved her aside. He crawled forward, reaching out a shaky hand to me."Help me... The charm..."I approached him with deliberate steps, towering over the man who had once vowed to love me until the end of time.My voice was as frosty as a winter chill as I responded, "Joseph, do you recall the words you pleaded with me outside my door five years ago?"He flinched, a trace of fear darting through his eyes."Aria, I...""You promised that you'd spend your whole life
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Chapter 6
I bent down to pick up the broken pieces of what was once his lucky charm and continued, "Now, you've shattered his life with your own two hands."Betty's face was drained of color.She shook her head wildly. "No way! That can't be! He's supposed to be filthy rich! He looked so healthy!""Healthy?" I scoffed, flicking my fingertip, sending a spark of magic into Joseph.He coughed up a mouthful of dark blood, his veins turning black, spreading like a web across his body."See that? That's his real self."Betty lost it completely. She dashed to me, clutching at my clothes, her voice shaking."Aria, I messed up! I really did! Please save him! You have to save him! He's the richest guy around. If he goes down, who will cover my debts?""Save him?" I eased her fingers off my clothes, "And why would I do that?"She froze before letting out a desperate shriek. "You love him, don't you? Didn't you use your magic for him? How can you stand by and let him die?!"Watching her fall apart
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Chapter 7
Betty staggered after the ambulance, then whirled on me, her voice laced with venom."Aria, you witch! If Joseph doesn't make it, and my dreams of a lavish life go up in smoke, you'll pay!"I brushed the dust from my robe and headed for the door.Suddenly, Betty's scream sliced through the air as she lunged at me. "Stop right there! You have to save him!"I did not even look back. With a casual flick of my wrist, an unseen force sent her tumbling back.Her cries echoed down the hallway, mingled with the shocked gasps of family members, but I was done listening.I stepped out of the hotel and into the cool night air, taking a deep breath to calm the storm inside me.As someone devoted to spiritual practice, I should have been above such turmoil, but that day's drama had gotten under my skin.I had a bad feeling about Joseph, a sense that his time was up. No high-tech medical intervention could change the inevitable.I pushed thoughts of Betty out of my mind.Three days later,
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Chapter 8
The nurse replied uncomfortably, "I've tried three times already."Betty grabbed the card from the nurse's hand and hastily dug out a few more. "Try these!" she demanded.Once the nurse left with the cards, Betty's face had turned ghostly white.She scrolled through her mobile banking app in a panic, then let out a sharp cry. "What's going on?!"Her screen showed a string of zeros and every account was empty.She gripped Joseph's shoulders, shaking him. "Joseph! Our money, where is it?! What happened to it?!"Joseph could only offer a feeble shake of his head, but his eyes found mine. "The lucky charm's broken, so our good luck is gone..."Betty reeled as if struck by an invisible force. "No, this can't be!"She spun around to face me, eyes wide with fear and disbelief. "You! You did this!"I met her gaze with calm. "I just reclaimed what was never his to begin with. That charm didn't just save his life. It also changed his luck. Now that it's shattered, everything's reset to
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Chapter 9
Joseph's lips trembled as he tried to speak. "Please... Please calm down.""Calm down?"Betty's laugh was sharp and bitter, her makeup twisted in anger. "I turned down rich guys for you, and now, you're telling me you're broke?!"In a sudden rage, she lunged and grabbed Joseph by the throat. "Give me the money! I know you've got some hidden away!"The medical staff rushed to pry her off as Joseph gasped for air, his face turning from ashen to a deep shade of purple."The patient is in critical condition. I need you to stay calm," the doctor said, his voice firm.Betty shrugged off the doctor's hand with an icy laugh. "He had it coming, marrying me under false pretenses!"She glared at Joseph, her eyes wild. "You've got three days to hand over any money you've hidden. Or else..."She paused before whispering menacingly, "I might just fiddle with your oxygen tank."Joseph stared back in horror, unable to believe his ears.Betty's cruelty only grew in the days that followed.Sh
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