Stop the wedding, LotusInk [3]

ANN

“I promise to love you until death do us part.”

My lips curved in irritation as Philip recited the same verse he had been practicing for ‘our’ wedding.

Every word he had told me for these five years we’d been together had been nothing but a lie. He had fooled me for years, played with my heart, and without even leaving a clue, he was getting married to my biggest rival right in front of me. I finally understood why he never showed me to the public. He wanted a private relationship known only to his close friends and family; I never understood why until now.

My eyes darted towards his mother and sisters seated proudly at the front pew. I let a bitter chuckle, forcing the excited woman beside me to dart a glance at me.

She shifted close, her lips stretching into a forced smile.

“They’re the most beautiful couple I’ve ever seen,” she whispered.

I pushed my shades back, smiling smugly.

“Of course… they are,” I muttered, feeling my chest clench with rage.

“Is there anyone against this union? Speak or forever remain silent,” the priest finally said the part I’d been waiting for.

I darted my eyes around the assemblage, waiting to see if anyone would beat me to it. When no one came forward against the union, I raised my hand in the air.

The smile faded from the priest’s face, and all heads turned in my direction. The woman sitting beside me gasped out in horror.

Murmurs arose in the cathedral, and when I looked towards the altar, I saw Philip stagger back, his eyes wide and expression grave. I shifted my gaze towards Juliet, and my lips twitched as I watched the color drain from her face.

I pulled off my shades and walked towards the altar.

The murmurs got louder, cameras flashed, and at the end of the hall, I could hear the keypads of media personnel clicking away.

The priest waved his hand at me, his face drawn in a tight frown.

“Why are you against a marriage blessed by everyone?” the priest snorted, his eyes filled with irritation.

I chuckled, and with the whole world watching, I pulled off the ring and held it up.

“I’m just here to return the ring Philip McKason put on my finger three years ago,” I blurted out, and the assembly went into an uproar.

Philip’s shoulder slumped in defeat, and he staggered back, going pale from shock.

I turned towards the cameras despite the chaos, a smile etched against my face.

“Philip proposed to me on January 20th, 2023. We've been together for three years,” I paused and darted a gaze towards his cowering family members. “His mother and best friend might not confess because of what they strive to lose.”

His mother frowned and jerked up, finally finding the courage to face me.

“You little witch!” she spat, pointing her finger at me.

"Leave this place with your lies! My son never loved a leech like you!" she groused, and her daughters nodded behind her.

I smiled at her and turned towards the assembly, focused on exposing them.

“I am not here because I want Philip back,” I paused and tilted my head towards Juliet. “Juliet has stolen much more from me for years,” I added.

Philip lurched forward, grabbing me by my arm.

"Let's talk outside, Ann," he muttered.

I shot him a glare, snatched my arm out of his grip, and slapped him fiercely.

The assembly went into an uproar, and the camera flashes increased.

Philip staggered back, a hand pressed against his cheek and his eyes wide in shock.

"I found out the diamond ring is fake too," I blurted out, and his face turned crimson in embarrassment.

"12 thousand dollars my ass!" I spat at him and faced the crowd, the smile returning to my face.

"As I said before, I am here to reveal how fake Juliet is," I said.

The murmurs increased, and questions began to fly around.

“What else did she steal from you?”

“Is it true her father blacklisted you in the writing industry?”

“Are you the writer that filed a complaint over a corrupt writing competition?

“Are you the woman that bears the same name as a side character in Juliet’s bestseller?”

“Did Mr McKason ever tell you of his marriage to Juliet Anderson?”

“Are you saying Juliet Anderson is a fake?”

I smiled and tilted my head towards Juliet’s father, my heart warming over the grave look on his face.

I faced the crowd again.

“You will get all the answers you need in a livestream tonight,” I answered, spiking the uproar.

Juliet gasped out, staggering until she lost her balance and dropped to the ground.

I pulled my shades back on and turned to face Juliet and Philip.

My eyes narrowed down to Juliet, and a cackle escaped my lips. I leaned forward, threw the fake 3-carat diamond ring to her face, and straightened up.

“Thanks for picking up my trash,” I whispered, and her eyes widened in horror.

I straightened up, my face lit up in a triumphant smile.

“Who are you, though?” a voice boomed out from the crowd. I paused for a second, my mind reeling for an answer.

I raised my head and muttered, “Ann Lannister. Juliet’s biggest rival.”

With my answer still hanging in the air, I spun around and walked out of the cathedral while the chaos echoed behind me.

I felt a sense of renewal wash over me as I walked across the lawn while the reporters rushed after me, clicking their cameras for another glimpse.

Soon, I’d expose everything Juliet and her father had done to me. Just a few more hours, and everyone would know the true author of ‘Queen Of The Seven Lords Of Hell’. LotusInk has been my pen name since high school, but Juliet stole it along with my books.

I didn't care about Philip; she can have him for all I care. I just wanted justice for my books and stolen copyrights.

Since the court wouldn't fight for me, the people will.

I stopped walking down the empty street when my phone rang. I pulled it out, and my stomach twisted as Kenny’s name flashed across my lit screen.

I sucked in a deep breath and accepted the call.

“I saw the news,” she breathed out the moment the lines connected. I grinned, nodding as she could see me.

“This is just step one,” I said.

“I know I'm not supposed to be scared, but—”

“It’s okay to be scared. We are dealing with tycoons here. Have you forgotten?” I said, and she let out a nervous laugh.

The grin on my face dropped, and my fist clenched.

“Kenny, remember what to do if anything should happen to me,” I muttered.

Silence lingered after my instruction for a long stretch of time before she finally spoke.

“Nothing is going to happen to you, Ann. When will you ever stop being negative, huh?” she snapped.

I sighed, feeling an uneasy feeling settling in my chest.

As I parted my lips to respond, I heard someone call my name from behind.

I paused, pulled the phone from my ear, and twisted around to face the person.

The moment I turned, a deafening sound hit the air and immense pain shot through my body.

My body froze, my heart stopped, and a warm feeling filled my stomach.

With the last strength left in my body, I lowered my gaze and watched blood trickle down the ground from a hole in my stomach.

I was dying. She had taken my life too.

“Now you can become LotusInk in hell.”

That was the last thing I heard before darkness drowned me and pulled my body into nothing.