Chapter 1

Ellie’s P.O.V.

The first whisper didn’t reach me. It brushed past me like wind, lost under the music and scent of the roses in the hall.

But the second whisper lingered, and then the third one… grew teeth.

“…did you see that?”

“…is that really her?”

“…play it again.”

My fingers tightened around the bouquet, petals trembling under my grip.

I told myself.

“Calm down, Ellie.

Weddings are overwhelming. People talk. It’s normal.”

Even so, this didn’t feel normal.

The aisle stretched in front of me, lined with golden arches and white lilies. My gaze fell on Jared, standing tall at the altar, dressed in a flawless black suit.

But he wasn’t looking at me either.

He was engrossed in his phone just like everyone else.

A chill crept up my spine as I stepped forward, nearly stumbling over the hem of my gown.

I forced the question out, my voice barely carrying over the rising murmurs.

“What’s going on?”

Jared didn’t answer immediately. He looked up as I reached the altar, and for one foolish, fragile second, my heart skipped a beat like it always did.

I thought he would hold my hand and reassure me, but he spoke coldly.

“I don’t see the point in pretending anymore.”

My breath caught as the massive screen behind him flickered to life. A video was played, showing me on a treadmill during my workout session.

My hair was tied back, face flushed, and sweat clung to my skin as I pushed myself harder, again and again.

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

Then the clip was cut abruptly, and another scene followed it after a brief pause.

In a small room, I sat in the dimly lit corner, my hands trembling as I tore open the bag of fried chicken and burgers.

My own voice echoed faintly from the screen.

“I will do better tomorrow.”

And with that, I started eating desperately, scarfing down the entire meal in seconds.

The video ended, and deafening silence followed. I could hear my own thundering pulse until sharp voices stirred in the hall.

“Jared is right…”

“She will never change…”

“Disgusting…”

My throat tightened. I tried to breathe—once, twice—but it wouldn’t come properly.

“No, that’s not true…”

“Not true?”

Jared’s voice cut through mine, sharp and controlled.

“You asked for time, Ellie. One month. One simple condition.”

His cold gaze swept over my chubby figure.

“To take this seriously. To take us seriously!”

“I did.”

I spoke, the words tumbling out in a frantic stream.

“I swear, I worked hard, Jared. That video is old…”

“Don’t!”

His harsh voice sharpened like a blade.

“Don’t embarrass yourself further.”

The iciness of his stare punched me in the gut, hitting me harder than the laughter around us.

“You promised…”

My voice trembled despite my effort to steady it.

“You said you would support me.”

For a brief second, something flickered in his cold eyes. Then it was gone as he replied frostily.

“Of course. I promised to marry someone who respects herself,” he said evenly. “I don’t negotiate standards, Ellie.”

Something cracked inside me.

Jared stepped away from me, standing in the middle of the altar.

Confusion rippled through the crowd as the movements stirred at the entrance next.

Every eye turned towards the door, and the orchestra played a soft symphony, the sound of measured footsteps reverberating in the surroundings.

And there she was…

Alice!

She walked in, draped in white silk, her smile polite.

My breath left me.

Seeing my younger stepsister as a bride made me forget everything else.

The bouquet slipped from my hands and hit the marble floor with a dull sound.

“No!” I whispered shakily. “No… this can’t be…”

But Alice only smiled softly, lowering her gaze with practiced modesty as she approached the stage.

“I didn’t want it to happen this way,” she said softly, her voice sweet enough for the audience, just not for me. "But someone has to do what’s right, Ellie.”

Right!

The word echoed like a mockery.

Without a flicker of hesitation, Jared reached for her hand, gently guiding her at the altar.

All the guests straightened in their seats as the priest started the ceremony like nothing had happened.

And I was no longer the bride.

I was the spectacle.

...

I didn’t remember leaving the lavish venue. At some point, the noise disappeared, all of it fading behind me.

The road stretched endlessly ahead, the hem of my wedding dress collecting dust with every step forward.

I used to imagine walking home after my wedding. But it was nothing like that.

By the time I reached my father’s house, my feet were aching like the rest of me.

My room looked exactly the same as I had left it, the bags packed for a life that no longer existed.

I closed the door and stood there still, my heart empty, eyes stinging with tears.

However, the silence of the room was shattered by the loud ringing of my phone, the sound of notifications demanding attention.

I had ignored my phone’s buzzing on the way, but now it had become relentless, hammering my head.

As I checked the notification, the first one was enough to make the earth vanish below my feet.

“AliceCare posted a new video.”

I clicked the video and froze, my eyes widening to watch the modified version of my humiliating video. It was edited, zoomed, and looped in a way that made it look like a crime against humanity.

The caption said, “This is your reminder that progress isn’t just what you post. It’s what you hide.

So, be honest with yourself. That’s where the real change starts.

#StacyAccountable #FitnessTruth #DisciplineWins”

My stomach twisted violently as the comment section was the cruelest of all.

“Jared really dodged a bullet.”

“Alice is so classy and disciplined. Now, I see why he chose her.”

The comments kept coming faster than I could read.

“Zero self-control.”

“She lied. That’s worse.”

My vision blurred as tears stung my eyes. I stopped reading, but my thumb didn’t, scrolling for more.

The netizens didn’t know me, but they spoke like they owned the truth.

Deep in my thoughts, I almost jumped when the door opened with a loud thud; a sharp voice followed.

“Unbelievable!”

My father and stepmother walked inside, their faces stern.

My dad spoke flatly.

“You have humiliated us today, Ellie.”

My voice broke.

“No… I didn’t…”

The words rushed out before I could stop them.

“That video isn’t recent. It’s old. I am actually trying to improve...”

“Trying?” My stepmother scoffed. “By stuffing your face?”

“Someone edited it.” I spoke quickly. “They cut it to join two different clips…”

“Enough!”

My father’s expressions hardened further, his harsh tone leaving no room for discussion.

“I warned you, Ellie. I told you what will happen if you embarrass this family.”

My chest tightened painfully.

“I didn’t mean to, Dad.”

He shot back at me.

“It doesn’t matter what you meant, Ellie.”

Each word landed heavier than the last. My phone kept buzzing in my hand, a cruel reminder of everything that happened in the last two hours.

My dad stepped closer, his gaze unwavering.

“Enough is enough. I won’t let you destroy my family name anymore.”

Then he pointed at the door.

“It’s time for you to leave, Ellie.”