Chapter 1

Today is my happiest day because today is my wedding day to Christian Grant, the man I've been in a serious relationship with for the past year. I love him very much, and he loves me too.

We have been planning this wedding since three months ago. Christian left all the wedding preparations to me, and he gave me the freedom to choose what theme I would choose for our wedding party.

Christian is a very kind and caring man. We met in one of the cafes some time ago by accident. Then, we started exchanging cell phone numbers and communicating. After a month of knowing each other, we decided to have a serious relationship.

Right now, Christian and I are standing in front of the altar with a priest standing in front of us. I was wearing a bone white wedding dress, the wedding dress of my dreams. I made the lace fabric into an A-line dress design with a sweeping tail and an off-the-shoulder cut. To give a graceful impression to my appearance, I also used a wedding veil to add a sacred impression on my wedding day.

Meanwhile, Christian wore a suit and a matching white shirt. His appearance was breathtaking. He is the most handsome man I will marry today.

Right now, my heart is beating quite fast, waiting for the sacred wedding vows we will make in front of God and everyone present here. I've been trying to calm myself down, hoping that this day goes smoothly without any obstacles at all.

"Mr. Christian Grant, do you accept Nicole Martinez as your wife and will live together in sickness and health, joy and sorrow, happiness, and sadness, forever in this holy bond?"

I closed my eyes to be calmer in the face of Christian's reply, taking our wedding vows. I couldn't wait to imagine that we would live together forever.

"No."

I opened my eyes when I heard the answer I knew came out of Christian's mouth. My heart seemed to stop beating right then and there. Had he misspoken?

I turned to Christian with a glare.

"Nicole Martinez, I will not marry you. Never."

I shook my head stiffly at Christian's words. I'm sure he didn't say that. Then I lifted my bridal veil so I could see her.

"Christian, are you kidding me?" I asked in a choked voice.

Christian looked at me with sharp, cold eyes. It's like I don't recognize him. He wasn't acting like the Christian I knew. Some time ago, we had mutually agreed to do all this and decided to live together. Christian's demeanor was lovely, expressing how much he wanted to marry me. Yet, somehow, Christian has become something he's not in such a short time.

"Christian," I called his name. The man was still staring at me with his sharp eyes. I could see the hatred in his brown eyes. I didn't understand why he could be like this at all. Without saying anything, he turned his body around, and with vast strides, he left me alone on the altar.

My eyelids seemed unable to hold back the tears that were about to fall. Eventually, the tears trickled down my cheeks, staring at Christian's back as he walked away from the church.

"Christian, why are you doing this?" I said softly. My body crumpled and almost collapsed, but I tried to stay standing.

I saw the guests begin to whisper pityingly to me. How could I not? I was the bride who was left in front of the altar because my future husband refused to marry me for no apparent reason. I need an explanation from Christian. Right now, I need him to tell me what I did wrong to make him leave me like this.

I was still standing at the altar, feeling devastated. I could see the pleading gazes of the guests. Slowly, the guests left this supposedly holy place, which became unfortunate, especially for me. One by one, they began to leave the church, leaving only me and my family.

My body was weak. I needed something to support me so I wouldn't fall. Then, my father approached me. My tears fell again. I knew he must be very sorry to see his daughter left behind by her future husband.

"Dad ...." I could hear my sorrowful voice.

Father slapped me. I almost fell from the hard slap on my cheek, but I stayed on my feet. I held my cheek, which was sore. Then, I lifted my face to look at the man I thought could be my backup. Turns out I was wrong.

"Why did you slap me?" I asked softly. My eyes were already blurry from the tears that had been falling non-stop. Didn't he see that her daughter had just been rejected and dumped at the altar by her future husband?

"You're an embarrassment! You're not like your sister! You're so pathetic!" Dad said in an emphasized voice. I could see the muscles in his face tighten as if he was holding back his emotions.

How could you compare me to my step-sister Adeline at a time like this, when I needed moral support after what happened to me? Don't you have a little compassion for me, at least a sense of empathy?

"Look, it's all messed up. You're such an embarrassment! Mr. Christian Grant knows you're a bad luck woman. That's why he refused to marry you because he doesn't want to marry a bad luck woman like you!"

My lips trembled. Dad's words hurt my feelings.

"Listen! I won't allow you to come back to my house! I won't accept you in my house anymore! Make it clear!"

After saying that, Dad left me here with my pride remaining.

I feel so broken right now. All I need is a comforting hug, not like this. How disappointed I am with my father's attitude of not trying to make me better. Being abandoned by the bride-to-be is already very painful. Now, I'm being abandoned by my parents.

I was still numb where I stood. Crying over my miserable fate, being left by my future husband at the altar, and being kicked out by my father.

"Look at this daughter of a bitch, she has messed up and brought shame to the Martinez family. Too bad you can't go home again."

I raised my head, and before me stood Mia, my stepmother, and her daughter, Adeline. They looked at me with pitiful eyes. There was no compassion or empathy, even though we were family. At least they were supporting me, not adding to my pain.

"We hope you die because you only bring shame to our family. You're a disgrace!"

After saying those hurtful insults, they left with laughter ringing in my ears.

Why are they acting like that? Not father, not them, I don't understand at all. Is there no sympathy for me at all?

I'm completely devastated right now, and I vowed never to return to that house again.

My body collapsed onto the cold altar floor. My tears came pouring down again. I didn't understand why my life had become this miserable. I thought Christian loved me. That's what I knew, he loved me. But why would he do this to me?

I couldn't stop the sobs from escaping my lips. This is too painful.