Heartstrings and Heartbreaks

The moment Maya Beckham saw Oscar Francis at the wedding—dressed to perfection, standing beside her half-sister—her mind went blank.

Just thirty minutes earlier, Diana had called, sweetly inviting Maya to come attend her wedding with Oscar.

Maya had felt an inexplicable tightness in her chest and rushed over without a second thought.

She was led into a private dressing room, and what she saw nearly knocked the breath from her.

Oscar—her fiancé—was crouched beside Diana Beckham, meticulously smoothing the hem of her wedding gown with the kind of care and devotion that should have belonged to a groom.

They looked every bit the picture-perfect couple about to walk down the aisle. The room was filled with wedding portraits—dozens of professionally lit photographs featuring Oscar and Diana in white lace, staged embraces, and manufactured bliss.

Something inside Maya cracked.

Her eyes welled with heat as she demanded, her voice trembling, "Oscar, didn't you say you were going back to your hometown this week? What are you doing here?!"

At the sound of her voice, Oscar froze. The easy smile on his face vanished.

"Maya… why are you here?" he asked, his voice cautious.

Even as he spoke, he instinctively stepped in front of Diana, shielding her from view as though Maya were some kind of threat.

That look—sharp, guarded—struck Maya like a slap.

"My fiancé is marrying another woman, and I'm not supposed to be here?" she said, her voice breaking, her body swaying from the emotional blow.

Oscar pulled Diana even closer behind him. The look in his eyes now was cold, detached—he was the calm, rational man, and she, the emotional woman making a scene.

Outside, the emcee's voice could be heard urging the couple to come forward. The wedding was about to begin.

With barely a pause, Oscar grasped Diana's wrist and turned to her with a soft murmur. "You left without a word four years ago. It was Diana who stayed by my side. Now she's terminally ill. All she wants is to marry me. I'm only fulfilling her last wish. Please… just go. I'll come back once the banquet is over."

Maya let out a hollow and bitter laugh. She looked past Oscar to Diana, who flashed a smug and victorious smile.

The memory hit her like a wave. Four years ago, it was that same voice, Diana's, whispering poisonous words in her ear, convincing her to walk away.

Maya had inherited her mother's congenital heart condition. Her chances of recovery had been slim. Still, she hadn't wanted to leave Oscar.

But at the time, Oscar's business had been in shambles, one crisis after another. He was drowning in responsibilities. That was when Diana had made her an offer.

"If you leave, I'll ask my mother to help Oscar. Think about it. Staying will only make his life harder."

And so Maya had left quietly, believing she was helping him.

Now, four years later, Diana had taken her place.

And Maya had somehow become the villain in Oscar's eyes.