CLIPS OF SHATTERED TRUTHS

Without waiting for her to respond, Ella buried her face on Nanny Ruth's right shoulder and hugged her with trembling arms. She let her cry there for some time. Just when Nanny Ruth opened her mouth to say something, Ella suddenly sobbed and spoke out.

"Ma’am, thank you for being a mother to me, thank you for being my source of comfort. I’m scared I might die soon without thanking you."

She looked around the mansion with sorrow-filled eyes before she continued.

"Ma’am, thank you. I’m finally leaving this mansion and I might never see you again. Please, never forget about me. Ma’am, I will go ahead."

Nanny Ruth gently patted her back and gave her a bittersweet smile.

"Take care of yourself, Ella."

Ella nodded, then ran out of the gate. She kept running until she finally stopped a cab. After settling in, she quickly told the driver her destination. Within half an hour, she arrived in front of the City Council.

Her legs trembled as she alighted from the cab. Fear tightened around her chest as she stepped into the premises. The first wedding of the day seemed to have just ended, and the newlyweds were taking pictures gleefully.

As she walked past them, everyone, including the photographer, turned to look at her. She could hear the whispers ripple through the crowd.

"Is this the bride of that ugly man in the wheelchair?" asked Girl A.

"I think so, you don’t need a soothsayer to tell you," replied Girl B.

"But why would she dress like this on her wedding day?" cried one of the onlookers.

"Isn’t she one of the young ladies of the Madisons?" asked Gaius.

"Who told you that? She was given into that family as a ransom for her parents’ debt," Isaac sneered.

The words struck Ella’s heart like a tornado. Before she could even process what she had heard, her chest was already soaked with tears. She had never known who she truly was, because all her life she had lived with the Madisons. Something suddenly snapped inside her. She turned and stumbled toward the crowd of gossipers, and silence fell like a shroud.

She scanned their faces desperately, unable to pinpoint who had spoken, but she was certain it was a man’s voice. Spotting a group of three men, she forced a broken smile and staggered toward them. Her voice cracked, as though her throat had been torn apart.

"Please, someone just said I was given into the Madisons as a ransom for my parents’ debt. Please, I…"

"Did they send you? Go back to those who sent you and tell them you didn’t see us," Gaius cut her off sharply.

"That’s right, Miss. Don’t act innocent in front of us. Do you want to sell us to the Madisons?" another added coldly.

Tears blurred her vision. She had come here for her wedding, not this. To avoid further humiliation, Ella hurried to a security guard who led her into the main hall.

The moment she stepped inside, all heads turned to her. Some gazes carried pity, others mockery. A few, like Maya and her friends, gleamed with malicious delight. The rest simply watched with indifference.

Feeling the weight of their stares, Ella lowered her head and stared at her trembling feet as she walked toward the groom. But after fifteen steps, her eyes widened in horror. When she finally dared to lift her gaze and saw the man she was meant to marry, her entire body froze.

Her instincts screamed at her to run. She turned slightly, ready to bolt out of the hall, but another voice inside her scolded her, demanding that she stay. The two voices battled within her, one urging her to flee, the other to face her fate. While she struggled with the decision, whispers echoed behind her.

"Isn’t she a young mistress from the Madisons?" Girl B murmured.

"How can that be? Everyone knows the only young mistress from the Madisons is Maya," Girl A scoffed.

Girl C chuckled mockingly. "Just look at what she is wearing. an outdated gown."

Their laughter buzzed in her ears like bees. Ahead of her, the disfigured crippled man in the wheelchair remained indifferent. His terrifying appearance made her stomach churn, the right side of his jaw burned beyond recognition. His best man leaned closer to him and whispered something into Elion Copper’s ear.

At that moment, Cindy’s eyes roamed over Ella, scrutinizing every detail. Her hair was natural, as though it had never been touched by oil, neatly combed and tied into a ponytail. After examining Ella, Cindy turned to Maya and smirked.

"Maya, isn’t she that domestic servant of yours, the one who happens to be a distant relation?"

Her voice was so loud that Mr. and Mrs. Madison heard every word.

Maya glanced at her parents. They flashed her a pretentious smile. She mirrored it, then looked back at Cindy and nodded.

Cindy gasped. "Then why is she dressed like this? At least today is her special day."

Hearing this, Maya’s lips curved into a cruel smile. She glanced at her parents again, and they subtly motioned her forward. Taking the hint, Maya stood abruptly, her crocodile tears glistening.

"Ella, why are you so heartless? Why do you want to disgrace my family?" she wailed, rushing toward Ella.

Ella’s jaw dropped. Her heart clenched at Maya’s shameless acting.

Maya pressed on, emboldened by the crowd’s attention.

"Ella, what happened to the dress my parents bought for you?"

Ella’s heart sank to her stomach. She couldn’t recall any such dress. Her lips trembled as she asked weakly, "What dress, Miss Madi—"

Before she could finish, Maya’s hand lashed across her cheek. Gasps rippled through the guests, but the groom, Elion Copper, didn’t flinch.

He had been expecting it.

And that was only the beginning.