One Step To Becoming The Wealthiest....

Chapter 2

Out of everyone in the church, she never expected to see her best friend standing among the people laughing at her.

Seeing that she had been caught, Raya quickly put on an apologetic face.

"Oh my God, Alina!"

She hurried over and knelt beside her.

"I'm so sorry."

She reached out to brush the dust from Alina's wedding dress.

“I didn't mean to trip you, Alina! It was an accident !” Raya gasped, looking deeply concerned.

Alina remained silent. Raya continued cleaning the dirt from the white wedding dress.

"I saw one of those bullies walking toward you," she explained with a forced sob, though her eyes remained completely dry. "She looked like she wanted to humiliate you again, so I stretched out my leg to stop her. I never thought you would be the one to trip. I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

Alina looked into her friend's eyes and saw nothing but guilt. Or at least… That was what she believed.

“It's okay, I believe you,” Alina said, gently tapping her friend's cheek with a playful smile.

"Really?" Raya asked, smiling at her friend.

"I know you would never intentionally hurt me.” Alina nodded.

Alina didn’t think twice about it. She trusted Raya completely.

Raya had been her best friend since primary school.

Whenever Alina was bullied because of her weight, Raya was always the first person to defend her.

She had fought classmates, argued with teachers, and even gotten herself punished several times because she refused to let anyone insult Alina.

There was no way she would suddenly become one of the people laughing at her.

Alina held Raya up, threw her arms around Raya and hugged her tightly.

Burying her face in Raya's shoulder, she cried uncontrollably while the guests continued to point and whisper.

“Enough, Alina,” Raya gently rubbed her back.

“Stop crying over a man who doesn’t know your worth, Alina. He isn't worth your tears.”

They slowly pulled away from each other.

Raya held Alina's hand and led her outside the church.

A taxi was already waiting by the gate.

Raya opened the door and helped Alina inside before getting in beside her.

As the taxi pulled away from the venue, Raya held Alina’s hand.

"Bryce is the one who lost today. He is too blind to see it. He walked away from a beautiful, kind, and intelligent woman any good man would kill to have. He is a total loser,” Raya sneered softly.

"A good man would be proud to have someone like you.”

Alina forced a weak smile. Raya reached into her handbag, took out a piercce of face wipes, and gently wiped the tears from Alina's face.

"You shouldn't let him see you broken. You deserve much better."

Alina looked at her with her swollen eyes, feeling a wave of gratitude.

“I am so lucky to have you, Raya,” Alina whispered, “When I was running out of the church, all I wanted was for the earth to open up and swallow me whole."

Alina smiled through her tears.

"But then you came. You hugged me. You made me feel like I wasn't alone."

​Raya smiled warmly and teasingly poked her friend's cheek.

"We're more than friends now, Alina. We're sisters. We've known each other almost our whole lives. I'll always be here for you.”

Alina forced a tiny, heart-broken smile, nodding at her friend, and Raya nodded back.

Soon, the cab pulled up in front of Alina’s house. Knowing Alina would beg her to stay the night, Raya quickly glanced at the time on her phone before turning to Alina.

“Oh, no! I totally forgot!” Raya said, looking flustered. “I wish I could stay with you but my mom is waiting for me to go luxury dress shopping with her.”

She slipped her phone back into her handbag.

"And I still have to prepare for someone's birthday party tonight.”

She gave a nervous laugh.

“My mother has been reminding me all morning. If I don't get home now, she'll never stop complaining.

I have to go right now, or she’ll be furious. You know how she gets when it comes to high-end parties!”

A strange glint flashed in Raya's eyes, almost like she was secretly getting ready for a special event herself - like Bryce's grand birthday party happening later that night.

But Alina was too drained to notice. She trusted Raya with her life.

She couldn't imagine Raya attending the birthday party of someone who just publicly humiliated her bestfriend and called off their wedding.

Maybe it was the birthday of a relative Raya had never spoken about.

"You're really not inviting me to this birthday party?" Alina asked, her eyes fixed on Raya's face, carefully watching every expression for a sign that something was wrong.

"Um... no. It's just a small gathering for important people." She let out a nervous laugh. "Sorry... I mean, it's only for family members. No friends.”

“It’s okay,” Alina said softly. “Go ahead.”

They shared a quick hug, and Alina stepped out of the taxi.

She stood by the gate, watching the car drive out of sight. The moment Raya was gone, the heavy pain crashed right back into Alina’s chest. Tears pooled in her eyes once more.

She placed a trembling hand over her chest and breathed out a silent prayer.

“Thank God for bringing Raya into my life. She makes me feel alive. No matter what happens… She always makes me forget my pain."

A small smile returned to her lips. Without Raya, she didn't know how she would survive today.

She couldn't wait for Raya's birthday in a few days to make her happy as much as she did today. Alina had already bought the perfect gift Raya wished for when they were in school. She could hardly wait to surprise her.

Taking a deep breath, Alina turned away from the street toward the large mansion.

The moment she looked at the front door, her smile disappeared, and fear slowly replaced it.

She knew the nightmare waiting for her inside, especially at the hands of her own mother, Beatrice Roth.

But everyone called her Mrs. Roth.

She was the strict, cold rich wife of the family, even her husband feared her wroth most times.

Alina feared her almost as much as she feared losing Bryce.

Mrs. Roth had looked forward to today's wedding almost more than Alina, the bride.

Not because she cared about her daughter’s happiness, but because of the massive business deal.

She wanted the permanent business partnership Bryce had promised the Roth family after the marriage. That deal would have transformed their company overnight.

Now, that multi-million dollar deal, the marriage, everything was gone.

Alina walked slowly toward the door, taking hesitant steps like she was marching to her own execution. She opened the door quietly, bracing herself for the worst.

To her shock, the living room was completely empty and silent. A sigh of relief escaped her lips.

“Maybe they are still at the church,” Alina thought, feeling a sudden spark of excitement.

Maybe she could make it upstairs before anyone returned.

She quietly removed her heels, holding them in one hand, she held her breath and tiptoed across the marble floor.

But just as she lifted one foot onto the first stair, a furious voice exploded behind her.

“Alina Roth! Where do you think you are going!?”

Mrs. Roth’s voice came from behind her like thunder.

Alina froze, her whole body stiffened.

Slowly she turned around to face her mother.

Mrs. Roth stood at the entrance to the living room, her face dark with anger. Behind her stood Ava, her friend and her son, King. They all stared at Alina with disgust.

“Apart from occupying space in the Roth family, what have you ever contributed!?

Shame!

You have brought nothing but shame to our name!” Mrs. Roth barked, stepping closer.

“Maybe she needs more burgers and cheesecake to help her get something right for once in her life!”

Ava giggled cruelly and rolled her eyes.

"Perhaps then she'll finally get something right and fix this mess she brought upon us."

The others joined her and laughed at Alina.

Alina lowered her head. "I'm sorry…”

“Shut your mouth. You don't get to speak.” Mrs. Roth snapped.

She slowly walked toward Alina again, her expensive heels clicking loudly against the marble floor.

"You failed this family. You couldn't even keep one man interested long enough to marry you.

You couldn't even convince a CEO to sign one business deal for this family. We were one signature away from becoming one of the richest families in this city. And you destroyed everything. Everything Alina!"

Tears filled Alina's eyes again. "I tried mother…"

Beatrice raised a hand. "I said shut up.”

“I guess it's time you pack your things and get out of this house. There is no room in the Roth’s family for a weak, useless woman who can not win a man's heart long enough to sign a business contract!”

Ava stepped forward, her voice filled with venom. She folded her arms across her chest and smirked.

"We were so close to becoming one of the city's wealthiest families. But this fat failure ruined everything!”

Beatrice stepped even closer until she was standing so close in front of Alina.

"Do you know how much I regret bringing you into this house?”

She waited for an answer, but Alina did not reply. She knew anything she'd say would still be used against her. Mrs. Roth wasn't in to listen to her pain at all.

" Of course I know you have no idea. I picked you up when you had nothing, I clothed you, fed you, and gave you a family. And this is how you repay me?"

She looked Alina up and down with disgust.

“How long are you going to keep bringing shame to this family!?” Mrs. Roth yelled, pointing an angry finger at her daughter's face.

“After everything I did for you! I raised you to become great, only for you to grow into nothing but a fat useless burden!”