Chapter three

Liora

Maybe I was dreaming all along. Maybe I didn't really go back in time. But if I didn't, why was I still here in the black dress? Why was I still staring in horror as the police rushed towards the body?

They hovered over the body, their faces set in grim lines, whispering in low, urgent tones.

I looked towards my side to see Ethan sweating, and Dawn biting her nails, something she did whenever she was anxious. I glanced towards my stepmother, and I could swear that I saw a smirk, but it vanished quickly and was replaced with a worried frown.

Then, the detective, whose name was Harris, marched towards us, his badge flashing under the chandelier’s glow.

“What’s happening, Detective?” Ethan’s voice cracked, barely holding together. His chest rose and fell in shallow bursts, as if he couldn’t get enough air. From where I stood, I swore I could hear the frantic beat of his heart.

Harris didn't answer right away. Instead, he stepped closer, pulling out a small, bloodied cufflink and holding it up for all to see.

“Found this beside the body of Kaitlyn Holland. You know her, don’t you, Mr. Hart?”

Ethan paled. The color drained from his face as he glanced nervously toward me. I immediately looked at the cuffs of his shirt; indeed, one of his cufflinks was gone. What was happening? Why was Ethan the one being accused instead of me?

“Someone just told me they saw you arguing with her a few hours ago,” Harris continued. “It is said that she threatened to reveal something that would ruin your big day.”

Stupid bastard. So he was still flirting apart from fucking dawn?

Ethan tried to speak, but his voice caught in his throat.

“The victim had this in her hand.” Harris held up a torn corner of Ethan’s wedding invitation, stained with blood. “And your name written on the back.”

“And to top it all off, the anonymous message was traced, and it happened to have come from your phone.”

“Is this your thing? You give anonymous tips about your crimes and wait for the police to enter into your grand performance?” Harris sneered.

The crowd erupted in shocked murmurs.

“No… no, I didn’t do it!” Ethan stammered. He looked toward Dawn for some sort of help, but unfortunately, she didn't do anything; she was just shedding fake tears. His voice trembled as he took a shaky step forward, palms raised in helpless defense. But Harris cut him off with a sharp gesture.

“Ethan Langford, you’re under arrest as a suspect for the murder of Kaitlyn Holland.”

I gasped hard. What the fuck was happening here? Someone died in place of Helen, and everything that was happening now never happened in my past life. Alright, this is enough. Somebody pinch me so I can wake up from this dream.

I did send the anonymous message, but I never used Ethan's phone; I used Kate's phone. That way, she would be the suspect.

“I think there is a mistake. He can't even hurt a fly.” Dawn's eyes reddened. In fact, you would think she was the bride.

But Detective Harris ignored her and faced me directly.

“So sorry to disturb your big day, Mrs. Langford, but we need to follow the law,” Detective Harris said while putting handcuffs on Ethan.

I wanted to laugh and tell him I didn't give two fucks about him being arrested. But I remained quiet.

As soon as the detective was done, he took Ethan away. The crowd gasped and mumbled, and little by little, they started to leave. The murmurs faded with every retreating footstep. In a matter of moments, the room that had once been filled with celebration now echoed with emptiness.

I was lost in thought until I heard the clapping hands of Kate.

“Well done, Liora, you got smart overnight, but you weren't so smart.” Dawn, who had been crying like a little spoiled brat, suddenly stopped; in fact, she started glowing.

“I knew you were weird from how you acted, and Helen said the same thing. So I had my eyes on you. I saw the anonymous tip you wrote, but you had no idea mother jammed the network specifically for this wedding.” I informed Mother of your little plans. Dawn smirked.

“So when you sent the message through my mother's phone, it never went through. But since Mother is so nice, she sent the message through Ethan's phone and planted the evidence.”

"Don't worry! He will be out soon. This is just a warning to show you what she is capable of. Don't test us,” Dawn added, her tone dripping with menace.

“You killed her?” My eyes burned. How could they be this heartless to take an innocent life without batting an eyelid? My face became pale, and my body started to shiver not due to fear, but because of anger.

“Your story ends here, Liora. Dawn is going to marry Ethan once he comes out. And you are going to disappear like you never existed. You have nothing; even your grandfather can't help you.”

“And if you decide to come back, your father will die.” Her eyes narrowed to dangerous slits, dark and unblinking, like a predator moments before the kill.

“No… you can’t do this.” My head shook slowly, instinctively, as if trying to reject the reality unfolding before me.

My grandfather was angry at me because I decided to marry Ethan. My father couldn't help me due to his incapacities. And whether I leave or not, she was still going to kill him. I needed to be here.

“Yes, she can, Liora,” Dawn sneered, stepping closer. “So you better go home, pack your things, and disappear… or the only thing you’ll be attending is a funeral.” Her eyes sparkled with delight.

“You see, Liora, no one can stop me from getting what I want. I wanted to use you, but you played smart. I have no use for you now.” My stepmother cocked her head to the side.

My heart started to beat erratically. This was exactly how she looked before she killed me in the past. I couldn't let it happen. So what did I do?

I stood up, wiping the last tear from my face, and started to walk away. This wasn't the end. It was the beginning, and I was going to come back. How? I had no idea.

Just as I passed by my stepmother, she interrupted my steps.

“Wait!” Her voice echoed in the empty church. “That necklace, I want it.” Her eyes glinted with greed. I couldn't possibly let her, I had had this necklace for as long as I could remember. I think my mother gave it to me, although she left me a long time ago. I felt oddly connected to her through this.

But Kate wasn't listening, she grabbed me by the neck, but I was determined,I yanked her away from me, my chest heaving up and down as I sneered.

“Don’t lay your fucking hands on me, Kate.” I spat her name like venom, shoving her hand off my throat. The room froze. Behind us, Dawn gasped, her tone sharp and offended.

“Mother, are you going to watch her disrespect you just like that?” Her lips formed into a frown.

“Oh, don't worry, Dawn!” Kate's lips raised into a mocking smirk. “You are lucky today, Liora, you just might not be next time.”

I smirked, i understood the message she was passing.

“I will take my leave,” I said and walked away. I had no idea where exactly I was going. My mother was nowhere to be found, and my father was under my stepmother's care in a nursing home.

I knew at the end of the day, I was going to go back to my grandfather. He would accept me no matter what because of the love he had for me.

That's what I thought. But my heart burned, and my veins pumped with revenge as I remembered just one way I could get all the power I needed to bring Kate down.

Damien Grayson.

So I found myself standing in front of a wooden door that was ten times my size, and it made me imagine just how it was handled.

I raised my hand and knocked three sharp raps against the towering oak doors, and to my surprise, they opened without me trying to open them. I walked through the extremely large halls that echoed with every step I took.

But I suddenly stopped as my eyes caught a tall, domineering figure behind the dim light. His presence sent shivers down my spine, but then I composed myself, throwing every rumor I had heard into the junkyard.

“Will you marry me?” I asked without thinking. My voice was honeyed and calm, and a playful smirk curled on my lips, but my eyes held fire. Let the games begin.