She Got Crown, I Got Cremated

Lulu asked about me.Frank and Jeff frowned in sync.Frank scoffed. "Seriously? After all she did, you're still thinking about her? That girl never appreciated you. Just drop it. Let her dig her own grave."Lulu's voice was quiet. "But... what if Sienna's actually dead? Jeff? Frank?"My chest clenched. I watched their faces.Once, they freaked out if I scraped my knee. Said they'd protect me forever.Now Jeff just smirked. "If she's dead? Great. I'll throw fireworks. Light up the whole city."Frank snorted. "Or better—ship her body back to wherever and pay some whackjob priest to curse her soul. Make sure she never comes near you again."It felt like getting slammed into a freezer—numb, breathless, iced to the bone.I couldn't wrap my head around it. The same guys who swore they'd always have my back... were now cracking jokes about cursing me.Fireworks. Curses. All to make Lulu feel safe. Loved.In that moment, I was actually glad they never got my body. I might've never f

The video showed my body.White dress drenched in blood. My face—slashed up so bad, it wasn't even mine anymore.I looked away. Couldn't handle it. But the internet? Who knows how many had already seen it.The staff's jaw tightened. "This is raw footage, Mr. Blenman. You were her fiancé. You should know her better than anyone. Do you believe it now?"Jeff's face twitched. He looked away fast, like he couldn't stomach it. "Her face is wrecked. How can you even tell it's her? And those wounds? Looks staged. You think a video's enough proof?"Sienna loved life. If something really happened, I'd be the first to know. She'd have called. But she didn't."Tell her to knock it off. I'll let it slide, but if this keeps going? Wedding's off. My family's not marrying some jealous freak."Frank's eyes stayed locked on the screen. Something shifted in him. His voice was flat, like he was swallowing glass. "Yeah. Tell her to stop. This just makes us hate her more. If she shows now, I'll forge

Three days later, Jeff and Frank walked out of the detention center.Jeff looked wrecked—dark circles, dead eyes.Frank wasn't any better. He kicked a rock and muttered, "We need to find Sienna. If we don't, Princess Lulu's screwed."Jeff stayed chill. "I'll look for Sienna. You figure out how to get Lulu out."Frank shot him a look. "Bail her out? People think she's a murderer."Jeff's voice was flat. "Pregnancy can get her bail."Frank's eyes lit up. He peeled off toward the hospital without another word.I stared at Jeff's blank face—and yeah, for the first time, I was scared.He'd fake a pregnancy to protect her.I just followed, numb.He had people tracking my last known location while digging into Lulu's recent moves.When a lead came in, it pointed to the apartment I'd rented after ditching the mansion.He floored it—turned an hour drive into thirty minutes flat.He got to the place and kicked the door open.Tiny setup—two bedrooms, barely furnished.He tore throu

Bang.Frank staggered back, clutching his nose, head spinning.Before he could react, Jeff grabbed his collar and started swinging—hard.Years of bottled-up hate exploded. Every punch landed like it meant something. No holding back."Sienna was my fiancée, Frank! She CHOSE me! You should've stayed out of it instead of slithering around like some wannabe hero!"Frank snarled through the blood. "Oh, now she's your fiancée? Where was that energy when Lulu showed up and you ditched her like trash? I've BEEN waiting to knock you out."I backed into a corner, silent, watching them beat each other to a pulp.By the end, Jeff was slumped in the doorway. Frank leaned against the wall, breathing hard.Neither had anything left.Frank wiped the blood off his nose, breathing hard. Head tilted back, he stared at Jeff. "Why didn't you cherish her?"Like he was asking Jeff—but maybe asking himself, too.Jeff leaned on one knee, sweat dripping down, bruises starting to bloom.He let out a