Something Gained.

"Where's Jeremy? Tell him to pick up the phone."

The video call was answered by Rachel Stephens. I froze for a moment, but I quickly composed myself.

Rachel, however, deliberately scanned the environment behind me.

She pursed her lips into a sly smile. "Oh, Ms. Lurne, you're in the new house, huh?

"The new bed is really soft. I've tried it out for you."

I felt like I had lost all sense of gravity as my head started to buzz.

I stared at the woman in the video, speechless for a moment.

Rachel's gaze swept across the sheets, her voice laced with pride. "The groom's pretty great too. I've tried him out for you as well."

At that moment, I finally saw where she was. She was in a hotel room.

I forcefully swallowed my anger, trying to keep calm.

I asked again, "Where's Jeremy?"

Rachel's eyes darted to the side deliberately, her face feigning concern. "Oh, Mr. Stone is working late, of course. He's very busy."

Then I heard that all-too-familiar voice.

"Rachel, come help me with my back."

At that moment, I felt completely frozen. My mouth opened, but no words came out.

"You're just trying to trick me into showering with you, you naughty man," Rachel teasingly said as she gave me a smug look before hanging up the call.

Strength left my body, and I slid to the floor. I felt swallowed whole by anger and sorrow.

I did not know how long I sat there before I chuckled bitterly and tossed the sheets into the trash.

Tomorrow was supposed to be my wedding day with Jeremy Stone. I had been busy setting up the house while he shared a romantic bath with his assistant.

I knew Rachel wanted to ruin my wedding. She had succeeded.

I sent a message to Jeremy.

[Jeremy Stone, we're done. The wedding's off.]

I did not need a tainted house, much less a tainted man.

I looked at the figurine of a couple in wedding attire kissing on the table. I threw it straight into the trash.

I smashed the framed wedding photo on the wall.

I destroyed the wedding room I had decorated myself until it was a complete wreck.

I texted my friends and family about the canceled wedding, turned off my phone, and went home.

In the silence, I forced myself not to think about all the years I had wasted on that pathetic excuse for a man.

I drank myself into oblivion, using alcohol to escape reality.

The next morning, I was jolted awake by a furious pounding on the door.

Jeremy Stone and his groomsmen stood outside, all suited up and looking absurdly proper.

The bouquet in Jeremy's hand looked battered; its petals had fallen apart.

He looked at me, clearly disheveled and not fully awake, and snapped in frustration.

"Fiona! Are you out of your mind?"

His twisted expression looked so ugly that I almost found it funny.

That small laugh of mine only set him off further.

He hurled the broken bouquet at the ground, yelling, "Do you even know what today is? It's our wedding day!"