THE WEDDING

EP 5

"Henry and I are getting married."

Valerie dropped the words so casually they barely sounded real.

"What?" I murmured. The knife hung in my trembling hand, its tip hovering uselessly in the air.

"What... did you just say?" I yelled this time, a cold wave washing over me, turning my skin clammy. Sweat gathered at my hairline and trickled down my back. Of course, I heard every single word she said, yet my mind refused to accept it. It had to be another one of her cruel games.

Valerie took another slow drag from her cigarette, deliberately saying nothing.

"What the hell did you just fucking say, Valerie?!" I shouted, my voice cracking beneath the weight of my fury.

Only then did she lift her eyes to meet mine from the sofa. Her gaze was extremely calm, her voice steady, and that exact kind of tone that always shredded my last nerve came out.

"He wanted to tell you himself," she said with a careless shrug. "But seeing how devastated you look, I thought I'd save him the trouble."

She paused just long enough for my heart to stop beating, and then she went further.

"Henry and I are getting married... in two months."

The room tilted right before my eyes. I stumbled backward as though someone had shoved me. My ankle buckled beneath me, and the knife slipped from my fingers, clattering onto the floor.

I stared at Valerie, searching her face for the slightest sign that she was joking. Maybe this was just her being her usual venomous self, but she wasn’t done.

She rose from the couch, smoothed the wrinkles from her dress, then glanced over her shoulder at me.

"No need to throw a tantrum, Victoria. You're more than welcome to attend as my darling stepdaughter."

A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "You have to be there to witness it all," she added before walking away without another glance.

The moment she disappeared, a sharp throb exploded behind my eyes. My vision blurred around the edges as though the walls were closing in. Every heartbeat sent another pulse of pain through my skull.

"No..."

I staggered backward until my shoulders struck the wall. Slowly, my knees gave out, and I slid helplessly to the floor, my fingers burying themselves in my hair.

"No... no... she's lying. She's definitely lying... right?"

She had to be. She was just trying to get under my skin.

I shook my head over and over, my hands trembling in my hair. I wanted to believe whatever my head was cooking up, but...

A raw scream tore from my throat.

"NO!"

She always had a way of winning, always. But not this time. I'm going to make her pay for every ounce of pain she'd inflicted on me since the day she walked into my life.

I shoved the flash drive deep into my handbag.

One last glance at my reflection before leaving for the big event, I applied another coat of matte black lipstick, smacked my lips together, and smiled at the woman staring back at me.

"It's playtime," I whispered, slinging the bag over my shoulder. "Let's go have some fun, Rina."

The wedding venue was only five streets away from my hotel, but I wasn't about to walk there. Today deserved a grand entrance.

A few minutes later, my taxi pulled up outside the hotel.

I stepped out and looked up at the magnificent building towering above me. Crystal chandeliers glittered through the towering glass windows, while expensive cars lined the entrance.

The corner of my lips curled into a wicked smile.

In less than an hour, this beautiful place would become the scene of a disaster no one would ever forget. My smile spread even more.

I had barely taken a step when someone bumped into me.

My handbag slipped from my shoulder, hit the pavement, and burst open. Nearly every item in it scattered across the ground.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" a clumsy man's voice exclaimed. "I wasn't watching," he added and immediately crouched down, hurriedly gathering my things back into my bag.

I was ready to lash out... until I got a proper look at him. He looked completely harmless.

His oversized round glasses rested awkwardly on his long, handsome nose, making him look more like an absent-minded professor than someone attending one of the city's richest weddings.

"I'm really sorry," he said again, handing my bag back to me with an awkward smile.

Getting angry at someone like him felt like a complete waste of energy.

I snatched my bag from his hand and continued chewing on my gum.

"You're here for the wedding too?" he asked, and I ignored him.

I wasn't there to make friends, especially not with some four-eyed nerdy guy.

Without another glance, I walked away.

"Wow..." he muttered loud enough behind me. "That was rude."

Then, after a brief pause, he added under his breath, "Although... judging by that outfit, I probably shouldn't be surprised."

Inside, the reception hall looked breathtaking.

Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead. Soft classical music drifted through the room as elegantly dressed guests sipped champagne and exchanged polite laughter.

The moment I walked in, conversations slowed and heads turned. Eyes followed me wherever I went.

Exactly the reaction I wanted. I didn’t forget to introduce myself, even when no one asked.

"Hi," I announced loudly enough for nearby guests to hear. "I'm Victoria, the bride's daughter..." I paused deliberately. "Well... stepdaughter."

Several brows knitted together after my introduction. People exchanged puzzled glances before hushed whispers spread behind me, and I soaked it in like wine.

I spotted the nerdy guy a few times in the crowd. He smiled each time he saw me, and I completely ignored him, rolled my eyes, and kept moving.

He was the last distraction I needed, so I avoided him like the plague.

Moments later, the music softened. The master of ceremonies stepped forward with a bright smile.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please? It is my greatest honor to present to you the newlyweds. Please rise and welcome Mr. Henry Vicos and his beautiful bride, Valerie."

Applause erupted.

I folded my arms across my chest.

There was Valerie, gliding gracefully down the aisle in a breathtaking off-the-shoulder white gown that hugged every elegant curve before flowing into a long, shimmering train. Diamonds sparkled around her neck, while her dark hair fell in soft waves over one shoulder. Her radiant smile lit up the room as though she were the happiest woman alive.

And beside her walked Henry, his fingers intertwined with hers.

Together, they looked like they had stepped straight out of a fairy tale.

My fairy tale.

That was supposed to be me wearing that dress, holding Henry's hand, and smiling into his eyes.

A bitter sneer tugged at my lips. If I couldn't have this moment, neither would she.

"Time for the real show," I whispered.

I reached into my bag for the flash drive. My fingers scrambled, but I couldn't find it.

I frowned and searched again, this time a bit faster, but still nothing.

"What the..."

Panic surged through my chest immediately.

I dug deeper, my fingers frantically pushing aside everything in my bag, but neither the flash drive nor my phone was there. My smile vanished immediately.

"No..."

My breathing turned shallow. I remembered vividly packing them before leaving the hotel. I remembered placing them inside my bag.

How on Earth had they suddenly gone missing?

The ceremony continued without interruption while panic clawed at my chest. I needed to act fast before it was too late. All my efforts couldn't be wasted just like that.

I searched desperately, even when I knew they weren't there.

People nearby began throwing curious glances my way, wondering what was wrong with the girl fighting with her bag, but I didn’t care. I needed to find them.

And then it hit me.

The bump. My bag spilling onto the pavement. The awkward man with the oversized glasses.

My eyes widened.

"No way..."