Operation: Ruin The Wedding

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The afternoon sun, a watchful eye, cast long, shadowy shapes across Katherine's luxurious yet dull white bedroom. Dust motes danced in the warm glow, like tiny, silent fireworks marking the end of her world. She lay sprawled on her king-sized bed, a half-empty glass of merlot—a sign of her sorrow—teetering on the nightstand. The television, constantly set to reruns of 'Friends,' hummed softly in the background, the familiar laughter of the six friends feeling like a laugh at her own broken happiness.

Her gaze flickered across the screen, and each comment on the Willow Whispers blog felt like a little jab, hurting her already tender heart.

"Isn't it strange to marry your ex-wife's sister?"

Katherine scoffed. "Strange?" she muttered, a bitter smile creeping onto her lips. "Strange doesn’t even scratch the surface."

She scrolled further, stumbling upon more sharp comments, each one a painful prick to her soul.

"Castiel divorced his wife just to marry her clone XD"

"I guess if you're rich enough, you can convince your ex-wife's twin to marry you so you can take her place."

"How is everyone okay with this?"

"This is kind of gross."

"I know he's rich, but did Caroline really have to marry her twin's ex?"

"That Caroline seems like such a snake, honestly."

Katherine chortled, a hollow laugh escaping her. "Snake?" she whispered, her voice barely above the muffled laughter from the television. "Well, they're not wrong about that."

A wave of bitter memories swept over her, each moment another piece of glass slicing at her heart.

The memories whirled in her mind—a jumble of pain and betrayal: their first meeting in a busy school hallway, their whirlwind romance ignited by youthful passion, the thrilling rush of love that felt everlasting, the gradual dissolution of trust, whispers of doubt creeping in like vines choking their love, the gut-wrenching heartbreak as their 'forever' shattered, and the final blow of divorce that left her feeling lost.

"I can’t even remember why Castiel and Katherine got divorced in the first place," one comment on the blog said. "They were together since they were teenagers. Isn’t it funny how love fades?"

Katherine gripped her wine glass tighter, her knuckles turning white. She didn’t need to recall. The wounds were still fresh, the pain still real.

"I wonder how Katherine Donovan feels about this," another comment chimed in. "If it were me... I’d be furious."

Furious, indeed. Those words resonated deeply within her, igniting a firestorm of anger.

Katherine Donovan was seething, and she wouldn't let anyone off the hook.

She had been tossed aside, treated as if she were an old dress, replaced by a near clone. But she was no simple garment; surely she was worth much more.

With a fierce growl, Katherine tossed her phone across the bed. The screen flickered, revealing a distorted image of Caroline's beaming face, a picture of a woman about to start her fairytale wedding.

Nausea washed over Katherine, bile rising in her throat. But she swallowed it back, replacing that feeling with an intense determination.

She wouldn’t be a victim anymore. She wouldn’t be the one left behind. She would get her revenge. They would pay for their betrayal and the pain they caused her.

The television erupted once more with laughter from the six friends, but it fell on deaf ears, unable to penetrate the fortress of anger and hurt surrounding her heart.

The sound of the front door opening and closing pulled her from her thoughts. Footsteps echoed down the hallway, followed by a cheerful voice calling out, "Honey, I’m home!"

"In here!" Katherine replied, her voice flat and devoid of warmth.

The bedroom door creaked open, and in stepped Hailey, her face bright with an energy that felt jarring to Katherine.

Hailey’s excitement seemed intrusive, reminding Katherine of the joy she had lost, the happiness that was now just out of reach.

Unlike her usual trips, Hailey didn’t come in with grocery bags but with multiple pink and white boutique bags. The sheer number sent a shiver down Katherine's spine.

"Look what I’ve got!" Hailey exclaimed, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm and her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Katherine felt a flicker of guilt, a hint of appreciation for Hailey's unwavering support despite her own misery.

"You’re going to bankrupt us at this rate, Hailey," she sighed, a sarcastic tone lacing her words. "I thought you were going grocery shopping."

Hailey's smile broadened, her eyes sparkling. "Come on, it's for the plan! Operation: Ruin the Wedding, remember?"

"Sure," Katherine muttered, a hint of defiance in her tone. She sat up, causing the satin bedspread to rustle, whispering like a forgotten dream.

"I’ll go grocery shopping tomorrow, Kat," Hailey assured, urgency lacing her voice. "But first..."

Hailey reached into one of the bags and pulled out a stunning black dress that cascaded like silky water. "Ta-da!"

Katherine gasped, breath catching in her throat. The dress, sleek and sophisticated with intricate embroidery and a daring design, was simply breathtaking.

"Oh my god!" she exclaimed, surprise and awe shining in her voice. "Is that—"

"A Niorvanti gown? You got it!" Hailey interrupted, pride and excitement in her tone. "And it’s one of your own designs!"

Katherine stared at the dress, emotion flooding her. It was a design from years ago, a vision she had cherished, a piece of her soul made tangible. Now, it stood before her, a physical representation of her artistic dreams.

For years after the divorce, after the heartbreak, Katherine had hidden in her sketchbook, her pencil drawing lines of inspiration, filling pages with hope and imagination. Selling her designs to a respected French company, Niorvanti, had helped her rebuild her life, offering solace in her art.

But she had never seen her creations come to life or worn by real people.

And now, here was one of her works, a testament to her talent, resilience, and ability to rise from the ashes.

"This is beautiful," Katherine whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She reached out, fingers grazing the delicate embroidery, the soft fabric, feeling the echo of her creativity. "Thank you, Hailey. You're truly the best."

"Of course I am," Hailey replied, her smile full of warmth. Yet, beneath the surface, Katherine detected a hint of worry, a concern she couldn't quite place.

Hailey had always been a pillar of strength for her, a reminder of the goodness in the world. But recently, Katherine sensed a shift in her demeanor, a cautious new layer where once there was carefree joy.

"Now come on," Hailey urged, bringing back her bubbly energy, "I’ve got outfits for every occasion in mind. You’ve got to try them on!"

She began to unpack the bags, revealing a dazzling array of dresses, skirts, tops, shoes, and accessories, each more extravagant than the last.

"The public eye is on you now," Hailey explained, her tone becoming serious. "You've got to look stunning every step of the way as you seek your revenge."

Katherine looked at the shimmering fabrics and intricate designs, a flash of fear and self-doubt flooding through her.

She would use everything she had, all her strength, every bit of her intelligence, ensuring that their wedding wouldn’t signal love; it’d be a tribute to her vengeance.

"Let’s do this," Katherine declared.