Step 4: Scare the opponent a little

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Castiel let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of unsaid apologies in the air. He couldn't bring himself to look into Mrs. Smith's eyes; her judgment felt like a heavy burden pressing down on him.

"She is rather... sensitive, isn't she?" Mrs. Smith drawled, her voice dripping with subtle disapproval. "Katherine was a whole lot nicer."

Castiel's heart skipped a beat, guilt stabbing at him. He tried to shake off the memory of Katherine, that vibrant, sunny girl in his arms when she was only nineteen. He had always been captivated by her shy smile and gentle touch. Her brilliant green eyes had a way of holding him captive, and he once thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world—his own Aphrodite.

Aphrodite, the goddess of love. He had been blissfully unaware of the irony then, just as he remained oblivious to the tempest brewing within him now.

Clearing his throat—his voice rasping through the silence—he managed to say, "Please excuse me, Mrs. Smith."

His feet moved of their own accord, driven by an urgent need to find Caroline. He simply had to.

He couldn’t escape the whispers that tailed him like an unwelcome shadow, accusing him of betrayal and of having chosen a convenient replacement. Deep down, he acknowledged their truth. Caroline was nothing at all like Katherine.

Katherine, with her quiet grace and gentle acceptance, was a soft whisper in tumultuous times.

Caroline, on the other hand, was a whirlwind. She commanded attention and demanded respect, never shying away from the power that came with her beauty. She was brilliant, ambitious, and driven.

While he had loved Katherine with all his heart, he couldn’t love Caroline in the same way. But neither did he see her as a replacement. They were two separate constellations in different galaxies.

As he navigated through the thriving crowd of masked figures, swirling gowns, and tailored suits, he felt lost among faces he didn’t recognize. The smell of champagne mingled with expensive perfume, filling the air with a mix of excitement and anticipation. This masquerade gala—originally meant to celebrate his friend—felt hollow and empty in his hands.

A flicker of crimson caught his attention, a bright spot against the backdrop of black and gold. And then he saw her. Near the balcony, her back turned to him, framed by the moonlit sky. A rush of relief washed over him, calming his racing heart.

He moved closer, his heart pounding louder in his chest. She was in a quiet conversation with someone, their voices merely a murmur beneath the music.

"Get. Out," he heard her insist, her words firm and uncompromising.

"And miss seeing your fiancé for the first time in years? Never." The response carried a teasing tone, almost playful.

"Caroline—"

His steps staggered. Breath caught in his throat, the world blurred around him. He couldn’t believe his eyes.

Katherine.

She stood mere inches from Caroline, radiating warmth that soothed the thick tension in the air. This impossible scenario jolted him. Katherine was here.

She was stunning. Her dark hair fell in silken waves down her back, framing her ethereal face. Her emerald green eyes sparkled with mischief, a familiar twinkle he hadn’t seen in years. She looked even more beautiful than he had remembered.

"Katherine," he breathed, his voice barely escaping him, his grey eyes wide in disbelief.

A slow, enchanting smile appeared on her lips, a vibrant red against her pale complexion. Lifting her glass of burgundy liquid, she took a sip, the movement graceful and almost sensual, without ever breaking their eye contact.

"Hello, Mister Groom," she said, her voice a gentle melody tinged with irony that sent shivers down his spine. "Congratulations on the wedding."

Her words struck like a punch, each syllable echoing the harsh reality of his betrayal, the bitter truth of his choices. He took in her attire—the intricate embroidery on her gown, delicate pearls adorning her neck. His eyes landed on the familiar emerald bracelet he had gifted her long ago, a silent reminder of a love that had been forsaken.

Everything else faded away; all that remained was Katherine. Memories came flooding back—stolen kisses, secret promises, whispered dreams.

"Katherine... how?" he stammered, struggling to process her presence.

She chuckled lightly, her laughter filling the space between them. "Let’s just say, I had a little unexpected help getting here. A certain friend of mine—someone you know very well." Her eyes sparkled, a cheeky glint within the emerald depths. "She wanted to ensure I could see you both tonight."

A cold wave of realization crashed over him. He knew exactly who that was: Caroline.

Glancing at Caroline, he found her face unreadable, but he noticed the flash of anger in her eyes, a burning fire of resentment aimed at Katherine. She was furious, not just because of the betrayal, but also because Katherine, a specter from his past, dared to remind them both of what had been lost.

Caroline’s voice was gentle, almost playful, but the underlying steel was unmistakable. She was ready to fight, to reclaim what she believed was rightfully hers. In that moment, realization hit him like a wave—he had finally opened Pandora's box, and he understood he could never close it again.