Chapter Three

The whispers were growing louder.

They moved quietly at first. Soft whispers. Low murmurs. Side glances. But with every passing minute, they grew louder. More confident. More cruel.

The guests shifted in their seats. Some leaned toward each other. Others covered their mouths as they spoke, pretending to be polite while feeding on the shame unfolding before them.

Hours had passed.

And still, the bride was still standing  alone at the altar.

No groom.

No explanation.

Just silence.

Riley stood there in her white gown, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Her fingers trembled so badly that she could barely feel them anymore. Her legs felt weak, as though they might give way at any moment. Every second felt heavier than the last.

She could feel the stares.

They burned into her skin.

At that moment she just wished the ground would open and swallow her whole.

Her chest tightened painfully as her breath came in as short, shaky gasps. Her eyes were heavy with unshed tears. She blinked rapidly, trying to stop them from falling.

She didn’t want to cry. Not here. Not in front of everyone.

But her heart was breaking.

The priest shifted uncomfortably beside her. He cleared his throat several times just to make sure she was aware of his situation.

He leaned closer, lowering his voice.

“I’m so sorry,” he said gently. “But I have another engagement. From the look of things, it seems the wedding won’t be holding anymore.”

Those words struck her like a slap.

Riley felt a sharp ache in her chest. It spread quickly, squeezing her heart until it hurt to breathe. Her worst fear had finally come true.

He wasn’t coming.

Her vision blurred as tears filled her eyes. Her lips trembled, but no sound came out. She stood frozen, her world collapsing right in front of her.

Just as the priest was about to pack up, the large door at the back of the hall suddenly pushed open.

Hard.

Wide.

The sound echoed loudly through the hall.

Everyone turned.

The murmuring stopped instantly.

Every whisper died.

The entire hall went silent.

Riley’s head snapped up.

Her eyes widened in shock as she watched a familiar figure walk in.

Ken.

Her groom.

He walked down the aisle with long, confident strides. His shoulders were straight. His steps were firm. He looked powerful. Commanding. Untouchable.

Riley froze.

She couldn’t explain what she was feeling.

Her chest heaved as her breath caught in her throat. Her heart pounded so hard that she could hear it in her ears.

At that moment, she forgot everything.

She forgot how scared she was earlier. She forgot she was almost abandoned at the altar.

Her attention was fixed only on him.

He came.

Her husband came for her.

Relief washed over her like a wave. Her knees almost buckled from it. A soft smile curved on her lips as tears finally spilled freely down her cheeks.

She didn’t bother wiping them away.

She didn’t care.

He came.

Ken walked closer, his face set in a deep frown. Anyone could tell he wasn’t happy. It was obvious he was been forced into this marriage.

But Riley didn’t notice that.

All she saw was that he came.

He finally reached the altar.

Riley swallowed hard as she stared at him. Her eyes were filled with relief and gratitude. Her heart felt light again, as though it had been given another chance to beat.

Ken looked at her.

And her expression disgusted him.

What was she smiling about?

What was she so happy about?

Ruining his life?

He clenched his jaw tightly. His eyes hardened as anger burned deep inside him.

He swore to himself at that moment.

This would be the last time she would ever smile happily.

Riley glanced around the hall and suddenly saw her father rushing in. His clothes were simple. His face looked tired. But when their eyes met, he smiled.

Her eyes glittered with relief and happiness.

Her father came back.

Everything seemed to be falling into place.

Everything—except her groom, who stood beside her with so much hatred and disgust in his eyes.

Riley noticed it briefly. But she didn’t understand it. She assumed it was just his usual expression. She brushed it aside and focused on the moment.

The priest quickly resumed the ceremony.

The sun had already begun to set by the time the wedding ended. Everything happened fast. Too fast.

Soon, everyone gathered at the reception hall.

The place was grand. Beautiful. Luxurious.

Rich and influential people filled the room.

Laughing loudly, glass clicking, influential people trying to connect with each other, while everyone completely ignored the bride.

Riley felt small.

Out of place.

Invisible.

It was as though she didn’t exist at her own wedding.

Most of the guests surrounded Ken. They laughed with him. Spoke to him. Praised him. His grandfather stood proudly beside him, deep in conversation.

Riley watched from a distance.

She knew whatever they were discussing was far beyond her understanding.

She felt like an unwanted guest at her own party.

Her chest felt heavy again.

She searched around for her father.

Finally, she saw him sitting at a corner, quietly eating. He looked relaxed. Happy, even.

Riley smiled in relief.

At least he was enjoying himself.

She lifted her dress slightly and started walking toward him.

But before she could reach him, a lady suddenly walked up to him. She grabbed his plate without warning.

Her eyes were filled with disrespect.

“I’m sorry,” the lady said coldly, “but this food was personally prepared for special guests. And you can’t sit here. Please leave.”

Her father looked up in confusion. His hand trembled slightly. He stammered, clearly shaken.

“I’m a guest too,” he said softly.

The lady laughed.

“You? A guest?” she scoffed. “I don’t even think you’re up to the standards of people hired by the Hales as maids. Please, sir, leave here before I force you out.”

His face dropped.

Embarrassment washed over him.

He opened his mouth to speak, but the lady didn’t give him the chance. She grabbed him roughly and pushed him off the seat.

Riley rushed forward.

She caught her father just before he could fall.

“Are you okay?” she asked urgently, her voice shaking.

He nodded slightly, unable to speak.

“Madam, he—” the kitchen assistant tried to explain.

But Riley didn’t wait.

Her hand flew.

A loud slap echoed through the hall.

The lady gasped, clutching her cheek.

“How dare you disrespect my dad!” Riley shouted, her voice filled with anger and pain.

The lady stared at her in shock.

The entire hall went silent again.

All eyes turned toward them.

Riley took a slow step forward, her hands shaking, her heart pounding.

“I am now part of the Hales family,” she said boldly. “So don’t you ever think of disrespecting my father again.”

The maid immediately fell to her knees, apologizing profusely.

Ken turned to watch the chaos.

A smirk formed on his lips.

Disgust filled his eyes.

“Such a gold digger,” he thought. “The wedding isn’t even over, and she’s already exercising power as a Hale.”

His voice rang out loudly from the crowd.

“Who told you that you can call yourself a Hale?”

The crowd gasped.

Whispers erupted.

Everyone turned toward Ken.

He walked forward slowly, His presence commanded attention.

He stopped in front of Riley and her father.

His eyes flickered briefly to the trembling kitchen assistant, then back to Riley.

He smirked.

“What gave you the right,” he asked coldly, “to openly declare yourself a Hale?”

Riley’s heart dropped.

It thundered painfully in her chest.

The room spun.

All eyes were on her.

Some were mocking her silently  but tried to hide it.

Some whispered.

Some looked at her with pure disgust.

It was like no one in that room was on her side.

Her feet felt numb against the floor.

She just stood frozen. Speechless.

She had just claimed a name she had no right to.

How could she just openly declare herself as a part of a family that never once mentioned she was part of them.

Without his support, she was nothing.

Riley trembled as the truth hit her.

She had made a terrible mistake.

She was never an Hale. Not even a forced marriage could automatically make her an Hale.

And at that moment, she realized—

This was not her new home.

She could never fit in into a world like this.

To the Hales, she was nothing.