Betrayed

Chapter one

“We can’t get married.”

His defiant tone echoed in the hall

Lucia froze.

Her heart stopped for a moment. She stood at the altar, holding her bouquet tightly, her hands shaking. Her dream day, everything she had ever hoped for was falling apart right in front of her.

“What did you say?” her voice weak, tears clouding her eyes.

Mike looked away. His suit was wrinkled, his shirt messy, and there was something strange in his eyes. Guilt. Regret. Maybe both.

“I said… we can’t get married,” he repeated, quieter this time.

Lucia stared at him, trying to understand. “Why, Mike? What’s going on?”

He didn’t answer right away. Then her eyes caught something faint, a red lipstick on his collar.

Her chest tightened. “Mike…”

He followed her gaze and touched his shirt, embarrassed. “I didn’t mean for it to happen like this. I was going to tell you.”

“Tell me what?” she asked, her voice breaking. “That you cheated on me? That you're leaving me… on our wedding day?”

He nodded slowly. “I’m in love with someone else.”

Lucia felt like the ground was slipping away beneath her feet. “Who?” she asked, her voice barely a breath.

He hesitated, then said the name that shattered her heart.

“Bella.”

Lucia gasped. “My stepsister? No… No, that’s not true.”

“It is,” he said.

The bouquet dropped from her hands. The flowers scattered across the floor like her broken dreams.

**SLAP!

The sound rang loud in the silent room. Mike’s head snapped to the side.

Lucia then stared at her hand in shock. She had never hit anyone before but the pain inside her heart had exploded.

“I loved you,” she said through tears. “I gave you everything. I waited for you… believed in you. How could you do this to me?”

Mike looked at her coldly. “Because I love her. And I’m marrying her.”

Lucia’s mouth fell open. Her body went numb.

That’s when Bella walked out from the crowd. She was smiling, wearing a tight red dress flaunting her curves. Her makeup was perfect, her confidence sharp like a knife.

She walked straight to Mike, kissed him softly on the cheek right where Lucia had slapped him and held his hand.

Now Lucia could barely breathe. “Why?” she cried. “You’re my sister, Bella. Why would you take him from me?”

Bella tilted her head and gave a cruel smile. “Because I could. Because he never truly wanted you. You’re too soft, too plain. You bore him.”

Lucia shook her head, tears falling fast. “That’s not true…”

“It is,” Mike said. “This wedding is over.”

He turned, walking away with Bella as if Lucia never meant a thing.

Lucia stumbled forward. “Mike, please! Don’t leave me like this.”

But before she could reach him, someone grabbed her roughly from behind.

“What do you think you’re doing?” a harsh voice spat.

Lucia turned to see Mrs. Flourish, her stepmother. Her face was twisted with anger.

“Mother, please”

“Don’t call me that!” she snapped. Then she grabbed Lucia’s hair and yanked hard.

Lucia cried out in pain. “Stop! Please!”

“You don’t belong here,” Mrs. Flourish hissed. “ My sweet Bella, she is the one meant to be with him. You were never good enough.”

Then, without warning, she shoved Lucia backwards.

Lucia screamed, closing her eyes. She knew her end had come.

But she didn’t fall.

Strong arms caught her by the waist, steady and warm.

She looked up, gasping for air and saw a man she’d never seen before. He was tall, dressed in black, with calm eyes that felt like they could see straight into her soul. He smelled powerful, clean, and warm.

Immediately Lucia felt drawn to this man. Her once quivering heart steadied.

Lucia stared into his eyes deeply.

And for just a moment, time stopped.