Chapter 2 Nadine 002

The plan to expose Jake and Nathalie brings a smile to my face. I've swapped the original wedding video with the video of their private moment.

The guest gasps seeing Jake and Nathalie's intimate scene playing on the screen. I turn around to see everyone's reaction.

Jake's eyes widen in disbelief as he stares at me. He's speechless, his mouth hanging open. Nathalie, too, looks horrified. "You... you did this?" she asks, in a trembling voice.

I smile calmly and whisper, "I did."

As I watch everyone's reactions I feel guilty already for causing the joyous occasion to turn sour.

I gather my gown in my hands and run out of the venue. But as I flee, I suddenly stop when I feel a gaze piercing through me.

A man stands in the distance, his eyes locked on mine, a sly smile tugging at the corner of his lips. His presence is unsettling like he's seeing right through me.

"Nadine!" Sydney calls out, snapping me back to reality. I tear my gaze away from the mysterious man and rush back to my room. Once inside, I slump to the floor and cry, releasing all the pain I've been holding in.

Sydney quietly enters, wrapping her arms around me without saying a word. This only makes me cry harder. "I can't keep hiding, Sydney," I cry. "I have to face this."

Sydney nods, squeezing my hand. "I'll be right here for you."

Suddenly, the door flies open, and my dad storms in, his face red with anger. "What in God's name got into you?" he shouts. "Do you know what you've done? You've dragged our family's name through the mud. I expected better from you, Nadine!"

He moves closer, still furious. "When you saw them together, you should have come to me. Why didn't you?"

I look up at him, trembling, my voice barely a whisper. "Dad, I'm hurt. You know how much I loved Jake."

"I don't care!" he roars. "You must go back and marry Jake right now. This wedding needs to happen."

Tears stream down my face as I stare at him in disbelief. I want to scream, to beg him to listen, but I know better than to raise my voice. I drop to my knees, clutching his leg. "Dad, please," I plead, my voice breaking. "I can't marry him. I'll never be happy with Jake."

His face remains indifferent. "Stop this nonsense," he growls. "This marriage is important for our family. We need Jake's family's power and wealth to save us from bankruptcy. Don't you understand?"

I shake my head, my heart breaking. "Please, Dad, I can't."

But his response is cold and final. "If you won't marry him, Nathalie will."

I look up sharply at my dad, he doesn't mean what he says, and I stare at him again, too shocked to speak. "Nathalie?" I manage to whisper.

"Yes," he says, with a firm tone that leaves no room for arguments. "If you don't, she will."

My world crumbles around me as I watch my father storm out, leaving me in an emotional mess of confusion. Sydney rushes to my side again, her arms around me as I break into another cry, I can't imagine my life turning out this way.

I cried for a long time. I am exhausted and emotionally drained, I sit in silence, staring into space. After a long moment, then I turn to Sydney. "I need to witness this wedding," I say quietly.

Sydney's eyes widened in shock. "Are you sure?"

I nod, wiping away the last of my tears. "Yes, I need to see it for myself."

I check through my wardrobe, picking out a comfortable outfit. As I apply some makeup, Sydney watches me through the mirror. "Are you sure about this?" she asks again.

I nod once more, without a word. We walk back to the wedding venue and slip into the crowd unnoticed. No one pays attention to us, they're all busy with the event.

Just then, Jake's voice echoes through the room. "Hello, everyone. The wedding will go on as planned. Sorry for the earlier... mishaps."

As I watch him, all I want to do is slam his face into the wall.

My father walks in, leading Nathalie to Jake. We're identical twins, people who aren't close to the family can't tell the difference between us. Nathalie looks stunning in her white dress, and my dad beams with pride as he walks her down the aisle.

They say their vows, promising forever, as the officiant pronounces them husband and wife. The crowd cheers, but I sit alone, drowning in misery. The pain is unbearable, making me feel isolated even in a room full of people.

At the reception, I down drink after drink, the champagne flowing freely. I begin to feel tipsy, and that's when I notice the man from earlier. He's tall, confident, and undeniably attractive, with a commanding presence that draws attention. His strong jaw and piercing blue eyes seem to see right through me. He's impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his broad shoulders and athletic build shows he works a lot.

He watches me intently, and when our eyes meet, he smiles, revealing his dimples. My heart skips a beat. Without thinking, I walked over to him. "Hi, handsome," I say, my words slurred

"Hello," he replies, his voice smooth and welcoming. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," I responded, leaning in closer. "You know, you're quite..."

"Good-looking?" he finishes my sentence with a smirk.

I nod, my cheeks flushing. "Yes, exactly." I rest my hand on his broad shoulder, sparks I couldn't deny erupting

Leaning in even closer, I whisper, "It's getting pretty hot in here. How about we find a place to go?"

His smirk deepens, and he stands, offering me his arm like a true gentleman. "Shall we?" he asks.

Without hesitation, I take his arm, and together, we leave the venue, then my lips crash on his lips.