Chapter 3 Three

Karen's heart hammered in her chest as she stood frozen, watching the scene unfolding before her.

Everything felt surreal, like she had stepped into someone else's life, and she was helpless to stop it. Her father's harsh voice echoed in the room.

"How could you do this to your twin sister, Karen?" His words were sharp, cutting through the air.

"How could you drug your sister and take her place at her wedding?"

Karen felt her pulse race as the words sank in. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could form a response, her father's hand came down hard across her cheek.

The sharp sting hit her like a bolt of lightning, and she staggered backward, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth.

Her father's furious eyes bore into her.

"What have you done?" he spat. His voice was full of disgust and betrayal.

Karen, stunned and disoriented, slowly lifted her hand to her throbbing cheek.

"What's going on, Dad?" she whispered, barely able to get the words out.

"Don't act like you don't know," her father thundered.

"You've schemed against your own twin sister, and now you're standing here acting innocent?" His voice was cold with fury.

He raised his hand again, and Karen instinctively flinched, but instead of delivering another blow, her mother rushed forward, her face pale with concern.

"Stop it, Norman!" her mother cried, grabbing his arm. "You're going too far!"

Karen's heart raced in her chest, each beat loud and heavy as she tried to comprehend what was happening.

She had been blindsided by the events leading to this moment.

Just a few days ago, her family had pushed her into this-into taking Karel's place at the wedding.

Karel had insisted she didn't love Bryan, and they had all convinced Karen that it was the right thing to do, that she was helping the family.

They had told her how dangerous it was to offend Bryan, how his connections could ruin them.

But now, as her father stood over her, angry and disgusted, Karen realized she had been nothing more than a pawn in a game she never agreed to play.

Her stomach churned with betrayal. Her own family had set her up.

She had married Bryan, believing it was for the family's sake, but now it felt like a trap-one she had foolishly walked into.

Mr. Norman's face twisted with rage as he stepped forward, raising his hand once more.

But before he could strike, her mother stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

"That's enough!" she shouted, her voice trembling with emotion. "You're going to hurt her! You've already done enough!"

Mr. Norman hesitated, his breath coming in heavy pants, but finally, he pulled back, still glaring at Karen, his eyes burning with anger.

Karen sat on the floor, her head spinning, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

The sting on her cheek was nothing compared to the hurt in her chest.

Karel was standing behind Bryan, her hand resting on his arm, her expression filled with false concern as she gazed down at Karen.

"Bryan," Karel said, her voice soft, but with an undertone of something else, something Karen could see through.

"Please, spare my sister. She's never had a man in her life, and I think... I think she was jealous of me. That's why she took my place."

Karen clenched her fists at her sides, the anger rising within her. She could see the manipulation in Karel's eyes.

The words Karel was saying weren't for Bryan; they were for the family, for everyone watching.

She was playing the part of the concerned sister, but Karen wasn't fooled.

Karel was trying to make her feel guilty, to shift the blame onto her as if she had made this decision out of some petty jealousy.

Bryan turned his cold gaze to Karen, and for a brief moment, she thought she saw something different-something almost sympathetic in his eyes.

But it was gone before she could process it. His face remained hard, unreadable.

"I think now is not the right time to discuss this," Bryan said, his voice calm, but his words carried a weight that sent a chill down Karen's spine.

Karen looked at him, her heart pounding in her chest.

She wanted to scream at him, to ask him why he had let this happen. Why hadn't he stepped in sooner? But the words wouldn't come.

Her father, still seething with anger, snapped, "Go to your room, Karen! Now! And if I see you here again, I'll slap you until you learn your lesson!"

Karen's chest tightened as she stood up, her legs unsteady.

She wanted to shout back, to defend herself, but all she could do was turn away.

The pain in her cheek was nothing compared to the agony in her heart.

She glanced at Bryan and Karel one last time before turning to leave.

Bryan's cold expression remained unchanged, but Karel's gaze followed her, a smug satisfaction evident in her eyes.

Karen's chest tightened, and she felt a surge of emotions-anger, frustration, betrayal-all of them crashing over her like a wave.

Without a word, Karen turned and walked out of the room.

She didn't care where she was going; she just needed to get away.

The weight of everything-the lies, the manipulation, the betrayal-pressed down on her, suffocating her.

She needed air.

As she made her way down the hall, she heard her father's voice shout after her, "Don't come back until you've learned some respect!"

Her legs felt heavy as she trudged towards the door.

She couldn't think straight, couldn't make sense of anything. She needed to escape, to be alone.

She reached the door and didn't hesitate. She pushed it open and stepped outside into the cool night air.

She didn't know where she was going, but she didn't care.

Karen walked, her thoughts a blur.

She had always preferred solitude, but now it felt suffocating. Her best friend Clara, the one person she could rely on, wasn't answering her calls.

She had no one left.

Her mind drifted back to the conversation with Karel. Karen knew her sister didn't love Bryan.

So why had they all pressured her into this? Why had they forced her to take Karel's place? She had no answers, only the deep ache of betrayal.

After walking for what felt like hours, her feet began to ache, and the sharp sting of her cheek still pulsed with pain.

She looked around and spotted a bar in the distance. She wasn't the type to drink, but right now, she didn't care. Anything to numb the ache in her chest.

Karen pushed open the door to the bar, the dim lighting and soft music greeting her.

It was almost empty, save for a few people scattered around. She walked up to the counter, trying to appear calm, but her heart was still racing, her thoughts still chaotic.

"I'll have a glass of tequila," she said, her voice shaking slightly.

The bartender raised an eyebrow but nodded, pouring the drink into a glass and sliding it toward her.

Karen stared at the drink for a moment before picking it up and taking a sip.

The sharpness of the alcohol burned her throat, but it helped her focus, helped her feel something other than the emptiness inside.

She took another sip, then another, until the world around her began to blur.

Her mind was hazy, her thoughts scattered. For the first time that night, she felt the weight on her chest ease just a little.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but the bartender finally approached her again.

"Ma'am, I think you've had enough," he said gently. "Maybe I should call your husband to pick you up?"

Karen's heart skipped a beat as she looked down at her hand.

She was still wearing her wedding ring,the diamond Bryan had given her. The thought of calling him made her stomach turn.

But she had no one else to turn to.

Without thinking, she handed her phone to the bartender. "Please, call him," she said quietly.

The bartender dialed Bryan's number, and Karen's heart sank. Would he come for her? Would he even care?