The Bride They Rejected

The cathedral buzzed with soft romantic instrumentals beneath the glowing chandeliers. I stood beside Maxwell before the altar, my veil falling over my shoulder as the priest finished the final word of the ceremony.

"Do you, Maxwell Carter, take Elena Jonathan to be your wife?"

"I do." His voice was smooth and confident.

The priest shifted his gaze to me. "And do you, Elena, take Maxwell Carter to be your husband?"

I felt my breath catch in my throat. I looked at the man standing in front of me, the one I had loved and imagined my future with. His hand held mine tightly, and his smile seemed practiced, as if he had rehearsed this moment a thousand times.

"I-" I paused, my heart racing as I slowly pulled my hand away. "No," I said softly. His smile disappeared, and whispers rippled through the crowd.

"Elena. Wh... What are you doing?" He stammered, but I remained calm; yesterday, I had still believed in that future, having been stupid enough to believe Maxwell Carter truly loved me.

My fingers curled at my sides as memories flooded back. Just hours ago, I stood in front of the mirror, the seamstress carefully pinning the last piece of lace around my waist.

The satin hugged my curves like it was made to tell my story. My reflection staring back at me was calm, elegant, and glowing.

Tomorrow, I would marry Maxwell; the name rolled in my mind like a gentle melody, carrying every dream I'd hidden between class notes and beneath my pillow since college.

"Wow. You are the most beautiful bride I've ever seen," a voice said behind me. I blinked as I turned to see Anne, my stepsister, leaning against a wall with a mischievous smile.

"Don't flatter me, baby girl," I teased, trying to hide how much the compliment warmed me. "Do I really look that beautiful?"

"You look like the kind of bride that makes every fairy jealous; Max is going to faint when he sees you," Anne replied, and we both smiled as she strode towards me, studying my dress carefully. There was a flicker in her eyes-something unreadable, but it disappeared before I could grasp it.

"Hey, Sis, I'm going to check if the cake is ready," she said, snapping me from my thoughts. I nodded as she waved and headed for the door.

I sat on the edge of my bed, overwhelmed with excitement for the next day when I would start my life with Max. Unable to contain my excitement, I decided to surprise Maxwell. Though it was raining, drumming like a thousand beats. But I didn't mind; it would only make it romantic.

I grabbed my car key and tiptoed downstairs, the house still buzzing with preparation. I slipped into my car and called him on the way, but he didn't answer. At the time, I thought nothing of it.

A few minutes later, I got to Maxwell's house. A wild smile spread across my lips as I imagined him flinging the door open and pulling me into a fierce, breathless hug.

I put on my Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, eager to record the very last happy memory before we became husband and wife.

I strolled majestically towards Maxwell's room. The moment I reached for the doorknob, my hand froze at the voice that spoke faintly behind the door.

The recognition hit me hard: my stepsister? No, this can't be. I hesitated. Why was Anne here instead of the pastry shop? I could see the pieces of the puzzle fitting together, yet my foolish, hopeful heart desperately fought against the truth.

Maybe they were working on the wedding plans together. Yes. That had to be it. But before the comforting lie could settle in, a loud, feminine, and intimate laughter drifted across the room like a poison in the air.

Through the narrow gap of the unlatched door, the truth laid itself bare.

"You needed to hear her earlier," Anne said, followed by a soft giggle that made me freeze. She was half naked, lying beside Maxwell on the bed while her head rested on his chest. My eyes burned with anger, brimming with tears.

My mind violently rejected the imagery. Because if this were real, then every smile, every promise, and every single time Maxwell had looked into my eyes and promised forever was nothing but a calculated lie.

My heart raced as I stood there, torn between anger and despair. I wanted to burst through the door and shout at them, to end this wedding before it even began.

But my family adored Maxwell; to them, he was the perfect future they had chosen for me and would never believe Anne could betray me like this. Without evidence, canceling this wedding would be blamed entirely on me.

I clenched my teeth as I fought back my tears. I looked down at the Meta glasses in my hand. the device that was supposed to capture Maxwel's first reaction and the romantic moment when he sees me. But now, it will record the proof that will destroy the life I have been dreaming about.

I quietly sneaked into the dark shadows of the doorway. I wanted to run, to disappear before they even saw me, but running will only let them decide how my story ends.

No.

If Maxwell wanted to destroy our wedding, he should live with the consequences. I wiped my tears and tapped the frame of the glasses to start recording. I carefully slid them onto a floating bookshelf facing directly toward the bed while they were too distracted to notice.

"It feels like an enchanting story, and I'm about to start having a fulfilling life after." Anne mimicked the exact same words I had told her earlier.

Maxwell let out a sharp, irritated scoff. As he spoke, the words sliced into me, and the tears I had been holding back finally spilled down my cheeks.

"She is so stupid," Maxwell sighed, his tone dripping with utter disdain. I never loved her, though. The only reason I'm doing this union is just to use her to build my company and power."

His response slammed into me; for a moment I forgot to breathe. Is this what he thought of me? Stupid, a fool, a stepping stone, not the woman he claims to love.

I couldn't believe the life I had dreamed about was a stepping stone for Maxwell; what should have been a quiet evening of excitement turned into unexpected heartbreak, igniting a fierce desire for revenge deep within me.

....................

Now, standing on the marble altar, my plan for revenge was coming to life.

The word "No" rang out in the quiet cathedral, clear and strong. He looked confused and shook his head.

"Elena," he whispered, his hand stretching out toward mine on the altar. Just as he opened his mouth to speak again, a loud crackle of static erupted from the church speakers as everyone turned.

The large screens positioned beside the altar flickered to life, casting a chilling video across the room, and a breathless gasp was heard.

The church went silent, watching the giant screen as a bedroom appeared on it. Maxwell stared, his eyebrow furrowed in confusion; Anne was on the screen, entangled with Maxwell the night before the wedding.

A woman near the front covered her mouth, followed by a whisper. "Oh my God."

Another guest stood halfway from his seat before slowly sitting back down.

The priest lowered his hands, his eyes widening in horror as he turned to Maxwell.

"No... this isn't true." Maxwell whispered as the footage continued, and his voice came through the speakers, describing how he wanted to use the wedding as a stepping stone, the words that made the truth impossible to deny.

Someone turned toward Anne; she stood frozen among the bridal party, her face white.

"Turn it off!" Maxwell suddenly shouted, but nobody moved. His eyes darted toward the back of the church, too late; everyone had already seen enough.

Maxwell spun around to face me, his eyes wide with disbelief. "W-What is happening? This can't be real!" His voice trembled, and I could see the fear creeping into his expression.

I stared at him, my soft resolve now replaced with a cold stare. I remained silent as I slowly lifted the veil from my face.

Even though seeing the video again broke something deep inside me, I remained calm, with no tears or trembling, and that frightened him more than anger could have.

I met his horrified stares, and a cold smile spread across my lips. I glance briefly at the screen before looking back into his eyes. My voice pierced through the silence. "This... is your true wedding gift."

Whispers filled the hall as I stepped out, heads turning in surprise. The Maxwell family shifted uncomfortably, their faces flushed.

I heard Maxwell call my name, but I kept moving, feeling the weight of my sadness as I turned and left, unable to bear it any longer.

The moment I stepped out of the hall, a cool breeze washed over me, clearing my mind of all the heavy thoughts. It felt like I had broken free.

I jumped into my car and drove away fast, the city lights streaking past as I let my feelings spill out.

I parked, tears flowing down my cheeks without stopping for what felt like hours. I headed straight home, unsure of what awaited me, but deep down, I felt a sense of freedom from a marriage that felt like a trap that happened.

As I stepped inside, my father's cold gaze pierced through me, no words of welcome or comfort. "Show me the video," he demanded, his voice sharp as I fumbled to replay it, my hand shaking.

My father's face twisted with anger and confusion. My stepmother stepped forward after glancing at the video, a sneer curling her lips. "So, this is why you decided to humiliate us?"

"I'm not marrying him. You saw it-he cheated on me with Annie, my stepsister."

Before I could finish, she interrupted, her voice sharp. "Then get out of this house," she hissed.

I stared wide-eyed. "What?"

So this wedding wasn't about my life or future; it was just a mere display meant to cast me aside for a man who had betrayed me with my stepsister and saw me as a tool to use as a stepping stone. A deep sadness settled in my heart, leaving me questioning everything.

"You heard me," she snapped, her voice sharp. "If you won't marry Maxwell-cheating or not-then leave. You were never mine anyway, and neither was your father," my stepmom said, her tone rising with each word.

"Are you serious right now?" I started, but my father interrupted.

"The DNA test shows I'm not your father... I only put up with you because I thought you could help me get rich through marriage. But now?" He laughed bitterly. "You mean nothing to me."

My stepmother's words struck me like a punch, but it was my father's laughter that shattered something deep within me.

I stared at the man who had walked me down the aisle just an hour ago. Now, his eyes were cold and distant. I wasn't his daughter anymore; I was just a failed business deal.

Tears filled my eyes as I felt empty, as if my past, my name, and my worth had been stripped away in moments. They didn't just accept Maxwell's betrayal; they expected me to ignore it for their financial gain.

I faced him, my heart racing and breath hitching. "Dad...?" I whispered, but he turned his gaze away, flinging the DNA results at me.

"You don't call him that, you fool," my stepmother shot back.

Before I could react, the door swung open with a loud crash, startling everyone in the room.

Anne stormed in, her expression fueled with unresolved anger, her heels clicking against the tiled floor like a war drum. Her voice cut through the air like a knife.

"What the hell was that, Elena?" she spat, arms crossed tightly over her chest. "Did you really think you could pull off some grand princess act at the wedding?"

I was still holding the edge of the DNA result, barely lifting my gaze. She looked like a ghost of herself. Anne moved nearer to me, each of her words carrying the weight of the fury burning within her.

"You didn't just disgrace Maxwell. You humiliated all of us. The family. The name. And for what? Your pride?" Her lips curled into a venomous smirk. "You want a medal? You want applause?"

My voice trembled slightly. "I only showed the truth. What he did-what you did-was betrayal."

"Shut up!" she yelled, her eyes blazing. "You're not a victim here. You're a mistake! You don't belong here anymore." I stood frozen, staring at her, the girl I had once loved so much. Anne had been just a toddler when my dad married her mom.

He told me Elizabeth was a single mother, and Anne was the little girl who came with her. I had trusted him. I never thought she could betray me like this.

Just then, Elizabeth, my stepmother, stepped down from the stairs with a traveling luggage bag and threw it down to me; my clothes slipped all over the ground; her expression was as cold as ice.

"Did you hear what Anne said?" Elizabeth's voice was icy. "Grab your things and leave my house."

My stomach twisted. I glanced at my father, standing quietly by the stairs, his expression unreadable. I hurried toward him.

"Dad... please. You saw the video. Maxwell cheated on me! With her! Your own daughter-"

He cut me off, his voice icy. "I'm not your father, and you're not my daughter," he snapped, each word sharper than the last. "Anne is my only child." He turned away, scoffing.

The words scraped against something raw inside. It felt like the ground had vanished beneath me. "What do you mean...?" I whispered, my heart racing.

"Anne isn't your daughter too." The words slipped from my lips, sharp and bitter. Dad's expression changed instantly; his eyes narrowed, and a wave of regret washed over me, and I felt my stomach twist. I wish I could pull the words back and swallow them whole.

"I impregnated Elizabeth, and Anne is my daughter." My father replied, and his word struck me; my breath almost stopped. For a second, I heard nothing; the room became strangely distant.

Anne, the tiny girl with round cheeks and trembling fingers, hiding behind Elizabeth's leg on the day they first came into our home. I remembered crouching in front of her.

"Hi," I had whispered; she hadn't answered; she had only stared at me with wide, frightened eyes.

Dad had placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled. "She'll get used to us," he had said. At the time, I thought he was talking about his new wife's little girl. I didn't know I was watching him bring his secret daughter into my mother's home; my stomach turned.

"I only used your mom's death as an opportunity to bring her home, and now that you've known, don't ever come back here." He continued.

A chill swept through me as I recalled my mother's death-the day I thought Dad was mourning with me, the day our family shattered. But to him, it was just a chance to bring her home.

The tears have been holding, streaming down my cheeks as I whispered, "No... But... you raised me..."

His eyes hardened, and he replied, "I had to. I thought I could use you to gain power. But now that you've messed everything up... you mean nothing to me. I don't want to see you in my life again. The DNA test confirmed it. Your mother lied to me. You're not mine."

I looked at Anne, then at Dad. Suddenly, the way they mirrored each other went beyond looks.

Anne had smiled at me while sleeping with my fiancé.

Dad had mourned beside me while waiting for the right moment to bring his mistress into our home.

My stomach twisted; maybe betrayal wasn't something Anne had learned to do. Maybe she had simply grown up watching how easily it could be done.

"Who knows if your mother was unfaithful enough to give me a mistake like you? She can burn in hell." My father added, and something inside me snapped.

Until that moment, I had been begging him to love me, to remember that he had raised me. But the moment he spoke about my mother that way, my tears stopped. I could survive him rejecting me and surviving losing this house.

I couldn't bear to hear him talk about her like she was nothing, especially after using her death to bring in his mistress. My grip on the DNA report tightened.

"Don't speak about my mother that way!" I shouted, my heart racing.

My father shot up from his chair, his face red with anger. "Then leave this house!" he barked, his finger jabbing at the door.

With a swift motion, Elizabeth hurled a bag of my belongings onto the pavement. "Trash, get out of here," she spat.

Anne stepped forward, her voice dripping with disdain. "You thought you won, didn't you? You thought you had it all figured out? Don't ever come back, you hear?" The door closed hard behind me, marking the end of my departure.

The day I had dreamed of for so long, starting fresh with Maxwell and celebrating our new love, shattered. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I realized the truth. My family, my future, and my entire life were built on a lie.

I roamed the street, lost in my thoughts. My legs finally gave out, and I sat on the curb with my luggage beside me and stared at the road ahead.

My body was trembling from the cold, my long hair was messy, and my face was covered in smudged makeup from the tears.

People walked past me, some slowing for a second to look at the woman in the wedding dress, without knowing that a few hours ago, I had believed I was going to become someone's wife.

In a dark corner at the street, my hands shook as I took off the heavy white dress and changed into regular clothes. My chest felt empty.

Suddenly, a loud crash broke the silence. A black car had hit a billboard, its front crushed and smoking. I ran to the crash and pushed hard against the stuck driver's door until it opened.

Inside, an old woman groaned in pain, blood dripping onto her gray hair. I held her tightly and shouted for a taxi. "Ma'am, stay with me!" I said, supporting her weight.

...............

Later at the hospital, I looked through the glass window at the old woman lying unconscious on the bed and stared at the amount on the hospital bill. For a moment, my fingers tightened around my cloth.

That money was all I had left. It was supposed to buy me a room for the night, food, or maybe enough time to figure out what to do with my life.

I could walk away; no one here knew me or would blame me, but remembering how my family had left me, I didn't want to be cruel like them. My hand trembled as I transferred the money.

A moment later, the doctor returned with a small smile. "She'll be okay; she just needed a little more rest." Relief swept over me like a warm wind. I glanced at the bedside table, hoping she would find something to eat when she woke up. I stood up, pulled my luggage bag close to the bed, and hurried out of the room.

Upon storming back to the ward with the little food I had gotten. As I stepped into the room, a wave of relief washed over me, but that quickly turned to shock.

By the door stood several men in suits. They looked sharp and muscular, their presence commanding and intimidating.

The men at the door stood up straight, and the nurses stepped back. He walked in, tall and confident, his features sharp, giving him an air of dignity. He was dressed in a sleek dark suit, his sharp eyes scanning the room.

Dominic Albert. A name that echoed through the city. The young heir to the DOMINIC EMPIRE, a billionaire with a powerful presence.

"Grandma." He said that single word carried more fear than his face showed. For a moment, I forgot who he was; he wasn't the billionaire everyone talked about; he was just a grandson standing beside his grandmother's bed, afraid of losing her.

My chest tightened; I looked away before the thought could become anything else. Some people were lucky enough to know their family loved them.

The old woman smiled weakly. "I'm fine, darling. Thanks to her." She replied, gesturing toward me. Albert turned, his eyes narrowing as they met mine. I felt a chill run through me; my thoughts raced, but I stood still.

Dominic reached into his tote bag and pulled out a white bank check; he placed it on the table and slid it toward me.

I stared at the check, my fingers tightening around the edge of my dress as my eyes fell on the amount written across it. - a million dollars.

"This is for you. Thank you for saving her life." Albert said, his voice steady as he bowed slightly, showing his respect.

For a second, I forgot how to breathe; a million dollars could give me a home, a new life. But I hadn't helped her in expectation of any reward.

I only thought this could be happening in a movie. "No... no, I can't accept this." I replied, rejecting the offer politely.

"It's not a favor. It's gratitude," Albert said, the respect evident in his tone. I shook my head and stepped back a bit.

"Helping someone shouldn't come with a price tag. I just... I had to do what was right."

Albert stared curiously. However, his grandmother's confused gaze shifted between us, struggling to comprehend how I could decline the money.

I smiled and bowed slightly to the elderly woman who was watching me closely. I couldn't understand why her gaze lingered until it shifted to my messy hair and the cloth I had roughly packed inside my bag.

There was also a tear beside it. The wedding dress was peeking out of it, not folded properly, just stuffed in. Her eyes became softer; I could sense she saw something deeper.

The old woman smiled gently and asked in a soft voice, "Sweetheart, are you going somewhere?" She asked, her eyebrow softly knitting together. "Did we come at the wrong time? Are we stopping you from your journey?" she added.

The question caught me off guard; I opened my mouth, but nothing came out, because I suddenly realized I didn't have an answer.

I had just escaped a life I had built for years on a lie; I have nowhere to go or stay, but I couldn't tell them I'm just a bride whose life fell apart on her supposed best day of her life.

"No... I'm not going anywhere. I'm just trying to find a place to sleep tonight. Maybe tomorrow, I'll try to think about what to do next."

Albert stepped forward. "Where are you heading? Maybe my driver could assist you, ma'am." A silence lingered between us for a while.

My lips parted, and for the first time, I tried to answer the question honestly. "I... I don't know," I stammered.

The word hung in the air, but it was the most terrifying word I had ever said. I didn't know where I was going, where I belonged, or whose daughter I was.

The old woman's expression softened. "Where are you coming from, dear? And is everything okay?" she asked gently. My lips began trembling.

The pain, betrayal, and grief I was carrying from where I left was too overwhelming; a storm of emotion crashed inside of me as I lowered my head, tears ran down my face, and fell onto the back of my hand.

Even though I didn't say anything, the silence said everything.

Albert's expression changed. Whatever he thought before vanished; he turned to his assistant. "Find her somewhere safe to stay tonight."

I immediately shook my head. "No, I can't-"

The old woman's gentle smile faded slightly, replaced by a look of concern. "Sweetheart, please don't refuse help. It's okay to lean on others sometimes."

Albert stared at me; the softness in his eyes deepened. "You don't have to accept anything you don't want."

"But you saved my grandmother when you had no reason to, so please don't reject it," his voice was steady and reassuring.

The old woman nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with warmth. "You deserve a safe place to rest. Tomorrow is a new day, dear."

I took a deep breath, feeling the tension in my chest begin to ease. Maybe accepting their help wouldn't mean losing my independence.

For the first time that night, I didn't feel like someone was trying to buy me. I felt like someone was simply giving me a choice.