I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my fingers trembling slightly as they adjusted the delicate lace of my veil. The woman staring back at me looked perfect—every strand of hair pinned meticulously in place, the soft white dress cascading like a dream. She looked like someone who should be radiating joy, but the only thing I felt was the slow, suffocating weight of unease.
Today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life—my wedding day, the culmination of five years with Gerald, my fiancé. Five years of steady companionship, sacrifice, affection, and the kind of relationship everyone told me was right. Yet, as I gazed at myself, a cold dread settled deep in my chest, clawing at the edges of my composure.
This wasn’t just wedding jitters. I knew that. I’d felt it growing for months now, a shadow creeping into the corners of my mind every time Gerald stayed late at work, canceled our plans, or drifted off during conversations. He was always busy, always distracted. I wanted to believe his new position at the company had him preoccupied, that the man I love would come back to me once the pressure eased. But that unease lingered, twisting my stomach into knots that refused to loosen.
I forced a deep breath, smoothing the front of my dress with unsteady hands. “Everything will be fine,” I whispered to the woman in the mirror, as though saying it aloud might make it true. But the words felt hollow, a flimsy attempt to quiet the storm raging inside me.
A soft knock broke the silence. My heart leapt, and I turned around to see it was only Lucas—Gerald’s best friend. He stepped into the room. Tall, handsome, with an stoic demeanor that made him hard to read, Lucas had been a godsend throughout the process.
Where Gerald had been absent—or too busy to care—Lucas stepped in, helping me with the planning, picking the caterers, even securing this villa for the wedding at no cost through his family’s generosity. He had ensured everything was perfect for today. I couldn’t deny I’d grown to rely on him, maybe more than I want to.
“Olivia?” His eyes scanned the room for a moment before landing on me. For a second, he simply stared, his gaze trailing slowly from my face to the hem of my dress and back again, as if he were committing this moment to memory. His usual poker face faltered, and a rare flicker of awe softened his features. “Wow,” he said finally. “You look… breathtaking.”
The way he said it—low, genuine, almost reverent—caught me off guard. Compliments had been coming at me all morning, but this one felt different. His words reached beneath my skin, warming me in ways I wasn’t prepared for. My cheeks flushed, and I quickly averted my gaze.
"T-Thanks," I mumbled, feeling unexpectedly flustered by his gaze. I wasn't used to Lucas looking at me like that—like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.
Lucas cleared his throat, his poker face slipping back on. “The planners are making sure everything’s set,” he said, stepping further into the room. “I just wanted to check in on you.” His voice softened, his expression shifting as he caught the tension in my shoulders. “You okay?”
I shrugged, mustering a small smile. "Just nervous. Big day and all."
“You’ve got this, Olivia.” His lips curved into a reassuring smile that didn’t seem to reach his eyes. “Gerald’s a lucky guy.”
I forced another smile in return, though a flicker of doubt lingered in my mind. "Yeah... lucky," I echoed quietly, the conviction in my voice weaker than I intended.
Lucas hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to say more, but then he gave me a final nod. “I’ll see you out there.” With that, he turned and left the room, his presence lingering even after the door clicked shut behind him.
Almost immediately, my phone buzzed on the vanity table, its sharp vibration pulling me out of my daze. I frowned, reaching for it, and saw a message from an unknown number. Attached was a video. Curiosity warred with unease as I tapped on the file, and instantly, my blood ran cold.
The screen lit up, showing a dimly lit hotel room. The timestamp was from just a couple weeks ago. The hidden camera captured everything, from Gerald—seemingly unaware he was being filmed—to the woman beneath him, moaning in ecstasy as Gerald pleasured her. At some point, the woman even turned toward the camera with a smug expression on her face, clearly wanting me to see this.
My fingers trembled as I hit pause, bile rising in my throat. My chest heaved, the betrayal slamming into me like a freight train. This couldn’t be happening. Not now. Not today.
“Olivia, it’s almost time. Are you ready?” Tessa, my cousin, breezed into the room with a bright smile. But the moment she saw my face, her expression shifted to concern. “Liv… what’s wrong?”
I shook my head, my voice barely a whisper. “I can’t do this.”
“What?”
“I can’t marry that asshole, Tessa!” I said louder, my voice trembling with anger and pain. My chest tightened, the next words barely making it out. “He… he cheated on me.”
Her brows furrowed. “What? Are you sure?”
Wordlessly, I handed her the phone, and her eyes grew wide in shock as she watched the video. "Oh my god," she gasped, covering her mouth. Her shock quickly hardened into anger. “That f**king piece of sh*t!” she spat, her hands curling into fists. But then her gaze softened as she turned back to me. “Oh, Liv. I’m so sorry.”
I blinked back tears, fury simmering beneath the devastation. “I’m going to make him pay for this. I won’t let that bastard humiliate me.”
Tessa’s eyes widened. “Liv, what are you—”
I didn’t wait to hear the rest of her question. My feet carried me out of the room, my heart pounding with adrenaline and purpose—Gerald's not getting out of this unscathed.
Outside the event hall, I spotted Lucas speaking with one of the caterers. My pulse quickened, an idea forming in my mind. Determined, I marched toward him.
“Lucas,” I said, my voice firm despite the storm raging within me. He turned, brows knitting together with concern as he noticed my expression. "I need to talk to you. Now."
He excused himself from the conversation and turned his full attention to me, his gaze searching my face voice tinged with concern. "Olivia? What's wrong? Are you okay?"
I took a breath before speaking. "I can't marry Gerald," My gaze was fierce and my words clipped. "But I can't let him get away with this, either."
Confusion flashed across Lucas's face. "What are you saying?"
The reply left my lips before I could think twice. "Marry me, Lucas."
