Chapter 9: The Wedding Day
Chapter 8: The Wedding Day
The house buzzed with excitement.
White roses filled every corner.
Music floated through the halls.
Guests arrived in elegant dresses and tailored suits.
Vanessa stood in front of the mirror, radiant in her gown.
Perfect.
Untouchable.
Or so she believed.
Downstairs, Lucas adjusted his tie, distracted but smiling. He hadn’t noticed Lily all morning.
Hadn’t noticed the quiet determination in her eyes.
As the ceremony began, Lily stood near the front.
Waiting.
Watching.
The officiant spoke.
“Do you, Lucas—”
“Wait!”
The word cut through the air like a blade.
All heads turned.
Lily stepped forward, her small figure trembling—but her voice steady.
“I have something for Daddy.”
Vanessa’s smile froze.
Lucas frowned gently. “Lily, sweetheart, what is it?”
Lily held out the letter.
“The one Mommy wrote for you.”
The room went silent.
Vanessa’s face drained of color.
“That’s not—” she started.
But Lucas had already taken the envelope.
Recognized the handwriting.
His hands shook as he opened it.
And read.
Line by line.
His expression changed.
Confusion.
Then disbelief.
Then something darker.
When he finished, he looked up.
Not at Lily.
At Vanessa.
“Is this true?”
Vanessa tried to laugh.
“T-this is ridiculous—”
But Lucas reached into his jacket.
Pulled out another paper.
The one from his study.
The one Lily had found with the key.
Documents.
Proof.
Vanessa’s past.
Her lies.
Her manipulation.
The room erupted in whispers.
Vanessa’s mask shattered.
“You don’t understand!” she snapped, her voice sharp now. “I did what I had to do!”
Lucas stepped back.
May you like
“No,” he said quietly. “You did what you wanted to do.”
The wedding ended before it ever began.
