Ashes of Betrayal, Flames of Revenge

CHAPTER FOUR

The cold red wine seeped through my dress, clinging to my skin. I gasped, jumping back as people around us turned to stare.

"How dare you!" I shouted, my voice trembling.

Vanessa's eyes widened with fake innocence. "It was an accident!"

Before I could respond, she grabbed another glass from a passing waiter and poured it over her own identical dress.

"Oh no! Look what happened to me too!" she wailed dramatically.

I stood frozen, confusion washing over me. Why would she ruin her own expensive dress?

Brian rushed over, his face filled with anger. "What's going on here?"

"Viola pushed me!" Vanessa sobbed, throwing herself into his arms. "She ruined my dress because she was jealous that mine is designer and hers is cheap!"

"What? That's not true!" I protested. "She poured wine on me first!"

The crowd that had gathered around us began whispering. I could hear their judgments.

"Poor Vanessa..."

"That Viola is so jealous..."

"I heard she's been harassing Vanessa for months..."

Brian's eyes narrowed as he looked at me. "How could you do this? On her birthday?"

"Brian, please! She's lying! I didn't…"

"Enough!" he shouted, silencing me. "You've been acting crazy all day. First the scene at the hospital, now this?"

Vanessa buried her face in his chest, her shoulders shaking with fake sobs. "I just wanted us all to have a nice time..."

"I know, baby, I know," Brian cooed, stroking her hair. He turned to me, his voice cold. "You couldn't stand that her dress was better than yours, could you? You had to ruin it if you couldn't have the expensive one."

"That's ridiculous!" I cried. "She's manipulating you!"

"The only one manipulating anyone is you," he hissed. "You've been trying to make Vanessa look bad since the moment you met her."

"You're choosing to believe her over me? After seven years together?"

"Seven years of what, Viola? Seven years of your constant neediness? Your jealousy? Your pathetic attempts to compete with Vanessa?"

Each word was like a knife to my heart.

"You know what?" Brian continued, his voice dripping with disdain. "I'm tired of making excuses for you. Tonight was supposed to be special for Vanessa, and you've ruined it—just like you ruin everything!"

Vanessa pretended to sway on her feet. "I feel faint," she whimpered.

"I've got you, sweetheart," Brian said, lifting her into his arms. He turned to me one last time. "Don't bother coming home tonight. I'll be comforting Vanessa."

As they walked away, I heard him whisper to her, "I'm sorry she ruined your birthday. I'll buy you a new dress—anything you want."

I stood there, wine dripping from my ruined dress, as the crowd parted for them. The whispers followed me as I stumbled out of the party, humiliation burning my cheeks.

When I finally made it back to our apartment, I went straight to the bedroom and pulled out my suitcase. This time, I was really leaving.

My phone buzzed with a notification. It was Vanessa's social media update:

"His stupid fiancée tried to ruin my expensive dress out of jealousy, but my Brian is getting me a new one—even more beautiful than before! Can't wait to wear the wedding dress we picked out last month! #FutureMrsHuntington #CountdownToForever"

The post included photos of Vanessa trying on wedding dresses, with Brian smiling beside her in several pictures. The dates on the posts showed they were taken weeks ago.

My heart shattered as I scrolled through them. They had been planning this wedding while I was still wearing his engagement ring. While I was still cooking his meals and washing his clothes.

My phone buzzed with a message from Brian:

"Sorry about my outburst and making you feel disgraced. I've ordered that expensive case for your parents' ashes. Bringing it home soon. We can talk when I get back."

I deleted his number without replying. Then I reached into my purse and pulled out the divorce papers my lawyer had prepared earlier that week. I signed them and left them on the kitchen counter with my engagement ring on top.

As I was about to leave, I noticed a small package on the coffee table. It was a wedding invitation—for Brian and Vanessa's wedding. Next month.

So this was their plan all along. Push me out just before their wedding. Make me look unstable so no one would believe me when I told the truth.

I grabbed my suitcase and took one last look around the apartment that had been my prison for seven years. Then I walked out, closing the door behind me forever.

At the airport, I clutched my ticket—one-way to Paris. The weight of seven wasted years finally lifted from my shoulders as I walked through the terminal.

"Miss? Your boarding pass?" the attendant asked.

I handed it over with a smile. "Thank you."

As I settled into my seat, I looked out the window at the city lights below. You took everything from me, Brian. Now watch me build an empire that will bring you to my knees.