My Wedding Fell Apart, But My Heart Found Home

Jayden’s expression darkened as I turned to leave, his grip tightening around my arm. There was anger in his deep voice as he demanded, “Hannah, what are you playing at?”

“We agreed that I would marry you, but your heart still belongs to Nicole,” I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me.

Silence hung between us for a moment, but Jayden misinterpreted my demeanor as childish defiance. He reached out, affectionately ruffling my hair. “Stop making trouble. Let’s get married.”

“If you want to marry her, then I won’t stand by you,” I retorted, shoving him away with newfound strength.

Before anyone could react, I ripped the hem of my wedding dress, tearing the fabric in a fit of defiance.

Teetering on my eight-centimeter red-soled high heels, I stepped off the stage and marched directly toward Nicole. The crowd buzzed with excitement, anticipation evident on their faces as they braced for the impending clash between the two women.

Nicole's expression was provocatively smug, her gaze toward me laced with feigned sympathy. “Since you want to get married, let me give it to you.” I handed my bouquet to her, the flowers trembling slightly in my grip.

Jayden, witnessing this, immediately rushed down to stand protectively in front of Nicole, as if fearing I might harm her.

I regarded him coldly, a smile creeping onto my lips. “I won’t eat her, so why are you so nervous?”

He glanced at the cameras, his brow furrowing in frustration. Then, pulling me aside, he growled, “What are you doing? I said I would marry you. Why are you acting like this? Are you that jealous?”

Even now, he believed I was merely jealous, ruining his meticulously planned wedding. But what he didn’t understand was that I truly didn’t want to marry him at all.

“Jayden, Nicole is back. Let’s break up,” I said lightly, my heart heavy with resignation.

Before Jayden could respond, Nicole's artificial voice cut through the tension. “Why? I just came to see his wedding. I didn’t want to rob him.”

Her words ignited a wave of anger among the crowd. Voices rose in protest. “You’re acting so gracious after getting a free ride. It’s a blessing for you that Mr. Murphy is marrying her. Why pretend to be so noble?”

“Yes, Nicole is just here to attend the wedding!”

I listened in silence, the weight of their words sinking into my heart. Who am I in this situation? What do they think of me as a bride? I’m a person too, and their mockery stung deeply.

Jayden, sensing my turmoil, grasped my hand under the glare of the cameras. “Don’t be angry,” he murmured softly. “Nicole just came to bless me.”

“Jayden, don’t you see how ridiculous this is?” I snapped, frustration boiling over. “I know you have feelings for her, but you actually placed my veil on her head. Did you even think of me while you were embracing her and crying?”

I could accept whether Jayden loved me or not, but I couldn’t tolerate the humiliation he inflicted on me in front of everyone. Tears fell from my eyes without warning, each drop burning as it hit the back of my hands, searing my heart.

Jayden's expression darkened, his body trembling slightly—a telltale sign of his restraint. “Hannah, I’ll give you one last chance. Pick it up, and let’s continue the wedding.”

With that, he snatched the bouquet from Nicole’s hand and threw it to the ground. I glanced down at the wilted flowers, their lace wrapping crumpled and faded, and a bitter smile crept across my face. My love, my self-confidence, my youth—all of it felt so absurd.

Jayden was trampling on everything I stood for. He would never bow his head for me, and I would always be the loser in this relationship.

At that moment, I decided I wouldn’t love Jayden any longer. I raised my gaze to meet his furious eyes, and this time, I spoke without fear. “Mr. Murphy, we will never see each other again.”

With that declaration, I turned and walked away, leaving him and the entire crowd behind. I was determined to shatter the spectacle of this so-called “wedding of the century” in Florida, a moment everyone had eagerly anticipated.