The Cheating Before the Wedding

I smiled as well. How fitting—her dress made her look like she was the real star of the wedding.

Rachel walked straight to the head table and sat in Jeremy's seat, ignoring everyone else.

A glimmer around her neck caught my attention as she bent to sit.

I stared closer, and my already ice-cold heart sank once more.

It was a diamond ring. It was my wedding ring—the one I had personally designed.

There was only one in the entire world.

It hung around Rachel's neck like some cheap trophy.

If my wedding had gone as planned, I had no idea what kind of ring Jeremy would have given me. Whether he grabbed a random substitute or snatched one off his assistant's neck—it was absolutely revolting.

I clenched my fists hard to stop myself from losing control. Anger was inevitable, but I refused to let it show.

Just then, Jeremy entered the room with the wedding host in tow.

"No wedding dress for the bride? Well, a red dress works too. It's very beautiful."

The host mistook Rachel for the temperamental bride with her perfectly styled look and red gown. He nodded approvingly.

Rachel glanced at me and waved her hands, pretending to look flustered. "Oh, no, I'm not the bride today. Ms. Lurne, please don't get upset."

Jeremy strode toward me with a dark and irritated face. "Why haven't you gone to get your makeup done and changed yet? Do you even care about our wedding?!"

He reached out to grab me, but his mother quickly stepped in to stop him. "Jeremy, speak properly! Why are you being so harsh?" she scolded.

Rachel took the opportunity to chime in. "Yes, Ms. Lurne's just being a little stubborn. Jeremy, you should coax her. Don't let this ruin your wedding."

Jeremy's frustration grew in front of all the guests. He pointed at me and snapped, "Fiona, there's a limit to how childish you can be! Get changed right now!"

Rachel stood up and gently patted Jeremy's arm to calm him down. "Don't be mad, don't be mad. Let Ms. Lurne change, and I'll help you greet the guests and apologize."

I shot her a cold glare and said dryly, "Why don't you go ahead and finish the whole wedding while you're at it?"

There was no point pretending anymore. It was clear that things would not get resolved peacefully that day.

I made up my mind and raised my voice. "Sorry to make a spectacle of things, everyone. Please enjoy the food and drinks, but I'd like to officially announce that Jeremy Stone and I are breaking up today. Consider yourselves witnesses."

"How long are you going to keep this up?!" Jeremy roared as his eyes blazed in anger.

Rachel stomped her heel against the floor in mock distress, the sharp sound echoing through the room. She feigned innocence, looking at me with a concerned face. "Ms. Lurne, you've misunderstood me. I only meant to help you greet the guests. Nothing more!"

What a classic act. I crossed my arms as I watched her performance with an icy gaze.

"Oh? You want to help me with greeting the guests? Didn't you also help me with the wedding night?"

Rachel looked pleased with my reaction. A flash of triumph crossed her eyes before she masked it with a look of deep grievance. "Ms. Lurne, you've got this all wrong."

Smack.

I had no patience for her little act anymore, and I certainly was not interested in wasting another word on her.