Maya Beckham was Oscar Francis's first love.

After four long years abroad, she had assumed any feelings he once held for her had turned to dust.

Yet when she returned to Elminas, he proposed.

Everyone swore Maya was the love of his life—his one true love, his everything.

Touched beyond words, she finally gathered the courage to say yes.

…Until the day she discovered Oscar secretly marrying her half-sister, Diana Beckham.

She stormed toward him like a woman possessed, her voice trembling with rage. "Explain."

Oscar met her fury with infuriating calm. "You vanished without a word four years ago. Diana stayed. Now she's dying—this is her last wish. How could I refuse?"

Maya's lips curled into a faint, unreadable smile.

What Oscar didn't know? She was the one diagnosed with a difficult illness back then.

Later, Maya got into an accident and forgot Oscar entirely.

Oscar broke down. Day after day, he pounded on her door like a madman, begging her to remember.

The moment Maya Beckham saw Oscar Francis at the wedding—dressed to perfection, standing beside her half-sister—her mind went blank.

Just thirty minutes earlier, Diana had called, sweetly inviting Maya to come attend her wedding with Oscar.

Maya had felt an inexplicable tightness in her chest and rushed over without a second thought.

She was led into a private dressing room, and what she saw nearly knocked the breath from her.

Oscar—her fiancé—was crouched beside Diana Beckham, meticulously smoothing the hem of her wedding gown with the kind of care and devotion that should have belonged to a groom.

They looked every bit the picture-perfect couple about to walk down the aisle. The room was filled with wedding portraits—dozens of professionally lit photographs featuring Oscar and Diana in white lace, staged embraces, and manufactured bliss.

Something inside Maya cracked.

Her eyes welled with heat as she demanded, her voice trembling, "Oscar, didn't you say you were going back to your hometown this week? What are you doing here?!"

At the sound of her voice, Oscar froze. The easy smile on his face vanished.

"Maya… why are you here?" he asked, his voice cautious.

Even as he spoke, he instinctively stepped in front of Diana, shielding her from view as though Maya were some kind of threat.

That look—sharp, guarded—struck Maya like a slap.

"My fiancé is marrying another woman, and I'm not supposed to be here?" she said, her voice breaking, her body swaying from the emotional blow.

Oscar pulled Diana even closer behind him. The look in his eyes now was cold, detached—he was the calm, rational man, and she, the emotional woman making a scene.

Outside, the emcee's voice could be heard urging the couple to come forward. The wedding was about to begin.

With barely a pause, Oscar grasped Diana's wrist and turned to her with a soft murmur. "You left without a word four years ago. It was Diana who stayed by my side. Now she's terminally ill. All she wants is to marry me. I'm only fulfilling her last wish. Please… just go. I'll come back once the banquet is over."

Maya let out a hollow and bitter laugh. She looked past Oscar to Diana, who flashed a smug and victorious smile.

The memory hit her like a wave. Four years ago, it was that same voice, Diana's, whispering poisonous words in her ear, convincing her to walk away.

Maya had inherited her mother's congenital heart condition. Her chances of recovery had been slim. Still, she hadn't wanted to leave Oscar.

But at the time, Oscar's business had been in shambles, one crisis after another. He was drowning in responsibilities. That was when Diana had made her an offer.

"If you leave, I'll ask my mother to help Oscar. Think about it. Staying will only make his life harder."

And so Maya had left quietly, believing she was helping him.

Now, four years later, Diana had taken her place.

And Maya had somehow become the villain in Oscar's eyes.

"Oscar, I had my reasons for leaving back then. I can explain everything to you," Maya pleaded, swallowing the lump in her throat as she tried to suppress the flood of emotion rising in her chest. "Can you just come with me, please?"

She was trying—desperately—not to let it all end like this. Not after all these years. Not after growing up together, not after over a decade of feelings that had matured from innocent childhood affection into something deep, unwavering, and impossible to shake.

Oscar had long become the one constant in her heart—the man she could never forget, no matter how hard she tried.

She held on to one last flicker of hope, the faint idea that maybe—just maybe—Oscar would believe her. Just like he used to. But this time, his voice carried a trace of something new. Something cold. Something impatient.

"I'm not here to argue about the past," he said flatly. "And I'm not blaming you. But Diana is your sister. She's so weak now—couldn't you show just a little compassion for her?"

Maya stared at him in disbelief. Oscar, who had once stood firmly on her side, was now chastising her? Her eyes widened as the tears spilled freely.

Compassion?

She and Diana had never been close. In fact, they had been locked in silent warfare for most of their lives.

She still remembered it clearly: the day Diana's mother had strutted into their home like a queen, fully aware she was the other woman. The insults. The provocation. The smugness.

Her mother, already weakened by illness, collapsed from the shock. Even the doctors couldn't save her.

Maya had only been eight years old when she lost the only person in the world who loved her unconditionally.

Oscar had known all of this. Back then, he had sworn he would stand with her—that they would face the world together and avenge her mother's pain.

But as they grew older, Maya had learned to swallow her grief and buried her resentment deep within herself, trying to maintain the illusion of peace.

But now? Now, Oscar wanted her to accept the daughter of the woman who destroyed her family as his bride. And he wanted her to be understanding?

That one sentence broke something inside her.

She thought of her mother, gasping for breath on a hospital bed. And she remembered the vow she had made at that very moment: she would never repeat the same tragedy. She would never let another person trample her heart like that.

Let alone compete endlessly with Diana for the same man.

"Fine," she said. "Then I won't bother you two anymore."

She gave him a faint smile and turned to leave.

Oscar's expression faltered. He stared at her back like he wanted to stop her, but he didn't move.

"Wait!" It was Diana who spoke first, her voice honeyed with cruelty. She wore a thin smile, the kind that never reached the eyes. "Maya, it's my wedding day. It wouldn't be complete without your blessing. Why don't you attend the wedding? It'll mean so much to me."

Maya's hands curled into fists at her sides, her fingernails digging into her palms until they drew blood. The pain was sharp—but not as sharp as the nausea roiling in her gut.

"I'm not feeling well," she said stiffly. "I'm sorry."

She thought Oscar would step in. He had to. But he just stood there, arms crossed, saying nothing—as if sulking, or worse, silently agreeing with Diana.

Diana, emboldened by his silence, smiled even more sweetly. "It's okay. I brought my private physician just in case. You have nothing to worry about. And if you still refuse to attend the wedding… well, I'll have to assume you don't really wish us well. That you don't want to help me fulfill my final wish."

Maya let out a soft laugh.

So many years had passed, but Diana's manipulative games were just as childish—and just as pathetic—as ever.

"Fine then," she said, tilting her head toward Oscar. "Why don't you decide? Do you want me to witness your wedding or not?"

It was one last chance. A final lifeline she was willing to offer him.

But Oscar didn't look at her. He was too busy letting Diana cling to his arm. Diana tilted her pale face up to him. And in the end, his heart softened.

"If that's what Diana wants, then… you should come. After all, it's just for show," he said blandly. "I owe her too much. So please, be the bigger person. Alright?"

Whatever last shred of hope Maya had held onto disintegrated in that moment. She stared at him, silent for several seconds, then nodded slowly.

"Alright," she said. "I'll attend the wedding."

'Let this be my punishment, for the way I had once disappeared without a word,' Maya thought. 'After today, I'll return overseas. And I'll never see Oscar again.'

After walking into the venue alongside them, Maya spotted several familiar faces—close friends she and Oscar had known for years.

And just like that, the atmosphere turned unbearably awkward.

"Maya, please don't be upset… Diana's illness really can't wait," someone murmured, trying to sound earnest.

"Yeah, we all know today's wedding is just for show, so please, don't take it to heart," another chimed in.

So they all knew. Every single one of them had known that Oscar was marrying Diana. Yet not one of them had told her. And now, they were standing there, urging her to understand. To be the bigger person. To smile and nod and make peace with betrayal.

Maya gave a quiet, expressionless nod. "I know."

She never imagined that in the four years she'd been gone, everyone around her had quietly drifted toward Diana's camp. The creeping realization left her hollowed out and bitterly amused.

When the wedding ceremony began, Oscar and Diana stood beneath the soft, golden lights, gazing into each other's eyes. They followed the emcee's instructions to the letter, every movement choreographed, every vow uttered with polished precision.

And then, Oscar pulled out the ring.

A customized Harry Winston diamond ring.

Maya's heart clenched. Oscar wouldn’t have chosen that brand lightly—he knew exactly what it symbolized: an eternal commitment. And the resolve in his expression… it wasn’t fake.

So he'd already made his choice long ago.

Then why? Why had he sought her out the moment she returned? Why had he ignited old feelings if he had no intention of honoring them?

She forced herself to keep it together, willing the ceremony to end so she could finally leave this charade behind.

And then came the final act: the kiss.

The emcee, eager to hype up the crowd, prompted Oscar and Diana to kiss. Oscar hesitated and glanced over at Maya.

She wasn't even looking at him.

She was scrolling through her phone with cool detachment, as if the entire spectacle before her were nothing more than background noise.

A wave of irritation surged through Oscar. Since when had Maya become so composed? The old her would have stormed off in a fury if he so much as chatted with another woman. Yet now he was literally marrying her sister, and she was just… playing with her phone?

Why wasn't she breaking down?

Why wasn't she fighting for him?

That strange unease in his chest tightened. But before he could say anything, Diana tugged his arm, gently urging him back to the moment.

Meanwhile, Maya paid them no mind.

She was browsing flight tickets—desperate to leave, but frustrated to find no departures available for the next few days. She didn't want to stay here, not a minute longer.

The doctor had specifically advised her to keep a balanced diet, remain calm, and avoid stress. None of those were remotely possible in her current state.

And then, under the cheers of the crowd, Oscar caved.

He leaned in and kissed Diana.

Maya glanced up at precisely that moment.

And yes, her heart twisted sharply—but only for a second.

She took a deep breath, grabbed her bag, and turned to leave as quietly as she could. But just as she reached the edge of the stage, Diana's voice rang out.

"Maya," she called sweetly, "I'd love for you to say a few words of blessing. This is the final part of the ceremony—you wouldn't refuse me, would you?"

Once upon a time, Maya might've flown into a rage, refused to be humiliated, perhaps even slapped Diana across the face.

But now?

Now, she simply set her bag down and walked up onto the stage.

"Of course," she said calmly. "I'd be happy to give my blessing."

She turned to face the guests.

"I wish Diana and Oscar a lifetime of love and happiness together. May your marriage be filled with joy, and may you be blessed with a beautiful family in the years to come."

She paused. "Is that sufficient?"

A visible shadow crossed Oscar's face. He stepped forward abruptly, grabbing her wrist with a hint of desperation.

"What do you mean by that?" he snapped. "Can you stop being so unreasonable? How many times do I have to explain? This whole wedding—it's just for show. Once it's over, I'm yours. Isn't that enough?"

The emcee stared blankly at the trio onstage, clearly bewildered by the unfolding drama.

But Maya yanked her hand free and took two steps back, her gaze icy.

"Oscar," she said coolly, "what makes you think I'd ever want a man who's already married? You're married to my sister now—so act like it."