I Betrayed Him before Our Wedding Day

The night before my wedding, photos of me with another man had gone viral across the city.

As revenge, my fiancé brought eight bodyguards.

“I’ll give you fifteen thousand crowns,” he said. “Please them all.”

His hand tightened around my throat. “You’re such a whore—why don’t you just die?”

When I really did die, he lost his mind.

——

On the day of the Embernight Festival, my old classmates were having a reunion. I brought Ronan with me, hoping he’d have my back.

Yet still, I didn’t have the courage to go inside. So, I just waited quietly outside, watching.

Ronan’s breath steamed in the cold air.

“This is your class reunion? You hired me just to stand out here freezing?”

“I figured, if I collapsed, you could 'collect my body'.” I gave him a small smile.

Ronan stopped rubbing his hands together, staring at me in disbelief. “Huh? Collect your body? You’re joking, right?”

I nodded, still smiling to reassure him. “Yeah. Just a joke.”

He let out a long breath. “Gods, nearly scared me to death. Why'd you have to do that? On Embernight, no less.”

Shortly after, I saw him. The man whom I've waited for the night.

Damien Crestfall looked more confident than ever that night. Beside him was a petite woman clinging onto his arm. She smiled with innocence air around her.

Damien ruffled her hair in that tender, indulgent way I remembered too well.

I couldn’t take my eyes off him as they walked toward the parking lot, my vision stinging. I didn’t know if I’d ever see him again after this.

I exhaled slowly and told Ronan, “Let’s go home.”

As I was barely heading towards the exit, a voice called from behind, “Well, well… look who it is. Our cheating bride.”

I sighed. So much for staying unnoticed.

I lowered my head and continued started walking away. But the random man he wasn’t done.

“What’s up, Elara? You showed up but too scared to go in? Afraid our classmates will tear you apart?”

“I’m warning you, stay the hell away from my buddy! Filthy slut!” His voice rose sharply, drawing stares from my other classmates that began walking out the room.

Their angry, mocking stares burned into me.

“Aren't you Elara? Five years have passed and look at you now. Back then you were the dirty little tramp from those chat logs—what happened to you?”

A female classmate jabbed my arm. “What’s with the frail act? You look like you’d fall over if I pushed you.”

By then, Ronan stepped and warned them to back off. In truth, it had been so long since anyone had stood up for me.

Then I heard that familiar, clear voice I could pick out in any crowd.

The man who haunted my dreams was finally right beside me, yet I couldn’t bring myself to lift my head and meet his eyes.

Ronan was still arguing with them. “Look at you, ganging up on one woman, some real heroes, you all!”

I tugged on his sleeve and shook my head, silently telling him to drop it.

Damien looked me over, shadows darkening his gaze. “Elara. Is this the man you cheated with before our wedding?”

In truth, Ronan was just a caretaker I’d hired.

Damien’s lips curved into a cold, mocking smile. “Not much to look at,” he commented.

As they came closer, I finally recognized the woman on his arm. Cassia Thornwell. She was the woman who often sat next to me back in middle school.

She’d grown up alongside Damien—his childhood crush, to be exact.

Cassia gave me a slow once-over. “Dami, she’s… she’s the one you caught cheating before the wedding?”

Damien gave a noncommittal grunt.

I clung to Ronan’s sleeve like a dog with its tail between its legs and turned to flee.

Cassia grabbed me by the collar.

Smack!

Her slap landed on my cheek.