I stepped outside, the sharp sting on my cheek barely registering. I didn’t care anymore—I was finished with all of it.

“Pam, wait!” Harold called desperately from behind me. He hurried to catch up, grabbing my wrist firmly. “Where are you going?”

I yanked my arm free and shot him a cold glare. “Far away from you.”

He scoffed, running his fingers through his hair in frustration. “You’re blowing this way out of proportion. You always do. You twist everything in your mind.”

I let out a harsh laugh. “Twist things? You slapped me, Harold.”

His jaw clenched tightly. “I—I didn’t mean to. You just—God, you frustrate me so much sometimes. You say things without thinking, accusing me of things that aren’t true.”

I crossed my arms. “Not true? You think I don’t notice how you act around Kate? The way she looks at you? How she was in my wedding dress today like some—” I exhaled bitterly. “Never mind.”

Harold sighed heavily, clearly exasperated. “You’re making this into something it’s not. Kate’s Jason’s fiancée. I have a responsibility to care for her. That’s it. She’s grieving.”

I stared him down without blinking. “You don’t treat a grieving fiancée like that. You treat her like—” I swallowed hard and shook my head. “Like she belongs to you.”

His lips parted but he stayed silent. That silence spoke volumes.

I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me cold. “You know what? Maybe this is your fault.”

I froze and slowly faced him again. “What?”

His eyes darkened. “You’ve been distant. Cold. Always assuming the worst of me. It’s like you want to push me away.”

I clenched my fists tightly. “I didn’t push you away, Harold. You did that yourself.”

His expression flickered—anger, guilt, frustration—and he shook his head. “I love you, Pam. I just… I got caught up in the moment. I shouldn’t have hit you.”

“No, you really shouldn’t have.”

He reached for me once more, but I stepped back. “I’m sorry,” he murmured softly. “Let’s just forget this ever happened. Let’s fix this.”

I stared at him, my heart pounding wildly. Then I exhaled and nodded slowly. “Okay.”

Relief washed over his face. “Okay?”

“Yeah.” I forced a small, empty smile. “Just leave me alone, Harold.”

In the days that followed, Harold tried to make amends—flowers, texts, apologies, hollow gestures.

But I saw through it all. Behind my back? He was still with Kate, whispering to her, smiling at her, touching her.

It didn’t matter anymore. The wedding was happening today. Everything was ready.

I sat before the mirror, perfectly composed as the makeup artist applied the last touches. My wedding gown was breathtaking—a flawless blend of grace and beauty.

Harold knocked and stepped inside. “You look stunning.”

I turned and offered him a faint, unreadable smile. “Thank you.”

“I’m heading to the venue first,” he said, glancing back. Behind him stood Kate, dressed in white. White, as if she were a bride, too.

I said nothing, just nodded.

Harold hesitated. “I’ll see you soon.”

He left with Kate trailing behind. I exhaled deeply and turned back to my reflection. Then, gathering my dress, I walked out—straight to the waiting limousine.

Not to Harold’s wedding. To my own, with Gavion.

Minutes later, my phone buzzed. Harold.

I ignored it. Another call came, then another.

I sat in the bridal suite until a knock on the door steadied my nerves. “It’s time.”

I stood, smoothed my dress, and walked out with my chin raised. The venue was not the one Harold expected—it was grand, elegant, filled with people who knew the truth and supported my choice. None of them were his. He had no control here.

As I reached the entrance, the soft music shifted.

Gavion waited at the aisle’s end, impeccably dressed in black. His expression was unreadable but carried a hint of amusement—he savored this moment, knowing Harold, his fiercest rival, was about to suffer a defeat beyond repair.

My phone buzzed again—Harold. I didn’t even glance at it. Instead, I met Gavion’s eyes and took my first step forward. By the time I reached the altar, my heart was steady, calm, ready.

Gavion smirked as he extended his hand. The officiant began speaking, but my attention drifted—imagining Harold’s realization that I was gone, the panic rising inside him.

My phone vibrated once more. Harold. Ignored again.

The vows were exchanged, the rings slid on fingers, and the officiant pronounced us husband and wife. I released a slow breath.

Without hesitation, I pulled out my phone.

Sent.

A single photo—Gavion and me, married, standing side by side.

The response was instant. My phone rang again. Harold. I smirked and opened our messages instead.

I typed in French: You can’t fool me anymore. I know you married Kate at the civil registry. Go ahead and marry her again—after all, you’re the father of her child, right?

Then, delivering the final blow, I added: I also know what you did to your brother.

I blocked him.

And with that, I turned away, slipping my hand confidently into Gavion’s arm.

My phone nearly slipped from my hand as I stared at the screen, my entire body frozen.

You can’t fool me anymore. I know you married Kate in the civil registry. Feel free to marry her now—after all, you’re also the father of her child, right?

And then, the final message that sent ice through my veins: I also know what you did to your brother.

Attached was a photo—Pam in a wedding gown, standing beside Gavion Smith. Smiling. Married.

I couldn’t breathe. My fingers clenched so tightly around my phone that I thought it would shatter. She knew. She knew everything. And worse, she had married my enemy.

Gasps erupted around me. Whispers spread like wildfire. Guests looked at me, their eyes filled with confusion and curiosity. It has been hours since we were waiting for Pam. I thought that it was just because she was stuck on something but this—she married another man? Without even a warning!

It felt like what I had done behind her back—marrying Kate—had backfired to me now.

“Harold.”

I turned sharply at the sound of my mother’s voice. She was glaring at me, her perfectly manicured nails pressing into the stem of her champagne glass. “Where is Pam?”

I forced myself to breathe. My mind raced for an excuse. “She… she got upset,” I said, my voice stiff. “I’ll talk to her.”

My father’s gaze darkened. “Talk to her? Harold, what the hell is going on?”

Before I could answer, a ripple of gasps spread across the room. A guest turned their phone toward me. My stomach dropped.

A news article. Breaking: Pam Green Marries Billionaire Gavion Smith—Wedding Photos Released.

The words blurred. I snatched the phone from their hand. There it was. A photo of Pam standing at the altar with him. I knew that Pam had already sent me a picture and I was hoping these weren’t real but now that it had blown to the internet, then it was indeed true.

My heart sank. My pulse pounded in my ears. “No.”

My mother’s grip on my arm was like steel. “What is this, Harold?” she hissed. “That girl just humiliated our family in front of the entire world—and you let her?”

I barely heard her. My chest felt tight, my vision narrowing. Pam. Gavion. My wedding—ruined. My reputation—destroyed. My company—at risk.

I turned on my heel, shoving through the crowd. People called after me, reporters flashing cameras, but I didn’t stop. I needed answers. I needed to fix this. I jumped into my car, slamming the door shut. The address was right there in the article. I pressed the gas pedal so hard the tires screeched.

As I drove, my hands gripped the wheel like a vice. My mind flashed back to Pam—our moments together, our years of history. She was mine. She had always been mine.

And yet, there she was. Married to him. I didn’t expect this. I figured out that she would never leave me. She loves me! I could feel that… and I was sure of it. Damn it!

A part of me burned with something I refused to name. I told myself it was anger—rage that she had humiliated me, betrayed me, destroyed everything I built. It wasn’t heartbreak. It couldn’t be. I don’t love her. It was all a fake for me, so I could use her family’s money for my company but what is this?

I clenched my jaw. This wasn’t about emotions. This was about control. She had thrown our business deal away, chosen my enemy, and made a fool out of me.

And Gavion? He knew exactly what he was doing. He took this chance to get even with me and I won’t let that happen.

I reached the venue, barely stopping the car before jumping out. Reporters and guests swarmed the entrance. I pushed past them, ignoring the shouts of my name.

The moment I stepped inside, my eyes locked on them.

Gavion stood at Pam’s side, his hand resting on her waist, as if staking his claim. Pam turned her head slightly, her gaze meeting mine. Calm. Unbothered. Smirking.

Red-hot fury surged through me. I didn’t think. I just moved.

I lunged at Gavion, my fist colliding with his jaw. He staggered back, guests gasping all around us.

“You fuck!” I snarled. “What did you do? Why did you steal my future wife? She’s mine.”

Gavion barely stumbled from my punch before he straightened, his jaw clenched. Then, in one swift move, he hit me back. His fist connected with my face, sharp pain exploding across my cheek.

“She isn’t your future wife, Harold,” he growled. “She’s mine.” My wife. Your wife is Kate, isn’t she? Didn’t you already marry her?”

The words hit harder than his punch. The murmurs around us grew louder. Cameras flashed, reporters pushing forward, capturing every second of this disaster.

“How dare you even try to marry Pam?” Gavion continued, shoving me back. “You thought you could lie to her, cheat her, use her, and still have her waiting for you? Not anymore.”

I gritted my teeth, rage bubbling inside me. No. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

More gasps erupted from the crowd. I followed their gazes, my stomach twisting. The media had caught everything.

Camera flashes lit up the room. The reporters were already broadcasting this mess live. “My humiliation was everywhere.”

Then Pam’s voice cut through the chaos. “I should go now.”

I snapped my head toward her. “Pam, wait—”

She didn’t even look at me. She turned to Gavion instead, touching his arm lightly. “We’re done here. Let’s go.”

No. No. No.

I grabbed her wrist before she could walk away. “Pam, please. Just hear me out—”

She yanked her hand free, her eyes cold. “Harold, we’re over. Whatever this was, whatever we had, it’s broken. And it’s never coming back.”

I swallowed hard, desperation clawing at me. “It was my mistake,” I said, my voice raw. “I just married Kate for Jason. I never loved her. I love you.”

Her eyes didn’t waver. “Stop begging, Harold.” She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “I know the truth already. Why are you still lying?”

“No, you’re mistaken, please—I’m sorry!"

Before she could answer, my parents arrived.

“Harold!” My mother called me as she pulled me to face her. “Did you…” she paused, her voice shaking slightly, “Did you kill your brother?"

The entire room fell into silence. And just like that, my world collapsed.