Divorce Papers

~~Vanessa Wedding Ground~~

"Benedict, what do you mean by this? Who invited you?" Peony fumed with anger, her ivory gown shimmering in the sunlight.

Benedict, resplendent in his groom's attire, stood with an air of nonchalance that contrasted sharply with the tension in the air. "Take it however you like, I'm doing what I want. Oh, I was invited by that man over there," Benedict, dressed in the groom's attire, replied coolly, nodding towards Garret. "Right, Garret, the gigolo?"

"Yes, I invited him because he's an esteemed business partner. So what? How dare you call me that!" Garret retorted, his face reddening. His charcoal-gray tuxedo seemed to emphasize his discomfort, contrasting with the vivid colors of the wedding décor.

"I'm telling you, Peony, they planned this together. Benedict and that woman, Shyla. He must have used some voice-altering device to make it sound like me. Don't believe them, they just want to ruin our relationship."

Peony's mind spun in confusion, torn between the conflicting stories and emotions. She looked down at the man kneeling before her.

"Shyla, why don't you explain why you shared this voice recording?" Benedict gestured towards her, his piercing sable eyes capturing the attention of the onlookers.

Garret seized the opportunity to sway Peony further. "Look at him signaling Shyla. Can you still trust him? You're smart, Peony, and you understand the situation. They want to destroy our marriage. If they had good intentions, why reveal this now? Why not earlier?"

Peony felt as if the ground should open up and swallow her whole. She stared at the platinum ring on her finger, unable to remove it. All she wanted was a peaceful and happy life with the person she loved. Was that too much to ask for?

Garret continued to fill her ears with doubts until he lost control, accusing, "Or maybe you conspired with him behind my back, planned all of this, and now you want to humiliate me and marry him. That way, I would be the one to blame, and you could break our marriage, right? How do you even know his name?"

*Slap*

Peony's palm met Garret's cheek with a resounding crack. He fell to the stage, and her heart shattered. His words had pierced her soul. She had trusted the wrong man, despite the evidence. Her trembling lips struggled to find words as she gasped for breath. What she felt was beyond suffocating.

"This is why you came here, isn't it? To ruin me, my life, and my reputation? Both of you, Benedict and Shyla?" She turned her gaze towards them.

Shyla spoke, her crimson gown contrasting vividly with the elegant surroundings, "Well, I came here to congratulate you. And while I was at it, I thought I might as well make a quick buck. My job is done here. Mr. Benedict, please transfer my payment promptly. You're lucky someone was willing to foot the bill to expose his true colors. Frankly, I'm tired of this foolish scum. Whatever you do next is none of my business. See you, maybe, if there's a next time."

"You're still the same greedy girl," Peony sighed, her voice carrying a hint of resignation amidst the vivid chaos.

"What! You plotted this with her? You cheated on me after I lavished you with so much money to be with me?" Garret stood, holding his cheek, the pain evident.

Shyla rolled her eyes and retorted, "I'd rather be a 'greedy girl' than trust and marry a scumbag like you. Farewell. I hope we never meet again."

"So, Mr. Garret Gonzalez, you claim that I, Benedict Auguste, meticulously orchestrated all of this just to end your relationship?" Benedict tightened his grip around Garret's neck.

"Mr. Auguste, please spare my son. He doesn't know any better. He made a mistake, and I will ensure he learns from it. Please, don't reconsider our business partnership. Business and personal life should remain separate, right?" Garret's father finally intervened, his plea for leniency echoing through the garden.

"What about the Gonzalez family's reputation? Why should we trust your company after this?" Benedict's glare turned towards their family, his vivid eyes demanding an explanation.

Reporters suddenly stormed the wedding venue, broadcasting live updates. "As you can see, Mr. Benedict Auguste, CEO of Magnificent Entertainment, is here, supposedly to propose to a young lady who could potentially become the next Mrs. Auguste. Is this true or just a rumor? Let's find out!"

"Who let these reporters in? Get them out! Quickly!" Benedict was furious, his voice cutting through the chaos like a vivid command.

Amidst the chaos, one person had lost everything. Peony tore at her wedding dress and forcefully tried to remove her ring. Her nails dug into her ring finger, drawing blood.

Benedict approached her calmly, easily removing the ring, his fingers a vivid contrast to her trembling hand. He said, "You can't force everything to go your way. Sometimes, it requires patience and time."

"Why are you here? Why did you help me? Did you orchestrate all of this, the videos, just to enjoy the spectacle and make headlines?" Peony's voice trembled as she spoke.

"Consider it a favor. A down payment for the future," Benedict replied softly.

Meanwhile, Garret was led away by his family. He would be sent abroad, and all news regarding this marriage would be blocked from the media.

"I don't want to be of help to you. Please, leave me alone. Don't get involved with me," Peony whispered, tears in her eyes.

Benedict observed her pitiable state and couldn't help but wonder, "This is the drama you wanted to see, but why do I feel sad for her?"

Controlling his emotions, he said, "Meet me at Lá Cafe tomorrow. There, I'll explain everything. It's not your fault. Oh, and hello, Priest, I nearly forgot about you! What will happen to this marriage now?" He turned to the priest and smirked.

"Since they didn't seal their marriage with a kiss, they are not married in the eyes of the Almighty," the priest trembled at the podium.

He then turned to the marriage registrar, "And what about you?"

"Well, since they did sign their marriage papers, they are legally husband and wife. I can't change that. I can initiate divorce proceedings, but it will take two days, and the court process will take six months," the marriage registrar wiped his brow.

"I have the divorce papers ready for them. Can they divorce immediately since the bride clearly doesn't want this marriage?" Benedict's gaze remained stern.

"Where are the papers? I'll sign them! I'll sign them right now. I can't, I can't bear this humiliation and regret. Give me the pen. I'll sign them now!" Peony frantically pleaded.

Benedict handed her the pen, and she eagerly signed the papers. As he took the papers from her, he noticed two teardrops falling onto the document.

"Here, take this," he offered his handkerchief to her.

"Well, Mr. Lee, you didn't disappoint me. Can she leave freely now?" Benedict asked the marriage registrar.

"Yes, she can. We just need Mr. Garret's signature, and it's done. She won't need to fulfill the marriage conditions. Under special divorce proceedings, she'll only have to attend a court hearing after three months. But for now, they are legally husband and wife," the registrar explained, wiping his forehead.

"Very well, I'll ensure Mr. Garret goes through the divorce process. Thank you Mr. Lee. You can leave now."

"Pleasure is all mine, Mr. Auguste. Well I'm leaving.", Mr. Lee leaves the wedding venue.

With the departure of Mr. Lee, the remaining attendees slowly exited the venue, leaving behind the echoes of the chaotic events that had unfolded. Peony's family remained sequestered in the restroom, shielded from the spectacle that had transpired.

The grand stage, once a symbol of love and celebration, now holds only two figures. Peony, her once-elegant wedding dress now torn and in disarray, sat there, tears streaming down her face. She clutched the divorce papers tightly in her trembling hand, the ink still fresh from her signature.

Benedict, standing nearby, regarded her with a mix of contemplation and compassion. He found himself lost in deep thoughts, reflecting on the unexpected turn of events. The weight of their actions bore down on both of them, and the road ahead appeared uncertain and fraught with emotion.

A heavy silence enveloped the wedding grounds, as though even nature itself paused to acknowledge the turmoil and heartache that had unfolded beneath the once-celebratory canopy.