Childhood Crush Falls for My Cunning Trap

On the day I was meant to walk down the aisle, the boy I had secretly adored for years uttered a vow that left me breathless.

He promised that if I took the initial step, he would take care of the remaining 99.

His gentle yet determined words became my guiding light. My heart pounded with wild excitement as I rushed to our rendezvous, filled with the notion that this would mark the beginning of something wonderful. However, upon arrival, the harsh truth hit me like a bolt of lightning. His grin wasn't one of affection but of arrogant victory.

His companions erupted in laughter behind him, their jeers filling the air.

"Look! She actually fell for it! A grand each, don't forget to pay up!"

Clutching his winnings, he turned to my bridesmaid who had driven me there and embraced her in a way that was impossible to misinterpret. His treachery cut deep, leaving a gaping wound in my heart.

With a mocking grin that shattered my dignity, he said, "Ravenna, don't be so conceited. It's her I truly desire, not you. Did you honestly believe I'd fall for a married woman like yourself?"

Then, as if to twist the knife further, he dropped to one knee, presenting a ring to my bridesmaid. The onlookers gasped, their murmurs piercing the air like countless blades.

Observing my somber expression, he laughed, the sound dripping with cruelty. "If you wish to scamper back and proceed with your wedding, go ahead. But I doubt the groom would still accept you!"

What he failed to realize, what none of them understood, was that this supposed elopement wasn't his triumph; it was my move in a game he wasn't even aware he was playing.