3#03

3

In the footage, Hendrick was seen decorating the verdant expanse of Sinclair Garden with floral arrangements and balloons.

A disembodied voice inquired, "Hendrick, it's Ravenna's wedding day. Are you truly preparing a wedding venue for her?"

Hendrick, unfazed, gave a dismissive look. "Her? Deserving of this? Hardly. I'm orchestrating a surprise for Viella. Today, I'm asking her to be my future wife!"

"But isn't she attending Ravenna's wedding as a bridesmaid? Will she make it here on time?"

A mischievous glint appeared in Hendrick's eyes, accompanied by a sly grin.

"So, Ravenna's tying the knot today, is she? I'll wager anything. With a single call, I can make her ditch her wedding and hurry over here."

He leaned closer, his voice lowering teasingly. "Who's up for seeing a bride dressed like a jester?"

The crowd burst into laughter and applause. "We are!"

One astonished onlooker asked, "Hendrick, are these all fresh flowers? This must be costing a fortune!"

Another voice added, "Not just fresh; these were imported from France! And this garden? People would compete for this location, but Hendrick not only spent lavishly but also pulled some strings to secure it. All for Viella, naturally."

Hendrick's smile widened, his expression softening. "Only the finest for Viella."

Abruptly, a recollection surfaced in my mind, and I remembered the wedding present Hendrick had given me, still unopened.

Intrigued, I opened the box to find it filled with meticulously folded paper stars and origami cranes.

A note lay atop them, which I picked up. In his distinctive handwriting, it said, "Ravenna, I folded each of these myself!"

With shaking hands, I selected one of the stars and carefully unfolded it. Inside, I saw my own handwriting: "Hendrick, I wish you eternal health and happiness!"

I was stunned. During our high school years, when Hendrick had been seriously ill, I had created 999 paper stars and 1,000 origami cranes, believing it would bring him good fortune and recovery.

Every single one of those stars and cranes had been made by me, each a heartfelt wish for his well-being.

Yet now, he had carelessly gathered them and presented them to me as a wedding gift, while sparing no expense to import flowers from France for Viella.

The video ended abruptly, leaving me feeling shattered and betrayed.

What should have been a joyous occasion had turned into a moment of utter despair.

I repeated Hendrick's name in my thoughts, my emotions shifting from heartache to intense anger.

He had always been aware of my feelings for him. Yet, knowing I was about to be married, he still chose to humiliate me in this way.

In the quiet aftermath, the image of my childhood friend, who once treasured me, who shared wishes under shooting stars, who vowed we'd always be together, seemed to fade away, leaving only a shadow of his former self.

"Hendrick, you mentioned I hadn't given you a wedding gift, correct? Well, here it is."

I removed the bracelet from my wrist and returned it to him, the metal feeling unfamiliar in my hand.

Hendrick gazed at it, his expression distant, as if struggling to grasp the significance of the moment.

I recalled when his mother had entrusted it to me before her departure.

She had explained that after her remarriage, I would likely be the person who cared most deeply for Hendrick in the world.

That's why she had given me this family heirloom.

At the time, I had been elated, interpreting it as a sign that Hendrick and I were meant to be together forever.

But today, as he prepared to propose to another woman, everything felt drastically different.

Viella stepped forward, swiftly taking the bracelet without hesitation.

"I appreciate this, Ravenna. Hendrick and I will have a wonderful life together."

Her words, though sweet, carried a venomous undertone, followed by a cold assessment of me; her gaze lingered on my veil.

"Your bridal gown is exquisite," Viella remarked, her voice dripping with false kindness. "Since you're no longer getting married, why not remove it and let me try it on?"

Her brazen request left me breathless. I instinctively retreated, frozen in shock.

"Viella, you're still wearing the bridesmaid dress I purchased, and now you want my wedding gown as well?"

Viella glanced down at her attire, a slight frown crossing her face, but her eyes showed no remorse, only calculated indifference.