ManyWriters

During my birthday celebration, my partner unexpectedly revealed his impending nuptials to another woman, shocking everyone at the company gathering. I maintained my composure, refraining from tears or outbursts. Instead, I discreetly sought him out, longing for answers. However, what I accidentally discovered was far more distressing than I could have anticipated.
I caught snippets of his conversation with a companion in the corridor.
"Don't you think Lenore will be devastated by this news?" the friend inquired with concern.
Daniel exhaled, responding pragmatically, "What other options do I have? If I don't wed Grace, her relatives will compel her to marry an unfamiliar man. I can't allow that to happen."
The friend paused before continuing, "But what about Lenore... you've been together for so long. Doesn't that hold any significance?"
Daniel's soft laugh, once a source of comfort, now felt like a harsh rebuke. "Lenore has been by my side for eight years. It's common knowledge. What alternative does she have but to wait for me?"
Every statement felt like a painful blow to my heart. Eight years of devotion, endurance, and steadfast backing—and this was his perception of me? As someone without any other prospects?
Subsequently, my relatives arranged an introduction with a potential suitor they deemed more appropriate. A gentleman from the prominent Cortez Family. The day I was set to marry this stranger coincided with Daniel's wedding to Grace.
As Daniel's wedding day drew near, he couldn't shake off a feeling of disquiet. Something seemed amiss. He instructed his groomsmen to remain vigilant, concerned that I might disrupt the ceremony.
One of them hesitated before revealing, "Haven't you heard? Lenore is also getting married today."

The Betrayed Bride's Revenge Wedding

"Mother, is the Cortez Family's offer still available?" I inquired during our meal.


My mother paused, her cup quivering slightly in her grasp. Her eyes widened as she looked at me. "What's prompting this question?" Her worry was evident in her expression.


Earlier that day, footage of Daniel proposing to Grace had spread like wildfire across social media. Everyone was talking about the forthcoming marriage of the Rollins Family's only heir. But I wasn't the bride—despite being by his side for eight years.


"Lenore," my mother repeated, her voice more assertive, "marriage isn't a decision to be made hastily. I don't want you acting on impulse."


I gulped, fighting back tears, and shook my head. "This isn't impulsive, Mother. You didn't immediately turn down the Cortez Family's offer, which suggests you think Frederick is a better match than Daniel. I value your opinion."


She exhaled deeply, placing her palms on the table. "Frederick Cortez is certainly a respectable man, but marriage is a lifelong commitment. Don't you think you should meet him first? Take some time to get acquainted?"


"I'll pass on that," I said resolutely. "You can handle the arrangements. I'll agree to whatever you think is best."


We discussed the specifics over lunch, and afterward, I headed back to the small flat I'd purchased. To my surprise, Daniel was there. He looked up from his laptop as I entered, acting as if everything was normal.


I removed my shoes, my thoughts racing. "Why are you here?"


"Had a business dinner nearby," he said nonchalantly, standing and approaching me as usual. "Thought I'd drop by to see how you're doing."


As he neared, I detected a familiar floral scent—Grace's perfume. Disgust welled up inside me. I instinctively stepped back, avoiding his outstretched arms, as my eyes began to sting.


"What's the matter?" he asked casually, seeming oblivious to his actions.


"Nothing," I replied coldly. "Well, you've seen me, I'm fine. You can leave now."


His smile wavered, but he quickly recovered with a soft chuckle. "Last week, you were upset because I wasn't spending enough time with you. Now I've made time just to be with you and you're pushing me away? Come on, Lenore, don't be like this."


I narrowed my eyes, recalling yesterday's events.


It was my birthday, and I'd waited all day, from dawn to dusk, hoping to hear from him. But not a single message or call came. By nightfall, the silence was unbearable, and I decided to seek him out. Before I could, though, a message appeared on my phone—a video from an unknown number.


Curiosity turned to horror as I watched. The video showed Daniel in the middle of his office, proposing to Grace Solis surrounded by their colleagues. The room erupted in applause and laughter.


I couldn't believe what I was seeing. My mind scrambled for an explanation, any reason that could make sense of this. Desperate for answers, I rushed to his company, determined to hear the truth from him directly. But instead of finding clarity, I overheard his conversation with a friend.


"Lenore's been mine for eight years. It's common knowledge. What choice does she have but to wait for me?" I had waited. For eight long years, I'd waited for a man who never truly valued me. Every word I overheard was like a knife, destroying what little trust I had left. In that moment, I realized what I had become—a fool, clinging to a love that was never truly mine.


Remembering his words, the laughter in that video, the pain in my chest was overwhelming, leaving me struggling to breathe. I had been nothing but a joke all along.


Chapter 2