ManyWriters

A high-society wedding broadcast worldwide.
My childhood sweetheart broke our seven-year promise, proposing to Melody, a girl from an underprivileged background, right in front of everyone.
Just as I became the laughingstock of the entire city, on the verge of a breakdown and despair,
My usually cold and aloof adoptive brother, Cort, publicly married me right after the wedding.
I thought he was my saving grace, and I fell deeper and deeper under his unwavering devotion over the next five years.
Until I accidentally overheard a conversation between two people:
"Is it really worth sacrificing yourself by marrying someone you don't love, all for Melody's sake?"
"We agreed from the start: whoever Melody chooses, the other one would marry Serenity."
"I'd do anything as long as Melody can be happy."
Only then did I realize that this marriage of redemption was nothing but a thorough conspiracy from the very beginning.
Two acts performed by old acquaintances, with Melody as the sole protagonist.
I personally orchestrated a kidnapping.
Watching Cort and Zoran rush towards Melody, I smiled as I pressed the detonator.
For the rest of my life, I hope to have no more entanglements with any of you.

A Global Wedding Broadcast

It's been less than a month since I spoke with the life insurance agent.


And there he was, right at my doorstep - Cort.


Cort was crouching by the entrance of my small apartment, like a stray dog.


When he saw me, he staggered to his feet.


His eyes brimmed with joy, almost overflowing:


"Serenity, I knew it! You're not dead!"


He tried to reach out and hug me, but I whipped out my pepper spray.


I stepped over the man rolling on the ground and opened the door, ready to go inside.


The man who'd been writhing in pain just moments ago suddenly became quick as lightning.


The dull thud of the door bouncing open was accompanied by Cort's cry of pain.


Thoroughly annoyed, I turned back to look at him:


He clung desperately to the door frame, shakily getting to his feet:


At this point, I stepped aside to let him in.


Chapter 9