Misunderstood Hearts

The applause was thunderous as Nathan and Vicky finished their dance. The crowd adored them.

Nathan, however, was far from pleased.

"I'm not sharing a name with you," he muttered coldly, stepping away.

Vicky sighed, murmuring under her breath, "What a jerk."

"She's so ungrateful and full of pride, I just can't stand her," Nathan mumbled to himself.

"He's so rude and self-centered, I just can't stand him!" Vicky fired back under her breath.

Just then, someone accidentally bumped into Vicky, pushing her forward—right into Nathan's arms. For a moment, time froze. Their eyes locked, soft breaths mingled, and the room spun away.

"Oh! Is that your wife?" Cindy exclaimed as she approached. "She's so beautiful! You two look amazing together. Nice meeting you, Miss…"

Vicky blinked in confusion. "Wife?"

Nathan's jaw clenched. "Cindy—"

But Cindy kept talking, oblivious to the awkward tension. "Mr. Damien had an emergency and left. Your second uncle too, I forgot his name. Oh! But they asked me to let you know."

"And Ruben?" Nathan asked, trying to steady his composure.

"He's still around," she said, pointing. Ruben, standing like a hawk, noticed a man in a black hoodie staring too long at Nathan and Vicky. When he moved toward the stranger, the man vanished into the crowd.

"Alright… I might leave soon too," Nathan muttered.

"I'll be heading out as well, sir," Cindy added, finally walking away.

Vicky turned to Nathan, bewildered. "I'm your wife now?"

Before Nathan could explain, Mr. Derek approached cheerfully.

"Oh, your wife finally came! Congratulations, madam, on the wedding!"

"What in the world is happening?" Vicky asked, flustered.

Nathan tried to interject, "Guys, can we talk? She's—"

But the crowd wasn't listening. Cheers and congratulations erupted like a wave. Vicky was now the accidental bride-to-be.

Frustrated, Nathan walked up to the stage and grabbed the mic.

"Everyone, please, your attention."

The room hushed.

"That beautiful lady over there… she's not my wife. She's not my fiancée either. My fiancée isn't here tonight, and she won't be coming. I'm sorry for the confusion, but I only met this lady today—right here at the party. There's nothing going on between us. And there won't be anything in the future. If you want to meet my wife, you're all invited to my engagement on Friday. Ruben, please share the location."

He handed off the mic and stepped down, expression unreadable.

Tonia, watching beside Vicky, raised a brow.

"Did you hear that? Now will you calm down?" Vicky snapped.

"He still called you beautiful, though," Tonia said with a smirk.

Vicky shot her a glare.

"He could've just stayed silent," Tonia said. "But no—he had to make a scene."

"He's got a whole fiancée. I don't want anything to do with this man or his drama," Vicky muttered.

Nathan reappeared, looking weary. "I'm sorry for all this," he said. "I really am. I'm getting married soon, and people are just desperate to see who she is. She's sweet… kind… not like you."

Vicky's eyes flared. "She doesn't deserve a husband like you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're two-faced. First, I'm 'the beautiful lady over there.' Now I'm suddenly not sweet or kind? You're a real Necro."

"Stop calling me that—my name is—"

Before he could finish, a woman appeared, holding a cupcake with a lit candle.

"Congratulations, you two! Blow the candle together—welcome to married life!"

Nathan froze. His face turned pale. Panic spread across his features like wildfire.

"Necro?" Vicky whispered.

Nathan stumbled backward, trembling violently.

"What's going on?" the woman asked, concerned. "Did I do something wrong?"

Cinthia, filming from the crowd, noticed the commotion and hurried over.

"What happened to Nate?" she asked.

"I just told him to blow a candle and he freaked out," the woman said.

Cinthia's face dropped. "His episodes… he wasn't supposed to see fire."

She pulled out her phone to call home. Vicky stood frozen. That moment, that phrase—it echoed through her own past. She had done the same once before.

Without thinking, Vicky ran to Nathan and pulled him into a tight embrace.

He collapsed into her arms like a wave folding into the shore. For the first time in years, Nathan calmed. His heart slowed. The tremors subsided. He held her like she was the anchor he didn't know he needed.

A hushed murmur ran through the crowd.

"She really cares for him…"

"Just look at the way she holds him…"

Cinthia stood silently, recording no more. Her phone was lowered. Her eyes, wide and glassy.

Something had changed. And everyone felt it.