CHAPTER 1: The Bride's Cruelest Wedding Gift
The church was silent except for the soft melody of the organ.
Everyone stood as Isabella, glowing in a breathtaking white gown, prepared to walk down the aisle. Cameras flashed. Guests smiled. It looked like the perfect wedding.
Until everyone noticed the young woman standing quietly beside the front pew.
Emma.
Isabella's younger sister.
Her lavender dress was simple, almost plain, and tears rolled endlessly down her cheeks.
Some guests whispered that she must be overwhelmed with happiness.
They couldn't have been more wrong.
Isabella leaned close with a beautiful smile still painted across her face.
"Don't cry too loudly," she whispered. "You'll ruin my wedding photos."
Emma bit her lip, trying to stay silent.
No one knew that only three days earlier, Emma had discovered that the man Isabella was marrying—Daniel—had once secretly been engaged... to her.
Years ago, Daniel and Emma had fallen deeply in love in college. They dreamed of building a life together.
But Isabella wanted everything Emma had.
She secretly intercepted Emma's letters, spread lies about her cheating, and convinced Daniel that Emma had abandoned him for another man.
Heartbroken, Daniel disappeared.
Emma never knew why.
Years later, Isabella "accidentally" met Daniel again.
She never told him the truth.
She simply accepted the ring that had originally been meant for her own sister.
Now she stood proudly at the altar, pretending destiny had brought them together.
Emma had promised herself she would never expose her sister.
Not today.
Not at her wedding.
But Isabella wasn't satisfied.
She wanted complete victory.
As the ceremony began, Isabella suddenly grabbed the microphone.
"I'd like to thank my dear sister Emma..."
Everyone smiled warmly.
"...for teaching me what happens when someone is too weak to fight for love."
The church erupted in awkward laughter.
Emma froze.
Her face burned with humiliation.
Isabella continued.
"Sometimes losers aren't meant to wear wedding dresses."
Even Daniel looked uncomfortable.
Emma quietly wiped away another tear.
She turned toward the exit.
She couldn't bear another second.
But just as she reached the church doors...
An elderly man in an expensive black suit stepped inside.
His eyes locked onto Emma.
May you like
Then he said six words that made the entire church fall silent.
"Miss... we've finally found you."
