Chapter 1

Kate's POV

"Oh, yes. Max! Harder! That's right!"

I froze in my steps when I heard a very familiar voice moaning Maxwell's name. Maxwell was my fiance, the one with whom I was getting married today. 

"Ahh!"

Heart pounding, I walked in the direction of the moans as they became louder and more passionate. They led me to the door of a room. 

The one that should have been ours for the night. 

Gently, I opened the door and my eyes almost popped out of their socket. On the same bed we were supposed to consummate our wedding night, my husband to be was fucking my cousin sister passionately! 

"You're so good, Max," Arya moaned. "I envy Kate that's she's got you,"

Since childhood, Arya had made it her hobby to acquire whatever I had. I never thought she would extend that attitude even to my own fiance. 

"Don't worry," Maxwell replied, kissing her forehead. "I will love you the same even after marriage. You're so sweet,"

I couldn't believe my eyes and ears, and I had to press a fist into my mouth to stop myself from screaming out loud. 

How could he do this to me? After his professions of love? He told me he would be mine forever, as I would be his. How could he do this with my own cousin? 

He thrust faster and faster, and trembled as he tipped over the edge. Then he collapsed on her. I immediately stepped aside so he couldn't see me. 

"Look! You left the door open," Arya pointed out. 

Quickly, almost tripping over my feet, I ran away before he could reach the door. 

I was running as if my life depended on it when I collided with a strong chest. I looked up to find my uncle looking down at me, confusion on his face. 

"Are you okay, Catherine?" he asked me, worry on his face. 

I quickly nodded. How was I to tell him I caught my husband-to-be having sex with his daughter? Though my heart was in a million pieces, I didn't let it show on my face. 

"Hey, honey! You're needed outside," a voice sounded it. It was my aunt, and she was quickly advancing on us. 

Her expression turned to one of anger when she saw me. 

"Why are you not dressed yet?" she snapped, looking at me with distaste. "There is only one hour left until the wedding!" 

"Heyyy, go easy on her, hun. She looks scared," my uncle tried to intervene. 

"Go take care of the guests. I will take care of her," my aunt said in a stern voice. 

Though my uncle had always taken care of me, he didn't usually go against his wife because she had a very sharp tongue and he didn't like bantering with her. 

Uncle gave me one last worried look before walking away. I now had the full attention of my aunt. 

"Well…" she said, raising an eyebrow. 

I didn't respond, not knowing what to say. But she got impatient. 

"Would you tell me what's wrong? Or is this just another of the gimmicks you use to farm for my husband's sympathy and attention?" she snapped, her voice a little high pitched. 

"I am nervous," I lied. 

I wasn't delusional enough to tell her the truth. She trusted her daughter blindly and would never believe me. 

"Um…could we shift the wedding date?"

Silence. 

Auntie stared at me for a moment before erupting, just like I expected her to. 

"Have you lost your mind, young lady? You want to call off the wedding just because you're nervous? Do you know how much my husband had spent on this wedding? You're an ungrateful bitch!"

Her words cut into my heart like a sharp blade. Ungrateful? Who should be grateful to the other? 

My parents left me enough inheritance, but I've never had enough ever since their death because my aunt took everything. 

"Stop all this drama and go and prepare. You have only one hour," she said, dragging me by the arms. 

I didn't resist. She only left me in front of the door where my attendants were waiting to get me ready. 

After the death of my parents, I had always been looking forward to having a life partner I can love and share all my sorrows with. 

But at this moment, I wasn't even excited about the wedding I had always looked forward to. What's there to be excited about getting married to a betrayer? 

"Ma'am, you're ready!" the attendants said, stepping back from me. 

I had wlays wanted to see myself in a bridal dress, but I didn't even spare a glance at the mirror as I walked out of the room. 

"Awwn," my uncle cooed when he saw me. "My Catherine looks like a doll from heaven," he said. 

He put his arms around me. "Come, lemme do my final duty and lead you down the aisle to your sweetheart," 

I had no other option than to walk with him, though that was the last thing I wanted to do. 

The guests turned to look at me with awe as we walked down the aisle, whispering about how beautiful I looked. 

I turned my head, searching. Finally, I found Arya seated on one of the pews with an innocent expression and my blood boiled. 

At the altar, Max helped me up the stairs with an adoring smile on his face. It was repulsive, the way he looked at me and touched me. 

Moments ago, he had been looking at Arya and touching her that same exact way. How could he bear to look into my eyes, knowing he had been cheating? 

"Do you, Maxwell Dane accept Catherine George as your wife?" the officiating priest asked. 

"I do!" Maxwell replied, and the hall erupted in cheers and applause. 

The priest turned to me and dread coiled in my stomach. 

"Do you, Catherine George accept Maxwell Dane as your husband?" he asked. 

I turned to look at my uncle, who had tears in his eyes. He was the only one genuinely happy for me. Perhaps, if he knew the true face of my fiance and his daughter, he wouldn't be. 

But maybe, he wouldn't believe me if I told him. No one would. Arya the Perfect just don't fit into that image. 

My aunt only wanted to get rid of me. And Arya, well….I don't want to talk about her.

Everyone was expecting me to just say those two simple words. 

I do. 

But for me, it wasn't so easy. I closed my eyes to collect my thoughts and make my decision. 

The entire hall fell silent as they waited, but my thoughts were not in any way silent. 

Arya's moans and cries filled my head, and Max's grunts seemed to grind my brain to pieces. 

I opened my eyes. My decision was made. 

"No!" I replied firmly. 

The hall erupted in chaos, but I didn't care as I leaped down the stairs and ran down the aisle.