From Ex to Aunt

"You're downright shameless, Ella! Really, you're stalking me?

"You think slipping into a wedding gown means I'll say 'I do'?"

The priest was right there, ready to start the ring exchange, but the mocking voices cut through the air.

Sean Foster, all dapper in his suit, pointed at me with a smug grin. "Take a good look at yourself, Ella. You think you're in my league? Honestly, if you hadn't offered to bail me out, I wouldn't have given you the time of day.

"Who'd want you? You think I'd settle for you?"

The guys flanking him snickered, their faces twisted with scorn as they piled on.

"Isn't this Ella who sold her house, her car, and who knows what else for my buddy? What's wrong? Got dumped and now you're looking for my friend to clean up your mess?"

"She sold her body? Disgusting."

"She's got some nerve, showing up on the day Sean's uncle's getting hitched."

Their taunts hit me like a barrage, each word a heavy stone on my heart.

I was clueless about Sean's debts to the sharks when we started dating. Six months in, I would still have been in the dark if his creditors had not come knocking.

He was the one who pleaded with me, swore I was his one and only, his future wife. Even when I knew he was just after my money, I never bad-mouthed him.

Alas, there I was, being called a tramp, a lowlife…

The wedding was winding down, and I did not want my once-in-a-lifetime moment ruined by these memories. I bit back the curses and faced him, my voice steady but firm.

"Sean, I never stalked you, and marrying you is the last thing on my mind. After all, today's my wedding day."

Their laughter erupted. Even Sean, caught off-guard, joined in after a beat.

"You, getting married? Who'd marry a plain Jane like you?"

Sean's voice dripped with scorn. "You must've picked today to corner me into marriage. You're not even fit to carry my shoes."

His friends, always eager for drama, chimed in with their own jabs. "Come on, don't be so harsh," one of them laughed. "She has a fine body. Turn off the lights, and nobody can tell the difference."

I had been with Sean for three years, and I had hoped he would defend me. However, the look in his eyes was pure revulsion, as if I were nothing more than a virus to him.

The priest, unable to bear the scene any longer, cleared his throat loudly. "Quiet down, everyone. James will have the ring shortly." The room fell silent at his words, but only for a moment before Sean's friends erupted into mocking laughter.

Sean's face, however, turned serious as he lunged at the priest, grabbing his robe. "You're just a priest. You have no right to use my uncle's name."

"The whole town of Riverton knows my uncle is marrying the love of his life today. What's she doing here?" he sneered, gesturing at me.