(Emily’s POV).
As I walked down the aisle on that long-awaited day, my heart overflowed with joy and anticipation.
Finally, seven years of love and devotion to Ben had brought us here, to the moment we would tie the knot.
I could see the guests smile through tears of joy, celebrating our love with us.
“Breathe, Emily. Breathe,” I kept telling myself, whispering.
My heart was beating fast and my hands were covered in cold sweat. A panic attack came to me but it was an attack of happiness that anyone would want to feel.
I was nervous and kept breathing in and out as I became the center of attention of the staring guests. But this was what I had been waiting for in seven years of loving a man.
And I arrived at the pulpit with my breath caught in my throat like someone had just chased me.
However, dreams could turn to dust in an instant as I stared in a direction that destroyed my happiness all at once.
The screen meant to display our journey together flickered with images that shattered my world.
An intimate photo of Jane—my stepmother, having an affair with another man, filled the ballroom with gasps of disbelief.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was almost unbelievable that my stepmother would have an illicit relationship behind my father's back.
The worst thing was … that man was Ben, my husband-to-be.
Shock turned to horror as my father—who had looked radiant moments before, collapsed in his chair, clutching his chest.
“Dad!” I screamed with my eyes widened.
Frantically, I removed my bridal veil and rushed to my father's side. I held his head up higher with a cry that ruined my bridal makeup. Damn, I didn't care about this wedding anymore.
My wedding dress, which was a symbol of hope and happiness, was now heavy with betrayal and despair. This was the hardest event I had experienced in my life. A few minutes of happiness turned into a catastrophe that I wouldn't even be able to forget.
I wailed in pain until my voice completely disappeared even while crying. It hurt so much and I knew there was no going back.
I didn't know where Ben and Jane were because all I knew was that they weren't there when what happened to my father—no, I meant when that fucking pictures showed up! They disappeared as if this was part of the plan. Or ... was it?
Hours passed like a nightmare until Ben and Jane finally showed up at the hospital the next day.
"Why have you come?" I asked coldly.
"To witness the destruction of you and your father, my dear stepdaughter."
I heard her being so happy with what happened to my failed wedding and also my father. Apparently, apart from her having an affair, she was also the destroyer of all one's happiness.
“You have no heart did this to my father, Jane!” I said with hatred.
“It's better like this. I have no love for your father, except for his wealth.”
Her defiance cut through the tension, her words a cruel stab. I was glad that my father hadn't heard this. Or else, his condition would become more fatal.
“You know what, this husband-to-be, whom you failed to marry, had motives that are completely contrary to what you had been living with. He is full of lies and he doesn't love you at all! He just wants your property, just like me,” she relished the chaos she had caused, exposing Ben's true motives—a marriage of convenience, a facade of love hiding his greed.
I felt on the verge of resigning myself to not fighting back. Because when I wanted to get angry, my energy seemed to be depleted because of the events that had just happened, but of course, I wouldn't just stay silent.
But, was it true he didn't love me at all? So, what was all these seven years to him? Nothing? I didn't know the answers and it frustrated me.
Heartbroken and desperate for answers, I faced Ben, searching in his eyes to find the love I once believed in.
“So, everything we've lived through is just a drama you've planned?" I asked in a trembling voice.
"You can say that.”
His words were like daggers that tore apart everything I held dear although it was just a simple answer. He really dumped me like trash that was no longer useful to him. The love that I had once seen in his eyes, had completely vanished like dust that was swept away quickly.
"So you really don't love me? Not even one percent?" I asked once again.
Then his eyes looked at me in a way that was so cold, unfamiliar, and even almost unfamiliar. "I can play drama for as long as it takes, Emily. I did that to you in seven years.”
"How could you?!" I pushed his body roughly. Hitting his chest until all I got was him pushing me away and walking away from me with Jane.
My tears felt like they had run out of time. Nothing came out again after he left me.
Amidst the chaos, Linda—my father's loyal assistant came and said, “Miss, I came to deliver the news that Jane now held a controlling stake in your father's company.”
That news was disastrous for my family legacy all of a sudden. It became one that tore my heart.
“You better seek help from Ben’s family, Miss,” she urged me.
“No. I can’t. I think Ben is complicit in this betrayal. I can’t do anything that has to do with Ben with his relatives. I don't trust him anymore.”
“Miss, I am sorry for what happened to you, but there’s someone who can help you. It’s Mr. Mike. I have his contact information if you want his information. He provides a glimmer of hope for your father’s company. You can ask him for help. I’m sure he will help you,” Linda said in my darkest moments.
“I have to think first, Linda. But anyway, thank you for informing me. You are still here for me as well.”
“Anytime, Miss.”
As I navigated the rubble of shattered dreams and the looming threat of my father's empire, the possibility of survival flickered in the distance.
Betrayed and broken, I faced a future I never imagined—a journey through deceit, ambition, and a relentless quest for justice amidst the ruins of what was once my perfect life.
***
The hospital corridors echoed with the weight of my shattered world. Every step felt like a march through a battlefield full of broken promises and unanswered questions. My father lay unconscious, his life hanging in the balance, while Ben and Jane's betrayal ate away at my soul.
As I sat at my father's bedside, the sterile hospital room offered little comfort. Memories of happier times flooded my mind—moments with my father, his wise counsel, and unwavering support. Now, all I could see were the consequences of Jane's betrayal, her calculating ambition threatening to destroy everything my father had built.
Linda's words rang through my mind, urging me to consider seeking help from Ben's family. The thought made my stomach churn with bitterness. How could I turn to those who had orchestrated this downfall? Ben, the man I loved with all my body and soul, turned out to be a mere puppet in Jane's cruel game.
Yet, in the midst of despair, Linda mentioned Mike's name like a flickering candle in the darkness. Who was he, and could he offer a glimmer of hope in this bleak moment? The name evoked a vague familiarity, a potential ally waiting in the wings.
The weight of betrayal pressed down on me, threatening to extinguish hope. However, a strong resolve rose within me. I would not let Jane's greed go unchecked. I would fight for my father's legacy, for justice, and the pieces of my broken heart.
The hours were long as I grappled with the reality of my bitter new truth. The world I knew had collapsed, and in its place stood a terrifying battlefield. I had been blinded by love and ambition, but I refused to be defeated.
As night fell outside the hospital window, I vowed silently to myself and my father. I would uncover the truth, expose Jane and Ben's betrayal, and reclaim what was rightfully ours. With each passing day, my resolve grew stronger, fueled by the fire of betrayal and an unyielding determination to come out victorious.
The journey ahead will be full of challenges and heartache, but I will face them head-on. Because in the depths of despair, I found strength that I never realized before. And when I held my father's hand, willing him to fight, I knew that our battle had just begun.
“You have to survive, Dad. And watch me take revenge on them for what they did to us.”
(Emily’s POV).Two days passed and I was still in an inexplicable situation. I was pacing back and forth between the hospital and home just to make sure that everything was still under control even though my mind was in complete chaos.Only Linda kept me company and made sure that I was okay. She even kept offering me help by introducing me to Mike's contact.And now I was holding his business card. I heard from her that our ages were quite far apart, about 10 years. I could imagine that he might be a famous person with a wrinkled face who was quite old. It was possible, right?I started to have a dilemma and kept thinking, should I call him? Or, should I just go to his office directly?My hands were really shaking but if I thought too much, then I wouldn't be able to find a way out. Anyway, according to Linda, Mike can help me. But I didn't know how Linda could be that sure when she said she didn't know Mike very well, but she often heard that Mike had a generous heart. Really?I fi
(Emily’s POV).As soon as I kicked them out, my father was in a dying state because it turned out that he saw everything without being able to move his body.His situation made me even more frantic and afraid of losing him as my only hope. The doctor even said that it would get worse if my father experienced acute stress.I also thought that my father didn't see at all because I thought he hadn't woken up yet, but in fact, he witnessed everything.I immediately entrusted my father to Linda when she told me that Jane had called a meeting that Ben would be the temporary chairman while my father was still in critical condition. And me ... I even got kicked out of the company for having a bad reputation that they made seem real, that there were vulgar photos of me spread around that they thought the company would lose if they kept me there."They're really sneaky" I said when Linda told me."Have you talked to Mr. Mike, Miss?" she asked.I nodded and swallowed. "I was just about to go ba
(Emily’s POV)."I will never love a woman like you, Emily," he said suddenly in the silence of the car.His voice was so cold and I felt like I was being directly humiliated by him. After all, I didn't expect him to love me."I know," I replied."So I'll just emphasize that no feelings should be involved in this marriage."I sighed heavily because I was feeling so sad all of a sudden. It wasn't just because of my situation, but because I was marrying a man who had turned cold so quickly.His tone which sounded so scary left me speechless.And once at his office, we got out of the car and he looked at me and sighed. "Chris is here, so come into my office," he said.I nodded and followed him into his office where a man dressed in a suit with glasses was waiting. He smiled at us and even shook hands with me. He looked kind … I guessed.As soon as I sat down in front of Chris, I saw Mike just sitting in his own chair, looking at me intensely and that made me feel nervous. And so Chris b
(Emily’s POV).“Can you pick me up now? At my father's office?” “I will be right there.”“I'm waiting outside.”Yes, the person I called was my husband, Mike. He always told me that whenever I needed him, I could call him. And now, I was trying to rely on him.My broken heart felt like it was breaking into pieces. The life I had hoped for was not what I had planned, and I even had to marry a man who was quite far away from me.His car stopped right in front of me and when I was about to open the front passenger door, he got out and opened the door for me.“Thank you.” I got inside after giving him a small smile.As soon as the car started, my heart skipped a beat. Ben—my asshole ex-boyfriend—rarely even opened the car door for me. He did do romantic things, but it was painful to remember that it was all just a drama he was acting out.“Did something happen to you?” he asked quietly when I didn't say anything.“Yes. That nephew of yours is sneaky.” I didn't hesitate to tell him how I
(Emily’s POV)."You didn't go straight to see him?" I asked as he opened the car door."I wanted to see how your father is doing first."We walked in together and I thought he'd go straight away. But I didn't realize that he even wanted to visit first before went away.When I was about to reach my father’s infirmary, I was surprised to see two men dressed in black suits and glasses, standing by the door. I immediately approached them and asked because I was worried. "Who are you?!" I was afraid that they might be Ben or Jane's men, keeping me from going inside.Then I realized they were bowing in front of me, but when I heard the word 'Boss' I knew it was Mike they meant.I looked at Mike who was behind me, just silent and acting cool. "Is this your men?" I asked him. There was a slightly calm tone before he answered.He nodded and looked at me. "This is just in case Ben or Jane come here. So they won't come inside. They will keep on guard for your father.”At that moment I was comp
(Emily’s POV)."Why are you talking to Ben like that?" I wanted to know the answer when he came to pick me up and take me home."What part?""Your aunt?" I was slightly mocking, but hopefully, he wouldn't take it seriously.He gave me a crooked smile and clucked. I heard the sound of his heavy breathing, it was obvious that he was a heavy smoker too. But physically, he looked cool and fairly young for his face with a much older age than me."And you ended the call right away," I added.Then he looked at me for two seconds and refocused on his driving. "Are you angry, Mrs. Johnson?"Ugh, it made my heart flutter to hear that question followed by him calling me by his surname. It was a bit much for a transaction between relationships. Especially since he himself had denounced this marriage as just business, no more."Why?" I asked back to the first question."Because I want to make him curious and show him that I'm normal.""He thinks you're not normal?" "Hmm, not really. It's just tha
(Emily’s POV).It was like I was trapped by my own rejection until he proposed a choice that weighed heavily on me. It was a dilemma even though I knew he meant it as a joke."Let's put aside the things that shouldn't happen, Mike. You said all this is just a transaction like a seller and a buyer, right?" That was my response, trying to sound as normal as possible even though I was quite shaky."That's true, but you must have missed something from the agreement you signed, Emily."I frowned, not understanding what he meant. "What do you mean?""You can check it later at home, I've sent a copy to your email, right?"My heart pounded, wondering what I hadn't read and missed. I didn't read the agreement letter carefully back then because I wanted things to move quickly."Then we'll go home now," I said in a hurry.Unfortunately, Mike didn't even get up from his chair when I did. He seemed calm and even relaxed in his place. I immediately shot him an astonished look."What?""You're in a
(Mike’s POV)."What's wrong, Ben?" It had been a month and he was pretty tense and complained to me a lot until he finally asked to see me. I didn't have to guess because I knew what he was going through. This was one way of punishing him for being a very irresponsible boy."Of all the clients I've worked with, why did only two accept?! I don't understand where I went wrong!"He looked frustrated and it was like I had succeeded in breaking him slowly. For the sake of someone who had been filling my heart lately."Are you following my ways yet? You have to be good with your tongue, just like you did in your college when you played theater." He snorted and his breath hitched. His expression made his frustration very clear and I could only sit still and quiet, observing him."It seems like that's what I haven't done. I was just following your way, offering a lot of benefits at the beginning—I mean, so that they would immediately want to cooperate with me. But they didn't! They said Fra